Award-winning Latino Chef Manu Buffara Launches Exclusive Pop-Up at Soneva Fushi

Sunday 6th of November 2022

Latin America’s esteemed chef and restauranteur, Manoella ‘Manu’ Buffara has launched an all-new pop-up restaurant at the eco-resort, Soneva Fushi in Maldives. Situated within the Fresh in the Garden-a thrilling treetop dining destination, the 12-month pop-up will take guests on a journey of transformation, as they savour the unique flavours curated by one of the finest talents in Latin America.

Hailing from Brazil, the renowned chef has recently been crowned Latin America’s Best Female Chef by the World’s 50 Best. She is also the owner and executive chef of her very own restaurant, ‘Manu’. With a menu designed to highlight the culture and uniqueness of the region of Paraná, Manu aspires to take the helm in disseminating gastronomy across the Brazilian landscape.

Growing up from her humble beginnings in the countryside, Chef Manu has learned to appreciate the value of land and animals and incorporates that into her cooking techniques. For her restaurant in Curitiba, Chef Manu harvests organic ingredients from her own garden and works with meticulously selected supplies.

Her dedication to utilizing quality ingredients and promoting sustainability had resulted in Chef Manu supporting many local communities. She works closely with locals to transform abandoned sites into urban gardens and even educate locals on how to care for and feed the gardens.

Speaking on her exciting collaboration with Soneva Fushi, Chef Manu remarked “I cook to change the weather, I cook to change the mood; I cook to change nature; I cook to change the world, but what I want most is to cook to change people. Cooking at Soneva Fushi is an act of freedom and connection. I believe in the connection between land, sea, minerals, roots, fruits and animals and I respect the time, energy and people involved in this process. That’s where our food comes from and I’m so excited to share my story of transformation with guests at Fresh in the Garden”.

At Soneva Fushi, Chef Manu will present a menu comprising of plant-based, vegetarian and pescatarian dishes, prepared using ingredients from the resort’s organic gardens and sustainably sourced fish. Her exclusive pop-up will be supervised by members of her team from Curitiba. The Fresh in the Garden located high up in the green canopies overlooks the organic gardens at Soneva Fushi, immersing guests in the refreshing aromas of herbs. Seating 35 guests in one sitting, the dining experience paints nature at its best.