Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Al Areen Palace & Spa’s Ramadan tent has been transformed into a World Cup wonderland with football-themed décor and treats, comfy couches and a super large screen to watch the sporting action in style.
The tent was already attracting food lovers from across the island with its tasty Turkish grills and traditional décor and now Sumon Ghosh, the assistant outlet manager who handles the entire food and beverage division at the hotel, believes it will entice football fanatics across the island and beyond.
The Al Qasr Tent can accommodate around 150 to 170 guests comfortably and the opening game between Saudi Arabia and FIFA World Cup 2018 hosts Russia attracted a large contingent from across the causeway.
Sumon said: “The World Cup experience here is unique and you will not get this kind of ambiance and décor everywhere. We have created a special menu for the World Cup that’s nicely categorised and themed around the players.
“The main attraction of the tent is the huge screen and the comfortable couches. There is a great ambience here with lighting to help create the atmosphere. We simply want to share the football fever with our guests and hope they all enjoy the experience.”
The BD2 soft drink selection is also based on a World Cup theme with refreshing delights such as Dribbled by Neymar, Tackled by Salah and Saved by David De Gea and on second thoughts, be careful you don’t drop the last one!
The waiting staff members have also got wrapped up in soccer style by wearing different coloured jerseys that score with visiting fans.
Meanwhile, Executive Chef Janardan Das and his team of chefs have created finger foods and bites to ensure guests can enjoy the cuisine without missing any of the action and avoiding messy spills in the penalty area.
The Forwards are a selection of cold appetisers including items such as hummus and tabouleh. The Midfielder features hot nibbles such as falafels and kibbeh. The Defenders star superb grilled halloumi sandwiches, crispy fried shrimp, mini chicken and beef burgers with French fries, oven-cooked Shuwa sliders - whole lamb sliced into mini buns with fries, mixed grills and more. The Goalkeepers section offers dessert with Arabian favourites Umm Ali and kunafa leading the line.
The tournament’s opening match also attracted members of the media and a celebrity mix of sporting stars including members of the Bahrain national football squad and Bahraini bodybuilding champion, Sami Al Haddad.
It was the last chance to tuck into the iftar buffet, which has already received a rave review on this page. The salads, cheese slices, grills, French toast, rice dishes and creamy pasta all lived up to their reputation.
My husband Sam dressed in green to show his support for our neighbours across the causeway and looked as dejected after the match as the Saudis in the crowd after the crushing 5-0 defeat.
Fans can experience the sporting vibes every day until July 15, when the tournament comes to a final conclusion. The tent will be open an hour before the first scheduled match begins and will end around 45 minutes after the last match is played.
It’s a minimum spend of BD8 net and fans can utilise that inside with choices of food and beverages included on the menu.
