Hévéa Café, culinary experts in the Kingdom of Bahrain, is proud to announce its collaboration with the prestigious Alliance Française of Bahrain, the language institute and cultural centre that works for the promotion of French culture and language in the Kingdom of Bahrain, for the presentation of an exclusive exhibition that tells the story of the ancient, yet still currently active, tradition of silk and textile exchange between the cities of Lyon in France and Muharraq in Bahrain.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Thursday, the 29th of September, 2016, at the Franco-Bahraini Cultural Centre, “Maison Jamsheer”, in Muharraq in the presence of the President of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), H.E. Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa and the Ambassador of France, H. E. Bernard Régnauld-Fabre. The exhibition was held from 7 to 9 pm, during which ‘The Tale of the Gold Thread’ unravelled its secrets to the dignitaries present and members of the public alike.
On the occasion of the exhibition, General Manager of Foods Unlimited, Chef Guy Gateau said: “It brings me great pride and pleasure to be announcing Hévéa Café’s association in this capacity with Bahrain’s chapter of the renowned Alliance Française as Maison Jamsheer hosts our collaborative offering, ‘The Tale of the Gold Thread’ to audiences all around the Kingdom. The exhibition aligns with our French roots and is delved deep in the annals of Bahrain’s formative history as well and as a restaurant that seeks to show its patrons a sense of comfort through familiarity, we are rightly positioned to represent such a unique and heart-warming initiative. We look to complement the auspiciousness of the whole affair by serving French Lyonnaise traditional dishes, revisited with local Bahraini ingredients, and desserts that celebrate the Franco-Arabian theme of the event and we welcome everyone to have a fabulous evening on the town.”
The exhibition, titled ‘The Tale of the Gold Thread’ or ‘Une histoire cousue de fil d’Or’ chronicles author, Sophie Delobette’s book on the island of Muharraq and the link she inadvertently found that exists between France and Bahrain through the Gold Thread that is intricately woven between traditional Bahraini threads.
The exhibition digitally explores every aspect of the timeless import of French silk, and in particular the Gold Thread, into the Kingdom of Bahrain, from Zari embroidery and Kurar gold weaving to the canuts, Lyonnais silk workers, tasked with the duty of creating these elegant strands of beauty.
The Maison Jamsheer was a splendid kaleidoscope of scintillating and vivid photographs and graphic and enlighteningly elaborate video documentaries that depict the ‘The Tale of the Gold Thread’ in all its illustrious glory, accompanied by audio comments (in English and French) for visitors who choose to scan QR codes with their phones.
Visitors to the exhibition were offered the opportunity to taste traditional bits like Cervelle de Canut which is a fresh cheese salad served on homemade toasted whole wheat bread. Guests were also given Gargir from Barbar, associated with the famous “Quenelle”, and flavoured with Calamari ink or plain. Hammour and Crab bisque from Bahrain were transformed for the occasion to another “silky” quenelle served directly from the oven by the chef. They were also afforded the chance to taste the sweet and crispy Bugnes and discover the miniature “Bouchon” Lyonnais with Rahash and almond paste. All of the edible delights offered during the exhibition are new culinary items soon to be introduced to Hévéa Café’s new menu.
Besides the exhibition itself, visitors were able to examine fine examples of refined Kurar embroidery through a collection of traditional dresses and tools that were donated specifically by the Shaikh Ebrahim Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Reseach, to liven up the experience and add another dimension of authenticity. In addition, Mr. Adel Jamsheer, accompanied visitors on a virtual and digital tour as they discovered the story of the house and learned more about the lifestyle of the older generations. A documentary film on the Island of Muharraq was also available for viewing.
Hévéa Café is a one of a kind coffee shop that offers the Kingdom of Bahrain the opportunity to bask in a comprehensively relaxing ambience and indulge in cuisines that fuse together the best of the two continents, Europe and Asia. Situated in a vantage point on the ground floor of Al A’ali Shopping Complex that provides a breath-taking view of the Mall and the Seef Area, Hévéa Café boasts an interior that envelopes customers in a serene setting that offers comforts that rival the delights of home and scintillating tastes that reflect the experience and expertise of Chef Guy with every sumptuous bite.