The latest Counter Culture collaboration reimagines Korean flavours through handcrafted phyllo with a limited-edition Bulgogi Pie inspired by the iconic kkwabaegi.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 21 August 2026: The most memorable dishes don’t belong to just one culture.
They borrow, evolve and tell stories that travel across borders.
For the fifth edition of counter culture, piehaus continues its tradition of unexpected collaborations by partnering with 1004 Gourmet, bringing together Korean food culture and piehaus’ signature phyllo craft through one limited-edition creation.
The collaboration is one that has been years in the making. piehaus and 1004 Gourmet have known and worked with one another for years, and now, as neighbours in Alserkal Avenue, counter culture edition 005 offered the perfect opportunity to finally create something together.
Dubai’s destination for authentic Korean ingredients and speciality foods, 1004 Gourmet has long played a role in connecting the city with the flavours and ingredients found in kitchens across Korea. For counter culture edition 005, that connection becomes the starting point for a new conversation: what happens when the flavours and familiar forms of Korean food meet piehaus’ handcrafted phyllo?
At the centre of the collaboration is the Bulgogi Pie (AED 75), created using ingredients sourced from 1004 Gourmet and shaped in a nod to kkwabaegi, Korea’s much-loved twisted doughnut. Rather than simply placing bulgogi inside phyllo, the team went a step further, exploring both flavour and form to create something distinctly its own.
Hand-stretched phyllo is shaped into the distinctive twisted silhouette and filled with bulgogi-marinated beef, caramelised onions and shimeji mushrooms, bringing together layers of savoury, sweet and umami flavour. Finished with mixed sesame seeds and served alongside spicy mixed pickle, each element adds another layer of Korean influence while retaining the delicate, crisp craftsmanship that defines piehaus.
The result is something that feels both familiar and unexpected. The comforting flavours of bulgogi meet the flaky layers of phyllo, while the playful kkwabaegi-inspired shape creates a visual connection to Korean food culture.
“We’ve known and worked with the 1004 team for years, and now that we’re neighbours in Alserkal, it felt like the right time to finally make something together. Putting bulgogi into phyllo would have been the obvious thing to do. The fun was going further – borrowing the familiar form of kkwabaegi and seeing where our phyllo craft could take it. That’s really what counter culture is about: taking something familiar and making something neither of us would have made alone,” says Stasha Toncev, Founder of piehaus and 21grams.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with our friends at piehaus. Counter Culture is such a creative initiative that brings the community together through food, and we’re excited to be part of it. We look forward to sharing our own Korean take on the pie and, most importantly, seeing everyone enjoy it,” adds Chang Sup Shin, CEO of 1004 Gourmet.
Created as an ongoing platform for unexpected collaborations, counter culture has previously celebrated chefs, producers and artisans whose work and stories shape the way we eat. For edition 005, that spirit comes to life through a long-standing relationship, a shared Alserkal neighbourhood and a curiosity to create something new together.
Available for a limited time at piehaus, counter culture edition 005 invites guests to experience an unexpected take on a Korean favourite – one twist, fold and handcrafted bite at a time.
Details
Where:
piehaus, Alserkal Avenue, Warehouse 22A, Dubai
When: Available from 31st August to 13th September for a limited time.
Limited-Edition Menu
Bulgogi Pie – AED 75
Handcrafted phyllo filled with bulgogi-marinated beef, caramelised onions and shimeji mushrooms.
