76 April 2016 www.bahrainthismonth.com unitedkingdomsupplement Cooking Up a Celebration 2016 sees the British Embassy marking the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Bahrain, with events throughout the year including a month-long series of foodie happenings. Ambassador, HE Simon Martin told us more. With six months in post under his belt, the ambassador arrived just in time for the anniversary and he is particularly excited about the coming month. He says: “BHUK 200 Food Month runs for the whole of April on the theme of the bicentennial celebrations. It’s something that gives participants an opportunity to showcase the range of British culinary offerings already available in Bahrain and to put on some very special extra events. “For example Costa Coffee shops have a special promotion throughout the month. Hotels and restaurants are putting on special menus for dinners, brunches and high teas. “There are also great promotions at the major supermarkets which, of course, are responsible for allowing people to access British goods as they bring in literally thousands of British products year round. The idea during Food Month is that they will be bringing in extra, quintessentially British items, from tea and biscuits to smoked salmon — which is something I love to cook with scrambled eggs for breakfast at the weekend.” The range of events and products on offer throughout food month will serve to truly showcase the best of British. His Excellency continues: “I’m particularly excited about the opportunity that this gives for customers of some of Bahrain’s finest restaurants to be treated to British cuisine in a way that’s not normally available. There’ll be plenty of fish and chips and roasts, but I’m also expecting some really innovative BritishBahraini fusion dishes – we all love Bahraini cuisine so I’m looking forward to that.” The embassy actually got in on the act a bit early by hosting a balti curry night for the BBBF (Bahrain British Business Forum), highlighting an Indian-seeming dish that was actually invented in the ambassador’s Birmingham hometown. And towards the end of the month is the Queen’s Birthday Garden Party at which the embassy will host around 1,000. The ambassador continues: “Our idea for that is to pick out varied items of British cuisine. We’re looking at things like pasties and pies and I’m really hoping to have a selection of really fine British cheeses. “I’ve been here for six months and I’m pleased to say that I’m here at a time when our trade figures are good and continuing to increase. I am, of course, looking to accelerate that trend in the food area. The main means for promoting British products is through the supermarkets and there’s an element of highlighting those products that are already here but, as with everything else, we hope the 200th anniversary will also serve to create demand for new products. “As well as the events in Bahrain, there are a number of events organised by the Bahraini embassy in London promoting the Kingdom as an investment destination.”
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