Anantara Veli Maldives Resort, owned by Ventive Hospitality and operated under the Anantara Hotels & Resorts brand, has announced the next chapter of its Around the World Michelin Star Guest Chef Series 2026, as the three-month culinary programme moves from its opening experiences into the Maldives’ high season.

Centred on “Michelin Finesse Meets Sustainable Gastronomy,” the series brings together two distinctive culinary voices through interactive cooking classes and specially curated dinners, with each chef interpreting the experience through their own cultural roots, culinary philosophy and approach to ingredients.

Chef Niyati Rao, chef and co-founder of Mumbai’s Ekaa, brought the Q3 chapter of the series to a close in September, bringing an Indian perspective to the table. As the series enters Q4 and the Maldives’ high season, Chef Alena Solodovichenko will take the culinary journey forward in October, bringing her Ukrainian roots and culinary perspective to Anantara Veli.

Drawing on her Ukrainian roots and a culinary journey that began in Kyiv, Solodovichenko will bring a distinctive perspective shaped by her heritage, contemporary European technique and international experience. Her residency introduces a new cultural dimension to the series, demonstrating how personal history and modern gastronomy can come together in a destination as distinctive as the Maldives. She will host a cooking class on October 21, followed by a curated dinner on October 22, opening the next phase of the guest chef programme.

The series will then build towards its finale in November with Chef Cristina Bowerman, chef of Rome’s Michelin-starred Glass Hostaria. Known for her contemporary interpretation of Italian cuisine and international influences, Bowerman will bring her distinctive culinary philosophy, including her focus on sustainability to Anantara Veli Maldives.

Her cooking class on November 4 and curated dinner on November 5 will bring the three-month series to its conclusion. Across the programme, wines will be selected by Junior Wine Sommelier Kishore Bandaru, complementing the individual menus and culinary perspectives presented by each chef.

Connecting each of these culinary perspectives is the series’ central theme of “Michelin Finesse Meets Sustainable Gastronomy.” Visiting chefs are encouraged to respond to the Maldives through responsible sourcing, seasonal produce and conscious ingredient choices, creating experiences that are informed both by their individual culinary identities and by the destination itself.

The cooking classes give guests an opportunity to engage with the thinking, techniques and ingredients behind each chef’s cuisine, while the dinners bring those ideas together in a more immersive dining experience.

Commenting on the series, Ranjit Batra, Chief Executive Officer, Ventive Hospitality Ltd, said: “The Maldives is an important part of Ventive Hospitality’s international portfolio, with five resorts spanning 515 keys. Food and beverage is also a significant part of the guest experience across our international hospitality business, contributing 40% of international hospitality revenue in Q1 FY27. This makes distinctive culinary programming an important part of how we enhance the experience at our resorts. The Around the World Michelin Star Guest Chef Series brings together global culinary talent and diverse perspectives, while keeping sustainable gastronomy at the centre. With Chef Alena bringing her Ukrainian roots to the resort this October, followed by Chef Cristina Bowerman, the series allows us to create experiences that are both globally relevant and closely connected to the character of the Maldives.”

The Around the World Michelin Star Guest Chef Series 2026 brings together global culinary talent, Indian culinary perspective and the Maldives’ natural setting, positioning Anantara Veli as a platform for exploring the intersection of fine dining, sustainability and destination-led gastronomy.

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