Atmosphere Kanifushi Celebrates ‘Just Veg Festival’ with Chef Fabrizio Marino

Atmosphere Kanifushi Celebrates ‘Just Veg Festival’ with Chef Fabrizio Marino

By Nishang Narayan

Published on August 30, 2024

Atmosphere Kanifushi is delighted to announce the return of the much-anticipated ‘Just Veg Festival,’ set to take place from 21st to 26th October 2024. Now in its fourth edition, this year’s festival promises a week of culinary excellence against the stunning backdrop of the Maldives, featuring a special menu crafted by the award-winning Italian Chef Fabrizio Marino.

Chef Fabrizio Marino, known for his innovative and health-conscious Italian haute cuisine, will bring his expertise back to the idyllic shores of Kanifushi Island. Hailing from the prestigious Ristorante Maggese in Tuscany, Chef Fabrizio will once again captivate guests with his artfully presented dishes made from fresh tropical fruits and vegetables, creating a limited-edition gourmet menu that is as visually appealing as it is delicious.

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 Award-winning Chef Fabrizio Marino

The festival will be centered at JUST VEG, Atmosphere Kanifushi’s celebrated restaurant, renowned as the first purely vegetarian restaurant in the Maldives and a top-ranked dining venue on TripAdvisor. Guests staying at the resort will have the unique opportunity to indulge in the finest Italian and Mediterranean cuisine while enjoying breathtaking views of the turquoise lagoon.

This six-day culinary event is part of the Kanifushi Plan™, a comprehensive holiday package available to all resort guests, aligning with Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts' core philosophy, "Joy of Giving." The festival will showcase a thoughtfully curated menu, with each dish perfectly paired with wines selected by Atmosphere Core’s Director of Wines, Nicolas Laguette.

Highlights of the menu include "Happiness," an appetizer featuring coconut foam, pumpkin curry puree, fresh apples, broccoli, and tomatoes, drizzled with a raspberry, mint, and turmeric sauce, paired with the Martín Codax Cuatro Pasos Rosado. Main courses include “Gnocchi,” delicate potato dumplings in a rich beurre blanc sauce, complemented by Glenelly Glass Collection Chardonnay, and “Caramelised Aubergine,” an oriental-style dish paired with Allan Scott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The menu concludes with "Bee-Side," a delightful yogurt and honey ice cream dessert, accompanied by osmotised strawberries and crumble, perfectly paired with White Rabbit Riesling.

“Bringing my culinary creations to the pristine shores of Atmosphere Kanifushi is a true honour,” says Chef Fabrizio. “The dynamic team at JUST VEG and the warm reception from guests drive me to strive for excellence each time. I look forward to introducing guests to the incredible variety and richness of vegetarian cuisine.”

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Raman Gomathi, Director of Food & Beverage at Atmosphere Kanifushi, adds, "At Just Veg, we’ve always been ahead of the trend in embracing flexitarian diets. It’s an honour to welcome Chef Fabrizio each year for our culinary festival, where he also leads workshops for our culinary team. Together, we keep the menu exciting for our guests."

A scenic 35-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport in Malé transports guests to the serene Atmosphere Kanifushi, where they are greeted by a 2-kilometre-long beach, swaying palm trees, and the pristine waters of Lhaviyani Atoll. The classic five-star luxury resort offers 162 stand-alone beach and water villas, ensuring an unforgettable stay in paradise.

About Just Veg:

JUST VEG is the first à la carte vegetarian restaurant in the Maldives, consistently topping TripAdvisor’s rankings. The restaurant serves gourmet cuisine inspired by Arabic, Indian, Mediterranean, and Jain traditions. Diners can enjoy their meals on a deck perched over the turquoise ocean, offering an exotic and immersive dining experience.

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About Atmosphere Kanifushi:

Atmosphere Kanifushi, a secluded tropical getaway in the Lhaviyani Atoll, is a five-star luxury resort that offers 162 stand-alone villas and suites spread along the beach or lagoon. The resort features airy living spaces, sophisticated interiors, and a premium all-encompassing holiday package—the Kanifushi Plan™, which includes a fine selection of wines, spirits, and dining options, as well as various activities like excursions, sunset fishing, snorkeling, and non-motorized water sports.

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About Atmosphere Core:

Atmosphere Core is a dynamic hospitality company with three distinctive lifestyle brands—THE OZEN COLLECTION, COLOURS OF OBLU, and Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts. With nine resorts currently operating in the Maldives, the company has an exciting pipeline of properties in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and India, set to open within the next three years.

About Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts:

Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts is known for curating distinctive spatial experiences that immerse guests in the local culture, promising "A New Experience Awaits" at every destination. The brand portfolio includes Atmosphere Kanifushi, VARU by Atmosphere, and RAAYA by Atmosphere in the Maldives, along with several upcoming properties in India.


Chef Hari Nayak Is Back at Four Seasons Maldives — and the Menu Looks Absolutely Stunning

Chef Hari Nayak Is Back at Four Seasons Maldives — and the Menu Looks Absolutely Stunning

By Hariharan U

Published on March 10, 2026

If you've been looking for a reason to plan a Maldives trip this April, Chef Hari Nayak just gave you one.

The celebrated chef is returning to Baraabaru, the award-winning Indian restaurant at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa for another residency that promises to be every bit as special as his previous visits. Baraabaru, named among CNN Travel's Top 10 Maldives' Finest Tables, is already one of the most respected Indian dining destinations in the region. With Chef Nayak back in the kitchen alongside Head Chef Kishan Singh, the combination of coastal Indian tradition and global culinary technique is going to be firing on all cylinders.

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This season's menu is a confident journey through India's regional flavours but done with personality and a contemporary edge that makes each dish feel fresh. Gujarat's Anda Ghotala makes an appearance alongside Kolkata's Beguni, while black garlic naan and barbecue butter chicken chops bring bold, satisfying flavours to the table. And then there's the gulab jamun crème brûlée, a playful, East-meets-West dessert that sounds like exactly the kind of thing you'd remember long after the meal ends.

The dish that's likely to turn the most heads, though, is Chef Nayak's signature whole baked lobster with coconut turmeric sauce and lemon rice. Bold, fragrant, and unmistakably his, it's the kind of dish that captures everything great about modern Indian cooking in a single plate.

Chef Nayak will be in residence at Baraabaru from 30th March to 4th April 2026. It's a short window, so if this is on your radar, now is the time to make it happen.


Gadda Da Vida at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach Just Got a Major Upgrade, Meet GDV 2.0

Gadda Da Vida at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach Just Got a Major Upgrade, Meet GDV 2.0

By Hariharan U

Published on March 10, 2026

If Gadda Da Vida was already your go-to for sundowners in Mumbai, GDV 2.0 is about to give you even more reasons to show up. The beachfront restaurant at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach has just launched a full culinary and cocktail reinvention,and it's a confident, coastal-forward step up from everything that came before it.

This isn't just a menu tweak. GDV 2.0 is a proper reimagination of what the space can be,leaning hard into the seafood-driven identity that a venue sitting right by the Arabian Sea honestly should have. The food is bolder, the cocktails are sharper, and the whole experience feels more alive and social while still holding on to the relaxed sundowner energy that made the place a favourite in the first place.

The Food - Coastal, Layered and Genuinely Exciting

The new menu reads like a tour of coastal flavours done with real finesse. Headlining the seafood section are dishes like Lobster Tail with Mustard Butter, Seared Salmon with Lemon Butter, Caribbean Blackened Snapper with Plantain Purée, and Miso Glazed Seabass,each one bringing something distinct to the table. Charcoal-Grilled Prawns in Jerk Marinade and Fish Cafreal with Smoked Potato Mash round out a lineup that's as thoughtfully composed as it is satisfying.

For the table-sharing crowd, the shareable plates section is equally strong,Fennel-Smoked Fried Prawns, Jerk Chicken Skewers, and Crispy Calamari Rings sit alongside some genuinely interesting vegetarian options like Malvani Soy Tacos and Truffle Mushroom Xacuti Tartlets. The kind of spread that makes ordering for the whole table actually fun.

Desserts close things out on a tropical high,Tropical Fruit Pavlova, Coconut Mango Panna Cotta, and an Espresso Tiramisu that feels like the perfect full stop to a coastal meal.

The Cocktails - Built to Match

What sets GDV 2.0 apart from a standard menu relaunch is the intentional pairing of cocktails with the food. The drink menu has been designed to complement the seafood-forward dishes, with signature creations,Angel's Delight, Synapse Sour, Temple Smoke, Gadda's Secret, and Plumnori each bringing layered aromatics and vibrant profiles to the mix. Progressive infusions and a strong element of mixology theatre add visual drama to the whole experience, turning what could be a regular evening out into something genuinely multisensory.

Kunal Shanker, General Manager at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, explained the thinking behind it all,"With GDV 2.0, our vision was to go beyond a menu refresh and reimagine the entire beachfront experience at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach. Gadda Da Vida has always been synonymous with sundowners, and this change allows us to align the culinary narrative more closely with our seaside setting. With this menu revamp, we aim to elevate the value proposition of our F&B portfolio while reinforcing our standing as one of Mumbai's most dynamic beachfront hospitality destinations."

Sunset, seafood, cocktails with personality, and the Arabian Sea as your backdrop,GDV 2.0 makes a strong case for being Mumbai's most complete beachfront dining experience right now.


Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal Celebrates ‘Macaron Month’ at Glazed

Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal Celebrates ‘Macaron Month’ at Glazed

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on March 10, 2026

Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal is bringing a delightful celebration of French confectionery to the city this March with The Macaron Month, an exclusive dessert showcase at its patisserie, Glazed.

Running throughout the month, the festival highlights a vibrant selection of handcrafted macarons designed to celebrate delicate textures, refined sweetness, and playful flavours. The all-day offering invites dessert enthusiasts to indulge in an elegant lineup of colourful treats, each crafted with precision by the hotel’s pastry team.

The curated menu features an enticing variety of flavours created to appeal to every palate. Guests can savour indulgent options such as Strawberry Cheesecake Macaron, Hazelnut with White Chocolate Ganache Macaron, and Red Velvet Macaron, alongside unique selections like Taro, Mocha, and the refreshing Lemon Blueberry Macaron.

Each macaron offers the signature balance that defines the classic French confection—crisp, delicate shells paired with smooth, flavourful fillings that melt effortlessly on the palate.

Designed as both a visual and culinary delight, the collection highlights the artistry behind pastry craftsmanship while offering guests a playful and indulgent dessert experience. With their vibrant colours and refined flavours, the macarons promise to deliver small bites of sweetness that leave a lasting impression.

Guests visiting Glazed can enjoy the macarons throughout the day, making it a perfect stop for a mid-morning treat, afternoon indulgence, or a sweet takeaway.

With The Macaron Month, Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal invites dessert lovers to step into a world where flavour meets artistry, transforming each macaron into a moment of pure indulgence.

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