Meet Ola Kayal: Chef and Environmentalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ola Kayal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ola, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
When I was in culinary school 5 years ago, I studied culinary trends and discussed the effects of food production and consumption. I studied sustainable business before that and it is a topic that is very close to my heart. I also had a class called product development where each student had 11 weeks to develop a complete ready to sell product. Mine was Plant-based ice-cream! I wanted to create ice cream that is healthy, nutrient dense and environmentally friendly. It was quite the challenge. Since, ice cream’s main ingredients are milk (dairy), sugar and eggs; the animal agriculture industry has become extremely detrimental to our health and the health of our planet, and white processed sugar is basically poison. I had to avoid using these ingredients and after a lot of trail and error I found the perfect creamy balance guilt free! Fast forward 5 years later, I was in Miami for the first time and I saw a great opportunity to bring my project to life. Nabati is redefining ice cream! Everything is made in house from scratch in Wynwood . The base of the ice cream is cashews and coconuts. It is naturally sweetened with: dates, maple syrup and coconut sugar. Enhanced with Maca and Lucuma superfood powders and all the ingredients are organically sourced. All in all its a guilt free treat that is actually good for you! Nabati ice creams and desserts are all created without harming any animals. The ingredients are organic and clean. It is created to provide a healthy nutrient dense dessert selection that is just as good if not better than the real thing. No gums, fillers, emulsifiers are added to guarantee a feel good sensation after consumption. On top of that Nabati aspires to be zero waste. The raw material is purchased in bulk, all the service ware is completely biodegradable. The shop is plastic free, offers a 5% discount to anyone that brings their own container. Nabati also composts all food and biodegradable non food waste and is a drop off zone for local residential to compost. I am proud to say Nabati is saving the world one scoop at a time!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Ever since I was little I dreamed of having my own little bakery. I never imagined it would be plant based ice cream and desserts and I never thought it would be in Miami! I am very proud that It ended up that way. Starting a delicious, healthy ice cream and dessert store that is good for the health and the environment gives me joy and purpose. Offering a dessert haven to vegans, environmentalist and the health conscious really sets me apart from all other dessert stores. Nabati is not your typical ice cream store. Everything is made from scratch with only natural, organic and nutrient dense ingredients. Nabati is also the first plant based ice cream shop in Miami and has been awarded and recognised by PETA. However, we don’t only serve ice cream. We serve all sorts of desserts, milkshakes, custom cakes, smoothies and Bowls and we are completely plastic free! Nothing about my Nabati venture was easy. I moved from London to open the shop in Miami. Where I started everything from zero! Far from family and friends taking advantage of the everlasting sunshine and the Miami style. Six months after my opening Lockdown happened but I was committed to taking my brand to the next level. I am fully invested in creating guilt free ice cream and desserts and taking my brand to the next level. My goal is to provide the entire world delicious healthy dessert alternatives. Nabati is redefining the meaning of desserts and is committed to saving the world one scoop at a time!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite place in Miami is the beach! Laying under the sun with delicious plant based snacks, swimming in the ocean and enjoying the beautiful sunset. I love nature so we would definitely visit the everglades to see the wildlife the tropics has to provide. Of course we would have to enjoy a few dinners out. Probably visit Planta and Full Bloom. Walk around Wynwood take pictures with the graffiti on the walls and get Charlys vegan tacos!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland. The school that provided me with all the necessary tools to become the chef that I am. Preparation is key to run a smooth kitchen. It also applies to real life! Thank you CAA for the best experience and great connections across the globe!

Website: https://www.nabatiicecream.com/
Instagram: @nabatiicecream
Linkedin: Ola Kayal
Facebook: Nabati