Adliya has grown to be a dining and entertainment hub in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Those who have been here long enough know that it was the establishment of the legendary Cico’s Italian Restaurant in 1978, which revolutionised the dining industry in the Kingdom. On the occasion of Bahrain This Month’s 25 th anniversary, Farrah Saville takes a trip down memory lane with the man behind the celebrated restaurant, Ettore Cicognini, better known as Cico to most people. Now a landmark in the vibrant Adliya district, Cico’s Italian Restaurant was known for being a haven for the who’s who of Bahrain’s high society, where diplomats, ministers, ambassadors, and international celebrities would gather. In fact, Grammy award winner Tony Bennet once visited the charming restaurant in its heyday – such was its popularity. “I changed the game on calamari and squid in Bahrain. Fisherman used just to throw it back, but Cico’s sold it by the kilo; we changed the scene in Bahrain regarding dining and seafood,” says this master chef and restaurateur of Cico’s fame, but fish and seafood were not the only things he had on the Bahrain food scene all those years ago. Cico’s Italian Restaurant served northern and southern Italian cuisine, which was traditional yet modern at the time of its establishment. By 2005, Cico’s was institutionalised as the ‘Best Restaurant’ at the International Hotel and Restaurant Awards in Madrid, Spain cementing its place on the world map as a dining establishment to visit. Its consistency of service, fresh and first-class produce, and authentic and welcoming atmosphere had paid off. A Culinary Legend interview www.bahrainthismonth.com 46 September 2022
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