JA MANAFARU SCOOPS TOP MALDIVES CULINARY AWARD

Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) Announces Best Culinary Resort 2023

 

JA Manafaru, Maldives, 30th August, 2023 - Recognised by the Maldives travel industry and announced at this year's 'Travel Trade Maldives 2023' event, JA Manafaru has been presented with the 'Best Culinary Resort 2023' award.  The accolade is testimony to many years of excellence in developing unique dining experiences by the island's kitchen team lead by acclaimed Maldivian Executive Chef Moosa Nazeeh.

Stated by Travel Trade Maldives, 'this award recognises the resorts offering of outstanding delicacies with a variety of enthralling restaurant options.'

Commenting on his team's industry recognition, Executive Chef Moosa explains, “More than any other luxury escape destination, the Maldives is possibly the most demanding of all when it comes to satisfying guest expectations for dining experiences.

“Cooking is personal and a passion for our team who pull on their own experiences gained from many years in high-class kitchens around the world. Our sole objective is to create exceptional cuisine that will elevate the guest experience to new levels, with service that compliments the natural beauty of this paradise island.”

On JA Manafaru, six themed restaurants cater for all tastes and with the growing trend of personalised dining experiences, the team excel at creating romantic private set-ups for the most intimate of occasions. If one-to-one dining under the stars is a wish, guests can choose from a variety secluded beach locations and set-up styles, two uninhabited islands and even a mystical banyan tree garden, all with a tailored menu created specifically to individual tastes.

ENDS

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

Notable shortlisted resorts in the 2023 TTM 'Best Culinary Resort' include:

 

Cheval Blanc Randheli, Soneva Fushi, Patina Maldives Fari Islands, Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island, Kuda Villingili Resort, Niyama Private Islands Maldives, Milaidhoo Maldives, Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa, Crossroads Maldives, Saii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection By Hilton, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, Diamonds Athuruga Beach & Water Villas, Heritance Aarah, Hurawalhi Island Resort, Ja Manafaru Maldives, and Kurumba Maldives.

 

About JA Manafaru Dining

 

JA Manafaru is an epicurean's dream, a culinary journey complimented by one of the Maldives finest 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 island team understand just how important exceptional dining experiences are to complete your 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 you will never forget. The 'Dine Around' principle allows all our guests to dine in any available restaurant, and on theme nights, no matter what meal plan you 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 our restaurants.

 

 

About Executive Chef Moosa

 

Moosa Nazeeh, well known as Chef Moosa grew up in his mother's kitchen surrounding himself with authentic local Maldivian produce and says he learnt from the best, his mother! In her own right she is a fabulous chef who inspired him in the art of cooking at a very young age, often being involved in local celebrations cooking small treats and various arrays of Maldivian dishes in their own home where these flavors and aromas were reached across his island of Naifaru.

 

Learning from his mother, he feels honored and blessed to this day that he's able to pass his knowledge and his most valued recipes to our very enthused chefs here on JA Manafaru.

 

Chef Moosa states that being a Maldivian it's important that we showcase a lot of indigenous dishes to our clientele, and often presents Maldivian cooking classes which are always well received. His local cuisine is contemporary yet “rustic” in design with a true sense of fantastic, vibrant flavors using many varieties of spices, fresh local vegetables and herbs directly from our gardens on the island. Chef Moosa has many favorite dishes and are now on our menus for our guests to enjoy.

 

One feast meal which is central to his heart and cooking is known as A traditional meal called Keyn is prepared for the Mauloodhus (a prayer accompanied with festive meal) consisting of several courses. A single Keyn would serve 10 – 12 people and includes rice, curries, salads, grilled fish, coconut cream, coconut syrup, bananas, puddings and other delights.

 

Keyn is set out in a very large wooden dish called a Malaafaiy. The outside of this dish is placed within the dish and small individual plates are filled with curries, salads, and other items and set around the rice. This would be covered with the lid and wrapped in a white cloth and tied at the top. At mealtimes this would be carried into the Mauloodh Haruge (dining hall specially made for this event) and placed on straw mats for service.

 

Chef Moosa's experience as a chef was spending long well earnt hours in various island resort kitchens, learning not only local foods though international cuisines and prides himself now as an acclaimed chef with impeccable attention to detail in preparation and presentation of foods. Chef Moosa stepped into this beautiful island paradise with just one mission in mind, that nothing is ever a problem in achieving the best cuisine, with his vivacious personality, big smile and his passion and love for cooking, JA Manafaru is in good hands!  

 

 

 

 

 

About Travel Trade Maldives

 

As the country's largest travel trade show, TTM Maldives 2023 provides a platform for networking, learning, and collaboration among key stakeholders in the travel and hospitality sector. Taking place from August 22nd to August 23rd, the event gathers industry players culminating with the TTM Awards & Gala Night on the final day.

 

The 7th edition of the highly anticipated TTM Maldives 2023 brought together distinguished guests, partners, and industry leaders for a two-day event.

 

Read more at: https://www.traveltrademaldives.com/best-culinary-resorts/

 

 

 

About JA Resorts & Hotels

 

A legacy UAE brand, JA Resorts & Hotels was born in 1981 and has a widely recognised reputation for excellence in the management and operation of award-winning resorts and hotels. Taking its name from the original Jebel Ali (JA) Beach hotel, JA Resorts & Hotels portfolio now features 9 distinct properties across the UAE and Indian Ocean, each dedicated to curating unique experiences and creating unforgettable memories. Tropical escapes include JA Manafaru, the idyllic luxury island resort in pristine, lagoon ringed Haa Alifu Atoll, at the northern tip of the Maldives and JA Enchanted Island Resort, an ultra-luxurious hideaway of 10 exquisite villas on a private island, in the middle of the protected Saint Anne Marine Park in the Seychelles. Within the UAE, guests can choose from the five-star JA Ocean View Hotel, as well as the deluxe hotel apartments of JA Oasis Beach Tower, both located along 'The Walk' in Jumeirah Beach Residence.  Other attractive options include the acclaimed JA The Resort - Dubai's largest experience resort, with 1 million square metres of thrilling activities and 3 unique hotels offering 795 suites and rooms between them– the award-winning JA Beach Hotel and JA Palm Tree Court and JA Lakeview Hotel, a stunning new Golf Course adjacent property opened in September 2019. The JA Hatta Fort Hotel is Dubai's only mountain resort, a secluded getaway amidst the stunning Hajar Mountains landscape. The Manor by JA is the latest addition to the portfolio, a 247 key corporate hotel located in Al Furjan, Dubai, opened in January 2020. JA Resorts & Hotels is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands, bringing together more than 35 brands with over 570 hotels in 85 countries. For more information please visit; www.jaresortshotels.com