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JA Manafaru introduces ‘Wellness Your Way’ dining experience in celebration of World Food Day

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Building on the exciting news from the previous month when JA Manafaru was honored with the esteemed ‘Best Culinary Resort 2023’ award by Travel Trade Maldives, the resort celebrated ‘World Food Day’ on October 16th, 2023, by introducing ‘Wellness Your Way,’ a lifestyle dining concept designed to cater to the well-being of luxury travelers.

The event, graced by members of the travel media, agents, and island guests, featured a captivating beachfront food festival that celebrated diverse eating lifestyles. Guests at the launch party savored a variety of appetizers and main courses tailored to different dietary preferences. The evening’s highlight was an extensive selection of desserts, ensuring that even those with dietary restrictions could enjoy a sweet treat.

To mark this special occasion, renowned UK-based celebrity Chef Luke French of Joro Restaurant graced the event with his culinary expertise. Chef Luke’s visit to JA Manafaru will include his involvement in launching other ‘Wellness Your Way’ initiatives, with a primary focus on training the culinary team in fermentation processes to create Homemade@JA Manafaru soy sauce, miso, and other fermented products. These will complement the island’s new Wellness Beverage program, featuring homemade Kombucha and more.

Each of the resort’s six dining outlets, as well as In Villa Dining, will offer separate menus catering to various dietary preferences, including vegan/vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, or low-carb options. Guests can confidently select from a diverse range of dishes made from specially sourced ingredients, including homegrown fruits and vegetables.

In an effort to provide healthier alternatives, Executive Chef Moosa Nazeeh and his culinary team have employed innovative techniques to recreate guests’ favorite dishes while accommodating different dietary choices. The island will introduce a variety of plant-based meats, cheeses, and seafood, as well as homemade low-carb bread and pasta made from konjac. The team’s experiments have led to delectable creations such as vegan “buffalo” mozzarella and sugar and low-carb nut brownies.

Chef Moosa remarks, “Earning the title of the ‘Best Culinary Resort’ in the Maldives is a significant achievement, and our team is constantly embracing new culinary challenges to enhance the dining experience for our valued guests. By making subtle ingredient adjustments, we can reimagine dishes to cater to a broader audience of health-conscious diners. We’ve been delighted to expand our knowledge and craft these tailor-made menus.”

The ‘World Food Day’ event marks the commencement of the entire ‘Wellness Your Way’ initiative, which also includes the introduction of the ‘Alchemy Bar’ situated at the Calm Spa Sanctuary. Here, guests can participate in workshops to create herbal remedies and engage in short wellness programs to enrich their Maldives vacation.

General Manager Jason Kruse concludes, “While guest wellness remains a key focus at JA Manafaru, and our spa experience is akin to a serene sanctuary for the soul, we don’t intend to become solely a wellness destination. ‘Wellness Your Way’ is our way of offering guests a wider array of choices to enhance their vacation with wellness elements. We aim for our guests to feel equally at ease whether they opt for a day of salads and workouts or indulge in a seven-course wine degustation in our subterranean wine cellar on the following day.”

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Savour July: Exceptional dining awaits at Barceló Nasandhura Male

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Located in the vibrant heart of Malé, Barceló Nasandhura is fast becoming a sought-after destination for dining, casual coffee catchups, and laid-back city experiences. This July, guests are invited to indulge in a series of exclusive promotions across the hotel’s distinctive food and beverage outlets, the perfect opportunity to discover what’s on offer.

At Oivaru, the hotel’s signature all-day dining restaurant located on the 3rd Floor, guests can treat themselves to an irresistible Chocolate Dessert Station, available during dinner service from 4th to 7th July only. A decadent addition to the renowned international buffet, it promises to satisfy every sweet tooth. To complement the dining experience, enjoy live music on selected evenings, creating the perfect atmosphere for a relaxed, flavorful night out.

To mark World Chocolate Day on 7th July, a special Chocolate Indulgence Station will be set up in the Nasandhura Lobby from 4 PM to 8 PM. Featuring free tastings and handcrafted desserts by the hotel’s renowned pastry chef, the experience is open to all guests and walk-ins. Guests can also purchase limited-edition treats while enjoying a beautifully styled chocolate-themed setup designed for sweet moments and social sharing.

Alimas Coffee Lounge is the ideal spot to escape the city heat. From 20th to 26th July, enjoy 10% off all ice creams, making it the perfect excuse to cool down with a sweet treat in style.

For those seeking elevated views and an unforgettable ambience, B.Heaven, the hotel’s rooftop lounge, offers signature mocktails and light bites, best savored with panoramic sunset vistas. On selected evenings, the energy rises with live DJ performances, making it the perfect setting to unwind, socialize, or celebrate under the stars.

This July, Barceló Nasandhura invites you to experience a taste of Malé’s most exciting culinary and social destination.

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JOALI Maldives welcomes FIX’s iconic chocolate in first-ever global expansion

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Dubai-based artisanal brand FIX Dessert Chocolatier, renowned for its viral chocolate creations, has partnered with JOALI Maldives – the Indian Ocean’s first art-immersive luxury island resort. Starting 2 July 2025, guests at JOALI Maldives will have the exclusive opportunity to indulge in FIX’s signature creation, The Original Dubai Chocolate, marking the first time the coveted dessert will be available outside the UAE.

Famed for its bold creativity, intricate layering, and unforgettable textures, FIX has redefined the modern dessert experience. This collaboration brings together two worlds of sensory delight – the imaginative world of FIX and the refined, story-driven luxury of JOALI Maldives.

As part of this partnership, FIX introduces Time To Mango, a brand-new chocolate bar inspired by tropical fruits, warm breezes, and the playful spirit of summer. Blending mango-forward flavours with nostalgic childhood treats and a whimsical touch of popping candy, the creation delivers a multi-sensory experience wrapped in rich chocolate.

FIX Dessert Chocolatier’s signature artistry and innovative flavour combinations align seamlessly with the philosophy of JOALI Maldives, a resort celebrated for its immersive art, sublime design, and curated experiences. According to FIX co-founder Sarah Hamouda, “This collaboration is about more than flavour – it’s about sparking wonder and delivering delight in unexpected ways. Seeing our creation featured at JOALI Maldives feels like the perfect match of storytelling and indulgence.”

Guests at JOALI Maldives will encounter FIX’s chocolates across various curated settings – from the private airport lounge and the resort’s artisanal ice cream shop to bespoke in-villa amenities and select evening turndown rituals. Every piece is hand-crafted in Dubai, carefully transported, and presented under the Maldivian sun as a true edible work of art.

Commenting on the partnership, Semiha Askin, Global Director of Sales and Marketing at JOALI, stated, “At JOALI, we embrace art in all its forms – from visual and spatial to culinary. Partnering with FIX Dessert Chocolatier allows us to extend that ethos into the realm of artisanal sweets. Their chocolate is more than a dessert – it’s an immersive experience our guests will remember, one bite at a time.”

This marks FIX’s first international placement, making JOALI Maldives the only destination outside of the UAE to offer the brand’s signature chocolate. The collaboration exemplifies a shared dedication to luxury, creativity, and culinary innovation.

Located in one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world, JOALI Maldives offers 73 elegantly appointed beach and over-water villas, each accompanied by a personal Jadugar (meaning “skilled magician” in Dhivehi). The resort is a sanctuary of sustainability, immersive programming, and next-level wellbeing offerings, including the JOALI BEING Cure – the first outpost of sister retreat JOALI BEING, the Maldives’ pioneering wellness island.

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Jumeirah Olhahali Island welcomes Shimmers’ Chef Emanuele for exclusive culinary residency this July

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Jumeirah Olhahali Island has announced a culinary residency in collaboration with Chef Emanuele De Leo, Head Chef of the award-winning Shimmers at Jumeirah Mina Al Salam in Dubai. Taking place from 7 to 10 July 2025, this exclusive experience will bring the vibrant flavours of the Mediterranean to the Maldives through a specially curated tasting-style menu.

Following a stint as Sous Chef at L’Olivo at Al Mahara, the two Michelin-starred restaurant at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, Chef Emanuele took up his position as Head Chef at Shimmers in 2023. There, he leads the kitchen, where his menu pays homage to his Sicilian heritage, while embracing bold, contemporary interpretations of classic Mediterranean cuisine. Under his direction, Shimmers has earned recognition from Gault&Millau UAE in 2025, a testament of the restaurant’s elevated dining experience and Chef Emanuele’s distinctive culinary vision. With a strong focus on seasonality, he draws inspiration from the freshest market produce, transforming each ingredient into flavour-driven, elegantly presented creations.

For his residency at Jumeirah Olhahali Island, Chef Emanuele has crafted a bespoke menu that fuses Greek influences with his Sicilian roots, showcasing refined coastal flavours and thoughtfully sourced seasonal ingredients. In true Shimmers fashion, the evening will be presented as a series of small, shareable plates, designed to bring guests together around the table. Highlights include a fresh cauliflower salad, zingy tuna tartare, and grilled octopus with Santorini fava. These are followed by indulgent mains such as slow-braised beef cheek paired with celery purée and red wine jus, alongside orzo with red prawns, lemon, and caviar. The experience concludes, with a duo of desserts: Greek yoghurt ice cream and orange crème brûlée, offering a refreshing and indulgent finale.

The exclusive dinner experience with Chef Emanuele is priced at USD 195 plus taxes per person. For more information or to reserve, visit the Jumeirah Olhahali Island website here.

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