CULINARY CURIOSITY

What sparked your love affair with food and when did you realise you wanted to pursue it as a profession?

The origin story of how my love for food began really has to do with cartoons! Back in the day, we didn’t have 24-hour cartoon channels on TV. So, when the morning show would end around 11am, I found myself in the kitchen with my grandmothers while they were preparing lunch. I was so curious as to what they would do there, from preparing the fresh fish for a safi dish to making a curry with the fresh lamb and vegetables that came from the farm that morning. Everything about the kitchen fascinated me, from sourcing ingredients to presenting a final dish with love; I knew I just had to be a part of this world somehow. So, when I grew up and learned that I could make a career out of it, there was no turning back.

Please tell us more about your new restaurant Curious Diner at Al Liwan.

Curious Diner is a retro futuristic space, where classic diner décor elements have been reimagined. The interior is influenced by the ‘50s and ‘60s mid-century aesthetic, a little bit of Wes Anderson and The Jetsons as the idyllic futuristic dream. We have, for instance, custom-made art depicting Bahrain as a utopian, futuristic place, while holding on to key elements from the past. I have also added personal elements; two of our table tops are fitted with the same checkered tiles from my kitchen at home. We serve comfort food such as burgers, milkshakes and the cheesiest mac n cheese. We will also serve experimental comfort food from around the world. This is a space where you come to enjoy a good meal, have fun with friends and family, and leave with a smile and a full belly. People of all ages can hang out, celebrate a birthday or just celebrate yourself.

Which are your favourite restaurants in Bahrain and why? For Bahrain there are too many to mention! I love frequenting

Wa Bento for the authentic Japanese flavours; I try to go once a week to sample their weekly bentos. Other Japanese restaurants I enjoy are Gyuto and Mirai. Ricco is an amazing Italian restaurant in Adliya; the shrimp risotto with orange is stunning, I never thought those flavours could work together but they do! Green Bar Cafe has a special place in my heart, I just love the attention to detail they put into all their healthy yet delicious dishes. There’s nothing quite like Seoul in Adliya for Korean barbecue, it’s just too good. And I have to give a special shout out to Haji’s Cafe, it's one of the first spots I’d take any of my out-of-town friends to try a taste of Bahrain.

What is your signature dish and how did you develop it? Is it served at Curious Diner?

What shocks me most to this day is being known for my burgers, which I started from home during the first week of the pandemic. All I wanted was a good burger, something comforting; but then, all the restaurants around me, unfortunately, were closing. It was such an uncertain time and the only thing I knew for certain was that I needed comfort food. So, I went to my kitchen and made the first burger for myself. I then shared it with family and friends and, at their behest, started selling it online from my website. It really just snowballed from there so, I had to ask myself seriously, if not now, when? So, that’s the day Curious Diner started taking form, from just an idea on paper that I wrote back in 2019 to a full-fledged restaurant in 2023. Yes, the Curious Burger is served at the diner along with many more comforting dishes. I even collaborated with CUT by Wolfgang Puck and they had it on their menu for three days. Keep your eyes peeled for new and special dishes. This is only the beginning, and we couldn’t be successful without the strong and loving community that has rallied around us; for that we are truly grateful. ✤