W Maldives is collaborating with the Chef-proprietor Deepanker “DK” Khosla of the renowned fine-dining restaurant Haoma in Bangkok. The sustainable neo-Indian restaurant was recently awarded a Michelin Star and a Green Michelin Star in the 2023 Michelin Star Revelation.
Chef DK will collaborate with the chefs at W Maldives to present two unique events for guests at the resort to indulge in the flavours of Haoma.
Commenting on the unique collaboration, Idu Ribeiro, the General Manager of W Maldives said: “In 2022 we hosted a series of successful Beverage & Food collaborations elevating our offerings for guests; from launching a pop-up menu with celebrity vegan Chef Priyanka Naik, to bringing down Revolver from Singapore and ace mixologist Bannie Kang for a What She Shakes cocktail series.”
“In 2023, we want to continue to leverage off that momentum and showcase how W Maldives is the place to be for all things culinary and fine-dining – even on a “sandbank” in the middle of the ocean – this event with Haoma is the perfect way to kick that off this year. Haoma is all about cooking with sustainable and local produce, and at W Maldives this is something that’s very close to our hearts as well, and we’re keenly looking forward to this collaboration.”
A showcase dinner at FISH, W Maldives’ signature dining venue, is scheduled for 20 February where guests will be presented with an exclusive seven-course tasting menu to sample some of Haoma’s best dishes.
An exciting beachside grill-themed lunch on 22 February promises to be a treat for gourmands, as Chef DK and the W Maldives team will put on an interactive culinary experience. Food will be served from the afternoon until late at night along with liquid stations on the oceanfront. Guests will have the opportunity to pick their proteins to grill, interact with the chefs, groove to the beats of the DJ and sip on refreshing cocktails.
Given Chef DK’s and W Maldives’ focus on sustainability and vegan cuisine, the menus for both events will feature local produce and fresh ingredients, reducing the carbon footprint, and will also include vegan-friendly choices and Haoma’s signature desserts.
Guests looking to have this once-in-a-lifetime experience of Haoma in the middle of the Indian Ocean can also book the “Taste of HAOMA” package at W Maldives, which includes a daily buffet breakfast at KITCHEN restaurant and return seaplane transfers, in addition to experiencing the Haoma showcase dinner on 20 February and the Haoma x W Maldives Beach BBQ on 22 February, inclusive of the beverage package for up to two guests. The stay package is valid for stays of minimum four nights, between 18 and 24 February.
Chef DK is as passionate about reimagining modern Indo-European cuisine as he is about achieving food sustainability. With a home in Thailand and roots in northern India, Chef DK has a natural penchant for connecting flavours and communities near and far.
Haoma showcases a bounty of traditional Indian culinary styles, while a big part of the magic derives from its very own fertile farm in the heart of Bangkok. Haoma began as a passion project that bloomed into a full-blown urban farm and restaurant in the bustling Thai capital. After a year of toiling in the earth, coaxing fish to adapt and grow in new waters, and experimenting through trials and errors to optimise the flavours of harvest, Chef DK unveiled restaurant Haoma in 2017, a breakthrough concept that works towards creating an ecosystem of food that can truly be called sustainable. He was recognised as a Champion of Change by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2021 for his relentless efforts to serve the community during the pandemic.
“We’re in the business of growing world-class, sustainable cuisine, cooking neo-Indian food,” said DK, whose thoughtful attention to environmentalism is evident in every morsel served and every inch of the elegant ambiance of Haoma.
“Balance with nature is just as important as pleasing our diners at Haoma and bringing this experience and adapting it to the Maldives, working in collaboration with the chefs at W Maldives, is definitely going to be an experience to remember for me and for all the guests.”
