True taste of Italy

The recently renovated Silk's Restaurant at the Moevenpick Hotel in Muharraq is inviting food lovers to its special 'Taste of Italy' theme nights each Wednesday.

Food and beverage manager Francesco Agus has helped create the concept with a touch of fine-dining eloquence he has captured from home.

To ensure the taste of the food remains authentic he sought the advice of leading chefs ... and even asked his wife and mother-in-law for help.

After four months of preparation the restaurant recently opened with musicians serenading guests with Italian classics and the feedback from diners has been enthusiastic.

He said: "Being Italian I grew up always cooking with my mother. The hotel has not featured an Italian theme night so we thought it an ideal time to introduce it to the kingdom. We will also be adding some well-known Italian dishes to our regular menu.

"We want our diners to experience the real and authentic taste of Italy. The opening night was great and we got some really welcoming responses from our guests."

In co-ordination with the theme, the restaurant interior features a selection of Italian memorabilia and the staff dress up every Wednesday in Italian-themed attire.

Mr Agus said: "The girls wear scarves which are more elegant than their usual neck ties and the men wear aprons with the colours of the Italian flag."

Guests can enjoy a full range of fresh pasta, pizzas and breads and savour the flavour of a rich array of accompaniments.

They can make their own creations by choosing favourite ingredients and asking the chef to prepare it just the way they like it.

Executive Chef Holger Lang is very particular about the freshness of the raw materials he uses and visits the food markets in Manama to hand pick the ingredients for his dishes.

Diners can also enjoy a feast for the ears as well as well as their stomachs as Italian opera plays subtly in the background on the theme nights from 7pm to 11pm. Live music spots add to the occasion.

The Italian dining experience costs BD12++ per person or BD18++ with unlimited selected beverages.

The hotel and restaurant also stages BBQ nights on Sunday, seafood nights on Monday and steak nights on Thursday.