Gastronomy
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island brings the best chefs and winemakers to its shores this year
Maldives.net.mv – For decades, travellers have been coming to the Maldives in search of sublime sun and unrivalled natural beauty, but now Conrad Maldives Rangali Island gives another reason to tempt holidaymakers to its shores – their taste buds. This year, some of the world’s best chefs and winemakers are descending on the luxury resort to give guests an unparalleled dining experience with their gourmet gastronomy. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island continues to be at the forefront of destination dining with some 12 restaurants and bars all distinguished by the diversity of cuisine and uniqueness of settings.
A food destination of firsts, being the first to understand that a remote location need not prohibit fine dining and good wines, the resort continues to tantalise guests’ taste buds with the best food and wine experiences not seen before in the country. Whether it’s sipping handpicked wine presented by biodynamic burgundy pioneer Vincent Giardin, enjoying a teppan dinner of fresh lobster under the stars at Koko Grill presented by Conrad Tokyo teppan Chef Nobuyasu Kamiko or crossing the bridge of Chinese Art and French Wine at Ufaa by Jereme Leung; these are tempting experiences worth travelling for.
Krug Ambassade at Ufaa by Jereme Leung
The Maldives’ first authentic Chinese restaurant has been handpicked to become the islands nation’s first Krug Ambassade restaurant. Ufaa joins an elite international network of exceptional restaurants including the UK’s iconic Fat Duck and Murano, Dinner at The Mandarin Oriental and l’Hôtel Georges V in Paris. Leung’s carefully crafted authentic and contemporary Chinese flavours featured are a perfect complement to Krug Champagne’s philosophy of quality and timeless taste preferred amongst luxury travellers. Krug Grand Cuvée will be available by the glass and the bottle.
Conrad Tokyo features at Koko Grill
Guests will be treated to the cosmopolitan flavours of Tokyo in a meeting of two hotel greats. Head Japanese chef at Conrad Tokyo’s renowned Kazahana restaurant Nobuyasu Kamiko will showcase his culinary flair from March 2 to 15, 2015 at Conrad Maldives’ beach-front teppanyaki restaurant Koko Grill. Complemented with matching sake by Conrad Maldives head sommelier Kamal Malik, the eight-course menu is a must-try for the gourmet traveller and combines elements from Kamiko’s Japanese cuisine such as scallops wrapped with bamboo leaf and grilled lobster with shiro-miso denaku. The price for this one-off experience is $250 per person including eight courses and a glass of sparkling sake.
Vincent Giardin, producer of fine burgundies
Prepare your palate on March 30, 2015 as top burgundies from fine wine producer Vincent Giardin are showcased alongside a five-course dinner at The Wine Cellar, priced at $295 per person. Another five-course dinner with Vincent Giardin-paired burgundies is planned at over-water restaurant Mandhoo on April 2 for $255. Both evenings will be hosted by Marco Bruno Caschera, Brand Ambassador of the Vincent Giardin estate. With winemaking in his blood after being born into a family who have produced wines since the 17th Century, Vincent prides himself on producing biodynamic fine wines with no pesticides, chemical fertilizers and weedicides. He harvests by hand and demands a high standard which propels him one of the best in the world.
Chinese Art meets French Wine at Ufaa by Jereme Leung
An artistic marriage of East meeting West, April 18, 2015 will mark Ufaa by Jereme Leung’s first winemaker dinner in collaboration with boutique winery Pont Des Arts, an exclusive, limited collection of wines created with the support of the finest winemakers from France and greatest artists from China. Presented by Thibault Pontallier one part of the duo behind Pont Des Arts, Pontallier, son of Paul Pontallier, Managing Director of Chateau Margaux will present a selection of wine from Bordeaux and Burgundy with vintages ranging from 2010 – 2012. Each vintage features art from renowned Chinese artists Zao Wou – Ki and contemporary artist Yue Minjun. The wine has been expertly been matched to a specially designed menu by Conrad Maldives Executive Chef and Ufaa namesake, Jereme Leung. Cost is $275 per person.
Drink
JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll introduces Omakase cocktail experience
JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort has introduced its all-new Omakase Cocktail Menu at Nikkei Bar, an innovative beverage experience that reimagines the traditional omakase concept through the art of mixology. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of entrusting the experience to the expertise of the creator, the new menu invites guests on a thoughtfully curated journey of unexpected flavors, refined craftsmanship, and contemporary creativity.
Developed by the resort’s talented mixology team, the Omakase Cocktail Menu showcases a collection of distinctive creations, each designed to surprise and delight the senses. Every cocktail tells its own story through carefully selected ingredients, bold flavor combinations, and elegant presentation, reflecting Nikkei Bar’s signature blend of Japanese precision and Peruvian influence. Highlights from the collection include Wasabi Was Good, a vibrant interpretation that balances delicate heat with refreshing citrus notes, Kumo, inspired by the lightness and serenity of drifting clouds, and Pink Hanami, a floral creation celebrating the beauty of Japan’s iconic cherry blossom season. Guests can also discover Petals of Kyoto, an elegant expression of delicate botanicals, Shisho Garden, which captures the freshness of aromatic herbs, and Moon Over Tokyo, a sophisticated cocktail inspired by the city’s vibrant evenings.



The journey continues with Shizuku (Droplet), a refreshing composition showcasing purity and balance, Thai Green Curry, an adventurous cocktail that transforms the beloved Southeast Asian dish into an unexpectedly harmonious drinking experience, and Kakuremi (Hidden Taste), a layered creation that reveals new dimensions of flavor with every sip.
“We are delighted to introduce our new Omakase Cocktail Menu at Nikkei Bar,” said Arup Chakraborty, Director of Food and Beverage. “Each cocktail has been thoughtfully crafted to offer guests a memorable sensory journey, combining innovation, storytelling, and exceptional craftsmanship. It reflects our commitment to creating distinctive dining and drinking experiences that celebrate creativity while embracing the spirit of contemporary luxury.”


Available exclusively at Nikkei Bar, the Omakase Cocktail Menu offers an immersive exploration of flavor where every cocktail is carefully curated to surprise, inspire, and elevate the guest experience. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Indian Ocean, this latest addition further reinforces JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort’s dedication to delivering exceptional culinary experiences through thoughtful innovation and mindful luxury.
For more information, please visit the resort’s website.
Cooking
Just Veg Festival returns to Atmosphere Kanifushi for sixth edition
Atmosphere Kanifushi celebrates the return of its signature Just Veg Festival, marking a milestone 6th anniversary edition from 04 to 09 October 2026. This landmark celebration reaffirms the resort’s position as a pioneer in vegetarian fine dining in the Maldives, bringing together global culinary storytelling, immersive island experiences, and conscious gastronomy.
This year’s festival is curated around the theme “Family Style”, led by acclaimed Chef Fabrizio. Rooted in conviviality, simplicity, and exceptional ingredients, the concept transforms dining into a shared-table journey where guests are invited to gather, connect, and indulge in thoughtfully crafted vegetarian dishes designed to be enjoyed together, reflecting the warmth and joy of communal dining.

Chef Fabrizio is known for his refined approach to vegetarian cuisine, combining Mediterranean roots with global influences. His ingredient-led philosophy focuses on simplicity, balance, and flavour, elevating vegetables through techniques such as fire cooking and fermentation.
“Fine dining is changing,” says Chef Fabrizio Marino. “Today’s guests are searching for something more meaningful than complexity. They want authenticity, generosity and experiences that bring people together. Family Style is my interpretation of contemporary luxury—a table where exceptional ingredients are shared with warmth, conversation and genuine hospitality. The Maldives, with its natural bounty and rich cultural influences, provides the perfect setting for that story.”
Ram Bhoyroo, General Manager at Atmosphere Kanifushi, adds, “As we celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Just Veg Festival, we are proud to continue shaping meaningful culinary experiences in the Maldives. This milestone edition not only reinforces our commitment to innovative, ingredient-led dining, but also positions Atmosphere Kanifushi as a destination where gastronomy, sustainability, and immersive guest journeys come together seamlessly.”

Blending Mediterranean sensibilities with vibrant Indian Ocean flavours, the menu showcases seasonal produce through techniques such as fire cooking, smoking, citrus infusions, and herb-forward preparations, with highlights including shared antipasti, fire and smoke creations, regional inspirations, and family-style desserts. As part of the ongoing commitment to enriching guest experiences under the Kanifushi Plan, the Just Veg Festival brings thoughtfully curated culinary moments to all in-house guests.
As a key highlight in the resort’s calendar and a prelude to the festive season, the Just Veg Festival reinforces Atmosphere Kanifushi’s commitment to innovative, sustainable, and immersive gastronomy—celebrating six years of culinary excellence, the 2026 edition promises to be the most immersive yet—bringing people together through the universal language of food, in one of the world’s most breathtaking island settings. Guests can now book their stay to be part of this exceptional island celebration.
Cooking
Constance unveils Escapade Gourmande 2026 in Maldives with Michelin-starred chef and winemaker
From 17 to 22 August 2026, Constance Hotels & Resorts invites you to the Maldives with Escapade Gourmande, a culinary journey unfolding between two islands that exist in dreamlike stillness: Constance Moofushi and Constance Halaveli.
Here, the ocean does not simply surround the experience; it becomes part of it. Salt air, warm sand, candlelight, and the quiet rhythm of waves set the stage for a celebration where gastronomy is not performed, but felt.
This year, Constance Hotels & Resorts has the pleasure of welcoming three remarkable artisans of taste: French three-Michelin-starred chef Jérôme Banctel, whose cuisine speaks in precision and emotion; South African winemaker Donovan Rall, whose wines carry the quiet intensity of landscapes and sun; and Italian pastry chef Cesare Murzilli, whose creations linger like soft memories at the end of a journey.
Together, they will compose moments rather than menus, an unfolding dialogue between fire, fruit, soil, and sea.

At Constance Moofushi, the atmosphere is unhurried, barefoot, almost whispered. On 17 August, guests drift into experiences shaped by light and ocean breeze with a sandbank tasting and aperitif cocktail around the wines from Donovan Rall, where the horizon dissolves into infinity.
The following evening, on 18 August, a wine dinner by Jérôme Banctel and Cesare Murzilli meets the expressive depth of Donovan Rall’s South African wines.
Then the journey deepens at Constance Halaveli, a setting where refinement takes centre stage on 21 August with a special breakfast imagined by Cesare Murzilli.
On 22 August, guests are invited to the exceptional wine pairing dinner, an elegant encounter between Banctel’s culinary precision, Murzilli’s delicate artistry, and Rall’s expressive wines.

Framed by Constance Halaveli’s extraordinary wine cellar, home to more than 22,500 bottles and over 1,600 references, the evening promises a celebration where gastronomy, wine, and island beauty meet in perfect harmony.
More than a programme, Escapade Gourmande becomes a fleeting island language, one spoken through textures, aromas, silence, and shared wonder. It is also a passing of knowledge, as Donovan Rall guides Constance sommeliers through masterclasses that refine not only technique, but sensibility.
In the end, it is not simply a celebration of food and wine. It is a moment where the Maldives feels less like a destination, and more like a state of taste, memory, and light.
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