Tala Bashmi | MENA's Top Female Chef | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Chef Tala Bashmi shares her journey from starting a home venture to becoming the Middle East's best female chef, discussing her love for food, Bahraini cuisine, and the challenges she faces in the industry.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] LYNN HAZIM: Hi, everyone. My name is Lynn Hazim. I am a longtime Googler, I'm a big lover of food, and I'll be your host for this talk. I'm very excited to be joined today by Chef Tala Bashmi. Tala is a Bahrain-born, Swiss-trained chef who was recently named the winner of the first Middle East and North Africa best female chef. She'... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🏭 Bahraini cuisine is rooted in tradition and necessity, with a focus on seafood and flavors influenced by trade and historical factors.
• 🌍 Tala Bashmi aims to elevate Bahraini cuisine by incorporating international ingredients and techniques into traditional dishes, experimenting with flavors and textures.
• 😨 Tala emphasizes the importance of transparency in the kitchen and creating a supportive environment for her team, focusing on motivating them for their best performance rather than instilling fear.
• 👋 The Middle East's culinary scene is evolving, and awards like the MENA 50 Best provide recognition and inspiration for chefs, pushing the region further forward in terms of culinary innovation and excellence.
• 😀 Tala's approach to food is centered on creating delicious and comforting dishes that make people happy, rather than solely focusing on extravagant presentations or techniques.
• 🤗 Tala Bashmi acknowledges the challenges faced by women in the culinary industry but believes that the younger generation is more open to embracing female chefs, leading to a changing mentality surrounding gender roles in the profession.
• 😒 Tala values the use of local ingredients and works closely with local farmers and suppliers, although she faces challenges due to the limited seasonal availability of produce in Bahrain.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did it feel to be named MENA's best female chef?

Tala describes it as unbelievable, a mind-blowing achievement that came at the right time when she was questioning her career. It was a validation of her skills and a source of motivation.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in food?

Tala always found comfort and joy in food, especially during her younger years. Her father's influence, taking her fishing and to markets, nurtured her love for food and eventually led her to pursue it as a profession.

Q: How do you balance the pressures of being a chef and running a restaurant?

Tala acknowledges the challenges of being a chef, including the long hours and constant judgment. However, she strives to create a positive and supportive environment for her team, focusing on making guests happy and delivering delicious food.

Q: How do you approach creating new dishes?

Tala finds inspiration in various ways, including reading about old dishes, experimenting with ingredients, and drawing inspiration from art, movies, and iconic scenes. She also believes in constantly learning and being open to new flavors and techniques.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tala Bashmi, a Bahrain-born, Swiss-trained chef, started her career with a home venture called Bakery by T, gaining fame for her desserts.

• She later joined the Culinary Arts Academy in Lausanne and worked at renowned restaurants in Europe before returning to Bahrain.

• Tala competed in NBC's "Top Chef" and took over Fusions restaurant, where she experiments with international ingredients and techniques in Bahraini dishes.