Gastronomy
Centara Grand Maldives enhances menu at The Club
Intricately designed and crafted to delight with each and every meal at Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives
The Club at Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives proudly presents colourful feasts created by Executive Chef Yvan Marclay and Executive Sous Chef Ashish Domme who have teamed up to create an exciting new menu. With these new creations bursting with bold flavours and made with the freshest high-quality produce, the resort aims to enchant all club guests with a true gastronomic experience.
With over 15 years of experience running professional kitchens in luxurious hotels and resorts in North Africa and the Middle East, Chef Yvan Marclay has brought with him expertise and finesse of the haute-cuisine the exciting revamped menu. Magnificent dishes depicting the epitome of intricate fine-dining were officially launched on the 21st of November 2016, and feature Quinoa Couscous with Goat Cheese, Filled Zucchini Flowers, Baby Fennel Tempura, Pomegranate Reduction and Coriander Oil, tasty looking White Onion Soup Served with Pan Seared Scallops, Salmon Roe and Baby Spinach, artistic Olive Oil Poached Barramundi with Chlorophyll, Dry Fig Risotto, White Balsamic Beurre Blanc and Herbs, along with eye-catching desserts such as Walk On Saturn, Nutella -Hazelnut, White Chocolate-Pistachio Croquet Ice Parfait Served with Trio Sauces.
Their debut received high praise from guests who stayed at the resort. Executive Chef Marclay said “These comments on the new dishes are the best feedback we’ve ever received. Some English guests told us our new dishes were the best they ever experienced”.
In addition to that, the Executive Sous Chef Domme revealed “An Australian couple told me that they had never had anything this amazing before and this was like spending 500 Australian dollars to dine at one of Sydney’s top restaurants”.
The two incredible chefs have explained that their focus is on trying to create a contemporary and healthy approach to the dishes, full of flavour and sexy to the eye. And they really are! The dishes are available all day at The Club, Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives and all you ever need to do is ring the bell!
Drink
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef marks World Cocktail Day with sustainable cocktail experiences
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of the Privé collection within the House of Siyam, marks World Cocktail Day with a transformative celebration of Green Mixology blending creativity with a deep-rooted commitment to environmental stewardship with additional engaging activities.
The resort’s beverage philosophy centres on a zero-waste approach, where every ingredient is utilised to its full potential. Guests are welcomes to observe the sophisticated discipline of the bar team as they transform overlooked elements into artisanal accents, such as dehydrating organic citrus peels in-house to create fragrant, sustainable garnishes. By replacing industrial imports with these handcrafted touches, the sanctuary ensures that every drink remains an authentic reflection of its iridescent surroundings. Guests can join the expert bar team for immersive mixology lessons to master these sustainable creations firsthand.

In addition to traditional favourites, these liquid creations highlight a dedicated Island-to-Table ethos, incorporating seasonal greens and herbs harvested directly from the resort’s flourishing gardens. The celebration was further elevated by a spectacular Flair Bartending Show, showcasing technical precision and artistry in motion, choreographed to the energy of the island.

Each curated experience at Sun Siyam Vilu Reef invites guests toast to a future of mindful indulgence, where the luxury of the moment is perfectly balanced with the preservation of the surrounding environment.
Cooking
Machchafushi Island Resort’s Suan Bua introduces menu inspired by Thai traditions and Maldivian waters
Set within the pristine waters of South Ari Atoll, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives by The Centara Collection invites travellers into a world where culture, flavour and place come together in effortless harmony. This is an island shaped by authenticity, where the natural rhythm of the Maldives meets the warmth and elegance of Thai hospitality.
At the heart of the island, a new culinary chapter unfolds at Suan Bua, where the resort unveils a menu that feels as much like a journey as it does a meal. Here, Thai heritage is not simply presented, but expressed through layers of aroma, texture and flavour. Recipes rooted in tradition come alive with a renewed sense of place, reflecting Centara’s origins while embracing the spirit of the Maldives. Each dish carries a natural sense of balance and generosity, inviting guests to experience Thai hospitality in its most evocative and immersive
Here, the story unfolds through the senses. The fragrance of lemongrass and kaffir lime leaf lingers in the air, chilli adds warmth and depth, while citrus lifts each dish with brightness. This harmony of sweet, sour, salty and spice is the foundation of Thai cuisine, reinterpreted with a lightness that mirrors the island’s tropical surroundings.

The influence of Machchafushi is ever present. Surrounded by the abundant waters of South Ari Atoll, the menu embraces the freshness of the ocean, weaving locally sourced seafood into its narrative. Dishes are vibrant and expressive, reflecting the colours of the lagoon and the ease of island living, creating a seamless connection between land, sea and plate.
Signature creations become moments of discovery. Som Tam Thai brings a lively burst of flavour, Tom Yam Talay Mor Fai unfolds with aromatic intensity, and Massaman Curry Beef delivers a richness that is both comforting and refined. The Suan Bua Seafood Platter celebrates the island’s bounty, offering a direct connection to the surrounding waters and reinforcing a sense of place that is both genuine and immersive.

This culinary journey is part of a greater whole. The flavours, textures and aromas extend beyond the plate, blending seamlessly into what can only be described as the Machchafushi universe. From the gentle ocean breeze to the rhythm of island life, every element works together to create a holistic experience that feels both deeply rooted and effortlessly elevated.
Desserts such as Khao Neaw Mamuang provide a harmonious finale, balancing sweetness and texture with precision, while quietly echoing the simplicity and refinement that define the entire menu.

More than a dining experience, this is a celebration of identity. It is where Centara’s Thai heritage meets the authenticity of South Ari Atoll, creating a destination that feels both distinctive and complete. At Machchafushi, guests are not simply visiting an island, but stepping into a carefully curated world where every detail is designed to connect, inspire and linger long after the journey ends.
Cooking
Handmade pasta and island seafood shape new menu at Machchafushi Island Resort’s Mare Azzurro
Set within the turquoise waters of South Ari Atoll, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives by Centara Collection unfolds as a destination where cultures gently converge and the rhythm of the ocean shapes every experience. Here, where endless horizons meet the sea and the breeze carries the scent of salt and sun, Italian cuisine finds a new expression, refined, elemental and deeply connected to place.
At the heart of this culinary narrative lies Mare Azzurro, where a newly imagined menu redefines Italian dining through the lens of island simplicity and coastal elegance. It is a philosophy rooted in restraint rather than excess, where each dish is shaped by clarity of flavour, purity of ingredients and a reverence for craftsmanship.

The vision is quietly powerful. Classic Italian recipes are reinterpreted with a focus on freshness and balance, allowing every ingredient to speak with intention. In this setting, the Maldives becomes more than a backdrop, it becomes an essential part of the composition. The ocean’s abundance inspires a lighter touch, where seafood takes centre stage and each plate reflects the effortless elegance of island living.
Here, simplicity is the highest form of sophistication. Reef Fish Carpaccio arrives as a delicate expression of the sea, clean and precise, allowing the natural character of the catch to shine. Lamb Ragu Fettuccine brings depth and comfort, where slow cooked richness meets traditional Italian technique, gently elevated by subtle island influence. Each dish reflects a dialogue between authenticity and environment, where Italian heritage is honoured yet thoughtfully reimagined.
Craftsmanship defines the kitchen. Handmade elements, from fresh pasta to carefully shaped ravioli, embody the essence of Italian culinary tradition. Every fold, every texture, every finish is intentional, reflecting a commitment to authenticity that cannot be replicated. Even the seven-day dry aged grilled lamb chop stands as a testament to patience and precision, its depth of flavour enhanced through time, technique and respect for the ingredient.

This is cuisine guided by balance. Traditional Italian foundations remain untouched in spirit, yet are expressed with a contemporary lightness that resonates with the island’s atmosphere. There is restraint in presentation, elegance in composition and a quiet confidence in letting simplicity lead.
Desserts such as tiramisu and panna cotta complete the experience with familiar comfort, yet refined through texture and finesse. They arrive not as reinventions, but as perfected expressions, honouring tradition while embracing the purity of execution.

More than a dining experience, Mare Azzurro is a celebration of identity and place. It is where Italian culinary heritage meets the serene beauty of South Ari Atoll, creating a dialogue between land, sea and memory. At Machchafushi, guests are not simply dining, they are immersed in a world where every flavour is shaped by the ocean, every detail reflects craftsmanship, and every moment lingers with understated elegance long after the meal ends.
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