Against all the odds for a restaurant that was relaunched before the onset of the global pandemic in early 2020, Fusions by Tala in Bahrain has been recognised on the inaugural Mena’s 50 Best Restaurants list, additionally earning chef patronne Tala Bashmi the title of Middle East & North Africa’s Best Female Chef 2022.
Located on the sixth floor of the five-star Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa, adjacent to a sprawling roof terrace lounge, Fusions by Tala synthesises fine dining and nostalgic Arabian home cooking, with Bashmi’s distinct fingerprints all over it.
What to expect and where to sit
The thoughtful hospitality begins before we reach the restaurant. I receive a call in the afternoon confirming my booking, as well as enquiring about any dietary restrictions and whether our party of two is celebrating a special occasion.
When we arrive at the marble-filled hotel, a lift whisks us upstairs where we are greeted with a huge smile from a friendly hostess who escorts us to the restaurant.
A crenellated wall of large picture windows maximises the number of tables with front-row views across busy roads and high-rise buildings with flashing multicoloured lights. By contrast, the atmosphere inside is cosy and calm, thanks to relaxing but upbeat music and subtle golden lighting. Smaller lights on each table allow for easy reading of the menus.
The interior has an industrial-chic feel, with exposed ducting and shades of textured grey punctuated by natural wood tables. There is also a sense of homeyness achieved through the restaurant’s Goldilocks proportions, comfy mismatched chairs, plants and soft sheer curtains.
Service is proactive and attentive without being overbearing. Nobody will approach the table to interrogate you while your mouth is full. My dining partner and I are very well looked after throughout the evening by Nigel and Jaypee, who are friendly and deeply knowledgeable about the menu.
The centrepiece of the room is the brightly lit, glass-walled kitchen where Bashmi and her team work diligently. For those who want to keep a close eye on the action, there is the option of bar seating.
The menu
The complimentary extras bookending the meal perfectly encapsulate what Fusions by Tala is all about: reimagining and elevating humble and familiar Middle Eastern traditions.
To start, freshly baked fennel seed bread with whipped date molasses butter and incredibly flavourful machboos crackers are presented in traditional Bahraini handwoven palm leaf vessels. To conclude, an ornate khatam treasure chest opens to reveal a bed of sesame seeds topped with dates stuffed with pistachio ice cream and salted caramel chocolates, an ode to the custom of finishing a meal with dates and Arabic coffee.
My dining partner and I opt for the Surprise Tasting Menu. In Arabic, “ala kaifik” means “up to you”, and the tasting menu is continually evolving at the chef's discretion.
The feast begins with a mini ghoozi taco, and our bouches are immediately amused. It’s hard to fathom how so much flavour can be packed into one tiny bite. The light and crispy onions are the stars here, but the aspect I most enjoy is being encouraged to eat with our hands, which feels authentically Bahraini yet a bit rebellious in the context of fine dining.
Next are two prawn dishes. The first is an aromatic ceviche dressed tableside in a foamy sauce. This hides the surprise element of finger lime, which bursts and zings like adult, organic popping candy. If this dish represents the high notes, the second is the bass line.
Bashmi has used her grandmother’s chebba recipe, stuffing each with a prawn concoction and bathed in a sweet and umami tomato and onion sauce that causes us to reach for our bread rolls to mop up.
The stand-out dish of soft-shell crab with mehyawa arrives next, followed by a spoon of grapefruit and jasmine granita. That refreshes the palate more than it cleanses, like a floral breeze.
We move on to tikka tataki, marinated in black lime and served with neat dollops of Bahraini chimichurri and black garlic. The rare prime US tenderloin could be sliced by a mere glance.
Another palate cleanser follows, this time a pair of sorbets. We are challenged to identify the flavours behind the vivid reds and greens, but fail. It is hibiscus tea with mint, which is a known elixir in its hot beverage form.
The main dish is Bashmi’s famous Wagyu beef cheek, braised for eight hours and topped with a shard of mind-boggling, glass-like okra, that cracks with a simple tap of your cutlery, which is served with a bowl of tomato broth rice on the side. Again, everything is perfectly seasoned and there is a wonderful interplay of textures in the mouth.
The most magical thing about what we do is we can change someone’s entire day and maybe even their whole week with just one meal
Chef Tala Bashmi
Believe it or not, my dining partner and I still have room for dessert. First we are invited to smash and mix a tower of deconstructed baklava with saffron ice cream, mango orange blossom and caramelised pistachio. My dining partner finds the saffron overpowering, and I wonder if the recipe is so far removed from standard baklava that it might dash expectations for some. Having said that, it is tasty, satisfying and not overly sweet.
The other dessert is an enigmatic purple ovoid, flaked with edible gold leaf, and sat atop a chewy and crunchy golden biscuit. Although it pains us to slice through such beauty, we are immediately refocused by the sight of pristine layers of lavender sponge, blueberry jelly, white chocolate mousse and lemon creme brulee. Tasted separately, the components are delicious and distinct, while together they are synergistic. This dessert leans to the esoteric side, but there are safer-looking options for those feeling less adventurous.
Overall, the menu reveals Bashmi’s prestigious training, her love for global street eats and nostalgic home cooking, and most of all, her passion for imbuing food with Middle Eastern flair.
Stand-out dish
Inspired by bamia, an okra and meat stew, the braised Wagyu feels like the purest Middle Eastern dish of the night and perhaps the most conceptual.
Another worthy contender is Bashmi's version of mehyawa. The Arabian fermented fish sauce, tangy with depth of flavour, is typically eaten in simple ways, with bread, eggs or cheese.
Bashmi has invented a recipe of softshell crab with cardamom pickled cabbage, harissa honey, micro herbs and finger lime, all brought together with a delectable mehyawa aioli. The dish exemplifies how Bashmi is inspired, but in no way constrained by, traditional Arabian fare.
We’re advised to get a bit of everything in each mouthful, yet every bite is different. This dish hits all the points of yumminess, presentation, texture and balance.
My dining partner — who confesses she’s never loved fish pastes and wouldn’t ever order softshell crab voluntarily — positively lights up and exclaims her mouth is dancing. It isn’t the only time this evening that Bashmi has converted her to things she formerly eschewed.
A chat with the chef
I feel myself begin to fangirl over Bashmi as she speaks, because in addition to looking calm and collected in the kitchen, she’s just plain cool, wearing a custom-made chef’s jacket with spike-studded shoulders and a black baseball cap.
Despite craving the opportunity to work under a mentor during her earlier years in the kitchen, Bashmi is now grateful that her style has evolved to be uniquely hers. She strives to show nifas, an Arabic concept of imbuing cooking with soul, intuition and emotional connection.
“The most magical thing about what we do is we can change someone’s entire day and maybe even their whole week with just one meal,” she says.
While influencing moods, Bashmi also promotes sustainability. “There are a lot of ingredients not included on my menus, for example foie gras and salmon, which don't come from sustainable sources and are harmful to the environment. As I learn more about the origins of ingredients and their sustainability, I adapt."
Bashmi grew up visiting markets with her father, and she maintains this direct connection to local suppliers. “My philosophy is to buy from farmers and fishermen who I know source their produce in sustainable ways, like without trawling, for instance. I often text the guys at Hidd fish market to see what they’ve caught and set aside certain things.”
Bashmi may be cool, but she says she isn’t trendy. “I’m not about trends for trends’ sake. First and foremost, it’s got to taste good. I do put in a lot of effort with presentation, but you’ve got to want to lick your plate clean. Food is about flavour, at the end of the day.”
Value for money and contact information
Fusions by Tala is a world-class eatery, but it is not overly fancy, as is reflected in its price point. Starters range from 4.5 Bahraini dinars to BHD7.5 (up to $20), sides from BHD3 to BHD4, mains from BHD6 to BHD13, and desserts from BHD5 to BHD6.5. The 350g steak of chargrilled marbled US prime rib-eye is the most expensive item on the menu, at BHD25.
The five-course tasting menu costs BHD35, while eight courses go for BHD52.
Reservations can be made by calling 00973 177 130 00, emailing fusions@gulfhotelbahrain.com or through the eat app.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden; Dh165,000; (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Handicap; Dh170,000; (D) 1,200m
7.40pm: Maiden; Dh165,000; (D) 1,900m
8.15pm: Handicap; Dh185,000; (D) 2,000m
8.50pm: Handicap; Dh185,000; (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap; Dh165,000; (D) 2,000m
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEdinburgh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%204%20%3Cem%3E(unchanged)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBahrain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%2015%20%3Cem%3E(from%20September%2015)%3C%2Fem%3E%3B%20second%20daily%20service%20from%20January%201%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EKuwait%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%2015%20%3Cem%3E(from%20September%2016)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMumbai%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20October%2027)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAhmedabad%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20October%2027)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColombo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202%20%3Cem%3E(from%20January%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMuscat%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cem%3E%20%3C%2Fem%3EMarch%201%3Cem%3E%20(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELyon%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBologna%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Emirates%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Manchester City transfers:
OUTS
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Jesus Navas (all released)
INS
Ederson (Benfica) £34.7m, Bernardo Silva (Monaco) £43m
ON THEIR WAY OUT?
Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho
ON THEIR WAY IN?
Dani Alves (Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
INDIA SQUADS
India squad for third Test against Sri Lanka
Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Vijay Shankar
India squad for ODI series against Sri Lanka
Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
England squads for Test and T20 series against New Zealand
Test squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dominic Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes
T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Pat Brown, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, James Vince
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
