Food
Michelin-starred Italian chef Maurizio Bufi brings Lake Garda flavours to The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands brings the shores of Lake Garda to the palm-fringed beaches of the Maldives. Michelin-starred Chef Maurizio Bufi and mixologist Rama Redzepi will take guests on an unforgettable culinary journey from February 26 to 28, 2026. Maurizio Bufi, born in the Apulia region, creates modern Mediterranean cuisine that combines Italian roots with contemporary precision. His dishes are characterised by clear flavours, lightness, and understated elegance, with each ingredient speaking for itself. Rama Redzepi learned from the best in Italian bar and cocktail culture, Remo Pizzolito and Samuele Ambrosi. Through his cocktail creations, he elevates Bufi’s vegetarian menu into an entirely new dining experience. Instead of wine, Rama’s cocktails accompany the menu.
As part of the Masters of Crafts and Behind the Bar 2026 series, the resort welcomes this formidable duo from Italy’s Grand Hotel Fasano on Lake Garda. At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, where each experience is designed to engage all the senses, international masters of their craft bring culinary artistry to life in one of the world’s most extraordinary settings.
The first Culinary Maestro of 2026, Chef Maurizio Bufi, will bring his signature Italian creations to the resort’s Italian restaurant, La Locanda, for two exceptional evenings. On February 26, guests will enjoy the exclusive 4-course vegetarian menu, “Dalla Terra” (from the earth), where vegetables take center stage— even in dessert. Chef Bufi’s risotto combines lemon, burrata, and a hint of licorice, perfectly complemented by cocktails crafted by Rama Redzepi. Wine is not served with this menu, allowing guests to fully savour the interplay of flavours and mixology.
On February 28, Chef Bufi returns with a second 4-course menu, featuring seafood, fish, and meat. Squid is paired with sweetbreads and cashews, while beef ravioli is accompanied by shiitake mushrooms, barley miso, and orange. A curated selection of exquisite wines accompanies this menu, while both evenings begin with a series of amuse-bouchées from the kitchen, designed to prepare the palate for Maurizio’s masterful creations.
Dining at La Locanda is an experience in itself, with overwater tables set beneath the open sky. Guests can immerse themselves in the same sense of place as Lake Garda’s Il Fagiano, where lights shimmer across Italy’s largest lake, while enjoying the flavours of the Maldives.
Meanwhile, Bar Manager and Mixologist Rama Redzepi will take over the resort’s EAU Bar for three nights, presenting his signature cocktails as part of the Behind the Bar 2026 series. His four creations include “Il Tramonto Sul Lago,” inspired by the landscapes and sunsets of Lake Garda; “Midori No Sakura,” inspired by Japan and the tea ceremony; “From Jalisco to Benaco,” a journey from Mexico to Lake Garda; and “Total Branco,” representing Porto, the birthplace of port wine.
At the EAU Bar, the transition from day to night is brought to life each evening through the resort’s Defining Moment ritual. For three days in February, guests can enjoy the magic of the island alongside a taste of Lake Garda, echoing Rama Redzepi’s summer terrace at La Terrazza, overlooking the boat dock and shimmering waters of the Italian lake.
Maurizio Bufi grew up in southern Italy, in Puglia, and from an early age he was so enthusiastic about the flavous and ingredients of his homeland that he developed a desire to become a chef. After training as a chef, he was drawn to Lake Como, then to the high seas on a cruise ship, and finally to Switzerland and then Lake Garda, where he earned his first star at Villa Giulia. In 2024, his restaurant Fagiano at the Grand Hotel Fasano was awarded a Michelin star.
To this day, he has retained his childhood memories and respect for all products, and vegetables, which play a major role in Apulian cuisine, have also become increasingly important to Bufi. His cuisine is based on seasonality, sustainability, and the careful selection of the best Italian products, with technique serving exclusively to emphasise the purity of flavour without overshadowing it. Abroad, he encountered new products, spices, and preparation methods, which he skilfully combines with his Mediterranean cuisine.
Rama Redzepi, born in Pristina, moved to Italy at the age of 13. He comes from a multicultural family and quickly fell in love with his new country, which he embraced wholeheartedly. His passion belongs to the bar – he is a mixologist and has been bar manager at the Grand Hotel Fasano for 12 years, which received the “Best Hotel Bar in Lombardy” award from Gambero Rosso in 2020. Rama discovered his love of bartending at a beach bar in Veneto. This passion led him on a successful career path throughout Europe. After a first stop at a hotel bar in Frankfurt, he moved to Spain and developed a deep love for gin and tonic. Upon his return to Italy, two leading figures in Italian bar and cocktail culture, Remo Pizzolitto and Samuele Ambrosi, took him under their wing, and Rama became a bartender.
His bar at the Grand Hotel Fasano stocks over 70 gins and 30 tonic waters. Rama Redzepi has created cocktails to accompany each course of Maurizio Bufi’s “Dalla Terra” (English: from the earth) menu. Wine is not served with this menu, opening up a whole new world of enjoyment for guests.
At Restaurant Fagiano, the culinary flagship of the Grand Hotel Fasano, Chef Maurizio Bufi shapes the cuisine with his modern, Mediterranean-inspired signature style. Awarded a Michelin star since 2024, Fagiano stands for precise flavors, elegant lightness, and cuisine that interprets Italian tradition in a contemporary way. The gastronomic offering is complemented by Rama’s Bar, run by Bar Manager Rama Redzepi, who creates a stylish meeting place in the heart of the historic building with creative signature drinks and classic bar culture. Between palm trees, lakeshore, and Belle Époque ambience, a place has been created where enjoyment, style, and the Italian way of life come together in a special way.
For more information and bookings, visit the resort’s website.
On 22nd February, in celebration of National Margarita Day, SO/ Maldives turns up the island energy with an exclusive Tequila Tasting, Margarita Experience and beachfront Bar Takeover reaffirming its position as the Maldives’ most modern lifestyle luxury brand. Vibrant, design-led and socially vibrant, SO/ Maldives transforms the occasion into more than a cocktail celebration it becomes a full-sensory journey set against turquoise waters and powder-soft white sands.
A Curated Tequila Journey with Adonai Reyna
Leading the experience is Adonai Reyna, MMI Spirits Ambassador and one of the region’s most decorated mixology talents. With 16 years of experience across Dubai’s most renowned venues and accolades including Winner Havana Club México, Top 25 World Class UAE, Silver Trophy CME UAE and Winner Crystal Head Vodka Mexico, Reyna brings world-class craftsmanship to the shores of the Maldives.
Guests will join him for an immersive tequila tasting experience that delves into the heritage of Mexico’s iconic agave spirit. From understanding the terroir and production secrets to discovering the nuanced flavour profiles of blanco, reposado and aged expressions, the tasting goes beyond the glass. It is a refined exploration of culture, craft and complexity a sensorial journey designed for modern luxury travellers.
The Lazuli Bar Takeover: Where Sunset Meets Spirit
As golden hour approaches, the celebration shifts to the iconic coloured pool bar at Lazuli Beach Club the social heart of the island. Framed by white sand beaches and endless ocean views, Lazuli delivers effortless barefoot sunset vibes with a Riviera-inspired twist.
Under glowing Maldivian skies, Adonai Reyna takes over the bar with a bespoke Margarita menu crafted using premium tequilas, fresh tropical ingredients and innovative mixology techniques. Each cocktail is a statement balancing authenticity with contemporary flair, perfectly aligned with SO/ Maldives’ fashion-forward aesthetic.
The coloured pool bar becomes the centre of attention, drawing guests together in a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere where music flows, cocktails sparkle and the shoreline becomes the ultimate dancefloor.
At SO/ Maldives, experiences are designed to blend global culture with island glamour. The National Margarita Day takeover is a natural extension of the brand’s identity vibrant, creative and unapologetically stylish.
Whether guests are tequila connoisseurs, sunset seekers or social explorers, 22nd February promises an unforgettable celebration where Mexican heritage meets Maldivian rhythm.
For more information or to book your perfect getaway, please visit so-maldives.com or contact so.maldives.reservations@so-hotels.com.
Milaidhoo Maldives is hosting a wine pairing dinner celebrating Provençal elegance and gastronomy on 4 March 2026 at the resort’s Shoreline Grill. The evening will feature wines from Château Minuty and will be hosted by Sébastien Nore, Global Strategy and Export Director of Château Minuty, offering guests insight into the winery’s heritage and approach to fine winemaking.
Originally from Limousin, France, Nore brings extensive experience in the international beverage industry. His career includes roles with Kronenbourg Wineries and PepsiCo France, followed by senior leadership positions at Diageo and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. He has played a key role in expanding Château Minuty’s global presence and currently oversees the winery’s strategy, sales, communication and marketing, with a focus on innovation and the refined character of Provençal rosé.
During the dinner, guests will enjoy a curated selection of Château Minuty wines, paired with a bespoke menu created by the Shoreline Grill culinary team. The featured wines include:
- Château Minuty M de Minuty Rosé Magnum 1.5L – Artist Edition 2024
- Château Minuty Prestige Rosé 2024
- Château Minuty Rosé et Or 2024
- Château Minuty 281 2024
Beyond this event, the dinner reflects Milaidhoo Maldives’ wider commitment to gastronomy. The resort’s Gourmet Plan is designed for guests with a strong interest in food and wine, offering personalised, multi-course dining experiences throughout their stay. Each menu is crafted to highlight the relationship between carefully selected ingredients and complementary wines, with an emphasis on authenticity and balance.
The Château Minuty dinner marks the fourth wine-focused event hosted by Milaidhoo Maldives this year, underscoring the resort’s ongoing focus on curated culinary experiences. The evening is positioned as a sensory journey, combining refined flavours, thoughtful pairings and a convivial island setting.
Sun Siyam Iru Veli has unveiled two new dining experiences this February: the beachfront Sunk in Sand Dining Experience and the interactive Hotpot Lunch and Dinner. Designed to enhance the island’s Privé collection offering, the new concepts centre on intimacy, shared moments, and flavour-led exploration, launching alongside the resort’s Valentine’s and Lunar New Year celebrations.
The newly introduced Sunk in Sand Dining Experience was officially unveiled during the Valentine’s celebrations, beginning with a beachfront breakfast concept. Guests can begin their day with a curated breakfast served directly on the shoreline, seated within the sand itself with uninterrupted views of the horizon. Complemented by a bottle of sparkling wine, the experience offers an intimate setting surrounded by the natural beauty of the Maldivian coastline. Priced at USD 250 per couple for breakfast, the concept extends beyond morning dining, allowing guests to reserve the experience at any time of day, including specially curated sunset and evening moments.
The new Hotpot Lunch and Dinner further expands the resort’s culinary offerings, with a selection of premium ingredients, aromatic broths, fresh seafood, meats, and vegetables. This dining experience centres on shared dining and interactive enjoyment. Guests may choose between a Vegetarian Hotpot at USD 99 or a Meat & Seafood Hotpot at USD 155. Launched alongside the island’s Lunar New Year celebrations, the offering provides visitors with an opportunity to experience flavours traditionally associated with the festive season, aligning the dining concept with the cultural highlights observed at the resort.
Together, these new dining experiences reflect Sun Siyam Iru Veli’s continued focus on diversifying guest experiences through thoughtful culinary innovation. By pairing immersive settings with flavour-led concepts, the resort continues to evolve its dining landscape while creating moments that complement both seasonal celebrations and everyday island stays.
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