I used to have a little jape to myself in my larger BISR (before I started running) days that I was a ‘see food’ man … see food and I would eat it!
Nowadays, I eat sensibly and only dine out just once-a-week for work purposes, in a bid to stay fit and healthy.
And, today I am a sincere ‘sea food’ fan and where better to enjoy my favourite fare than the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay. The dining destination has expanded its regular seafood night, led by Executive Chef Stefano Andreoli.
Bahrain Bay Kitchen restaurant’s new Thursday evening concept, Fisherman’s Night, specialises in delicious seafood cuisine made from the freshest local ingredients.
Inspired by the Arabian Gulf and the exotic fish markets in the kingdom of Bahrain, Chef Stefano and his team are proudly showcasing an innovative menu displayed on the inviting counters of the seafood bar with fresh oysters, mussels, octopus and prawns, and smoked fish, as well as the sushi and nigiri stations serving locally sourced products and the freshest seafood, flown in from different parts of the world by the food and beverage team.
Signature items include whole salt-baked salmon, an impressive ‘fish boat’ loaded with red snapper, hammour fish, kingfish, Sultan Ibrahim, sea bass, fresh shrimp, Omani prawns and lobster, green mussels, blue swimming crabs, salmon and clams, not to mention hammour Sayadia and the seafood tagine and Seafood Tikka Salad.
Diners were also treated to the sensational sounds of singer Sandra Tremblay and her soul mate Alex Le Kid, who was sporting a pair of shades at the weekend, not to look cool but to counter the effects of an irritating eye infection. He still managed to focus superbly and strum along in style.
Good music, good food, what more could you want?
To get in the mood my chosen starter was a tantalising Lobster Bisque Soup, totally lip-smacking. Chef Moustafa then arrived around the tables with a little tray of treats in the shape of fried octopus.
The sizable sea bass was too tempting and I ordered mine steamed. The good lady wife, Kathryn, prefers her fish cooked a little longer and we proceeded to have a heated discussion over whether her slightly brown-lined pieces had been grilled or griddled and whether there was any difference between the methods, or just another piece of American-English coming into play.
(Note: Check out YouTube for Michael McIntyre explaining how Americans feel the need to simplify English words to the extreme!)
As a sweet ending, Pastry Chef Imad Boukli has prepared a wide variety of desserts – all matching the concept of the seafood cuisine. The mouth-watering chocolate mousse, the butterscotch cheesecake and the chocolate-hazelnut crunchy cake are his favourites, which he personally recommends as a must-try!
I recommend the Apple Crumble, no surprise there, the Dates Cheese Cake and Kathryn’s favourite, the Vanilla Crème Brulèe.
Fisherman’s Night is priced at BD21++ per person excluding beverages, available every Thursday from 7pm until 11pm, until June. Reservations at Bahrain Bay Kitchen can be made by calling 17115500.
