This February 2026, the five-star resorts, Kurumba and Dhigali Maldives, will each host celebrated chef and food writer Meera Sodha for exclusive culinary experiences. Fans of her cookbooks, including Made In India, Fresh India, East, and her latest, Dinner; can enjoy her vibrant, inventive dishes in the Maldives' stunning surroundings.

Guests are invited to begin their experience at Kurumba Maldives the country's first resort and pioneer of barefoot escapes, with a sunset canapé evening at Athiri Beach Bar on 15th February 2026. As sun sets, Kurumba's chefs will present delicate small-plate interpretations of Sodha's celebrated recipes; dishes include prawn balchao on poppadoms, chilli paneer, mini potato dosa with pea and coconut chutney, and sweet potato momo.

The journey continues at Dhigali Maldives on 20th February 2026, where the resort's signature restaurant, Battuta, named after Ibn Battuta a 14th-century explorer who once roamed from Tangier all the way to the Maldives, will host an intimate family-style dining experience. The menu, drawn from Meera Sodha's cookbooks Fresh India, East, and Dinner, features poppadoms with aubergine chutney, starters such as beetroot shami kebab and chickpea chaat, mains including tomato curry, tandoori cauliflower with coriander sauce, Maham's dal, kachumbar salad, and pilau rice, and concludes with pan-fried pineapple with cardamom ice cream.

Each evening offers a unique opportunity to meet Meera and enjoy her culinary artistry against the Maldives' breathtaking backdrop, blending storytelling, culture, and flavour in unforgettable fashion.

Meera Sodha commented: "I'm thrilled to be bringing my recipes to the Maldives and sharing them with guests at Kurumba and Dhigali. Cooking is all about connection through flavours, stories, and shared experiences. and there's no more beautiful backdrop to enjoy this than the Maldives. I can't wait for guests to taste the dishes I love and enjoy them in such breathtaking surroundings."

Meera Sodha is a passionate home cook, weekly columnist for The Guardian, and bestselling cookbook author. Her debut book, Made In India, was named Book of the Year by The Times and Financial Times. Fresh India won the Observer Food Monthly's Best New Cookbook Award in 2017, while East was hailed as “fabulous” by Nigella Lawson. Her latest release, Dinner, continues to celebrate accessible, flavourful home cooking.

Guests interested in joining these exclusive culinary experiences please visit www.kurumba.com and www.dhigali.com for further information.

Kurumba: Stay 7 nights at the 5-star Kurumba Maldives (www.kurumba.com) in a Garden Pool Villa on Dine Around All Inclusive from 11-18th February 2026. Prices including speedboat transfers are from £2,868 per person, based on 2 adults sharing.

Dhigali: Stay 7 nights at the 5-star Dhigali Maldives (www.dhigali.com) in a Deluxe Beach Bungalow on Premium All Inclusive from 18-25th February 2026. Prices including seaplane transfers are from £2,434 per person, based on 2 adults sharing.

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For more information, please contact Good Results PR:

Chloe Clark | chloec@goodresults.co.uk  | Kate Stafford | kates@goodresults.co.uk  0203 397 5180

About Meera Sodha

Meera Sodha is a voracious home cook, who writes a weekly column for The Guardian. Her first book, Made In India, was named a book of the year by the Times and the Financial Times. Her second, Fresh India, won the 2017 Observer Food Monthly's Best New Cookbook Award. Her third book, East, was published in 2019 and was called 'fabulous' by Nigella Lawson. Meera's latest book, Dinner, came out in 2024.  She lives in London with her husband, and two children.

www.instagram.com/meerasodha/

www.meerasodha.com

About Universal Resorts: www.universalresorts.com/

For over half a century, Universal Resorts has curated unforgettable Maldivian stays, elevating the experiences of discerning travellers while championing the vibrant local community. As a family-owned enterprise with a deep-rooted passion for the Maldives, it aims to continually redefine the standards of travel in this extraordinary destination.

Universal Resorts' portfolio of eight distinctly natural-island resorts caters to every desire, from relaxed luxury to adventurous escapes.

The dedicated team ensures seamless service and flawless execution, so guests experience the Maldives as it should be.