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Authentic Gulf cuisine is the order of the day at the Leewan Alkhor, which has opened its doors as the latest addition to the growing dining out experience offered to residents and visitors to The Lagoon on Amwaj Islands.
The restaurant is the brainchild of entrepreneur Abeer Abdul Rahman who wanted to create a first-class eating out destination featuring the very best of Bahraini fare.
Abeer, 33, mother-of-two sons, Esam, four, and Marwan, two, said: "I felt there was a gap in the market for a fine food restaurant offering truly local dishes.
"The venue and the setting had to be right and I think the Lagoon has the potential to be a magnet for diners across the kingdom - it looks good and it feels right."
Despite the recent unrest in the kingdom, the brave businesswomen was determined to see her dream come to fruition and pressed ahead with a 'soft opening' last week. It attracted a full-house of local and expat diners, including the Italian ambassador Enrico Padula and his wife, Milena.
Abeer called upon the expertise of internationally-renowned Bahraini hospitality host, culinary consultant and executive chef Isa Ahmed to work on the project over nine months.
A lot of heart and soul has gone into her investment of around BD50,000 to ensure the ambiance, as well as the taste of the food, conveys an authentic Arabic feel and charm.
Isa started his catering career as a chef with BAPCO and was sent to the UK on a course. He enjoyed the experience so much that he enrolled at the West London College to study catering, gaining the necessary qualifications to make his mark in the profession.
He worked for several leading hotels in London, met his British wife Angela and settled in North East England for 27 years, working in managerial catering positions including head chef of Sunderland University before setting up his own catering company.
He returned home to Bahrain in 2001 as a college tutor before taking up the role of Gulf Air's in-flight catering design manager.
Isa, 59, who has three children, Kieron, 17, Amina, 15, and two-year-old Sami, lives at Busateen, and was all set to retire when he was approached to pick up his apron again and use his skills on a variety of exciting projects.
It has included setting up a cafeteria offering healthy options to more than 1,500 pupils at the British School Bahrain and helping draw up plans for the Leewan Alkhor Restaurant, including designing the menu and pricing the meals, with main courses starting from BD2.
Starters include lentil soup and Arabic Mezza served with bread, hommous, mutabble, taboulah and vine leaves. There are main course salads, curries, a vast array of chicken and lamb dishes, grills and a seafood selection which includes full stuffed baby hamour and Prawn Chebab. The desert selection is just as sweet with Um Ali, cheesecake and apple pie just a few of the offerings.
There is also a variety of fruit juices, tea and coffee to compliment the food.
Isa is particularly proud of the appointment of Head Chef Abbul Hamed whom he described as a 'specialist' when it comes to creating authentic Arabic cuisine.
"All the ingredients are right from the food to the table settings, to the dŽcor and the cutlery," he said. "There is already a vibrant ambiance at Leewan Alkhor, which is hard to capture so early on."
