Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Fresh fine food with a European flavour, a sprinkle of fun thrown in and the chance to soak up the sun by the pool are all on the menu at the Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre’s new Friday Family Brunch experience.
The hotel’s venture into this highly-competitive marketplace has been fairly low-key to date but it is already attracting an impressive loyal following as it makes a niche for itself.
Family is the key word at the Kempinski which was made clear from the moment Micky and Minnie started cuddling the children at the entrance to the Saveur Restaurant and posing for photographs.
I was hoping to meet up again with my old playmate, Executive Chef Holger Jackisch (readers may recall that he put me through my paces in the kitchen over the festive season) but unfortunately he has been sent to help launch the new Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Baie Lazare, a luxury complex on the island of Mahe. A tough break, but someone has to do it.
So, whilst the boss is away on a three-month exercise, sorry, task-force challenge, Executive Sous Chef Stefanos Melianos is ensuring the Friday Family Brunch continues to swing along in style and with the same award-winning panache which helped Holger win a coveted ‘best brunch’ accolade in Dubai.
And swing it certainly does with a superb jazzy piano player tinkling on the ivories near the entrance. There is nothing like a little classy live music to stimulate the appetite.
“This is a gourmet brunch,” explained Chef Stefanos, “with the freshest ingredients and simply prepared for those who enjoy very straight forward, high quality food.”
The team of chefs are on their toes, all 25 of them, with their own pasta, sushi and meat-cooked-to-order stations amid a huge variety of European buffet delights just waiting to be dished up.
The soups were sensational with a choice of porcini cream with baked Asiago cheese or Lobster essence with basil and crab ravioli, the latter being exquisite with its tasty pasta package.
The poached beef tenderloin was mouth-watering but my father-in-law, Brian, visiting from the UK and a no-nonsense meat and two veg Yorkshire-man, wanted his ‘Sunday roast’ and wasn’t disappointed with the impressive beef joint on display.
Liking his food ‘well done’ he proceeded to take a thick juicy slice and ask the chef at hand to take it away for a grilling. It was returned a few minutes later to his table as ordered and the man from Hull was impressed. “Absolutely gorgeous,” was the verdict.
The children’s corner was popular too with a big screen TV and drawing materials readily available to get tucked into after being fed and watered.
Little Stan loved the pizza and chocoholic Immy was impressed by the fresh fruit fondue.
Word must have spread that the good lady wife, Kathryn, is a crème brûlée connoisseur because in the sweet section there was a choice of two. She tried both, of course, and another point was notched by the kitchen team.
Nothing could beat the home-made steam puddings (with a choice of sauces), in my opinion. But leave room for the impressive spread of cheeses with a coffee to conclude the meal.
I’m always impressed when I see senior members of staff and their families tucking into a restaurant’s fare and I spotted Sander Ackermans, the hotel’s recently-appointed director of food & beverages, entertaining his wife, Amel, and their daughter Maya, 14-months, who had just arrived to join him in Bahrain after a stay in Algeria.
“Word of mouth is spreading and the Friday Family Brunch is growing each week in popularity,” he said. “People like to try out new things and it’s exciting to see guests returning with their friends because they want to see for themselves how good it is.”
The brunch costs BD19++, with children aged 6-12 half-price, and those under six, free. Soft drinks and coffee are included in the price and the bar is open for other beverages.
The food is fabulous and the service faultless. An added bonus of the Kempinski family brunch experience is the opportunity to enjoy the hotel’s fabulous pool situated in the open area on the third floor, just past the spa, for the rest of the afternoon.
With trained lifeguards on duty, the children can splash about in complete safety as their parents chill, shaded from the harsh sun under umbrellas or stretched out on the cool carbanas. What a life, what a luxury.
Kathryn fancied a spot of shopping but I was too full to move. Maybe next time, darling.
