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After deciding to fast during the Holy Month of Ramadan, mainly out of a sense of personal curiosity, support for my Muslim colleagues and as a test of willpower, satiating my thirst and hunger is now the highlight of my day.
And, although coming home to mum’s home cooking is delightful after a long stint at work, I had yet to sample the authentic experience of Iftar in full. Thankfully, the Al Areen Palace & Spa served up delicious dishes of goodness that left me desperate for more traditional fare.
Walking through the resort’s grand entrance, with its fantastic flora and traditional Arabian architecture, and striding past the elaborate stepped-water feature that dissects the luxury villas, anticipation was building for what delights the crew could serve up in its specially-constructed Ramadan tent.
It did not disappoint, with no holding back on the festive theme. The red and white cloth roof, decorated to represent the kingdom’s national colours, was dotted with crescent moons and stars wishing visitors ‘Ramadan Kareem’, while elaborate crystal chandeliers provided just the right level of ambient lighting.
The atmosphere radiated warmth and comfort, with a stage set up for Bahraini singer Nejma Abdulah and a big screen spreading messages and discussing the meaning of Ramadan.
Hotel general manager, Pierre Vasseur, who was the brains behind the Ramadan tent at Al Areen, told me that the decision has already been met with success. He said: “This is the first year that we have invested in such a tent. Last year we extended our tent to one of our existing outlets, but this year I decided to create a full experience and have an independent tent with a nice discourse, as I believe that’s what people are looking for.
“We wanted our own tent outside, with the wonderful landscape views of the tree lights and our beautiful water fountain, to give our customers a proper Ramadan feel rather than just expanding one of our existing establishments.”
The native Frenchman, who has spent seven years in the Middle East with stints in Dubai and Doha, believes that the wide variety of cuisines on offer is what appeals most to guests.
He explained: “We have kept the authentic Bahraini feel with the light cooking stations outside, where two traditional Bahraini ladies are cooking trays of food and kebabs on the floor, but we also have a more modern selection with food from Asia and Europe inside.
“We have had more expats than locals visiting, although as we set out with the aim to appeal to everyone, it didn’t take us too much by surprise. We have already received plenty of bookings online, and we also expect to be much busier and host corporate events once the first, traditionally family-orientated, week of the holy month has passed.”
As Ramadan is a family occasion and it just so happened to be Father’s Day, I brought my mum Tone and step-dad Paul along to sample the wares. And, after the chat with Pierre, my growling stomach was begging me to tuck into the mouth-watering fare.
We all shot off in different directions. I made a beeline for the soup selection, wanting to sample the Harira Soup which I’d spied on the way in, and gladly it proved just as creamy and flavourful as it looked, particularly when accompanied with a selection of breads.
Paul went for the seafood samples, while mum settled for the extensive array of salad and dips, along with the potato and leek soup. After she was recently diagnosed with diabetes, it has become difficult for her to try too many different things, but to the great credit of the chefs at Al Areen, there was a variety of suitable fare for her to sample throughout the night.
Brushing ourselves down for the main course, I settled for my perennial favourite butter chicken, which was so creamy and tender I have to concede it was the best I’d ever tasted. Served with a side of Mediterranean potatoes, chicken and vegetable stir fry and fluffy pilau rice, it was an endless supply of goodness.
I even discovered something new … harees. A slightly bizarre concoction of wheat and meat, infused with cinnamon, cardamom and date butter, it just … worked. I’ll never be able to have normal porridge again after sampling this delight.
Paul went for the grilled fish with lemon butter sauce, which he described as flaky and tender to perfection, while mum plumped for some lamb ghouzi and nibbled on the mixed grill platter and shawarmas brought from the live cooking station outside the tent.
Although we all conceded there was simply no room for dessert, we reneged on our promise of ‘no more’ when we saw just what was in store. A mixture of traditional Arabic sweets like Um Ali and Babousa, mixed with traditional favourites such as strawberry cheesecake, chocolate brownies and a variety of yoghurts and tiramisu in a glass, left us reaching for our belts to undo a notch or two.
Last, but certainly not least, Paul and I shared a cheeky grin and a high five when lifting the lid on a circular silver container which revealed a hot berry crumble that was so far untouched. After a scrumptious slice or three, neither of us could fathom why. Simply fantastic!
The iftar buffet is BD14++ on weekdays and BD16++ on Thursdays and Fridays at 6pm and the ghabga is BD16++ on weekdays and BD18++ on Thursdays and Fridays at 10pm-1am.
