JA Manafaru Redefines Dining with 'Wellness Your Way' for Discerning Travelers
Monday 23rd of October 2023
In a grand celebration of 'World Food Day', JA Manafaru, recently awarded the title of Maldives 'Best Culinary Resort 2023' by Travel Trade Maldives, unveiled their latest offering - 'Wellness Your Way' dining experience. This innovative culinary initiative, dedicated to the well-being of luxury travelers, redefines dining options on the picturesque island.
The launch event, held on the beachfront and attended by esteemed members of the travel community, showcased a diverse range of dishes tailored to various dietary lifestyles. From tantalizing entrées to sumptuous mains, the evening's highlight was an extensive selection of desserts, ensuring that everyone could indulge in a sweet treat.
To mark this occasion, renowned UK-based Chef Luke French of Joro Restaurant graced the event, bringing his culinary expertise to JA Manafaru. Chef Luke's visit is part of a broader effort to introduce additional 'Wellness Your Way' initiatives. He is instrumental in training the culinary team in the art of fermentation, aiming to create Homemade@JA Manafaru soy sauce, miso, and other fermented products. These will complement the island's new Wellness Beverage program, featuring homemade Kombucha and more.
Each of the resort's six dining venues, including In Villa Dining, will offer tailored menus to cater to various dietary preferences. Whether guests adhere to a vegan/vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, or low-carb lifestyle, they can peruse their menu with confidence, selecting from a diverse array of dishes crafted from specially sourced ingredients, including homegrown produce.
Under the visionary leadership of Executive Chef Moosa Nazeeh, the culinary team has ingeniously recreated guests' favorite dishes, ensuring comprehensive menus that cater to all tastes and preferences.
As part of this initiative, the island will introduce a range of plant-based meat, cheese, and seafood options, as well as offering homemade low-carb bread and pasta made from konjac. Chef Moosa and his team have worked tirelessly to craft delectable vegan alternatives, such as "buffalo" mozzarella, and mouthwatering sugar-free and low-carb nut brownies.
Chef Moosa expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "By altering just one or two ingredients, we can reimagine dishes to accommodate more of our guests and appeal to a new audience of lifestyle-conscious diners. We've been delighted to expand our culinary repertoire."
The 'Wellness Your Way' initiative encompasses more than just dining. It includes the introduction of an 'Alchemy Bar' at Calm Spa Sanctuary, where guests can participate in workshops to create herbal remedies and engage in short wellness programs, seamlessly incorporating wellness into their Maldives vacation.
General Manager Jason Kruse summed up the resort's approach, saying, "While guest wellness is a priority at JA Manafaru, and our spa is a soulful sanctuary, we aim to offer a balanced experience. 'Wellness Your Way' provides our guests with more choices to enhance their vacation with wellness elements, ensuring they feel equally at ease enjoying a salad one day and a seven-course wine degustation the next."
This new offering is set to elevate the JA Manafaru experience, providing a diverse and inclusive dining experience for all guests.