Eating Out

The American experience

October 22 - 28, 2014
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Gulf Weekly The American experience

Gulf Weekly Stan Szecowka
By Stan Szecowka

The Mövenpick Bahrain has gone completely Yankee-Doodle Dandy this month with a series of US-style promotions starting with a Wild West-themed brunch.

The Friday dining experience at this location is renowned across the kingdom and to be honest the management really does not have to bother flying the flags with themed events. The demand for the fare is so great there is rarely room in the inn, let alone the restaurant and the surrounding foyer!

This was brought home clearly when some friends tried to book a table to join the Szecowka family for the American experience and were told the celebration was fully booked up.

Donning his favourite blue jeans, general manager Daniel Kaan was determined to put on a spread to impress the loyal US expats and service personnel who regularly flock to the destination … and he and his team did not disappoint.

The Stars and Stripes were abundant, the band played non-stop classics like Country Roads Take Me Home, and alongside the regular sushi, fish and meat stations was a tempting Tex-Mex as waiters and waitresses wearing cowboy and cowgirl costumes meandered around with trays of burgers.

I’m not sure what was more impressive, the colourful red, white and blue chocolate fountain or the fact that you could win a Harley-Davidson dream machine in a raffle.

Daniel said: “The relationship between Bahrain and America is very close, as is the relationship between America and Mövenpick Bahrain. A large part of our business and a high percentage of our customers are American, or working for American companies. We thought of a fun way of bringing a little piece of America to our already existing themed events and providing a true ‘home-away-from-home’ feeling.”

Apart from his team packing pretend Wild West pistols and sticks of dynamite the Dutch executive has some explosive treats in store for Mövenpick devotees with a spa about to open and plans being drawn up for a new steak restaurant.

The chefs and kitchen staff certainly know their meat if the slow roast beef rib-eye was anything to go by which was a slice or two of mouth-watering heaven accompanied by a fabulous selection of roasted vegetables.

The seafood selection was impressive as ever and the vast selection of fish, steamed to perfection and brought to the table, was worth the entrance price alone. I spotted Sherri, Sea Bream, Red Mullet, Grouper, Red Snapper and Needle Fish amongst the choices on offer.

After the brunch an outdoor pool party took place with live entertainment, plus a bucking bronco.

The brunch cost BD31 net with free access to the evening hoedown, although other visitors could join in the pool fun too for BD10.

If you missed out, check out the East Coast Miami Pool Party on October 24 and the outdoor pumpkin carving competition on October 28.

Held outdoors in the garden, families are welcome to bring their own knives, pick out a pumpkin and start carving. The lucky winner will walk away with BD200, second prize is a Thursday night brunch and a weekend stay and third prize is a Monday seafood night experience for two. The creations will be displayed at the hotel’s Halloween Thursday Night Brunch.
 
Call 17460000 for more details.







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