Bahraini Tala Bashmi wins first MENA's Best Female Chef Award

TDT  | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Tala Bashmi often referred to as the spirit of modern Bahraini cuisine, has been named the winner of the first Middle East & North Africa’s Best Female Chef Award 2022.

Chef patron of Fusions by Tala in Manama, Chef Tala will be presented with the inaugural award at the debut edition of MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, in Abu Dhabi in February.

The much-coveted award forms part of the 50 Best organisation’s mission to honour female role models within the culinary industry and represents the first pre-announced award of the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 programme.

Over 200 independent restaurant industry experts and well-travelled gourmets from across the region have voted for the award. None of the sponsors has any influence over the voting process, organisers said.

MENA’s Best Female Chef Award aims to support and promote inclusivity in the culinary sphere and provide the opportunity for female role models to inspire future generations of young women to reach for the heights of their chosen profession.

A passion for creating nostalgic culinary experiences for her guests drives Bahraini-born, Swiss-trained Tala.

She learned about Middle Eastern cuisine and her cultural identity from her father Ibrahim Bashmi through his in-depth knowledge of the ingredients used.

"I first realised I wanted to become a chef when I fed someone a single bite, and I saw the pure joy on their face. Nothing can replace that," she said.

"My family always inspired me with ingredients, with dishes. So I thought I had to legitimize myself and study and work towards becoming the best chef I can be.".

This education soon turned into a calling as Tala witnessed first-hand the joy that a well-prepared dish could bring. Beginning her career through a home venture called Baked by T, the chef’s desserts became especially famous in Bahrain, garnering her numerous fans.

Following this initial success, Tala joined the Culinary Arts Academy in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she gained a Masters in International Business in Culinary Management.

During her time in Europe, she held roles at the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois and Michelin-starred restaurant Prisma, learning how to run restaurant operations as well as working in fast-paced kitchen environments.

Upon her return to the Middle East, Chef Tala competed in the acclaimed MBC show Top Chef (the Middle East & North Africa) show, finishing in the finals and showcasing the modernised Bahraini cuisine that she would become famous for.

She took over Fusions by Tala, at the Gulf Hotel, Bahrain, in September 2017 priding herself on the concept’s willingness to experiment with ingredients and techniques used around the world and incorporating these into native Bahraini dishes.

The restaurant was renovated and relaunched as Fusions by Tala in February 2020.

"The whole experience starts as soon as you get out of the elevator. We have an amazing terrace where we invite our guests to enjoy a drink before dinner," Tala said.

"We then walk our guests in, to start their dining experience; and the first thing that will catch their eye is the open kitchen. I’ve designed the restaurant for this to be the focal point, for people to watch us perform, to watch our plate in a symphony."

Signature creations include Bamia, traditional okra and meat stew developed using offcuts and modernised using wagyu beef cheek, crispy okra glass and tomato broth rice, to capture the essence of the original dish. Tala feels she should use her skills to make sure there are no confines to her passion, no limits to her creativity.

"Being a chef means I can do what I love every single day. My philosophy is to kind of reshape how people see food, by creating a focus and setting the stage. I see what we do as performance and what we are doing is giving you a show, an experience that hopefully, you won't forget," she said.

"So my goal when opening the restaurant was to kind of re-educate my local audience and show them my food and our food in a new light. And for foreigners who have never experienced our food or tasted it, to learn about our memories and our history."

Tala has been going to the traditional souk since a young age, fascinated by the aromas, captivated by the sounds, mesmerized by the colours. To her, they are always an endless source of inspiration.

"Bahrain is an island, we’re surrounded by the sea, and we love seafood. It’s also a culture where we make the most of what we have. We try to make it enough and abundant for everyone. What I am trying to do is create this culinary renaissance for Middle Eastern food and Bahrain especially."

Her devotion to Bahrain's culinary heritage was eventually recognized internationally.

“It is an absolute honour to be awarded the first-ever Best Female Chef award as part of the inaugural MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022,” said Tala.

“It has always been a dream to put my culinary heritage on the global map, highlighting it not only within the MENA region but around the world. One of my main goals as a chef is to bridge the gap between high-end gastronomy and simple food, making each meal a journey.”

William Drew, Director of Content for 50 Best said the Best Female Chef award series "celebrates chefs whose skills, creativity and dedication within the industry reach new bounds."

"Chef Tala epitomizes the spirit of this award with her ardent commitment to highlighting Bahraini cuisine around the world whilst simultaneously modernising many of its traditional dishes. She is a hugely worthy winner of the inaugural MENA’s Best Female Chef title and we are very excited to celebrate her, along with leading chefs and restaurateurs from across the region, at the awards event in Abu Dhabi in February.”

The inaugural Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will be hosted in the UAE Capital on February 7, supported by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT).

The first edition of the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants event programme, including the awards ceremony and unveiling of the list, provides a unique opportunity for chefs, gourmets, and food and travel media from all over the region to gather and celebrate cuisine and hospitality, whilst also promoting the culinary strength and diversity of the region to a global audience.

Other pre-announced awards in the lead up to the inaugural event and reveal of MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 will include the Foodics Icon Award on January 11 and the One To Watch Award on January 25.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions.

By working in partnership with the organisations that define the Emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the Emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.    DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the Emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. It works to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.