A bite of inspiration by award-winning Bahraini chef Tala Bashmi

To what do you owe your success?

Hard work, discipline and focus. I have to give credit to the Gulf Hotel for allowing me to study abroad and for giving me the opportunity to take over this restaurant.

Do you follow current trends while planning the menu?

I do not follow trends just because they are trends. One thing that I have learnt about trends in Bahrain is that people like to eat smaller portions and that is what I kept in mind while designing the a la carte menu.

This way, people can order a variety and share. I will cater to how people like to eat, but I will not change my style. Our outdoor lounge features a tapas menu that is perfect for customers to enjoy a drink and have a bite while doing so.

What would you say to women who wish to follow in your footsteps and get into the culinary field?

You cannot rely on your motivation alone to get you to places because some days you wake up and you are not motivated; so, are you not going to do what it takes to achieve your goals? Hard work, discipline and focus are what will get you there.

I was at the farmers market the other day and a woman who saw me there was excited to introduce me to her daughter who wants to be a chef because of me. I met her and said, “If you aim to be a chef, start out at a restaurant for a few months to decide if you actually enjoy it before starting something of your own. You have to be passionate to physically endure the timings, sacrifices and labour that come with being a chef.

Adding a culinary management degree to your existing culinary degree can help a lot when starting your own restaurant and that is what I did when I decided to start my dream restaurant”. Watch chef Tala create her signature dishes when you visit Fusions by Tala.