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Soneva Fushi unveils all-new food journeys at Shades of Green

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Soneva Fushi, the award-winning barefoot luxury resort in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll, has revealed a seasonal selection of new menus at Shades of Green.

The plant-based dining experience is set within Soneva Fushi’s organic island gardens, taking diners on an immersive culinary journey that ignites all the senses.

The five new menus by Danish chef Carsten Kyster are based on the vibrant colours of freshly picked produce: Purple, Yellow, Orange, Red and Green.

They fuse the flavours and fragrant spices of Maldivian and South-east Asian cuisine with Chef Kyster’s Nordic heritage, prepared using traditional techniques such as smoking, salting, fermenting and pickling to let the ingredients shine.

Each colourful menu features six courses – Cleansing, Crispy, Raw, Grains, Fire, Sweets – with simple yet innovative dishes that showcase the finest seasonal vegetables, salads, fruit and herbs cultivated at Soneva Fushi.

Highlights include:

  • Purple menu’s Cleansing hibiscus kombucha, blue potato chips and salted beetroots, and Crispy aubergine, with rouille, blue potatoes, prickly ash vinegar, amaranth, wild garden purslane and sweet basil flower; Raw pumpkin, orange beetroots, almond ricotta, leek ash, finger lime, garden flowers, carrot chips and herb soya on the Orange menu;
  • Yellow menu’s Grain course, with triple-cooked carrot, fermented black garlic, Maldivian curry, coconut sour cream, black truffle and Japanese spring onions; Fire on the Green menu, with grilled pressed portobello mushroom, pea purée, salted lemons, raw asparagus, ramson flower, shitake, morels krapow and crispy holy basil; and,
  • Red menu’s Sweets, with chocolate, beetroots, almond cake, porridge ice cream, raw sun choke, caramelised ginger and garden herbs.

Every meal at Shades of Green begins with a tour around Soneva Fushi’s gardens, inviting guests to find out more about the food featured on the menu. Surrounded by the vibrant colours and heady scents that fill the air, diners are seated at communal tables to inspire conversation with fellow guests and the Shades of Green chefs while they dine.

A focus on organic, plant-based dining is part of Soneva’s SLOW LIFE philosophy, which champions holistic wellbeing and a healthier, more sustainable way of living. Red meat has been almost completely removed from Soneva menus across its resorts in the Maldives and Thailand, and the use of dairy products and refined sugars and flours has been significantly reduced.

When it opened in 1995, Soneva Fushi set the standard for all desert island hideaways in the Maldives. Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the award-winning resort combines barefoot luxury with rare, one-of-a-kind experiences and a mindful approach to sustainability.

Remote yet accessible, the resort is a 30-minute seaplane flight from the Maldives’ capital, Malé, or a 15-minute seaplane flight from Maafaru International Airport in the Noonu Atoll.

Ranging in size from one to nine bedrooms, the 63 private island villas are hidden among dense rainforest, each just steps from the beach. Most have their own pools, and all feature vast living spaces and views towards the sunrise or sunset.

Eight one- and two-bedroom Water Retreats are accessed via a winding boardwalk on the south-eastern side of the island. Among the largest of their kind in the world, each overwater villa has a spacious terrace with a private pool and water slide into the ocean, and all have a retractable roof over the master bedroom so guests can sleep under star-lit skies.

All Soneva Fushi villas come with a Barefoot Butler, offering a personalised service 24/7.

Magical experiences are designed to create unforgettable memories. Guests can explore the constellations with the resident astronomer at the Observatory or watch a classic movie at the open-air Cinema Paradiso. They can join the expert Marine Biologist on a guided snorkelling expedition to the vibrant house reef, swim with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay, picnic on a deserted sandbank, or try the art of glassblowing with renowned artists at the Maldives’ only hot glass studio.

Nine dining destinations, both on the island and at the over-water Out of the Blue, offer a tempting array of cuisines for every taste, alongside an ever-changing line-up of Michelin-starred guest chefs through the Soneva Stars calendar.

Guests can also visit the Bar and Wine Cellar, with more than 500 varieties curated from some of the world’s top wineries, or indulge at the complimentary chocolate, ice cream and cheese and charcuterie parlours.

The Den is a playground for children’s imaginations, with two pools, a water slide and rooms for dressing up, Lego, music and more, overseen by qualified childminders. Older children and teens can also learn during their stay with Soneva Academy, which offers a range of fascinating courses, including the marine life of the Maldives and the Adventure of the Corbin, an ancient shipwreck.

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The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort introduces ‘The Tastemaker Series’ for 2025

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The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has unveiled The Tastemaker Series, a new collection of curated experiences scheduled to debut in the final quarter of 2025. The programme is designed to bring together internationally recognised chefs, acclaimed mixologists, renowned wellness practitioners and global tastemakers to create distinctive experiences for the resort’s guests.

The series will commence in November with a Chef Jolly pop-up that will run through December, offering refined interpretations of traditional Indian cuisine alongside special appearances by the celebrated chef. Also in November, Chef Alexander Herrmann, a two-Michelin-starred German television personality, will present a showcase of European culinary artistry, while December will feature Chef Gregory Doyen, the French pastry chef renowned for his sculptural desserts and meticulous craftsmanship.

The culinary calendar will be enhanced by a series of wine dinners. These include the Marco Felluga Wine Dinner, led by Ilaria Felluga, sixth-generation winemaker of the Marco Felluga and Russiz Superiore estates, who will guide guests through a curated tasting of Collio’s finest vintages. Another highlight will be the François Labet Wine Dinner, celebrating the legacy of Burgundy’s historic Château de la Tour, with Labet himself sharing the estate’s long-standing traditions in winemaking.

Beyond gastronomy, the programme will extend into wellness. Guests will be able to take part in personalised fitness sessions with Jono Castano, trainer to Hollywood celebrities, Pilates programmes with Tash and Andre, and holistic therapies delivered by Tricia Tee, Asia’s only certified Seifu practitioner and a leading sound therapist.

Evenings at The Whale Bar will feature mixology takeovers by two of the world’s most acclaimed bars. London’s Satan’s Whiskers, ranked 29th in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024, will bring its inventive cocktail craft to the Maldives, while Mexico City’s Licorería Limantour, ranked 32nd globally, will introduce signature creations inspired by tropical ingredients.

Vincent Pauchon, General Manager of The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, said: “The Tastemaker Series embodies our vision of curating unforgettable journeys for our guests. By bringing together globally renowned chefs, mixologists, and wellness experts, we are offering a series of immersive events that blend culture, artistry, and craftsmanship with the signature St. Regis experience.”

Set on a private island, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort combines contemporary tropical design with local inspiration, seamlessly integrated into the natural beauty of the atoll. The resort comprises 77 villas with ocean or jungle views, each complemented by the personalised St. Regis Butler Service. Facilities include the award-winning Iridium Spa and the resort’s private Azimut Flybridge yacht, offering restorative treatments and bespoke yachting experiences.

With its blend of gastronomy, wellness, and artistry, The Tastemaker Series is positioned to offer discerning travellers a journey of flavour, creativity and cultural exploration, set against the backdrop of the Maldives’ turquoise waters and white sand beaches.

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Just Veg Festival returns to Atmosphere Kanifushi for fifth anniversary

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Atmosphere Kanifushi will mark the fifth anniversary of its Just Veg Festival this October, showcasing once again that plant-based cuisine can be both inventive and memorable.

The festival, taking place from 3 to 9 October 2025, will feature an exclusive ‘Just Veg Festive’ dinner menu curated by Italian chef Fabrizio Marino. The Tuscan chef, recognised for elevating vegan and vegetarian fine dining, is known for his creative approach that transforms fruits, vegetables, and herbs into refined culinary experiences.

Chef Fabrizio’s menu will be complemented by vintages from five wine partners. New to this year’s line-up is Bottega SpA, Italy’s award-winning winery, which will present its wines alongside three artisanal Grappas. Returning partners include Champagne Guy Charbaut, Bodegas Viñátigo, Glenelly Estate, and Martín Códax, offering a broad selection to pair with the dishes.

“Food should thrill you. It should challenge what you think you know,” commented Chef Fabrizio. “It is a privilege to share my culinary philosophy in such a remarkable setting. That is why I continue to return to Just Veg Festival – it is a space where we can experiment, surprise, and create something worth remembering.”

Since its launch, the Just Veg Festival has developed from a niche event into a recognised feature on the international culinary calendar. Atmosphere Kanifushi has built a loyal following by combining hospitality with a strong focus on food experiences, demonstrating that the Maldives is not only about beaches but also a destination where cuisine plays a central role.

“Plant-based dining can support a healthy lifestyle and, most importantly, be rich and flavourful when crafted with imagination and care,” said Raman Gomathi, Director of Food and Beverage at Atmosphere Kanifushi.

The Just Veg Festival 2025 will be held at Atmosphere Kanifushi’s signature restaurant, Just Veg, from 3 to 9 October. Participation in the exclusive dinners will be available to guests through pre-booking as part of the Atmosphere Kanifushi Plan™.

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Sirru Fen Fushi unveils exclusive dining series with Michelin-starred talent

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Sirru Fen Fushi – Private Lagoon Resort, a secluded sanctuary in the north of the Maldives, will launch The Michelin Series this October, an exclusive celebration of gastronomy that brings some of the world’s most renowned chefs to the turquoise waters of Shaviyani Atoll. The event will give guests a rare opportunity to enjoy a unique dining experience led by internationally distinguished culinary talents.

The Michelin Series will debut with a line-up featuring Chef Tristan Brandt, Chef Valentino Cassanelli, and Chef Jean-Philippe Blondet. Together with the resort’s Executive Chef Girish Sharma, they will create exclusive four-hand dinners and multi-course signature menus at Azure. Guests will be able to watch the chefs bring their creations to life in the open kitchen, set against the turquoise sea in a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere.

This series forms part of the resort’s Sirru Icon Series, a curated programme of high-profile collaborations across gastronomy, fitness, wellness, astronomy and more. Each collaboration is designed to immerse guests in experiences that inspire and engage.

Chef Tristan Brandt will appear on 28 and 30 October 2025. Known for his contemporary French cuisine infused with international influences, Brandt is the culinary mind behind the one Michelin-starred Tambourine Room in Miami Beach. His residency will include both a collaborative four-hands dinner with Chef Girish and a standalone four-course menu showcasing his signature style.

Chef Valentino Cassanelli will follow on 8 and 10 December 2025. Head Chef of the Michelin-starred Lux Lucis at Principe Forte dei Marmi in Italy, Cassanelli is recognised for his modern interpretation of Tuscan cuisine. His residency will feature a four-hands dinner with Chef Girish, offering a journey through Tuscan flavours elevated with creativity.

On 3 January 2026, Chef Jean-Philippe Blondet, Chef Patron at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in London, will present his philosophy of seasonal, ingredient-driven haute cuisine. In collaboration with Chef Girish, he will lead a one-night dining experience at Sirru Fen Fushi.

Executive Chef Girish Sharma described the vision behind the series as an effort to create more than just dinners, but experiences that celebrate craftsmanship, culture and connection. He emphasised that working alongside such esteemed chefs would allow the team to design menus that surprise and inspire, leaving lasting memories in one of the world’s most remarkable settings.

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