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Romance will be on the menu at Romano's Macaroni Grill Restaurant as it prepares a special menu for couples on Valentine's Day.
Sweethearts will be able to savour the flavour of pasta or pizza with an Italian soda in the backdrop of the bustling dining street in Juffair.
The popular venue aims to entice guests with a set menu featuring an appetiser, a soup, salad, main course options including steak or salmon and pasta or mushroom ravioli, as well as dessert and after-dinner drinks such as tea or coffee all for only BD16 net per couple.
Ensuring that atmosphere will be fitting for the occasion is the restaurant's manager, Donn Ryan who at just 26 has gained an impressive amount of knowledge and experience in all aspects of the business.
In fact, he joined Romano's Macaroni Grill in Kuwait in 2007 as a server and so impressed the management with his dedication, drive and enthusiasm that within two years he was training and producing the fare in the kitchen as chef.
Mr Ryan, who now lives in Gudaibiya, was then plucked out by company executives and sent to the brand's headquarters in the US for intensive managerial training. He was later transferred to the Bahrain branch and joined the outlet as its manager.
He said: "I started working at the age of 17 back home in the Philippines. Having worked for various restaurants and hotels I was able to gain valuable know-how about the hospitality sector, especially in the kitchen.
"As a chef I was able to further enhance my knowledge and learn about maintaining quality standards."
Following the Valentine's special, the restaurant will introduce a new menu later this month featuring the Spiedini, an exciting new twist to the standard grills and kababs normally found across the kingdom.
Unique to Italian-Mediterranean cuisine, Spiedinis are Italian versions of meat kababs skewered on small 'spiedo' or spits. The grilling, which is fairly simple, involves top-quality, tender meats, marinated lightly with delicate Italian herbs and spices and grilled over hardwood coals.
The new Spiedini menu will feature chicken, beef, jumbo shrimp, lamb and salmon. Romano's Macaroni Grill restaurant, much like the Italians, believes that eating well should be a pleasure, added Mr Ryan.
Inspired by the Mediterranean way of cooking along Italy's coast, the recipes require the finest ingredients such as imported artisan pastas, vine-ripened tomatoes, colourful vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemons, selected seafood, grilled meats and fresh, fragrant herbs.
Locals living in the Italian Mediterranean region have a popular saying: 'Pay the farmer or pay the doctor', meaning that if you eat well, you will feel well.
"It is a simple philosophy that's brought to life in the fresh, delicious recipes for which Italy is so famous," said Mr Ryan. "To make sure the natural flavours come through and every distinct ingredient complements the recipe as a whole, our chefs skillfully craft exceptionally flavourful and colourful dishes that not only taste delicious, but are also good for you. This is the essence of fine Mediterranean cooking."
Contact Romano's Macaroni Grill Restaurant for more details by calling 17723818.
The restaurant shares its Beef Speidini recipe with GulfWeekly readers
Beef Speidini
Ingredients:
Roasted vegetables 7 oz
Beef skewers 2 each
Sea salt 1/8 tsp
Black pepper 1/8 tsp
Rosemary sprig 2 ea
Lemon for garnish
Procedure:
Place vegetables in an aluminum pie tin and place in oven and cook for three to five minutes. Place beef skewers on grill and season with salt and black pepper and cook for approximately two minutes. Season second side with salt and black pepper and grill for an additional two minutes. Once done, place them both on the plate and garnish with lemon.
