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WITH panoramic views of the tranquil turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf, La Mer at the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa resort must be a top contender for the title of the island’s most stunning dining out destination.
The seafood restaurant and tapas bar, the signature outlet of the hotel, was launched last week amid a gathering of prominent business leaders, hospitality veterans, as well as media executives who were given a taste of its extensive menu.
The 80-seat venue was opened with fun, style anda frenzy of activity, which involved a pair of fishermen passing over the key to the kitchen in the gut of their tasty prize catch.
The restaurant’s Head Chef Olivier Catora, mingled with guests and welcomed them to try out the delicacies on offer, and he is confident La Mer will become a welcome addition to the island’s eating out scene.
“I like to work with quality ingredients and turn them into a unique dish, in a very delicious way,” he said. “I am not a traditional chef, I like to put my signature on each dish and create something different.”
In fact, Chef Olivier, 38, from Bordeaux in France, is a relative newcomer to the culinary world, changing his career path in the hospitality sector dramatically after 10 years of working in the travel industry.
He said: “I was very fond of cooking – it was my main hobby. One day I just decided to enter the field and joined a fine cooking school that specialised in French food. I managed to get good grades, and eventually found work in fine restaurants and luxury hotels.”
He now boasts work experience with some prestigious names in the hospitality industry, including the Reizdor Group in France.
However, he got his lucky break eight years ago when he was offered an opportunity with acclaimed fine dining restaurant Pavillon Des Boulevards in France.
He moved to Bahrain three years ago with his wife, Ludi. They have two children, Cleo, nine, and Noah, six.
He said: “At first, I did freelance private dinner arrangements for people who were interested in fine food, especially French cuisine. After two years, I was given an opportunity by Sofitel hotel.”
La Mer offers fresh seafood including a ‘catch-of-theday’, which is cooked in front of diners after they have handpicked their choice from a display.
A tapas bar also features 79 indoor seats and 46 seats on the panoramic terrace overlooking the sea. Here Chef Olivier shares a recipe with GulfWeekly readers.
