Indian-Origin Owner Suffers Heart Attack After Goan Restaurant In Dubai Shuts Down: "She Was Shattered"
According to her daughter, Marushka Coelho, Ms Mascarenhas was "shattered" by the closure, which was not just a business but her legacy and dream. Ms Coelho stated that her mother had been carrying the weight of the restaurant's struggles on her shoulders, particularly over the last month.
"My mum suffered a heart attack and was rushed into emergency surgery. By God's grace, she's stable now, but it was a frightening reminder of how much she's been carrying on her shoulders — especially over the last month," Ms Coelho told Gulf News.
Fortunately, she is now stable after undergoing emergency surgery. Ms Coelho has vowed to revive Grubshack, expressing her desire to bring back the beloved eatery not for profit but for purpose. The family is open to collaborations or investments to make this happen.
"As her daughter, I just can't watch it all fade away. We want to bring Grubshack back — not for profit, but for purpose. This is our heart project now. We're open to investment, collaborations, or simply anyone who believes in what Grubshack stands for, "Ms Coelho added.
Notably, the restaurant's closure was a result of pandemic-related losses and a bad business deal that left the family with significant financial burdens. Despite efforts to keep the business afloat, the restaurant was forced to shut down Grubshack on June 30, after nearly a decade of operation.
About Grubshack
Gemma Mascarenhas launched Grubshack in 2012, promising a culinary journey from Bombay to Goa. Initially, the restaurant was a small 12-seater in Sharjah serving Goan cuisine. Despite its humble beginnings, Grubshack quickly gained popularity, with customers driving down from Abu Dhabi just for takeaway orders. The restaurant was often full, with diners waiting outside for over an hour, but they kept coming back because the food tasted like home.
Ms Mascarenhas was the driving force behind Grubshack, pouring her heart and soul into every aspect of the restaurant. She single-handedly ran the kitchen, preparing nearly every dish with love and care. Her dedication to quality was evident in the small details, such as hand-picking fresh fish on weekends and grinding her masalas at home. Ms Grubshack later moved to Dubai's Health Care City neighbourhood in 2016, where it became a cult favourite for its soul food and nostalgic charm.
"This wasn't a commercial setup. It was our mother's home, just extended to the public. Everything inside — from the mismatched furniture and old Bombay-style window frames to the guitars on the wall — was hers. People felt like they were stepping into someone's living room. That was the whole point," Ms Coelho explained.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Rare earth shortage hits electronic component companies
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Uncertainty over rare earth mineral supply has led some applicants under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme ECMS ) to warn the government that they may miss incentive-linked targets for the first year, if shortages persist for another six applications under the scheme have surged past 110 now, at least 10 firms have sounded out worries at a time when the industry is keen on expanding its production and export footprint, officials at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and industry executives told certain components, some firms plan to import, rather than make them locally, a person aware of the development said."Companies have expressed concern, but within the sector, it isn't an alarming outcry. If there is a component that uses rare earth, instead of importing that rare earth and making that component in India, they will simply import that component," the person said."There are other options like alternate sources of supply, or alternate technologies that don't use rare earths." The timing of the mineral scarcity due to curbs placed by China has been a challenge."The ECMS has been unveiled at a time when many entities want to scale up and take advantage of exports," said Ashok Chandak, president of the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA)."Beyond the traditional industry base, many Indian companies are diversifying into component manufacturing. But the industry has been particularly impacted by the supply shocks in rare earth magnets," he ₹22,919 crore scheme aims to create a strong domestic manufacturing ecosystem for a range of components that are fundamental building blocks in nearly all modern electronic devices. These include bare components such as Multi-layer Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and Li-ion cells for digital applications, passive components like resistors, capacitors, and inductors, as well as display and camera module was opened for applications in May, a month after China imposed strict export controls and licensing requirements for rare earths, of which it controls over 90% of the global processing capacity and the largest said PCBs have found key interest from applicants. "The scheme has seen strong interest from the PCB industry since this is the first time we have gotten some mileage. It addresses not only multi-layer, but also high-density interconnect boards. But given what is going on right now (globally), it is very difficult to hit the targets. The government has promised all support," said KS Babu, secretary, Indian Printed Circuit Association (IPCA).He also highlighted that the scheme does not address the complete absence of local production of essential raw materials like copper clad laminates, which are currently imported entirely from China. "Chinese suppliers are now taking advantage by squeezing prices, citing problems with shipments," Babu to be implemented over six years from FY26 through FY32, the scheme has a one-year gestation period for FY26 in case of turnover-linked incentives."It's only natural that MSMEs who are arranging these large sums for investment want to receive it as soon as possible. Informally, the government has assured it will be lenient during final verification and claim approval once ECMS starts by making the process to claim incentives," said a top Delhi-based PCB Centre will be extending the application window for the scheme beyond the initial three-month period, which is set to end on 31 July, MeitY sources confirmed on Thursday. The decision was taken after industry bodies had asked for the same. "Many of the smaller companies who are interested, have to establish channels for sourcing materials, set up joint ventures, and secure technology," Babu insiders are also hopeful of a resolution in the coming months. "China also can't afford to continue an export ban for long, since their companies will begin bleeding and it will place a long term strain on their relations with many countries," Chandak stressed.
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
India signals thaw in China curbs to boost electronics ties
Indian electronics manufacturing would likely see some collaboration with Chinese companies, a top federal official said, signalling a thaw in hitherto enforced strict investment curbs in light of Beijing's dominant three-fifths share in the global electronics ecosystem. "We want to grow our manufacturing capacity. So, some sort of collaboration with China is something we can't avoid," said the official, who declined to be named. "Therefore, we have to be strategic about what we do, and how we do it. But, it has to be done."The official's comments follow the federal nod to a deal between home-grown Dixon Technologies and Chinese original design manufacturer, Longcheer Intelligence Pte. Earlier this month, the Niti Aayog had reportedly proposed that Chinese firms be allowed to acquire up to a 24% stake in Indian companies without requiring additional security clearances. In place since 2020, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade's guidelines mandate foreign direct investment from neighboring countries need prior security clearance from both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.
Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli earn INR 100 crore per year through ads. Sachin Tendulkar in prime…': Ravi Shastri's revelation
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri stunned listeners on the 'Stick to Cricket' podcast—hosted by former England cricketers Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, Phil Tufnell, and David Lloyd—when asked about the earnings of top Indian cricketers. Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni are among the highest earning Indian cricketers(REUTERS) According to Shastri, icons such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Sachin Tendulkar in their prime easily earned over ₹100 crore per year (~£10 million), primarily through brand endorsements. When Vaughan asked for a conversion, Shastri clarified: "They earn a lot. They earn a lot through endorsements, for sure. You know, and upwards of a hundred crores, I would say ten million. You just calculate," Shastri said. Shastri elaborated that these stars could manage anywhere between 15–20 advertisements in a single day during their peak, though packed cricket schedules often limited such opportunities . The former England captains' reaction was immediate and visceral—multiple exclamations of 'Wow!' reverberated in the studio, capturing the enormity of his disclosure. "Someone like an MS Dhoni or a Virat Kohli or a Sachin Tendulkar in his pomp, they would do over 15-20 ads. And it's per day. There's no time. They could easily do more because of the amount of cricket being played. So, you know, they'll do an ad for a year and give it to us and give a day," Shastri added. Shastri placed his revelations within the larger transformation of cricket's commercial landscape in India, which accelerated in two phases -- first after the 1983 World Cup victory and then the rise of the IPL, leading to booming revenues from TV rights, sponsorships, and advertising deals. He also remarked on the immense pressure that comes with such financial and public scrutiny—a life of 'no privacy' and short public memory for failures. The figures highlight how Indian cricket transcends sport to become a commercial juggernaut, rivalling global athletes like Messi or Ronaldo in earnings potential. While central contracts and match fees offer financial stability, the bulk of top players' wealth comes from endorsements. Despite high demand, players could engage in only a few ad shoots a year—due to packed international and domestic calendars.
