QUICK BITES WITH TALA BASHMI

Favourite chefs: Andoni Luis Aduriz from Restaurante Muaritz; Heston Blumenthal and Grant Achatz from Alinea. They are all based on their philosophy and how they approach food, although I have not tasted their foods yet. They all think out of the box – their theatrics and concept of dining keep diners thinking.

Soul food: Chicken broth soup

An ingredient that I must have in my kitchen: Salt. I use eight different types of salt in my kitchen.

On veganism: I think it’s the way forward. When you have a standalone restaurant, you can decide what you serve. However, as part of a hotel you have to be mindful of customer expectation. I am a lot more aware of what I serve and what I do not. It is very hard for a chef nowadays to create ethical food. I am much aware and try to limit certain items. I think vegetable base is the way forward. A trend would be to serve a blue dessert.

On work-life balance: I have dedicated all of my time to what I do. I have missed a lot of special occasions, and since the pandemic my mentality has shifted towards valuing the importance these moment. So now, I am planning towards finding a balance and working towards it.

If I was not a chef... I would have been lost, I don’t see myself doing anything else.

Awards & recognition:

✔ MBC Top Chef Season 4 Finalist. Winning 4 challenges in a row including quarter-final and semi-final

✔ Co-host of Vice Arabia and Munchies series ‘Mal Awaal’ Showing on Munchies global, and Vice Arabia Channels

✔ Runner-up – Bahrain Delonghi Chef Competition competition (2017) at The Ritz Carlton Bahrain

✔ Runner-up - ‘Chopped’ competition judged by Chef Wolfgang Puck (2015) at his Four Season’s Bahrain Restaurant The Cut.

✔ Bronze Medal - Dubai World Hospitality Championship (2014) as member of the Bahrain team.

IAA Social Media Award (2013)

✔ Personal home business ‘Baked by T’ social media account awarded by Information Affairs Authority (Bahrain)

✔ TCBY Frozen Yogurt Co. collaboration (2013) Invitation to collaborate on new yogurt flavour as ‘Baked by T’