Food
Japanese flair meets Maldivian spice: Pullman Maldives Maamutaa celebrates Food Week 2023
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa has announced its upcoming Food Week 2023 event from November 27 to December 3. Aligned with Pullman’s annual Pillar Weeks, this week-long celebration assures engaging activities and culinary adventures, constituting a captivating addition to Pullman Maldives’ event portfolio.
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Pullman Maldives has forged a unique alliance with another member of the Pullman family, Pullman Tokyo Tamachi, Japan. Notably, Executive Chef Koji Fukuda from Pullman Tokyo Tamachi will be the guest chef for Food Week, contributing an unparalleled dimension to the event’s gastronomic offerings by seamlessly blending Japanese and Maldivian culinary traditions.
Chef Koji’s arrival brings a new culinary experience to Pullman Maldives. With his foundational experiences from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, and Japan, Chef Koji will be conducting master classes for the culinary team. The theme of the food week will focus on a beautiful fusion of Maldivian and Japanese culture, which will undoubtedly elevate the dining experience for all. Guests can look forward to exciting sessions with Chef Koji, including a sought-after “Sushi at Home” class. Additionally, Chef Koji will serve as a judge for the thrilling Iron Chef Competition, where teams from our culinary department will compete for the grand prize of USD 500. To complete the experience, Chef Koji will collaborate with Pullman Maldives Executive Chef Nyoman to curate a unique Four-Hands Dinner at Souq Oven and Phat Chameleon, complete with an exquisite wine selection. Overall, Chef Koji’s presence marks a significant milestone for Pullman Maldives, and his culinary expertise will undoubtedly enhance the resort’s offerings.
As part of the interactive and immersive activities, guests can partake in sessions exploring the spices of the Indian Ocean. Children can engage in the fun art of crafting Kawaii Bento Boxes. Not limited to guests alone, Pullman Maldives colleagues are afforded exciting opportunities to showcase their talents. The Culinary will participate in the fierce Iron Chef Competition, while the Bar Team will compete in Bartending Battles. The grand culmination of Food Week will unfold with a spectacular dinner under the stars.
For more information about Food Week and this unforgettable gastronomic journey, please visit Pullman Maldives Maamutaa’s official website: www.pullmanmaldivesmaamutaa.com/food-week/
Cooking
Chef Giorgio Servetto brings Michelin-starred dining to Atmosphere Core’s underwater restaurants
A rare culinary moment will unfold in the Maldives as double MICHELIN-Starred Chef Giorgio Servetto brings his distinctive approach to creative, environmentally grounded dining beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean, in an exclusive underwater collaboration with Atmosphere Core.
Chef Giorgio Servetto will introduce a Garden-to-Sea Immersion concept rooted in circular cuisine and zero-waste precision. He will take over two of the region’s most celebrated underwater restaurants, for exclusive lunch and dinner experiences: Only BLU at OBLU SELECT Lobigili from 7th to 9th May 2026, followed by M6m (Minus Six Metres) at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO from 12th to 14th May 2026. The culinary extravaganza will also include a signature Crab Dinner Experience at the HUDHU BAY, also at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO.

Presented as a five-course menu at both Only BLU and M6m, each dish will trace Chef Servetto’s culinary journey, translating his philosophy into refined and sophisticated expressions. Developed in partnership with Atmosphere Core culinary team, the menus will prioritise island-grown produce. Hydroponic greens cultivated on Maadhoo Island, fresh vegetables sourced from local farms, and sustainable catch from the Indian Ocean will reinforce a transparent and measurable commitment to environmental accountability.
“Creativity begins with listening—to the land, the sea, and what they give you,” says Chef Giorgio Servetto. “My cuisine is about simplifying. When you respect ingredients fully, every element finds its purpose and flavour becomes clearer. You are a guest in nature’s elegant dining room. It is especially exciting to bring this experience to the Maldives for the first time with Atmosphere Core, where serving food in this underwater realm makes the journey feel even more special.”
Born and professionally shaped in Liguria, Italy, Chef Giorgio Servetto is known for an approach to cooking that is both disciplined and deeply curious. He is a great wine enthusiast and a dynamic presence in the kitchen, driven by an openness to learning, cultural exchange, and continuous research. This passionate pursuit of excellence has earned him rare distinction: he remains the only chef in Liguria to hold both a MICHELIN Red Star and a MICHELIN Green Star, and the only one to be awarded Red Stars at two different restaurants.
Bringing together MICHELIN-level gastronomy and tangible island sustainability leadership, this collaboration extends beyond a single culinary moment. It reflects Atmosphere Core’s broader commitment to embedding conscious dining principles across its portfolio.

Anupam Banerjee, Vice President Food & Beverage, Atmosphere Core, expands, “This kind of culinary experience feels very natural to us. We are focused on bringing conscious dining into everything we do. Our approach to circular cuisine comes from working closely with what’s grown on our islands and what the sea provides responsibly. Collaborating with Chef Servetto has been inspiring. His way of thinking aligns instinctively with ours, and together we’ve designed something enriching, grounded and memorable, a new experience that our guests can genuinely enjoy and take with them.”
The venues themselves complete the immersion. One of the Maldives’ largest under ocean restaurants, Only BLU offers a cobalt-washed dining room framed by drifting marine life, while M6M delivers a sophisticated, limited-seat experience six metres below the surface, where ocean panoramas replace traditional décor. In both settings, dining becomes a sensory experience, focused and deliberately unhurried.
Easily accessible from Velana International Airport, OBLU SELECT Lobigili and OZEN LIFE MAADHOO offer seamless entry points for travellers seeking meaningful travel. Whether for a fleeting escape or an extended stay, the collaboration positions Atmosphere Core at the forefront of a new gastronomic language where creativity, sustainability and sense of place are inseparable.
In an age where luxury dining is being redefined, this underwater takeover makes a compelling statement, the future of fine dining isn’t louder, it’s deeper.
Food
A short escape from Malé: Iftar by the ocean at Villa Nautica
This Ramadan, Villa Nautica invites guests to gather for an overwater Iftar experience at Lagoon Restaurant, offering a relaxed setting to break fast just a short journey from Male’. Located a quick speedboat ride from Malé, the resort’s close-to-city convenience makes it an easy choice for families, friends, and teams looking for a peaceful island atmosphere without a long transfer.
Set over the water, Iftar by the Ocean is designed around variety, bringing together a generous spread that balances Ramadan favourites with a broader mix of flavours, so guests can return across the month and still find something new to enjoy. The experience is welcoming and unhurried, shaped by warm service, open views, and the simple comfort of sharing a table at sunset.
Iftar is priced at USD 59++ per adult, with children aged 3 and under dining free and children aged 4–11.99 receiving 50% off. For group gatherings, discounts apply for reservations of 12 adults or more, making it well suited for corporate Iftars and larger family meet-ups. Return transfer between Malé and Villa Nautica is included.
For more information, please visit villaresorts.com.
Drink
German winemaker Patrick Heitlinger to headline exclusive dinner at SO/ Maldives
On 07th March, SO/ Maldives collaborates with Germany’s prestigious family wineries, Weingut Heitlinger and Burg Ravensburg, to present an intimate and stylish Winemaker’s Dinner a celebration of modern Pinot set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Maldives.
In a refined fusion of European heritage and island glamour, SO/ Maldives will host third-generation winemaker Patrick Jacklin Heitlinger and his wife Lilly for a singular evening dedicated to craftsmanship, storytelling, and exceptional wine.

At the heart of Weingut Heitlinger lies a philosophy of balance, tradition reimagined for the modern palate. As a proud VDP estate, the winery is known for its biodynamic approach and its expressive Pinot wines that range from vibrant estate selections to complex single-vineyard masterpieces.
Hosted in the fashion-forward surroundings of SO/ Maldives, the evening unfolds as an intimate encounter between vineyard and island. Guests will indulge in a meticulously curated five-course menu, each dish artfully paired with Heitlinger’s celebrated Pinot wines revealing layers of texture, minerality, and character.
Between courses, Patrick and Lilly will share personal stories of their heritage in Tiefenbach, of vineyards kissed by German sunshine, and of a family legacy that continues to evolve with grace and ambition.

This collaboration is more than a dinner it is a meeting of worlds: German terroir and Maldivian glamour, biodynamic purity and contemporary luxury, heritage and haute living.
Seats are limited for this exclusive one-night affair.
For more information or to book your perfect getaway, please visit so-maldives.com or contact so.maldives.reservations@so-hotels.com or call +960 664-9100
-
Cooking1 week agoA spring of flavours: Nowruz dining series at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
-
News1 week agoRefined overwater vision: Velaa Private Island’s upgraded Ocean Pool House
-
Featured1 week agoYoko Kawaguchi to lead holistic wellness residency at Vakkaru Maldives
-
News7 days agoPulse Hotels & Resorts unveils Aura Maldives, a mindful luxury sanctuary
-
Love1 week agoFushifaru Maldives combines romance and lunar new year traditions in guest programme
-
News1 week agoSun Siyam Iru Fushi sets new nenchmark with 24 Hour Premium All Inclusive Dine Around
-
Fitness1 week agoOUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru launches expanded wellness programming for 2026
-
Featured1 week agoYou & Me Maldives unveils curated Premium All Inclusive programme


