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Road to Net Zero

Music & On-stage

Fashion & Beauty

From left, Giulia Sgarbi, deputy content editor, 50 Best; chef Izu Ani; chef Raz Rahav; chef Tala Bashmi; chef Moustafa Elrefaey; pastry chef Will Goldfarb; Kamal Mouzawak, founder of Souk El Tayeb and Tawlet; and William Drew, director of content, 50 Best at #50BestTalks in Abu Dhabi in February 2022.

Tala Bashmi receives the Highest Climber Award and comes in third place at Mena's 50 Best 2023, for her restaurant Fusions by Tala, in Adliya, Bahrain. Victor Besa / The National

Bahraini chef Tala Bashmi is the only chef from the Middle East to be listed on the top 100 for The Best Chef Awards in Madrid in 2022. Photo: Mena's 50 Best Restaurants

Tala Bashmi won the first Middle East & North Africa's Best Female Chef Award in 2021. Victor Besa / The National

She was also a contestant on ‘Top Chef Middle East’ in 2020. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

She helms the well-regarded restaurant Fusions by Tala at The Gulf Hotel Bahrain in Adliya, Bahrain. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Emirati sea bass tartare was part of chef Tala Bashmi’s one-off dinner menu at Boca, DIFC in 2018. Photo: Boca

Bashmi makes modern interpretations of Bahraini dishes. Photo: Boca

Bashmi's Golden Goose dish, a Middle Eastern twist on chicken liver pate. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Not only is Bashmi the only Arab on The Best Chef list, she's also one of only 18 women who have made it into the top 100 culinary talents across the globe. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Chocolate and pistachio, the classic combination cut with a tart whey. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Bouillabaisse curry with octopus, clams and seasonal seafood. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Bashmi ranks 93rd on the top 100 list. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Fish out of water is sous-vide salmon with mehyawa sud (local fermented fish sauce). Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Fusions by Tala at The Gulf Hotel Bahrain. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Back to the roots is a leek ravioli using all parts of the leeks, promoting root-to-stem cooking. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

From left, Giulia Sgarbi, deputy content editor, 50 Best; chef Izu Ani; chef Raz Rahav; chef Tala Bashmi; chef Moustafa Elrefaey; pastry chef Will Goldfarb; Kamal Mouzawak, founder of Souk El Tayeb and Tawlet; and William Drew, director of content, 50 Best at #50BestTalks in Abu Dhabi in February 2022.

Tala Bashmi receives the Highest Climber Award and comes in third place at Mena's 50 Best 2023, for her restaurant Fusions by Tala, in Adliya, Bahrain. Victor Besa / The National

Bahraini chef Tala Bashmi is the only chef from the Middle East to be listed on the top 100 for The Best Chef Awards in Madrid in 2022. Photo: Mena's 50 Best Restaurants

Tala Bashmi won the first Middle East & North Africa's Best Female Chef Award in 2021. Victor Besa / The National

She was also a contestant on ‘Top Chef Middle East’ in 2020. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

She helms the well-regarded restaurant Fusions by Tala at The Gulf Hotel Bahrain in Adliya, Bahrain. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Emirati sea bass tartare was part of chef Tala Bashmi’s one-off dinner menu at Boca, DIFC in 2018. Photo: Boca

Bashmi makes modern interpretations of Bahraini dishes. Photo: Boca

Bashmi's Golden Goose dish, a Middle Eastern twist on chicken liver pate. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Not only is Bashmi the only Arab on The Best Chef list, she's also one of only 18 women who have made it into the top 100 culinary talents across the globe. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Chocolate and pistachio, the classic combination cut with a tart whey. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Bouillabaisse curry with octopus, clams and seasonal seafood. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Bashmi ranks 93rd on the top 100 list. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Fish out of water is sous-vide salmon with mehyawa sud (local fermented fish sauce). Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Fusions by Tala at The Gulf Hotel Bahrain. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Back to the roots is a leek ravioli using all parts of the leeks, promoting root-to-stem cooking. Photo: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

From left, Giulia Sgarbi, deputy content editor, 50 Best; chef Izu Ani; chef Raz Rahav; chef Tala Bashmi; chef Moustafa Elrefaey; pastry chef Will Goldfarb; Kamal Mouzawak, founder of Souk El Tayeb and Tawlet; and William Drew, director of content, 50 Best at #50BestTalks in Abu Dhabi in February 2022.

Bahrain's Tala Bashmi on being the only Arab on Madrid's The Best Chef Awards list

Fusions by Tala head ranks alongside Massimo Bottura, Heston Blumenthal and Anne-Sophie Pic

September 25, 2022

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