Chef Ali Ahmadpour Celebrates One Year at Renowned BEDU with Exciting New Menu Launch

Hong Kong’s celebrated Modern Middle Eastern restaurant BEDU, located on Gough Street, marks a milestone as Head Chef Ali Ahmadpour celebrates one year at the helm. Coming from a deeply-rooted culinary background and always eager to innovate, Chef Ahmadpour is excited to roll out a fresh menu that beautifully blends the traditional flavours of Persian, Turkish, and Jordanian dishes with the dynamic tastes adored by the local Hong Kong populace, which include many vegetarian options.

Growing up in Iran, Chef Ali Ahmadpour swapped his software engineering cap for a chef’s hat, leading to a 12-year career crafting Middle Eastern and Persian cuisines. His culinary journey began at 15, when he started working part-time in an Italian restaurant during his school years, sparking his lifelong passion for cooking. After serving in the military, he pursued his culinary dreams full-time, despite his family's reservations. He enrolled in a hotel management program and dedicated himself to mastering his craft and overcoming any challenges that came his way.

His hard work paid off as he climbed the ranks in some of Iran's most beloved dining spots, such as Tanje Café Restaurant and Kaffeine Restaurant in Isfahan province. His journey then took him to the prestigious Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Hotel in Muscat, Oman, where he specialised in Middle Eastern dishes. Not one to stay in his comfort zone, the chef moved to Hong Kong in 2023 to lead the kitchen at BEDU as head chef.

Since joining BEDU last year, Chef Ahmadpour has dazzled the restaurant’s loyal diners with his mastery of Middle Eastern gastronomy. As he celebrates his first anniversary in Hong Kong, Chef Ahmadpour unveils a menu reflecting his deepening connection with the city and its diverse culinary tapestry. “Living in Hong Kong for a year has enriched my understanding of the local palate,” says Chef Ahmadpour. “Combining Asian ingredients with time-honoured Middle Eastern recipes has allowed me to create a menu that resonates with both authenticity and innovation.”

BEDU’s latest menu is a delightful blend of classic Middle Eastern flavours with a gentle touch of Asian essence. Local ingredients have inspired Chef Ahmadpour’s culinary journey, which still respects traditional cooking techniques. The new dishes showcase a unique blend of nostalgic tastes from the chef’s childhood and experiences from his travels and living in Hong Kong for the past year, which has allowed him to embody the spirit of a contemporary nomad. Each dish reflects a spectrum of Persian culinary arts. Persian cuisine is celebrated for its intricate flavours, vibrant displays, and diverse palette of ingredients.

Highlights from the A La Carte Menu include:

Cucumber Dukkha (HK$80): A refreshing dish made with fresh cucumber dressed with nutty tahini dressing, spices and pistachio dukkha.

Roasted Pine Nut Eggplant (HK$175): The halved eggplant is roasted until tender and served with sour labneh and Zough salsa for a spicy kick. Originating from Yemen, Zough has taken the culinary scenes of Israel and the Middle East by storm. This lively condiment bursts with flavours of fresh parsley, cardamom, cumin, and a touch of olive oil. Lastly, a drizzle of fresh basil oil and a sprinkle of Dukkah to add the perfect finishing touch.

Grilled Mushroom Kebab (HK$100): This dish is a nod to Hong Kong's fondness for mushrooms. Chef Ahmadpour marinates juicy black oyster mushrooms in a vibrant mix of paprika and spice blend. After a quick sear on the grill, they're nestled atop a bowl of smooth hummus sauce infused with basil and finished with a sprinkle of pistachio dukkha and fresh pomegranate to add a delightful sweetness.

Charred Green Beans (HK$100): Inspired by the popular Chinese stir-fried veggies, this vibrant dish features French beans and green beans sautéed with red chilli, spices, and a ginger coriander dressing. Served atop a pillow of creamy labneh, it is elegantly garnished with dukkha, offering a delightful blend of textures and flavours.

Winter Pumpkin (HK$110): Indulge in the rich flavours of Kabocha pumpkin, also known as the Japanese pumpkin, which is grilled with paprika, sumac, and Baharat. This dish is complemented by garlic labneh, harissa honey, pumpkin seeds, and Persian sour barberries, creating a delightful tart and tangy flavour profile.

Green Couscous Salmon (HK$260): Perfectly grilled salmon takes centre stage, marinated in a fragrant seven-spice blend including Baharat, sumac, garlic, and black pepper for a balance of smoky and aromatic notes. Beneath the salmon lies a bed of vibrant green couscous made with coriander and parsley. The dish is artfully garnished with caramelised sweet onions and toasted walnuts, adding layers of sweetness and crunch.

Grilled Harissa Octopus (HK$270): Savour the robust flavours of tender blanched Spanish octopus charred on the grill to perfection to add a hint of smoke. It is served with a smoky Harissa sauce and a refreshing pine nut salsa, which offers a nutty crunch and a hint of lemon zest for a refreshing citrus kick.

Saffron Chicken (HK$185): Indulge in the timeless allure of Saffron Chicken, a beloved Persian recipe that showcases the exquisite flavours of saffron-infused cuisine. The chicken is marinated in a zesty blend of yoghurt, aromatic saffron, onion, and lemon and grilled to achieve a delectable light char on the skin; this dish is served alongside a tangy sumac labneh, complemented by a refreshing onion and parsley salad on the side.

Dessert lovers will enjoy the Creamy Sweet Labneh (HK$100), where mascarpone, sugar, and vanilla are mixed with labneh to create an airy, creamy texture with a touch of sweetness. It is garnished with a mixed-berry sauce made with strawberry, raspberry, blueberries, figs, and a touch of house-blend walnut oil; and the crispy Crunchy Kataifi (HK$120), dressed with chocolate and pistachio sauce and topped with pistachio ice cream.

Catering to up to 42 seated guests, BEDU evolves from a delightful lunch spot to an intimate dining destination throughout the day. It offers a soothing vibe amidst sophisticated interiors that serve as the perfect canvas on which the culinary team presents its contemporary take on traditional fare, which will seduce food lovers at the restaurant's semi-open kitchen.

BEDU’s daily happy hour is from 5 pm to 7 pm, with special prices on red and white wines, house spirits, pineapple tea and apple mint lemonade at just HK$50 per glass. Happy hour goers can relax with a post-work tipple with friends at the cosy dining area or the semi-alfresco bar next to the Shin Hing Steps to soak in the neighbourhood vibe.

BEDU is located at 40 Gough Street, Central. For reservations, please visit www.bedurestaurant.com; or follow the restaurant on social media @bedu_hk.

About Chef Ali Ahmadpour

Born and raised in Iran, the computer software engineering graduate-turned-chef Ali Ahmadpour has a solid 12 years of culinary experience in Middle Eastern and Persian cuisine. He was exposed to the culinary world at the tender age of 15, working part-time in an Italian eatery while studying, and fell in love with the art of cooking.

Chef Ahmadpour followed his passion for cooking, giving up computer software engineering and enrolling in a hotel management education programme after completing his military service. Despite his family's opposition, he aspired to become a chef, and his commitment to take on the culinary challenges kept him going.

After completing his formal training, Chef Ahmadpour worked his way up through some of Iran’s most popular kitchens, including Tanje Café Restaurant and Kaffeine Restaurant in Isfahan province, before joining Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Hotel in Muscat, Oman, where he was the chef of Middle Eastern cuisine.

At the end of 2023, the young chef decided to leave his comfort zone and move to Hong Kong, joining the team at Meraki Hospitality to take up the role of head chef at BEDU. After years of being mentored in some of the most extraordinary kitchens and five-star hotels, Ali has created a signature style that pays homage to his roots while employing the sophisticated techniques he has learned and developed during his career.

About BEDU

BEDU takes inspiration from the nomadic wanderings of the Bedouin tribes across the deserts of North Africa to the rocky sands of the Middle East. Their journey, guided by the night stars, has influenced the rich culinary traditions, exotic products, flavoursome spices and cooking methods that have been passed down through generations, defining Middle Eastern cuisine today.

Meraki Hospitality

Meraki Hospitality Group is a Hong Kong-based company founded in 2018 by brother and sister duo Alexis and Laura Offe. Having grown up in Hong Kong, where street food culture is cherished and widely celebrated, they are passionate about exploring rich culinary traditions that are representative of everyday life and are intent on recreating them in modern yet approachable ways for today's diners.

Hong Kong's first Brazilian-Japanese street food restaurant, Uma Nota, opened in 2017 as a nod to the botecos of Brazil and the long history of Japanese migration to São Paulo. In 2018, following the success of Uma Nota Hong Kong, Meraki Hospitality Group opened Uma Nota Paris, introducing Nipo-Brasileiro cuisine to the Parisian dining scene. Soon after, BEDU opened in 2018 on Gough Street, Central. The cosy Middle Eastern restaurant and bar showcase the region's diverse street food culture, as well as local and seasonal produce, with a modern twist, making it unique to Central Hong Kong.

The concepts are unpretentious, open-minded, and lively, qualities that are reflected in their design, food, and drinks. Meraki is about uniting groups of like-minded people through a community of locals, travellers, and the team. With each new idea, Alexis and Laura seek a connection to the soul of the cuisine, reinterpreted through the lens of creativity and a love for food and culinary traditions.

In 2024, Uma Nota expanded its reach to Manila, opening its doors to bring the brand's unique fusion of Brazilian and Japanese flavours with a local twist to this vibrant city. Uma Nota continues to embody its core values of warmth and diversity, offering a taste of cultural richness to the exciting Manila food scene.

Address
40 Gough Street, Central

Reservations

WhatsApp: +852 6343 5622

Website: www.bedurestaurant.com

Instagram
@bedu_hk

Seating

42 seated

Opening Hours

Monday to Thursday 12 pm – 3 pm; 6 pm – 10 pm

Friday 12 pm – 3 pm; 6 pm – 12 am

Saturday 12 pm – 4 pm; 6 pm – 12 am

Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm; 6 pm – 10 pm