To commemorate World Food Day, JA Manafaru has launched ‘Wellness Your Way’ – a dining alternative focused on wellbeing.
Attended by members of the travel media, agents and island guests, the resort hosted a beachfront food festival dedicated to different eating lifestyles. The launch party guests sampled an array of entrées and mains courses devoted to a variety of dietary lifestyles, with the highlight of the evening being the wide selection of desserts that caters to those who would normally miss out on enjoying a sweet treat.
To mark the launch, UK-based celebrity Chef Luke French of Joro Restaurant flew in to share his expertise in the kitchen. Chef Luke is visiting JA Manafaru to assist with the introduction of other ‘Wellness Your Way’ initiatives, primarily training the culinary team in fermenting procedures with the goal to creating Homemade@JA Manafaru soy sauce, miso and other fermented products. These will work alongside the island’s new Wellness Beverage programme, with homemade Kombucha and more.
Each of the island’s six dining outlets, as well as In Villa Dining, will offer separate menus for a variety of eating lifestyles. Whether guests follow a vegan/vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free or low carb lifestyle, they can turn to their menu pages and order with confidence from a wide variety of dishes made from specially-sourced ingredients including homegrown fruit and vegetables.
Taking this closer look at healthier options, the culinary team led by Executive Chef Moosa Nazeeh has devised innovative approaches to replicate guests’ favourite dishes to ensure that full menus are available for all guests to choose from.
As part of the initiative, the island will offer a variety of plant-based meat, cheese and seafood as well as homemade low carb bread and even pasta made from konjac. The resort’s Executive Chef Moosa and his team have been experimenting to create delectable vegan “buffalo” mozzarella as well as sugar-free and low carb nut brownies.
“Being recognised as the ‘Best Culinary Resort’ here in the Maldives is no mean feat, and the team are continually seeking new innovative challenges in the kitchen to create an even greater guest dining experience. By changing one to two ingredients, we can rethink dishes to suit more of our guests and appeal to a new audience of lifestyle-conscious discerning diners. We have been thrilled to learn and test our knowledge in building these bespoke menus,” said Chef Moosa.
The World Food Day event marked the launch of the entire ‘Wellness Your Way’ initiative which will also include a new ‘Alchemy Bar’ located at the resort’s Calm Spa Sanctuary, where guests can attend workshops to make herbal remedies and participate in short wellness programs to incorporate into their Maldives vacation.
General Manager Jason Kruse said: “Although guest wellness is a focus at JA Manafaru, and our stunning spa experience can only be described as a soulful sanctuary, we do not intend to become a pure wellness destination. ‘Wellness Your Way’ is a way of offering our guests more choices to enhance their vacation with wellness elements. It is vital that guests who come to our island feel equally comfortable to one day eat salad and work out, and the next day enjoy a seven-course wine degustation in our subterranean wine cellar”.
JA Manafaru recently won the title of ‘Best Culinary Resort 2023’ awarded by Travel Trade Maldives.
“The resort is an epicurean’s dream; a culinary journey complimented by one of the Maldives most intriguing wine cellars. This is an island destination that truly embraces cooking principles founded in tradition and regionality, seamlessly blended with the inclusion of modern international cuisine,” the resort sad.
“The island team understand just how important exceptional dining experiences are to complete a dream holiday, so food and beverage offerings ensure there are options for everyone.”
Aside from paying homage to the Arabic, Indian and African origins of Maldivian flavours, guest can enjoy everything from classic comfort food to Asian delicacies, Italian regional specialties, locally caught seafood and of course, wellness meals.
The In-Villa Dining service turns intimate evenings into romantic moments, whilst the option to ‘Dine by Design’, presents endless possibilities. The resort’s ‘Dine Around’ principle allows guests to dine in any available restaurant, and on theme nights, no matter what meal plan they are on.
“Make the most of this unique island location and take your dining experiences to new levels. Select from the many options available with ‘Dine by Design’. Whether you wish a beach table under the stars, a private wine cellar degustation or castaway feast on a nearby island, the ‘Dine by Design’ team are on hand to create and serve wherever your imagination takes you.”
Catering is available for a variety of eating lifestyles with a ‘Wellness Your Way’ meals menu promoting vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free and low carb options in all restaurants.
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