Best of the Maldives: Michelin Star Quality – Soneva

Soneva Fushi - Michelin

In the rise of the super-luxury offerings in the Maldives, I’ve often mused when the gourmet outlets might someday reach Michelin star quality. Certainly, a few I’ve sampled seem to have reached that exalted bar, but the Guide simply didn’t cover the Maldives geography. A number of resorts have touted their guest chefs who bring with them Michelin-starred credentials.

Perhaps no one has had more Michelin-star chefs in their kitchens than Soneva. In fact, in partnership with the guide itself, they are hosting an unprecedented series of 10 starred chefs at their properties. Soneva not only has both of its Maldives properties featured in the guide, but they Soneva Jani receives an elite 2 stars and Soneva Fushi receives the coveted highest accolade of 3 stars (well “keys” for hotels) which translates to “worth a special journey”. Indeed, a very special journey!

Best of the Maldives: Sushi Making Class – Sun Siyam Olhuveli

Olhuveli - sushi class 1

Sun Siyam Olhuveli not only serves up amazing sushi, but also will teach you how to make it yourself at their sushi class. Taught by sushi chef (not to be confused with “sous chef”) Namal, he takes you through the process of making sushi, maki rolls and sashimi. Our son, Chase, once gave me a gift of such a class in London and it was as much fun as it was insightful. So, Lori did the classwork and I concentrated on quality control (to which I can attest she passed with flavourful flying colours). If you want a more pampered way to enjoy sushi, Olhuveli’s “Theo’s Coffee Shop” offers 100 varieties in total including a range of dessert sushi made with fruit.

Olhuveli - sushi class 2

Olhuveli - sushi

Best of the Maldives: Lobster Sushi – Sun Siyam Olhuveli

Olhiveli - lobster sushi

This is not a “Haven’t Seen”, but it should have been. Lobster is the most iconic luxury seafood, and sushi is a delightful, light delicacy for the warm weather. The dish Sun Siyam Olhuveli’s Executive Chef Didi Hassan’s signature specialty. Specifically, it is lobster maki with lobster mousse and cream, topped with tobiko and salmon roe. TripAdvisor Forum Destination Expert Moirad tells me that Raffles also features lobster sushi, but they ae going to have to show me what they have to convince me that it could be more spectacular than this presentation).

Olhuveli - lobster sushi

Best of the Maldives: Raised Beach Dining Cabana – Sun Siyam Olhuveli

Olhuveli - raised beach dining 2

Two of the most distinctive aspects to the Maldives is the intimacy of the islands with the surrounding ocean, and the mesmerizing vistas of dappled blues. One of the most memorable ways to enjoy both is the iconic beach dining. Many resorts now set tables on the sand by the water or construct special cabanas for dining to provide a bit of shelter from the ocean breeze and occasional shower. Sun Siyam Olhuveli has taken the latter to literally the next level with an elevated cabana so you sea view is all the more dramatic.

Olhuveli - raised beach dining 1

Best of the Maldives: International Personal Chef – Soneva Secret

Soneva Secret - personal chef

Soneva Secret is Soneva’s completely private island which not only provides its own personal chef for your party, but actually offers 14 (!):

  • “Guests can expect bespoke menus courtesy of their own private chef (there are 14—one for each villa).. We have 14 Chefs de Partie assigned to each of the 14 villas. They each are of a different nationality and come from a different type of cuisine. We will swap the Chefs de Cuisine to offer our guests variety. This level of personalization and destination dining is unique.”

Like having 14 different restaurants on your own islands.

Best of the Maldives: Street Food Vibe – Oaga

Oaga - street food 1

A number of resorts have leaned into the food station buffets to provide the best of buffet variety with the best of a la carte fresh preparation. Oaga has leant its distinctively artist styling to its version of this dining concept by creating a “street food” vibe with vibrantly coloured food stands along the appropriately sand floor.

Oaga - street food 2

Best of the Maldives: Soups – Heritance Aarah

Heritance Aarah - soup

I’m a big fan of soups in general. The wine of foods where the hot enlivens the flavours like the alcohol does with a fermented grape. And the delectable blends of flavours are endless. Finally, they are the dish that often takes the most amount of prep so when I am out it is a treat to enjoy them without all the work.

Dusit Thani had impressed me with their soup selection – variety and quality – nearly a decade ago, but they appear to have gone off the boil (pun intended) as their current menus don’t have the seem options. So when I was blown away by the Heritance Aarah’s soups at the Baani restaurant, it seemed time to crown a new queen of soups.

I was especially appreciative of this line up as I had a big lunch and was fancying a lighter bite for dinner and the Banana Shallot was just the ticket.

Best of the Maldives: Gourmet Maldivian – The Standard

The Standard - maldivian food 6

Many resorts feature Maldivian curries, fish dishes and of course the classic breakfast dish, mas huni. But The Standard’s Gudaguda restaurant takes Maldivian ingredients and recipes to a truly distinctive gourmet level. We enjoyed a meal including (pictured)

  • Rihaakuru Gulha (dried tuna balls – above)
  • Boraboa Riha – pumpkin curry
  • Ravaa Foni – semolina pudding, coconut sugar, pandan, pine nuts
  • Dhivehi Farumas Garudhiya – reef fish broth, moringa bread

The Standard - maldivian food 5

The Standard - maldivian food 4

The Standard - maldivian food 3

The Standard - maldivian food 2

The Standard - maldivian food 1

Best of the Maldives: Gut Reset – Joali Being

Joali Being - gut reset

With the holidays behind us, many of us are plotting our January resolutions or at least recovery from the excesses of the festivities. Joali Being offers and complete “Gut Reset” which is a 5, 7 or 10 night programme with comprehensive catalogue of consultations, meals and treatments – Massage, Detox, Microbiome Therapy | Gut Reset, Wellbeing | JOALI Being:

  • Especially designed to address the root cause of digestive disorders, this Wellbeing Programme promotes cellular detoxication and restores the natural balance of your microbiome through a synergistic blend of gentle detoxifying treatments.”

My gut feel is that this will make your gut feel great.