Naladhu Private Island Maldives Launches Michelin Pop Up

Naladhu Private Island in the Maldives is launching a Michelin starred pop up with Chef Michael Wignall, from the The Angel at Hetton in Yorkshire.  Michael will be cooking two six course tasting menus during the week of 18 August 2022. 

Chef Michael, who has gained two Michelin stars at Pennyhill Park and Gidleigh Park, moved to the Angel in Hetton in 2018.  The Angel was awarded its first Michelin star the following year.  Michael produces complex and technically accomplished dishes with a focus on fresh and sustainable produce.  He loves travelling the world to find new inspirations and ideas to pair with locally sourced British produce. 

His six-course tasting menu at Naladhu Private Island will hero many Indian Ocean ingredients, including lobster, mud crab, kelp, finger lime, mango and coconut.  Dishes will include local lobster, koshihikari rice, buttermilk and dill; mud crab, chilled tomato consommé, crab dashi, finger lime and honey pomelo; Wagyu, caramalised onion, kelp reduction, onion skins and Australian winter truffle followed by mango, coconut, Mexican marigold and coconut tobacco. 

The two dinners will be held at the resort’s beachside restaurant overlooking the lagoon on 22 and 24 August and will include pre-dinner canapés and champagne.

Naladhu Private Island Maldives is an exclusive resort with just 20 houses and it recently reopened following a full refurbishment by New York Designer Yuji Yamazaki.  Dining is a totally personalised experience led by Executive Chef Philippe Wagenfuhrer with guests designing their own menus and eating wherever and whenever they choose.  They can choose from cuisines from around the globe ranging from Arabic to Italian, French to Sri Lankan and Japanese to Indonesian, in addition to local Maldivian flavours.  During the week of 18 August, guests will have the additional option of booking a place at one of Chef Michael’s dinners. 

The island resort is located on the edge of a lagoon in the South Male Atoll, just 30 minutes by speedboat from Male’s international airport.  All 20 houses have private pools and each house comes with a Kuwaanu (butler), who will be at guests’ disposal 24 hours a day to provide services ranging from a personalised wine and whisky selection to organising a private island picnic.  Houses have either direct access to the beach and lagoon or a large terrace with ocean views and dedicated cabana on the beach with a superking-sized day bed. 

The dinners by Guest Chef Michael Wignall will cost @£198 (US$ 250) per person including a glass of Ruinart Blanc de Blanc and canapés and tax and service, but excluding wine.  Wine pairing is an additional US$ 250 per person.  A night at Naladhu Private Island in August starts from £929 (US$1,173) in an Ocean house including breakfast but excluding tax and service.

www.nalahdu.com