Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is welcoming three of the world’s best chefs to its exclusive slice of paradise this winter – and you’re invited to join them
Dreaming of a last minute gourmet gallivant? Offering a tantalising tropical escape this festive season, Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is hosting three celebrated and Michelin-awarded chefs – Alexandre Demand, Mickael Viljanen and Alfredo Russo– who will each create a bespoke degustation menu to be enjoyed exclusively by island guests throughout December and January.
Ideal for the foodies, the luxury resort in Shaviyani Atoll is home to three epicurean restaurants, offering everything from ocean fresh seafood at Azure and traditional Maldivian dishes at Raha to Japanese inspired cuisine at overwater dining destination Kata. This rare dining series will elevate the fine dining experience to the next level, treating lucky guests to the tastes of incredible culinary talent in the depths of dreary British winter.
1 Alexandre Demard
23rd – 28th December (Azure) / 31st December (Kata)
One of France’s most sought-after chefs, Alexandre Demand is best known for spearheading menus at various Michelin-starred restaurants across the country. A graduate of the Paul Augier Hotel School in Nice, most recently Alexandre has been quietly pushing the boundaries of gastronomy at Oxygen Dining Room in the Cross Chiang Mai Riverside Hotel in Thailand.
Taking diners on a culinary journey with a twist, Demard creates a modern exploration of Thai food through a French perspective. For Demard, food is a “combination of creativity, respect for the produce, and a passion of flavours.”, a mantra that has won him numerous accolades including a Michelin Plate.
Inviting guests to savour his Thai-inspired dishes, Demard will be serving up a six-course set menu at Fairmont’s Azure over Christmas and taking over Kata for a New Year’s Eve feast.
Cost
£113 food supplement per person, £75 wine pairing per person
2 Mikael Viljanen
29th December – 3rd January (Azure)
Joining Fairmont Maldives over New Year’s, Mickael Viljanen is one of only four chefs in Ireland to be awarded two Michelin stars. Celebrated for his sublime craft, technical precision, and masterful manipulation of flavours, Viljanen is the Chef-Patron of the multi-award-winning restaurant Chapter One in Dublin.
Working in kitchens since he was 14, Mickael moved to Ireland in 2000 from Finland, where he grew up via France and the United Kingdom. Viljanen’s sophisticated cooking features stimulating flavour combinations and a nod to traditional Finnish dishes, whilst placing seasonal Irish produce centre stage.
Guests of Fairmont Maldives can reign in the New Year and enjoy Mickael Viljanen’s elegant and complex creations with a six-course menu paired with fine wines from around the world, set in the Azure restaurant.
Cost
£113 food supplement per person, £75 wine pairing per person
3 Afredo Russo
10th – 15th January (Azure)
Bringing his culinary skillset to the Maldives in January, Alfredo Russo is one of Italy’s leading chefs. Utilising modern techniques, Russo’s cooking is strongly influenced by classic cuisine, local ingredients, and culinary trends, gaining him numerous accolades.
Further to opening his first restaurant Dolce Stil Novo in 1990, he was recognised as the Best Young Italian Chef by the Espresso Guide in 2004 and has since earnt a total of 27 Michelin Stars. His acclaimed kitchen and unique style have led to collaborations with celebrated restaurants including Gran Hotel et de Milan, where he led the hotel in a new culinary direction, and the publication of several cookery books. With five restaurants in his international portfolio, Russo has gained a global reputation and his dishes are treasured by many.
Russo will take over the resort’s Azure restaurant in the New Year, creating a Michelin Star menu for guests to enjoy, alongside a selection of fine wines.
Cost
£150 food supplement per person, £113 wine pairing per person
