Cooking
Anantara Veli Maldives Resort kicks-off Best of British Michelin Series with Chef Gary Foulkes of Angler Restaurant
Known for its extensive culinary offerings set in a picturesque island surrounded by azure waters, Anantara Veli Maldives Resort ups its food game with a lineup of British Michelin-Starred chefs, starting with Chef Gary Foulkes this August.
Packing simple food and big flavours, Gary will be working with locally sourced seasonal produce from the Maldives, letting nature write the menu.
“Seasonal cooking is something I am passionate about wherever I am in the world, I’m really looking forward to getting to the Maldives and seeing what nature’s bounty has to offer. I will base my menu around this, with a few surprises along the way,” said Gary.
While many chefs recount stories of family recipes, Chef Gary shares of his accidental encounter with food when he spent a day on a school placement in the kitchen of a hotel. This led him on an unknown path into the culinary world, working under the tutelage of culinary greats like John Campbell, William Drabble, Gary Rhodes and Philip Howard – a man he credits for having a huge influence on his style of cooking.
In April 2016, Gary joined the Angler restaurant as Executive Head Chef, achieving a Michelin star in just five months, creating a new reputation for the restaurant with his unique and clean style of cooking. His food is inspired by travel, people and experiences, starting with a three-year travel across the globe accompanied by his wife. The trip began in a Volkswagen Campervan in Europe, and quickly became a food odyssey.
Their journey took them across Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, Indonesia, Central America and South America. The ever-changing menu at Angler is inspired by travel and refined through many years of culinary experience – the use of ingredients such as wasabi, shiso and black garlic in the menu highlights the Asian influence in Gary’s cooking.
At Anantara Veli Maldives Resort, Gary will be teaming up with the resort’s culinary team, led by Executive Chef Francis Purification. “We are excited to have such an amazing lineup in our kitchen. It will be a great experience for our chefs and there’s no better way to learn than to cook with the best in the industry,” said Chef Francis.
Following Chef Gary’s debut at Anantara Veli Maldives Resort are four other British greats who will be making an appearance at the resort throughout the rest of 2023, including Singapore based Michelin-starred chefs, Steve Lancaster of Poise in September and Lewis Barker of Sommer in October.
Firing up the kitchen this 2nd and 3rd of August, Gary will be plating for an exclusive dinner with only eight seats in the wine cellar at Anantara Veli’s Japanese restaurant, Origami.
For more information about the dinner, email velimaldives@anantara.com or call +960 6644 100.
Cooking
Kandolhu Maldives announces culinary collaboration with Chef Fabrizio Zanetti
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.
Cooking
Baros Maldives to showcase sustainable dining for Earth Day
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.
Cooking
Kuredhivaru Resort & Spa introduces Secret Garden private dining concept
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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