Cooking
More than Michelin-starred dining: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, Gaetano Trovato collaborate to train Maldivian chefs
In a story of people and their intention – merging inspiration and empowerment – two Michelin-starred Italian chef and culinary artist Gaetano Trovato will be working exclusively with Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru to mentor and inspire the next generation of global chefs.
Hailing from the medieval Tuscan village of Colle di Val d’Elsa – where he is soon to open his hotly anticipated new restaurant, Arnolfo The Frame – Trovato is an ambassador of the Slow Food movement (rooted in a commitment to community and the environment) who’s on a mission to develop young talent.
From November 2021, Trovato will be spearheading a unique menu at Landaa’s Blu restaurant, marrying specially curated ingredients from Tuscany with Maldivian and island-grown products. Driven by Trovato’s architect-like view of local produce as the raw materials that form the “scaffolding” of each dish, his focus is on expanding the horizons of Blu’s chefs while imparting his passion for producing and cooking with the highest quality ingredients.
Guests can sample Chef Trovato’s culinary magic in person twice a year at Blu. His iconic touch will then continue year-round via his on-site protégées, who will travel to Tuscany regularly to consolidate their learning at Arnolfo The Frame and further develop their own craft and passion.
The‘experience of The Frame will be further replicated at Blu via customised china wares and linens, plus a special vertical selection of Ornellaia, the legendary cabernet sauvignon-dominated Super Tuscan wine.
“We are delighted to have Chef Trovato nurture our culinary and service talent in this way,” comments General Manager and Regional Vice President Armando Kraenzlin.
“As well as absorbing the knowledge of one of Italy’s most revered icons of culinary quality, it’s a chance for them to experience Italy and Tuscany first hand and become part of an international community of culinary and service professionals.”
Born and raised on a Sicilian farm, Trovato considers himself fortunate to have been taught to appreciate quality ingredients from a young age. “This collaboration is partly about paying that good fortune forward and fulfilling a long-held dream of inspiring the next generation of chefs,” he says.
Having earned his first Michelin star at 25, he takes great pride in encouraging young professionals “to find their unique path and way of expressing themselves through food.” His personal process includes drawing his creations prior to making them “as if they were real projections of architecture.” Sourcing exclusively from markets and small suppliers, he admits to being “moved emotionally by the raw materials” that underpin the “evolution of flavour.”
It’s a process of evolution that has echoes in the Planetary Wellness concept of Landaa Giraavaru, which ripples out from the Resort’s jungle heart, through its earth-focused wellness concept, AyurMa, and into its wide-reaching sustainability initiatives. Through investing in young Maldivian chefs and deepening their connection to local produce, the collaboration with Trovato is another strand in the Resort’s interwoven tapestry of care, conservation and community.
Chef Gaetano Trovato will be in residence at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru from November 22 to 28, 2021 and from February 17 to 23, 2022. For future dates, click here.
To find out more about this unique collaboration and experience the Resort’s unique Planetary Wellbeing philosophy book online, email reservations.mal@fourseasons.com or call the central reservations department of Four Seasons Resorts Maldives at tel: (960) 66 00 888.
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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