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JW Garden to Table: JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa introduces a new sustainable culinary experience

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The JW Garden to Table experience celebrates the island’s homegrown bounty with a guided tour, cooking class, and a special menu crafted by the chef using locally sourced ingredients

Following the launch of the JW Garden, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa has introduced an exclusive new culinary experience for guests. The JW Garden to Table showcases the resort’s bounty of homegrown ingredients, cementing its dedication to sustainability and reducing food miles by growing a wealth of fresh produce on-site. As a signature element of the JW Marriott experience, the JW Garden creates a sensory connection to the natural world, offering a year-round harvest of fragrant herbs, crisp vegetables, and lush tropical fruits.

Curated by Executive Chef Bir Yadav, the JW Garden to Table experience begins with a guided tour of the flourishing JW Garden, led by Chef Bir and two of the resort’s dedicated Herb Gardeners. Learn more about the varieties that grow here, as you hand-pick herbs including sage, coriander, and lemongrass, along with fruits and vegetables such as tamarind, mango, passionfruit, red amaranth, tomato and cabbages, depending on the season. 

Following a tour of the garden, your edible bounty will form the basis of a healthy, hands-on cooking class at Aailaa with Chef Bir, who has taken inspiration from the garden and the surrounding waters of the Indian Ocean to create a menu that is grounded in the local environment. “These wellness-focused dishes are carefully crafted with local ingredients sourced within a zero-kilometer radius, highlighting the freshness of the Maldives and our passion for food and nature,” says Chef Bir. 

Under the chef’s expert guidance, master the art of cooking Maldivian lobster with a vibrant salad of freshly picked kopi (kale) leaves; and a sunumono (cucumber and seaweed) salad with octopus ceviche, which showcases the colors and fresh flavors of the ocean, combining the crispness of the salad with the delicate tenderness of the octopus. In keeping with the resort’s commitment to the environment, the seafood is sourced sustainably from the surrounding waters, ensuring the protection of the marine ecosystem and supporting local fishermen.

Chef Bir has also curated two tasting menus, crafted exclusively with sustainable local ingredients and zero-kilometer sourcing. The “Taste of Maldives” menu includes octopus ceviche with island cucumbers, lime, and Maldivian chili; curried lobster with kopi leaves and coconut rice; and a tropical dessert of papaya with black pepper and lime granite. The “Taste of Japan” menu stars miso-cured tomatoes from the JW Garden with edamame and tofu; island maki rolls; and flambéed bananas with pineapple ice cream. 

Located on Vagaru Island in the pristine Shaviyani Atoll, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa is a multi-generational destination that focuses on thoughtfully curated experiences, holistic wellbeing, and all-ages adventures. The resort is home to 60 beach and overwater villas, all with private pools, spacious wooden decks and personalized Thakuru (butler) service. Guests can savor an array of cuisines and cooking styles across the resort’s five dining venues, three bars, private beach dinners, and wine room stocked with 1,200 labels. 

The JW Garden to Table at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa is a valued addition to the resort’s culinary program, celebrating nature, gastronomy and sustainability. It offers guests an immersive experience that connects them with the environment, providing an opportunity to enjoy the freshest produce and master new recipes, while being immersed in the breathtaking natural beauty of the Maldives.

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Chef Mos to showcase northern Thai cuisine at Adaaran Select Meedhupparu

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This November, Adaaran Select Meedhupparu welcomes a taste of Northern Thailand as Michelin recognized Ginger Farm Kitchen and The House by Ginger arrives in the Maldives for a special culinary collaboration inspired by the traditions, ingredients and home cooking of Chiang Mai.

Born and raised in Chiang Mai, Chef Mos brings with him a strong connection to the food of Northern Thailand and the philosophy behind Ginger Farm Kitchen, a restaurant concept that began on a working farm in Saraphi, just outside the city.

What started as a family space for children and visitors to experience rice planting, harvesting and traditional farm life gradually evolved into the brand’s distinctive Farm to City philosophy.

Today, Ginger Farm Kitchen celebrates authentic Thai home cooking, with an emphasis on Northern Thai flavours, family recipes, local produce and time-honoured cooking techniques.

Chef Mos will bring this spirit to Adaaran Select Meedhupparu through a series of specially curated culinary experiences on 8 and 9 November 2026.

On 8 November, guests can begin with an intimate, hour-long cooking demonstration. The session will showcase three Thai favourites: Tom Kha with chicken, Pad Thai with prawns or chicken, and Thai green curry with chicken, offering an opportunity to discover the ingredients and techniques behind each dish.

That evening, the experience continues at Tawa with an exclusive five-course wine pairing dinner. The menu combines Thai flavours with contemporary presentation, beginning with Ma Hor and prawn spring roll, followed by crab pani puri with coconut citrus sauce, Burmese tea leaf salad with soft-shell crab and Tom Yum lobster bisque.

For the main course, guests can choose between beef Massaman with garlic mashed potatoes, burnt leeks and Thai gremolata, or grilled sea bass with Tom Kha sauce, crab salad and jasmine rice. A lemongrass panna cotta with tropical fruits and mango and passion fruit sauce brings the evening to a close.

On 9 November, the focus shifts to a more relaxed Thai street-food and BBQ dinner on the beach. The buffet will feature favourites including chicken satay, spring rolls, Thai pineapple fried rice, seafood Tom Yum, Massaman curry, pomelo salad and Pad Ka Prao Neur. Live stations will serve freshly prepared Pad Thai with prawns and Khao Soi chicken curry noodles, followed by mango sticky rice for dessert.

The collaboration also brings recognised culinary pedigree. Ginger Farm Kitchen’s original Chiang Mai restaurant at One Nimman received Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition from 2020 to 2023.

From Chiang Mai’s farms to the shores of the Raa Atoll, Ginger Farm Kitchen x Adaaran Select Meedhupparu brings guests closer to the roots of Thai cuisine through shared dining, authentic flavours and chef-led discovery.

For more information and bookings, please visit the resort’s website.

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Heritance Aarah brings Chiang Mai’s The House by Ginger to Maldives

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This November, the flavours of Chiang Mai arrive in the Maldives as Michelin recognised The House by Ginger and Ginger Farm Kitchen joins Heritance Aarah for a special culinary collaboration celebrating the depth, character and creativity of Thai cuisine.

Taking place from 4-6 November 2026, the collaboration will see Chef Aree bring the culinary identity of The House by Ginger to the shores of the Raa Atoll through a series of curated dining experiences, chef-led demonstrations and vibrant Thai flavours.

Based in Chiang Mai’s Old City, The House by Ginger has been part of the city’s dining scene since 2004. Set within a restored heritage house dating back to 1937, the restaurant brings together Thai culinary traditions, regional ingredients and contemporary interpretation. Its approach is rooted in cooking from scratch and respecting the stories behind familiar Thai dishes, while presenting them with a distinctive modern character.

At Heritance Aarah, guests will have several opportunities to experience this philosophy throughout the week.

On 4 November, Ralu will host a special Thai à la carte experience featuring familiar favourites such as chicken satay with peanut sauce, som tum, green curry, seafood hor mok, stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts, pad Thai and mango sticky rice.

For a more refined expression of the collaboration, wine pairing dinners on 5 November will explore Thai flavours through a contemporary five-course menu. Dishes include crab pani puri with coconut citrus sauce, Burmese tea leaf salad with soft-shell crab, Tom Yum lobster bisque and mains such as beef Massaman with garlic mashed potatoes or grilled sea bass with Tom Kha sauce. The evening concludes with lemongrass panna cotta accompanied by tropical fruit.

Guests can also get closer to the techniques behind the cuisine through cooking demonstrations on 5 November, featuring Thai favourites including Tom Kha, pad Thai and green curry.

The experience becomes more relaxed on 6 November, when Thai street food takes centre stage. Live cooking stations and a generous selection of dishes will bring together everything from chicken satay and spring rolls to Khao Soi, seafood Tom Yum, Massaman curry and mango sticky rice.

The collaboration adds another dimension to Heritance Aarah’s already diverse culinary story, creating an opportunity for guests to discover Thai cuisine through both traditional flavours and contemporary presentation.

For 3 days this November, Chiang Mai meets the Maldives through food, craft and shared culinary discovery at Heritance Aarah.

For more information and bookings, please visit the resort’s website. 

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Award-winning Pastry Chef Elena Nabiullina brings contemporary pâtisserie to The Nautilus Maldives

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The Nautilus Maldives welcomes award-winning pastry chef and CREAMO founder Elena Nabiullina from 7 to 12 November 2026 as part of its Masters for Masters series. Her residency will bring contemporary pâtisserie to the island through a guest dessert masterclass and a special creation offered to all guests staying during the week.

At The Nautilus, culinary experiences begin with individual tastes and curiosity. Within this spirit of unscripted dining, Elena invites guests to explore the imagination, precision and care that transform familiar ingredients into memorable desserts.

Her journey began in her mother’s kitchen, making nut-shaped biscuits filled with condensed milk and delicate pastries. Although she initially pursued a career in industrial and civil construction, an encounter with French chef David Emmerle inspired her to turn a lifelong fascination with confectionery into a profession. Elena studied at the Ragout School and interned at Akrame in Paris, further refining her craft through training with Cédric Grolet, Garuharu, Ramon Morato, Jordi Bordas and Karim Bourgi. Her specialist education includes Valrhona’s private school in Dubai, Carpigiani Gelato University and the Institut National de la Boulangerie-Pâtisserie in Rouen, France.

Named Pastry Chef of the Year in 2024 by WHERETOEAT, she has contributed to more than 14 restaurant openings. She also served as pastry chef at Café Garage at the Garage Museum and founded CREAMO, her artisanal gelato brand. Her work combines contemporary technique, unexpected flavours and a thoughtful balance of textures and presentation.

On 8 November, Elena will lead a dessert masterclass for guests, sharing the techniques and creative inspiration behind her signature CREAMO cookies. Easy to recreate at home, these treats will allow guests to bring a taste of the experience into their own kitchens. Throughout the residency, all guests staying at The Nautilus will also receive her signature Bublik, an elegantly crafted, ring-shaped dessert, presented with a specially designed card sharing the story behind Elena’s creation. The Masters for Masters series brings accomplished creators to The Nautilus to share the passions that define their work. Elena’s residency offers a personal encounter with the chef behind the craft, with time to learn, exchange ideas and savour her artistry in the intimacy of a private island home.

To learn more about Chef Elena Nabiullina Residency at The Nautilus Maldives, visit here.

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