Fraser Suites Diplomatic Area - Great Tasting Food That’s Healthy Too
by BTM
Sun, 26 January 2020
Chef Mohamedu Fahir, of Fraser Suites Diplomatic Area, spills the beans on his passion for food and creating flavourful, healthy dishes.
Where did you train?
After completing my Diploma in Hotel Management from the Swiss Lanka Hotel School in Colombo, I trained in various hotels, initially in Sri Lanka after graduation before moving to the Middle East to work in five-star hotels in Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and latterly at Le Meridien and The Westin, City Centre Bahrain, before joining Fraser Suites Diplomatic Area towards the end of 2017.
How long have you been a chef?
I’ve been a chef for more than 10 years, but I’ve been passionate about food for as long as I can remember!
What made you decide to choose a life in the kitchen?
It’s always been my dream; I love being in the kitchen! My family has its own restaurant in Sri Lanka, so I’ve really grown up in the kitchen. I’ve learned so much from my family, particularly my Dad, as I helped and worked alongside him from the age of 15. This is really where my passion for good food and to become a chef originated from.
What is your speciality?
I’m interested in all types of cuisine and love to try new concepts, blending spices and flavours to create fusion dishes. It’s all part of fulfilling my dream; I enjoy every moment in the kitchen! I would say my speciality is Mediterranean cuisine, but I enjoy working with fresh seasonal produce to create new dishes from all corners of the globe throughout the year. We are lucky in Bahrain with the wide variety of locally grown vegetables and spices plus, as we are on an island, our seafood is second to none!
What made you come to Frasers?
Frasers Hospitality is renowned for always putting the guest first and providing ‘memorable experiences’ – it’s part of our company vision. This was a big part of my attraction to Frasers and, on meeting our GM, who is equally passionate about food as he is about guest experience, I was determined to secure a place on his team. I joined at a very exciting time as the restaurant was in the process of being rebranded, to become Da Rosa, offering Lebanese cuisine with an international touch. I was given the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of opening Da Rosa and leading our team to make it a success. This was a first for me and, whilst it was very hard work, I enjoyed every minute of it – I also made my parents very proud!
What are the new developments you will be introducing in the kitchen and the menu?
As a chef, it’s my role to understand what our guests truly want and to give them a memorable dining experience each time they come to Da Rosa. It’s not just about taste – it’s the whole dining experience – the flavours, colours, presentation, ambience and, of course, the hospitality and service. We listen to our guests and we believe that our modern-day lifestyle is encouraging us to adopt a healthier style of cooking, so this is the main area of development that we really want to focus on.
Our Healthy Lunch options are very popular, particularly as we offer a turn-around time of 45 minutes for guests who are short of time and can place their orders in advance. We’ve now decided to introduce healthier options for dinner too, so we can offer a choice of our Da Rosa menu or lighter options, both for lunch and dinner. I’m currently working on a regional healthy menu that will complement our Da Rosa menu and offer a wide variety of dishes that will suit all tastes.
Anything else to add?
Please come and try our Healthy Options, either for lunch or dinner. Being healthy doesn’t mean compromising on taste – you’ll be amazed just how delicious healthy food can be!
