Stepping out in style

Great food and classy looks staged in one of Bahrain's top restaurants amongst an appreciative audience marked a 'Women's Day' celebration in the kingdom.

Monday morning saw the main stairway of Japanese restaurant Bushido in Seef transform into a catwalk with 19 members of the American Women's Association (AWA) sashaying a selection of clothes from leading fashion brands retailed by US store Saks Fifth Avenue.

The 'sold out' show was watched by more than 230 women including royals, diplomats and members of the group, which boasts representatives from more than 30 nations.

Mona Omar, president of AWA, said the annual event was a long standing tradition, adding: "We are excited and enthused because this gives our members - who are mums and grandmothers, home makers and corporate executives - an opportunity to go outside their comfort zone and build their confidence in a friendly environment.

"The event is also an opportunity to enjoy a meal together, say thank you to members for their volunteering efforts in the community and spreading the word around. We rely on our members' volunteering to make things happen."

Choreographed to the theme of summer and love, the colourful collection of clothes was designed to suit regular women who are not professional models. It included sports wear, casual and cocktail dresses and elegant evening gowns, some of which cost up to BD1, 000.

There were track suits in various colours embellished with embroidery and flowing and off-the-shoulder gowns and dresses in silk, linen and chiffon.

Trousers with matching jackets to suit the busy executive was also on show. Accessories such as handbags and high-heeled shoes and beautifully embroidered flip flops completed the look.

For the finale, models carried fans donated by the Japanese Embassy as a fitting tribute to the Japanese-style restaurant which staged the show.

Fashion designer, model trainer and fitness instructor Adriana Skaloud choreographed the event. A recent AWA recruit who came into the kingdom seven months ago, Adriana said that preparations for the show began in December last year.

She said: "We are dealing with regular women here and my first job was to train them in front of mirrors and try and get them to a similar level on the catwalk.

"Dresses are the most important part of the event and these ladies had to be trained to walk, turn, make poses and carry their handbags."

The make-up for the models came courtesy of Ashrafs and hair was styled by Allure.

The menu's theme was 'healthy food for healthy women' and the selection of food on offer gave an introduction to the different types of cooking practised at the restaurant.

'Edamame', which is steamed soya beans with rock salt, 'California roll' from the sushi counter and 'beef cheese roll' were offered as appetisers. 'Tsukune', or chicken on skewers baked on a traditional Japanese charcoal grill called robata that has some special flavours and adds a special taste to the items and 'ika robata' a fish skewer were next on offer.

General manager Nicolas Budzynski said: "An important aspect of Japanese cooking is that it is very healthy. No oil is being used."

The main course offered chicken teppanyaki and salmon teppanyaki in vege sauce. Generally this is part of a 'live' cooking station where the guests get to see the method in which the dishes are cooked.

Mr Budzynski added: "We have tried to expose the ladies to the different tastes and different flavours available. The main concept of our restaurant is sharing.

"Although we have 'fine dining' in terms of the quality of the food, the Bushido experience is about spending time with your friends and not a time when you are bothering about how to handle your fork and your knife and being too fancy."

A special vegetarian selection was also made available.