The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Island will welcome two culinary companions to the table this summer for a foodie delight. These exclusive stays are announced as part of the resort’s acclaimed Masters of Crafts series, which collaborates with the world’s most talented masters of food and beverage, wellness, adventure and environmental innovation to curate thoughtful guest experiences rooted in transformative travel.
Chef Pam Pichaya Soonturnyanaki, Asia’s Best Female Chef 2024, will be the first chef to take over The Ritz-Carlton Maldives’ Summer Pavilion on Fari Island, a popular Indian Ocean-facing venue at Singapore’s acclaimed Michelin-starred The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. Over two nights on 10 and 11 August, Chef Pam will showcase the innovative skills she has honed at POTONG in Bangkok, ranked 17th in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, in an establishment steeped in design and culinary tradition. Meanwhile, Matteo Caddu of Opium, ranked 59th in Asia’s 50 Best Bars, will be serving up sweet libations at the resort’s iconic EAU Bar on 9 and 10 August.
Chef Pam, the first and youngest female chef to receive both a Michelin star and the Michelin Guide’s “Opening of the Year” award in the same year, will present an eight-course tasting menu showcasing innovative Thai-Chinese cuisine. Guests will be able to enjoy POTONG’s innovative cuisine with a menu that uniquely blends the award-winning chef’s signature Five Elements philosophy with Thai culinary traditions and innovative flavours.
Infused with Chef Pam’s signature storytelling, the delicious edit celebrates the following dishes: “Parts of the Banana” – a creative and flavorful tribute in three bites highlighting the flesh, skin, flower and stem of this versatile fruit; “POTONG Pad Thai” – Thailand’s national dish that blends tradition with culinary innovation; and “Yin Yang Noodles” – enhancing Chef Pam’s childhood memories, with morels and creamy chicken broth adding a touch of nostalgia to every bite. Courses include an evolution of POTONG’s crab and five-spice chickpeas, the complexly sweet salak, Pam’s signature chocolate spheres, tangerine and chocolate bonbons with cantaloupe pate de fruits and white chocolate. The culinary journey concludes with a selection of mignardises from both Summer Pavilion and POTONG.
A design masterpiece, the resort’s luxurious setting sets the stage for a unique sensory experience from start to finish, as guests arrive through the Summer Pavilion’s circular “Moon Gate” entrance, wind their way through the Water Court and gardens, and enter a bright, lantern-lit dining room that floats peacefully above the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean.
Commenting on the collaboration, Chef Pam said, “I am thrilled to bring the flavors of Potong to The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Island and its incredible culinary scene. It is truly an honour to be part of a resort with such a focus on culinary excellence and exploration, and serving this dish from Summer Pavilion, a restaurant rich in Cantonese tradition, feels like a very natural fit.”
Chef Pam continues, “Through my menu, I hope to provide an element of surprise to my guests. When people think of Thai cuisine, they tend to think of the North, South, Central or Northeast, but Thai-Chinese is a sub-cuisine. The Chinese have been in Thailand for over 800 years and have brought with them many culinary traditions. In this unique setting, I am excited to unveil my menu, ‘Five Senses, Five Elements, A Journey Through Time’, and offer a truly unique and thought-provoking dining experience.”
For a delicious pairing to delight the palate, Matteo Kadedu of Opium will be taking to the EAU Bar at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Island on 9 and 10 August. Frequently named in the expanding list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, the Bangkok institution will bring his perfectly mixed drinks inspired by “liquid surrealism” to the resort’s Behind the Bar series. As the sun sets over the island paradise, Kadedu will unveil his exquisite drinks menu poolside.
For the bold and adventurous, the Han Solo is a cocktail made with mezcal, pineapple tepache, lime, honey, soda and a touch of orange bitters. The enigmatic botanical Incognito is a mystical blend of gin and bergamot liqueur. The unexpected story Granada La Dahaha is an intriguing cocktail made with whiskey, pomegranate and coconut yogurt, seasoned with homemade coffee coconut vermouth. And the Santan is reminiscent of a sun-drenched afternoon, wrapped in the warmth of Hojicha Whisky, Cognac VSOP, Cocchi Torino and homemade chocolate Hojicha liqueur.
Shaped by the power of the ocean, wind and waves, the architecturally elegant setting of EAU Bar provides the most memorable place to sip on some of the world’s best libations, and there’s no better backdrop than the resort’s “Defining Moment” – a daily sunset ritual complete with Maldivian bodu beru drumming and an Instagrammable fire ceremony.
POTONG x The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands starts from $250 per person including an 8-course tasting menu. Opium x The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands signature cocktails start from $25. For more information and booking enquiries about The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, please click here. ritzcarlton.com/Maldives.
