Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Ever since I started on an all-out attempt to battle the ‘Bahrain bulge’ I have watched my diet as well as added a vigorous running routine to my daily life.
There’s no point in starving yourself – although I’m told the odd full day and night of fasting doesn’t do you any harm. But to stay bright, alert and healthy you’ve got to make the right choices.
Now this can prove very difficult, if, like me, you love your food and enjoy dining out which also happens to be a part of your job. When I started fishing around for a decent diet, something that was equally good on the body and brain, I was swiftly pointed in the direction of seafood.
So it was with absolute joy I was tasked with combining my work commitments and my new less-rounded appearance to sample the Seafood Night featuring a grand buffet of the freshest catch at Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre’s Baharat Restaurant.
It also gave me the chance to meet up again with one of my favourite culinary connoisseurs in the kingdom, executive sous chef Hany Mostafa. This Egyptian knows a thing or two about fish having started in the industry in 1999 as a kitchen apprentice in his home country whilst studying tourism and hospitality before fine-tuning those kitchen skills in Portugal, England and Qatar.
He not only conjures up a supreme fish dish, he knows exactly what is needed to add to the taste explosion. A fine example was a superb sea bream he gently pan-fried with oriental spices and placed on a magnificent bed of Port Said rice.
I’m a huge fan of sea bass but I think any more examples like this and I may end up joining the fanatical sea bream club. Port Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Its economic base includes fishing and Port Said is also an important harbour for exports of Egyptian products like rice. Rice production was probably introduced into Egypt in the 7th Century and although production today only takes place in the Lower Valley of the Nile River, the country is the largest rice producer in the Middle East region.
Fascinating facts make for fabulous fare on this occasion. And keeping the healthy eating theme going, the range of salads available last Thursday evening was mightily impressive. There was a sardine salad, king crab and marvelous marinated mackerel options as well as a hammour escabeche with a tasty tang.
On the fresh catch counter alongside the Sea Bream and Sea Bass were Safi, Sultan Brahim, Kingfish, Shari, Hammour, Hammam, Shrimp and Sand Lobster. I also enjoyed a delightful Seafood Bisque, a sublime soup, altogether warming, comforting and packed with those good-for-you ingredients.
Fish is healthy because it’s easy to digest and comes with a high level of precious proteins. And, with the so called omega-3 fatty acids, fish has an added bonus. These fatty acids, like docosahexaeonic acid, occur mostly in fatty fish like herring, salmon and mackerel.
They are thought to lower the blood pressure, to strengthen the immune system and to have positive effects on the development on the nervous and cardiovascular systems. New research now claims it can also improve reaction times, as well as reducing levels of tiredness in the brain after performing tough tasks.
Apparently British researchers want to conduct a new study in people aged 50-70 to see how taking fish could affect their memories, mental performance and blood flow to the brain. I think I might volunteer after my next trip to Le Meridiean!
Apart for my choices, there was Singaporean Crab Chili, Cantonese Fish Red Chili, Lobster Mousse with Butter Sauce and a Fish with Harra Sauce dishes available. The Salmon en Croute looked particularly tempting and it’s usually something I enjoy on a Friday brunch session as an alternative to the red meat dishes, and Chef’s Seafood Paella (rice again) looked amazing and quickly attracted a queue of diners.
Chef de Partie Bhadra Tamang’s Sushi Station offers a superb selection too which is great for sharing and don’t, whatever you do, miss out on one of the restaurant’s signature dishes, the crispy Black Tiger Prawn Kunafa, a crispy taste of heaven.
It’s deep fried … well, none of us are perfect! The Seafood Thursday Night runs from 6.30pm to 11pm for BD20net, including soft drinks or BD34net including selected beverages, at Baharat Restaurant at Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre. Call 171711441 for more details.
See Stan’s interview with Chef Hany by scanning the QR code or by visiting www.gulfweekly.com or our Facebook page.
