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This Ramadan, Al Khayma at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa has taken on a new look for the holy month under the guidance of design consultant Ammar Basheir.
Away from the traditional lanterns and expected colour pallets, the aim has been to transform the venue into an 'extraordinary feast for the eyes' that is harmonic and pleasantly surprising.
The concept has been named YALSA which comes from the Arabic meaning 'gathering' as Ramadan is a time for family and friends to join together and to allow people to bond more.
The entrance features a collection of rotating panels that combine gold, silver, stone and wood panels, all an indication of luxury, to produce a lavish reception to the contemporary Arabic tent, accompanied by oversized mother-of-pearl pots which look like the pillars holding this light and spacious arena.
Geometric cubes clad the walls of YALSA, adding a dramatic statement of design that introduces the different shapes - highlighting the aura an Arabesque feature can carry in its simplest form.
The grey-blue hues provide a dash of colour that is consistent and soothing to the eye. Accents of gold, white and brown are also added to combine the different interior design elements.
The abience of the tent is matched by the majesty of the Iftar and Ghabga feasts. Oriental Chef Abbas Ebrahim from Bahrain is once again the main man behind this year's Ramadan tent culinary delights with the support of Executive Chef David Gache and the entire team.
Abbas places special emphasis on not just the final product but the basic ingredients that composes the dishes. Fresh quality products are a key to producing the best flavours, especially the Lamb Harris, a traditional local favourite.
Chef Abbas, having spent more than 10 years with The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, reinforces the need to have such traditional offerings on the menu every Ramadan - from the quality of the lamb/beef to the tenderness of the Harris Beans that are used to complete the dish.
Chef Abbas's special touch is completing it with cinnamon because of the natural flavour that it brings to the dish.
