Cooking
Amilla Fushi’s new Barolo Grill Italian Kitchen brings Piedmont flavours to Maldives
Amilla Fushi has yet again introduced a new culinary experience, with the opening of the new Barolo Grill Italian Kitchen restaurant, located at the island’s beachside foodie hub Baazaar.
Conceived by Mark Hehir, Curator and CEO of The Small Maldives Island Co. which runs Amilla and its sister resort of Finolhu, Barolo Grill Italian Kitchen pays homage to rolling hills of Piedmont in northern Italy, a region of rich and distinctive culinary heritage perhaps best known for its famous Barolo wine.
Drawing on his extensive experience as a chef, Hehir and his team have created an inspired menu replete with exquisite antipasti, fresh handmade pasta, and select meats, fish and seafood. Simply cooked over an open flame chargrill it is delicious proof that this manna from the mountains of northern Italy works just as beautifully at sea level in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll.
A hymn to the hills of Piedmont, the menu at Barolo Grill is a respectful balance of familiar ‘friends’ from the old country and fresh Maldivian twists. Antipasti include Burrata with heirloom tomato and warm aubergine with baby buffalo mozzarella and basil pesto, alongside yellow fin tuna tartare with avocado and black olive tapenade and reef fish carpaccio with taggiasca olives and lemon dressing. The signature charcuterie platter is an utterly authentic affair pairing a delectable selection of small goods with 24-year aged balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
Fresh handmade pasta, risotto and gnocchi are complimented by ‘Land’ or ‘Ocean’ dishes from the grill, complete with recommended paired wines for selected dishes. Tagliolini pasta with pecorino cheese sauce and crushed black pepper is paired with a 2013 Itynera Prima Classe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo; Mullwara ribeye beef with a 2013 Meroi Ros di Buri Merlot Friuli; and yellow fin tuna with a 2010 Castello della Sala Cervaro della Sala. Barolo’s house fish specialties, meanwhile, include the signature Fisherman’s Crustacean Stew, slow cooked with blood orange peel, hints of roasted garlic, chilli, thyme and basil, and served with crusty aglio e olio sourdough croutons hot from the pan. Wash it down with a crisp Antinori Santa Cristina, before surrendering to the temptation of the house Dolci – will it be authentic gelato or tiramisu, the more tropical tastes of mango and passionfruit pannacotta or a cheesecake cheekily pairing another of Piedmont’s world-famous exports, Nutella, with a sweetly sour cherry sorbet?
Barolo Grill’s tasting kitchen also gives diners an opportunity to sample special gastronomic menus showcasing some of the region’s most famous wines, together with signature sourdough, marinated olives and delectable artisanal cheeses and charcuterie.
The opening of Barolo Grill Italian Kitchen is the latest hot helping of culinary creativity from the team at Amilla, following hard on the heels of the launch of the island’s new fairytale, festival-inspired Destination Dining den Mystique Garden, and the first edition of a four-stage pop-up partnership with Gordon Ramsay‘s celebrated Bread Street Kitchen. Subsequent Bread Street Kitchen pop-ups will take up residence in Barolo Grill Italian Kitchen from October 16-27; December 19, 2017 to January 10, 2018; and March 23 to April 7, 2018.
The new openings and pipeline of pop-up residencies from the hottest restaurant names underscore Amilla’s deserved reputation for culinary excellence and creativity, and add to the island’s pantheon of food and drink experiences.
As well as Barolo Grill, the island’s breezy culinary heartbeat Baazaar features Joe’s Pizza, the traditional British chippy-inspired Fish and Chips, Fresh and Wok. Emperor General Store is a sophisticated, gourmet café-deli where guests can eat in or grab takeaway snacks, drinks and light meals to enjoy in the privacy of their House. The Wine Cellar serves up carefully curated fine wines and artisanal cheeses, while Amilla’s fabulous 60-cover, signature overwater restaurant Feeling Koi showcases a selection of artfully crafted sushi, nigiri and sashimi in Japanese-inspired minimalist surroundings with a private open-air dining room and open deck seating by the water’s edge and an open kitchen.
Located just 30 minutes by seaplane from the Maldives’ main Velana International Airport, Amilla offers a choice of 59 Houses that sit gracefully over crystal clear waters, nestle among lush tree tops or hug the shores of pristine white sand; plus eight spectacular four- to eight-bedroom Beach Residences ideally suited to large families, groups of friends and VVIPs seeking the ultimate in space and privacy.
Following a season of culinary collaborations, Kandolhu Maldives has announced that Executive Chef Fabrizio Zanetti will visit the resort this October for a series of dining events.
The resort said the programme would offer guests an opportunity to experience Zanetti’s cuisine through a number of exclusive dining experiences.
Originally from St Moritz, Zanetti has led the kitchens at Hotel Suvretta House in St Moritz for more than a decade. The five-star Suvretta House, built in 1912 by Swiss hotelier Anton Bon, recently opened a new 4,670-square metre spa for the 2025-2026 winter season.
Zanetti has also worked at Michelin-starred establishments including Baur au Lac in Zurich and Savoy Grill in London. His work has been recognised with 17 points in the Gault-Millau Guide 2025 and the Mérite Culinaire Suisse award. In 2024, he was also named Gault-Millau Rising Star of the Year.
The collaboration at Kandolhu Maldives will begin on Wednesday, 14 October, with a three-course à la carte lunch at The Market.
A four-course dinner will follow on Saturday, 17 October, at Olive Restaurant. The evening will begin with a meet-and-greet with Chef Zanetti before dinner is served.
On Wednesday, 21 October, Olive Restaurant will also host a five-course Wine and Dine event, which will include a personal introduction from the chef.
Kandolhu Maldives said each evening event at Olive Restaurant would be limited to 22 guests, offering an intimate dining setting overlooking the Indian Ocean. The resort has encouraged guests to reserve early for the programme.
Baros Maldives is set to host a curated Earth Day experience titled Earth Day in Bloom on 22 April 2026, offering guests an evening programme centred on sustainability, nature and locally sourced ingredients.
The event will begin at 6:30pm at the resort’s Chef’s Garden, where guests will be welcomed with a Garden Spritz before taking part in a guided tour of the garden. The tour will introduce participants to local herbs and island-grown produce cultivated on the property.
As part of the programme, guests will be invited to plant their own herb, contributing to the garden while engaging in an activity aligned with environmental awareness. The experience will continue with a garden dinner starting at 7pm, featuring a menu designed around fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the island.
An optional pairing of organic wines will also be available, providing an additional element to the dining experience.
The event is priced at USD 175 per person, excluding applicable service charge and taxes. Reservations can be made through the resort’s butler service.
The initiative reflects Baros Maldives’ focus on sustainability-led guest experiences, integrating environmental awareness with culinary offerings and on-island activities.
Kuredhivaru Resort & Spa presents a new chapter in destination dining with the launch of its Secret Garden concept, a thoughtfully designed experience that brings guests into a secluded setting surrounded by nature, soft lighting, and carefully curated details.
Tucked away in a quiet corner of the island, Secret Garden is created for those moments that deserve more than a traditional dinner. The space is styled with flowing drapes, warm candlelight, and natural greenery, creating a calm and intimate atmosphere that feels both personal and special. It is a setting that invites guests to slow down, connect, and enjoy the evening at their own pace.
At the centre of the experience is a seven-course menu, crafted to guide guests through a balanced journey of flavours. Each course is presented with care, with live cooking moments adding a sense of theatre and interaction throughout the evening. The service remains attentive yet discreet, allowing the experience to feel seamless and uninterrupted.
Guests can choose between two tailored offerings. The Romantic Escape focuses on the dining experience itself, complemented by a beautifully arranged setup and personalised service. For those looking to extend the evening, the Ultimate Romance Experience adds thoughtful touches such as a welcome glass of champagne, a private cinema moment under the open sky, in-villa breakfast the next day, and special bed decoration to complete the occasion.
The concept also allows for additional customisation, from floral arrangements to bespoke messages and decorative details, giving guests the flexibility to shape the evening around their celebration, whether it is a birthday, proposal, or simply a meaningful time together.
With Secret Garden, Kuredhivaru continues to expand its dining experiences beyond traditional venues, offering guests something more personal and immersive. It reflects the resort’s approach to hospitality, where every detail is considered, and each experience is designed to feel natural, effortless, and quietly memorable.
For any reservations or inquiries, guests are encouraged to contact the resort at Resort.Kuredhivaru.Reservations@ennismore.com or +960 6563000.
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