The Burj - Black

The importance of a strong foundation is best understood and most appreciated 163 floors above the ground.

That’s where I stood, at the top of the Burj Khalifa, invited to speak on a career that had taken me across continents and kitchens, far beyond the life I once imagined. My cookbooks were bestsellers. My restaurants were thriving. Up there, I wasn’t just admiring the skyscraper’s view, I was reflecting on the blueprint of my own ascent.

A height I didn’t race toward, but reached slowly, layer by layer, service by service. I got here by drilling the basics until they held under pressure. Knife work, heat control, timing, systems. The things that don’t make headlines but keep everything standing. I built my craft the way this tower was built: measured, deliberate, and grounded in what’s possible when the fundamentals are flawless.

Though celebrated for its height, what makes the Burj remarkable is what most people never see - the structure beneath, the choices behind it, the precision that holds it all together. It isn’t just a feat of engineering, it’s a mindset. Proof that greatness doesn’t come from chasing height, but from building with intention. And when you reach the top, you don’t linger. You look out. You feel the quiet. You know what it took to stand there. And you’re already thinking about what’s next. Because when your foundation holds, the sky isn’t the limit, only good company.

• Weight: 0.35 kg
• Priest collar
• Front yoke
• Double placket at centre front with concealed ring stud fastener closure
• Fitted long raglan sleeves with shoulder darts
• Sleeves have double cuff
• Thermometer/pen pocket on sleeve
• Small CB label at top corner of sleeve pocket
• Honeycomb mesh panels on sleeves, sides, yoke, and back.
• Curved back panels
• Side slits with grey tape finish
• Performance Series woven label near bottom hem
• Constructed from 160 GSM lightweight polycotton twill and 160 GSM honeycomb mesh fabric