Tala Bashmi is a Bahrain-born & Swiss-trained chef, known as the voice of modern Bahraini cuisine at her restaurant, Fusions by Tala, fell in love with Middle Eastern cuisine & ingredients as a child.

Since 2017, she threw her passions into a fine-dining environment offering modern takes on traditional dishes, like bamia, a traditional okra and meat stew, using wagyu beef cheek instead of meat offcuts, with crispy okra glass and tomato broth rice.

Beginning her career through a home venture called Baked by T, the chef’s desserts became especially famous in Bahrain, garnering her numerous fans. Following this initial success, Bashmi joined the Culinary Arts Academy in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she gained a Masters in International Business in Culinary Management. During her time in Europe, she held roles at the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois and Michelin-starred restaurant Prisma, learning how to run restaurant operations as well as working in fast-paced kitchen environments.

A bold voice in modern Middle Eastern cuisine, Chef Tala Bashmi is the creative force behind Fusions by Tala, an award-winning restaurant located at The Gulf Hotel Bahrain. Known for her fearless reinterpretation of Bahraini flavors, Bashmi blends heritage with innovation to craft dishes that are both deeply rooted and refreshingly modern.

Her culinary journey, shaped by European training and a passion for storytelling through food, has earned her international recognition, including Middle East & North Africa’s Best Female Chef 2022 by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and the prestigious Chefs' Choice Award 2025 — voted by her peers as a chef’s chef.