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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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Baros Maldives’ The Lighthouse to present Duval-Leroy champagne pairing experience

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Baros Maldives invites guests and discerning epicureans to an exclusive Champagne pairing dinner at The Lighthouse, the island’s iconic fine-dining restaurant, on 4 March 2026. Hosted for one evening only by Louis Duval-Leroy, family representative and Brand Ambassador of Maison Duval-Leroy, the intimate five-course experience celebrates the harmony between refined gastronomy and Champagne craftsmanship.

Perched above the Indian Ocean with panoramic ocean views, The Lighthouse is synonymous with Baros’ culinary philosophy. Long regarded as a benchmark for fine dining in the Maldives, the restaurant is known for its elegant setting, considered menus, and a focus on precision and technique. This one-night collaboration brings together Baros’ culinary team and the heritage of one of Champagne’s notable family-owned houses.

Founded in 1859, Maison Duval-Leroy is recognised for its Chardonnay-driven style, contemporary approach, and commitment to terroir and sustainability. Independent and family-owned for six generations, the House has been a pioneer in responsible viticulture, becoming the first Champagne house to achieve ISO 9002 certification in 1994, followed by Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne certification in 2015.

Representing the sixth generation, Louis Duval-Leroy brings both heritage and a modern perspective to the estate. With a background in business and extensive commercial experience, he has developed close relationships with chefs and sommeliers across the international fine-dining community. During the evening, he will personally guide guests through each cuvée, sharing insights into the philosophy, craftsmanship, and stories behind every Champagne.

The five-course menu has been carefully curated to complement the character of each pairing. Highlights include Smoked Goat Cheese Parfait with golden beets, paired with Duval-Leroy Brut Réserve; a Black Cod Mosaic matched with Brut Rosé Prestige Premier Cru; and a Lemon Meringue Tart served alongside Prestige Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs.

The Duval-Leroy Champagne Pairing Dinner offers an opportunity to experience Baros Maldives through destination dining, heritage Champagne, and an oceanfront setting.

With limited seating available, advance reservations are recommended. For bookings and enquiries, please contact +960 664 2672 or email reservations@baros.com.

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St. Regis Maldives Vommuli welcomes Glynn Purnell for Tastemaker Series

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Glynn Purnell, the Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur and television personality known as “The Yummy Brummie”, will bring his modern British cooking to the Indian Ocean this April as part of the Tastemaker Series at St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort.

With a career spanning more than 35 years, two Michelin-starred restaurants and a long-standing presence on British television, Purnell’s residency will take place from 3 to 6 April. His ingredient-led approach will be presented through a curated programme that includes a signature tasting dinner, an intimate cooking class and a closing experience hosted at The Whale Bar, offering guests the opportunity to engage with his cuisine in an informal setting.

Purnell began his culinary career at the age of 14 through a hotel kitchen work placement before refining his skills at the Metropole Hotel and at Simpson’s Restaurant, where he contributed to the restaurant’s first Michelin star. His professional training also includes working alongside chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes and Claude Bosi, as well as experience in Michelin-starred kitchens across Europe. Purnell later made history by earning Birmingham’s first Michelin star for Jessica’s in 2005, followed by a Michelin star for Purnell’s, which the restaurant has retained since 2009.

In addition to his restaurant work, Purnell is a well-known figure on British television. He has won Great British Menu twice and has returned to the programme as a mentor. His television appearances also include Saturday Kitchen, and he co-presented My Kitchen Rules UK alongside Rachel Allen on Channel 4.

Recognised for combining technical precision with an approachable style, Purnell’s residency forms part of the St. Regis Maldives’ 2026 Tastemaker Series, a programme designed to showcase international culinary talent through immersive guest experiences. His emphasis on seasonal, responsibly sourced ingredients and sustainable practices aligns with the resort’s broader commitment to considered luxury and culinary quality.

Set on Vommuli Island, the residency offers guests the opportunity to experience contemporary British gastronomy in a distinctive island setting, with rare access to one of the UK’s most influential chefs.

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Michelin-starred Chef Jaume collaborates with One&Only Reethi Rah’s TAPASAKE for four-hands dinner

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TAPASAKE Maldives, the destination dining restaurant set in the private island of One&Only Reethi Rah, will be welcoming Michelin-starred Chef Jaume to serve an exclusive four-hands dinner at the iconic overwater restaurant alongside their resident Chef Ahmed Jameel.

The first of its kind since the inception of One&Only Reethi Rah, TAPASAKE Maldives features breathtaking ocean views, bold contemporary design, and dining experiences that unite the precision of Japan and the soul of the Mediterranean in a flowing exchange of flavour, texture, and culture. In addition to the original restaurant in the Maldives, TAPASAKE also operates in Dubai, Mauritius, and Montenegro.

The exclusive collaboration features the authentic and sophisticated artistry of Chef Jaume, originally from Mallorca and Head Chef of Béns d’Avall in Sóller, Spain, awarded one Michelin star since 2021 and a Michelin Green Star in 2023. Chef Jaume’s cuisine is deeply rooted in family tradition, cultural heritage, and the Mallorcan landscapes, and with his meticulous eye for detail and instinctive sense of harmony, Chef Jaume transforms local, seasonal produce into refined compositions that evoke memory, place, and authenticity. Chef Jaume will be collaborating with the restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine, Ahmed Jameel, a native of the Maldives whose culinary work is founded in balancing both traditional and contemporary Japanese techniques.

Set against the soothing backdrop of the azure Indian Ocean, the Four-Hands Dinner offers an exceptionally curated menu celebrating Chef Jaume and Chef Jameel’s quiet artistry, refined technique, and harmonious blend of Japanese and Mediterranean cuisines, with each dish shaped to honour the purity of ingredients and the emotional power of flavour.

“We are excited to collaborate with Chef Jaume on this exclusive dining experience,” says Jan B. Tibaldi, General Manager of One&Only Reethi Rah. “Paired with Chef Jameel’s refined techniques and Chef Jaume’s sophisticated creativity and philosophy grounded in a deep respect for nature, this Four-Hands Dinner offers an exceptional evening to celebrate the fusion of soulful cuisine against the spectacular backdrop of the Maldives.”

The dinner will be held exclusively on 18 February at TAPASAKE Maldives, which will be open from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.

For pre-bookings and more information, please email guest.information@oneandonlyreethirah.com or call +960 664 8800. For more information about the resort, please visit oneandonlyreethirah.com

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