THREE of the kingdom’s popular restaurants have proven they have the sizzle, flavour and bite to compete with top eateries from across the Middle East and North Africa.
Fusions by Tala, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay’s CUT by Wolfgang Puck and Masso have made it on a coveted culinary list – The Middle East and North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants which is a celebration of the leading places to nibble and dine across 19 countries.
“I’m beyond proud of what my team has achieved,” said Bahrain’s celebrated chef Tala Bashmi who leads the third-placed Fusions by Tala team at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain, Convention and Spa. “To be able to shine among the best restaurants in the region is unbelievable. We don’t have an unlimited budget and resources, no big PR backing us. We’re a small team from humble beginnings and our grit and determination are what got us this far.”
The 34-year-old former Ibn Khuldoon National School pupil and ex-captain of the Venus Ladies Football Club, who is known for transforming traditional Middle Eastern cuisine into contemporary works of culinary art, is also thrilled that the restaurant whisked up the ‘Highest Climber for 2023’ accolade, after moving a record 36 spots since 2022 on the list. Fusions by Tala has also won the ‘Best Restaurant in Bahrain’ title.
Last year, Chef Tala was rewarded with the Middle East and North Africa’s Best Female Chef Award and her goal to create a culinary renaissance for Middle Eastern food and for Bahrain by ensuring every bite contains both the past and the future, is what sealed the restaurant’s success.
Meanwhile, CUT by Wolfgang Puck came in at 25 on the list for serving up premium cuts and 180-degrees views of Manama in an elegant and warm setting with Philadelphia-born Executive Chef Brian Becher at the helm.
“I am unbelievably grateful that the CUT team has been recognised with the most prestigious restaurant honour our property has ever achieved,” said Chef Becher. “Honestly, we were overjoyed just to be included on this list of chefs and restaurateurs who are at the top of their game. We were nothing short of shocked to be named in the top 25 across the 19-country region. I am so unbelievably proud of the team whose unwavering commitment to the simple vision of serving food we like to people we like has brought themselves this recognition.”
Chef Brian worked at Wolfgang Puck American Grille at the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City for six years before leaving the US for the many opportunities Bahrain and the Four Seasons had to offer. The restaurant and chef have been on the receiving end of several prestigious prizes since it opened in 2014.
Masso’s fine dining inspired by Mediterranean flavours landed the restaurant a 31st placing. Executive Chef Steeven Gilles’ signature dish is salt-crusted sea bass with sauce vierge, and Masso’s other crowd-pleasing creations include smoked short-rib croquettes with black truffle mayonnaise, lobster salad with baby gem confit tomatoes, red onion and parmesan cheese, plus grilled Spanish octopus with caponata, lemon, garlic and chilli dressing, the judges said.
The team said it was ‘honoured and humbled’ to have been recognised. “Being listed on MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants is a dream come true and a validation of our commitment to delivering an exceptional culinary experience to our guests,” added Chef Steeven. “I would also like to congratulate the other recognised restaurants and chefs in Bahrain for being ranked on the MENA top 50 restaurant list and for elevating the culinary merit of the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
The culinary stars recently joined other chefs and food and travel executives from all over the region at the list unveiling and award ceremony in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, to celebrate their gastronomic and hospitality successes while also promoting the culinary strength and diversity of the region as a whole.
The list, which was first launched in 2022, aims to reflect the finest experiences of the Middle East and North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy which is made up of an influential group of 250 leaders in the restaurant industry across the region selected for their expert opinion of MENA gastronomy scene.
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