Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has announced plans to host a series of exclusive culinary experiences with Michelin-starred Chef Lars Van Galen.

From August 7-13, Chef Lars will present an exciting degustation menu at one of the most exquisite outlets of the resort, FireDOOR.

FireDOOR, the resort’s speciality restaurant where Chef Lars will host his culinary experiences, sets the stage for special celebrations. Guests can enjoy a hive of activity at the show kitchen featuring an impressive Josper grill to fire up appetites. The custom-built oven enables chefs to smoke, slow roast, hot roast as well as bake and grill directly on coals, bringing a unique and exciting dining barbecue experience to the Maldives.

The main highlight of Chef Lars’ visit will be artfully created dishes with bold flavours, combined with the culinary craftsmanship and paired with the some of the most exceptional wines from around the world. An exclusively curated menu will be paired with quality wines planned by the resort’s Food and Beverage Director Dean Jarvis.

“Our belief is to create extraordinary experiences for our valued guests and innovate continuously to provide something new. With this collaboration, we will add more character to our finest restaurant on the island, where the diners will get a taste of Chef Lars Van Galen signature dishes, which he describes as artistic and unique, inspired by tradition with refined flavours,” Raffaele Solferino, the General Manager at Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

Chef Lars has worked at several prominent restaurants in the Netherlands such as ‘Onder de Boompjes’ and ‘Chateau Neercanne’ in Maastricht. Back in 2007, he joined the brigade of De Bloemenbeek in de Lutte where he gained the ability to set policy in the kitchen and developed his own style of cooking.

Since 2012, Chef Lars owns and runs a hotel and two restaurants — Tuindorp Hotel & Restaurant’ t Lansink and Restaurant Ledeboer (Bib Gourmand) — together with his business partner, Richard van den Hoeven.

Located in North Male Atoll and a 15-minute speedboat ride away from the main Velana International Airport, Grand Park Kodhipparu features a collection of 120 villas, including idyllic beachfront pool villas, breathtaking overwater villas and palatial two-bedroom villas. Sixty-five of the 120 villas come with their own private pools and the five two-bedroom suites feature extensive private terraces.

Designed by world-renowned hospitality design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates, the resort showcases sophisticated architecture, state-of-the-art interior, high ceiling of palm fringed roof, and contemporary exterior with Maldives’ traditional influence of wood and rattan, inventive rustic appeal and inviting peaceful atmosphere. Neutral tones, natural fundamentals and spacious social settings balance the unrivalled beauty of the cobalt sea and tranquility.

Grand Park Kodhipparu offers three restaurants and a pool bar, including the overwater Edge restaurant, which offers a wide selection of international culinary creations, Breeze poolside restaurant and bar, which serves lunch and light bites throughout the day followed by inventive cocktails and fine wines in the night, and the FireDOOR speciality restaurant, which offers grilled meats and fish coupled with the finest wines.

Recreational facilities at the resort include an outdoor swimming pool, gymnasium, sunrise yoga deck, wellness centre with spa and salon treatments, water sports and dive centre, children’s activity centre, and specialty shops.