Bahrain: A Popular Bahraini eatery will be honoured at a major event in Dubai for being the oldest independent Italian restaurant in the region.
Cico’s Italian Restaurant will receive the honour during the Italian Cuisine World Summit next month.
The traditional-style Trattoria, which opened in 1978, has also been invited to take part in the event – which brings together the best Italian restaurants, Michelin-starred chefs, food producers and culinary experts to showcase Italian cuisine and educate consumers.
Last year’s edition involved 60 Italian restaurants from Dubai, 45 Michelin-starred chefs and 80 partners, attracting more than 120,000 people, and organisers are hoping to fare even better this year.
“Cico’s will be the only Bahrain-based restaurant participating in the summit and we have also been told they will present us with an award for being the oldest independent Italian restaurant in the region and our pioneering work towards promoting Italian cuisine and culture,” said Ali Al Zayani, managing director of the restaurant’s parent company Faieq Alzayani Company.
Now regarded as an institution, Cico’s has been a popular destination for generations of both Bahrainis and expats – with its almost 40-year history framed in the multitude of pictures that adorn its walls.
Celebrity diners have included Fidel Castro Jr, Run DMC, Guns N’ Roses, British and Arab royalty, Mark Thatcher, Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi, Jermaine Jackson, a Miss World, CNN’s Charles Jaco, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Formula One drivers and management, US military chiefs, government ministers and ambassadors.
In 2005, it was named Best Restaurant at the International
Hotel and Restaurant Awards in Madrid, but Mr Al Zayani revealed its participation in the Italian Cuisine World Summit was the result of a chance meeting.
“The restaurant’s name was brought up in a conversation between a top chef that we earlier hosted and organisers of the event,” said Mr Al Zayani.
“I received an invitation and flew to Dubai to give the organisers all the required details about the restaurant.
“Our restaurant is the first from Bahrain to participate in this event in all its editions.”
Next month will be the eighth edition of the Italian Cuisine World Summit and it will run from November 7 to 17.
Cico’s staff will travel to the event to take part in competitions that include Best Pizza, Best Pasta, Best Risotto, Best Espresso and Best Cocktail.
They will be getting tips in advance from Master Chef finalist and TV personality Alida Gotta and
Ristorante Allegri restaurant owner and chef Federico Allegri, who will be serving up their creations during an eight-day event at Cico’s from next Tuesday.
“They will hopefully be sharing new ideas with us so we can be prepared for the major event,” said Mr Al Zayani.
“We have been hosting internationally-known chefs like Alida and Federico since last year because our aim is to have the best dishes.”
Highlights of the Dubai event include a Speciality Food Festival from November 7 to 9, which will feature cooking demonstrations and competitions from Italian Michelin-starred chefs, and the United Nations by Italian Cuisine Gala Dinner, which will see 180 cooks from 18 nations – representing a total of 36 Michelin stars – prepare a dinner for 600 guests.
The dinner aims to be the largest Italian culinary show outside Italy.
shahlaa@gdn.com.bh
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