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W Maldives partners with world pastry champion Julien Alvarez to host culinary week

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W Maldives has partnered with world’s best pastry champion Julien Alvarez to host a series of culinary events on its tropical playground in September.

The culinary week will include:

  • September 19: Pastry Masterclass at KITCHEN restaurant (1-2pm)
  • September 20: Afternoon team at KADA café (4-6pm) / dessert menu takeover at FISH overwater specialty restaurant (from 6pm)
  • September 21: Beach Market featuring live cooking show by Julien Alvarez himself (from 6pm)
  • September 22: Dessert menu takeover at FISH overwater specialty restaurant (from 6pm)

Born in Bergerac, France, the 29-year-old chef grew up in a rich culinary environment, where in 2002 he made his official pastry debut at his parent’s restaurant. His first career achievements include the Best Apprentice of France, and an Assistant to the World Pastry Champion (2006) in Phoenix, US. Julien has also participated in Un des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, a famous craftsmen competition held exclusively in France every four years, where he met well-known Franck Kestener, Bruno Montcoudiol, Stéphane Glacier, David Wesmael and Franck Michel.

Julien also worked at Carles Mampel’s patisserie Bubó in Barcelona, where he ignited his interested in international pastry competitions by taking part in the Spanish World Chocolate Masters in 2007, where he took the fifth place.

In 2008, Julien assisted Philippe Conticini and Angelo Musa (MOF) in opening their first retail pastry store La Pâtisserie des Rêves. Then he also scooped the third prize in the Charles Proust Relais Desserts competition.

From 2009-2013, under the wing of Jean Michel Perruchon (MOF), Julien trained the young apprentices in Bellouet Conseil gastronomic school in Paris. In 2011, Chef Julien won the Champion of the World title in the most prestigious international contest La Coup du Monde de la Patisserie in 2011, which inspired him to become a self-employed trainer and consultant.

Nowadays Julien shares his professional expertise via writing culinary books, participating in TV shows, acting as a pastry stylist and consultant during the various pastry store and restaurant openings around the world.

W Maldives has also recently announced a partnership with Ewa Chodakowska, one of the most popular personal trainers in Europe, to host a wellness week in November.

W Maldives offers 77 escapes and suites located both ashore and overwater, including 28 Wonderful Beach Oasis, 46 Fabulous Overwater Oasis, 3 WOW Ocean Escape and one Extreme WOW Ocean Haven (the W brand’s interpretation of the Presidential Suite). Each chic and spacious escape features infinity plunge pool.

There is a mixture of six bars and restaurants at W Maldives. Kitchen, the all-day dining bistro, and Fire, where guests have their choice of four different barbecues, provide menus for everyone’s palate. Swim up to the pool bar Wet and order a light lunch. There is even a dining option on the resort’s private desert island, Gaathafushi, or Fish, the resort’s specialty seafood restaurant set over the water and under the stars. Fifteen Below is the only underground club in the Maldives, with its own resident DJ and a sushi bar Sushi Beat.

Guests can also spoil themselves with a selection of over 125 treatments at the award-winning overwater Away Spa.

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Kandolhu Maldives announces culinary collaboration with Chef Fabrizio Zanetti

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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.

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Baros Maldives to showcase sustainable dining for Earth Day

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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.

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Kuredhivaru Resort & Spa introduces Secret Garden private dining concept

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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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