Chez Wam
Explore our in-depth case study on Chez Wam, one of Dubai's most sought-after & original fine dining experiences. An award-winning restaurant, Chez Wam embraces cross-cultural influences in its cuisine and its music, with an overall aesthetic that embodies Chef Hadrien's unique vision.
Services
Provided
Project
Deliverables
Concept
Development
Chez Wam Restaurant, winner of the FACT Newcomer Of The Year (source) award is where head chef & co-founder Hadrien Villedieu has brought a life’s worth of culinary experiences together to create a fine-dining experience like no other. We met with him to help us better understand his unique vision, his back story, & the concept behind Chez Wam; from the cuisines & flavours he explores through his cooking to the music that inspires him.”
With a clear idea of the Chez Wam brand & its values, we were able to define a creative direction & aesthetic in addition to a content strategy which would help to differentiate the brand whilst staying true to its roots.
Food
Photography
Lighting, composition & texture play a crucial role in capturing the aesthetic of the dishes & cocktails, helping to not only showcase what is on offer but also to position the menu as the chef intended.
Venue
Photography
Chez Wam is well-known for its open kitchen and warm, inviting atmosphere centered around a ‘fun-dining’ philosophy. In this collection of both staged & candid images, we captured the essence of Chef Hadrien’s vision.
This meant warm tones, contrast, layers, slow shutter (to portray movement), use of props & not shying away from a grainy image. We even captured several stills on film as we felt this reflected the retro style of the brand.
Candid Photography
We captured the unique vibe of Chez Wam through candid photography during service. This was a fantastic opportunity to photograph the restaurant in full flow, with Chef Hadrien & his brigade in action, as well as the guests’ authentic experience.
Staged Photography
We also organised a staged photo shoot with carefully selected talent to help us focus on key elements of the dining experience. This allowed us the opportunity to use professional lighting & flash photography, as well as direct the scene & craft compelling compositions.
Social Media
Content
Cool. Engaging. On brand. Trending. Shareable. These are the key characteristics of an effective social media campaign. We worked with the in-house DJ at Chez Wam to curate a music selection that resonates with the target audience. We also researched industry trends as to the most engaging styles of content, whilst always staying true to the brand. In the spirit of Chez Wam we made ourselves at home and had fun with it ;)
Cinematography
After shooting the restaurant during service & capturing a bank of authentic b roll, our film crew conducted an in-depth interview with Chef Hadrien. This became the basis for the short film we ultimately created, exploring the chef’s culinary journey & uncovering the origins & unique identity of Chez Wam.
We then defined a creative direction & narrative arc for the film, centering the story around two main ideas. The first being Chef Hadrien’s desire to give love through his cooking & how everything from his dishes to the décor at Chez Wam are an artistic expression of the multi-cultural influences that have shaped his life. The second being the emphasis on how music is fused into the very fabric of Chez Wam.
As an homage to Chef Hadrien’s love for music & how it inspires his unique culinary style, the creative direction of the film also explores the similarities between music & cuisine as two separate but intertwining art forms. Iconic dishes are conceived by a chef & enjoyed by a diner, in the same way that music is thoughtfully composed, listened to & enjoyed. Chez Wam celebrates these two art forms, as does the film.
Behind the scenes
Working with Resonate was an exceptional experience, from the outset, their team demonstrated professionalism and creativity that truly captured the essence of Chez Wam.
They took the time to understand our vision, resulting in stunning visuals that showcased our unique ambiance, music, service and delicious dishes.
The team was not only skilled but also personable, making the entire process enjoyable for both our staff and customers.
As soon as Lewis reached out to me, I knew it would be an unforgettable experience. The passion, the love and dedication he has showed how professional he is and I felt it since day one. The final deliverables exceeded my expectations…
CHEZ WAM loves RESONATE
