Bahrain’s young people are being encouraged to turn their passion for food into innovative careers and businesses, as the kingdom’s growing dining scene opens new doors for aspiring chefs and culinary entrepreneurs.
The call is being spearheaded by Strategic Thinking Bloc president, Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman and Bahrain Chamber treasurer Ahmed Al Salloom, who believes Bahraini talent can bring fresh ideas and creativity into the kitchen.
Mr Al Salloom, who also chairs the Bahrain Small and Medium Enterprises Development Society and Better Life Society, said demand for food remained strong across restaurants, cafés, catering and takeaway businesses.
Mr Al Salloom
“There is no loss in food demand – dining and takeaway – so Bahrainis have a huge chance to excel,” he said.
“However, their kitchen art has to be fresh and new.”
He stressed that young Bahrainis should look beyond traditional cooking methods and embrace creativity, innovation and presentation.
Mr Al Salloom recalled recently seeing a person carving watermelons into elaborate comic-book shapes, saying the example demonstrated the possibilities of creativity in food presentation.
“We have skilled Bahrainis. This just needs toning and nurturing and through us in the SMEs society it could be developed.”
He clarified that the watermelon carving example was not of a Bahraini, but said it illustrated the kind of imagination and innovation that could inspire young Bahrainis to explore new areas of culinary art.
Mr Al Salloom said hotels, restaurants and cafés were looking for Bahraini talent, while aspiring entrepreneurs could also explore opportunities to establish their own food businesses with support from Tamkeen.
The initiative is backed by Capital Trustees Board vice-chairwoman Dr Khulood Al Qattan, who is also vice-chairwoman of the Bahrain Small and Medium Enterprises Development Society and Better Life Society.
Dr Al Qattan said Bahrain had a large pool of talented young people capable of taking the country’s culinary sector to a new level.
Dr Al Qattan
“We have a large pool of highly qualified, capable and smart youths who can take the kitchen a step up,” she said.
“I believe that shaping passion into cooking, cheffing and culinary arts would do wonders.”
She said culinary talent should be nurtured so that a young person’s passion could develop into a successful career or business.
“The SMEs society is here to guide and take those interested into greater heights – it needs a sense of creativity and innovation,” she said.
Dr Al Qattan stressed that from innovative food presentation and modern cooking techniques to specialist cuisines, pastry-making and catering, the opportunities are vast.
“With training, mentorship and access to funding, Bahrain’s young culinary enthusiasts could turn their skills into thriving businesses while helping give the kingdom’s food scene a distinctive new flavour,” she added.
“The message is simple: the next big Bahraini culinary success could begin with a young person daring to do something differently in the kitchen.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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