The mouthfeel was very peculiar. Like a spoon of ice cream prepared by someone with alopecia. But, happily the hairy sensation soon disappeared as the candy floss covered sweet treat dissolved in my mouth . This unusual but memorable dessert was the fun culmination of a delicious dinner at Chelsea’s Villa Mammas restaurant.
AIf and I met in January for the first ‘B’ country on our list (the Bahamas isn’t represented by a dedicated establishment in London). Neither of us knew what to expect but after both ordering Muneera, a juice blend with food colouring, we ordered flatbread (known as Khubus) that arrived moments later warm from the oven, drizzled with olive oil and freckled with green za’atar seasoning. Light with a bit of chew, it was a very promising start.
We skipped starters – Villa Mammas ain’t cheap – and went straight to mains. Alf ordered Macaronat Eid Milad, a very savoury dish of minced lamb and chunky macaroni (bigger than Italian macaroni), while I ordered Machbous Deyay , a chicken pilaf which greatly benefited from the spicy chilli sauce that came on the side.
Villa Mammas is a great place to eat, decorated tastefully with whitewashed walls, arched doorways and wall art that transports you to the sun-baked island kingdom. It’s as pricey as you’d expect for an Arab restaurant in Chelsea, (£8 for a soft drink), but it felt worth it all the same. Shukran!
Score: 8/10
Cost: £90
Location: 25-27 Elystan Street, Chelsea
The A to Z of World Food in London 
This is simply great. The mint tea looks a real turn on. I’ve added Bahrain to my holiday wish list now.
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