ISLAND INSIDER

Pascal Etienne
Food and Beverage (F&B) Director, Crowne Plaza Bahrain

You have extensive experience in the F&B sector. What particularly draws you to this area of the hospitality field?
I personally love to share food with family and friends, I come from a family that cherishes food on the table and that’s what drove me to start my career as a chef. I’d also like to mention that food and beverage is a highly competitive, fast-paced industry that requires grit, determination and hard work. It is also unique from other departments; you must be driven by creativity and passion. Every day is different and that’s what keeps me going.

What are your plans for Crowne Plaza, are there any upcoming developments that you can share with us?
Development never stops in the F&B field. My aim for Crowne Plaza is to become a culinary destination in the country while offering added value to our guests and service beyond expectations.
I am very excited for what’s coming, especially for Waves Restaurant since it has been closed for quite some time now. I am definitely keeping the identity of the place, which is a seafood dining venue, but I will be adding an Asian fusion aspect to make it more appealing to guests.
As for Spices Restaurant, that will open its doors very soon. There, I would like for our guests to indulge in a true Indian ambience from the first second they step inside starting from the decoration to the taste.
Also, the Holy Month of Ramadan will soon be upon us. It is a key period in Bahrain and a time when we see a distinct shift in what our fasting guests are looking for from a dining experience. For this reason, we have launched a Special Ramadan menu for all our outlets to reflect a more traditional approach to breaking the fast and allow our guests to have a sense of discovery and tradition. Exciting programmes are coming up for the month and we can’t wait to welcome guests for Ghabga and Iftar.

Your bio describes you as an adventurous cultural history buff. How are you finding Bahrain in terms of exploring the Kingdom’s rich past?
I Love Bahrain. The place is so rich in culture and history and is definitely worth a visit. With the high-rise towers, captivating mosques and historical sites. Exploring it is certainly fun. Bahrainis are warm, friendly and loving people with a deep national pride and keenness to help. I haven’t had much time to visit the old souq and Muharraq, as it’s the oldest town in the Kingdom, but I can’t wait to experience Bahrain as a local.