Ventive Hospitality Limited is continuing the fourth edition of its Michelin Star Guest Chef Series at Anantara Veli Maldives Resort, presenting a new season of exclusive dining experiences led by some of the world’s most celebrated culinary talents. This year’s edition introduces an all-female lineup of Michelin-starred and award-winning chefs from across the globe, reflecting the company’s continued emphasis on differentiated, experience-led offerings while supporting greater diversity and representation in global cuisine and gastronomy.
Developed as a proprietary platform by Ventive Hospitality, the Michelin Star Guest Chef Series is designed to drive premium guest engagement, strengthen brand equity, and further enhance culinary capabilities across the company’s hospitality portfolio. Through the initiative, Ventive integrates international culinary expertise into its operations while creating high-value, experience-driven propositions that appeal to discerning global travellers seeking more than traditional resort dining. The series has become an important expression of the company’s strategy to position its properties as destinations where hospitality, creativity, and world-class gastronomy come together in a compelling and memorable way.
At Anantara Veli Maldives Resort, the series is being delivered through carefully curated formats including exclusive tasting menus, collaborative dining experiences, and interactive guest engagements. These experiences are structured to deepen guest interaction, increase on-property spend, and reinforce the positioning of Ventive’s hospitality assets as centres of experiential luxury. Set against the natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere of the Maldives, Anantara Veli provides an ideal setting for such elevated culinary programming, where fine dining can be experienced in an immersive island environment that complements the artistry of each chef. The resort continues to strengthen its appeal as a destination where refined hospitality and distinctive lifestyle experiences are central to the guest journey.
The participating chefs represent a broad cross-section of leading culinary markets across Europe and Asia, bringing a rich diversity of perspectives shaped by innovation, technical excellence, and cultural storytelling. The all-female lineup also reflects an important evolution within the international culinary landscape, highlighting the growing influence of women in top-tier gastronomy and aligning with Ventive’s commitment to fostering broader representation within the industry. By bringing together chefs whose culinary identities are rooted in heritage yet expressed through contemporary creativity, the series offers guests not only exceptional cuisine but also meaningful insight into the personal stories, traditions, and inspirations that shape each residency.
The series began in January with Chef Caterina Ceraudo, who introduced guests to Calabrian-rooted cuisine inspired by the landscapes and traditions of Southern Italy through a contemporary lens. Recognised for her thoughtful approach to ingredients and refined techniques, Chef Caterina’s residency paid tribute to the relationship between land, heritage, and modern Italian creativity. In February, Chef Gabriela Chamorro brought the energy and sophistication of Dubai’s cosmopolitan dining scene to the island, presenting a residency marked by bold flavours and contemporary flair. Among her standout dishes was a Buñuelo with tuna tartare, guava jam, and black garlic aioli, an elegant creation that balanced sweetness, richness, and fresh coastal notes with notable finesse.
The upcoming residencies continue to build on that strong momentum. Chef Kelly Rangama, a Michelin-starred chef and winner of Top Chef France, is known for blending her Creole heritage with refined French cuisine. Her signature Rougail Saucisse reinterprets the beloved Réunion Island classic of smoky sausage, tomato, and aromatic spices with contemporary sophistication. Chef Emily Roux, from the renowned Roux family, will bring elegant and inventive French-inspired cuisine to the series. Having earned her Michelin star through her restaurant Caractère in London, Chef Emily represents one of Britain’s most distinguished culinary legacies. Her seared John Dory with beurre blanc and seasonal vegetables reflects her refined technique and her ability to deliver balanced, expressive flavours with clarity and precision.
Chef Nao Motohashi of Restaurant JULIA will contribute the quiet precision and understated elegance of Japanese cuisine to the programme. Celebrated for her refined treatment of seasonal ingredients and meticulous technique, Chef Nao creates dishes that balance purity, harmony, and visual artistry. Her culinary philosophy reflects the essence of Japanese gastronomy, where flavour, texture, and presentation come together in thoughtful simplicity, offering guests a dining experience that is both delicate and deeply expressive. This diversity of culinary voices continues to enrich the series and ensures that each residency offers something distinct, memorable, and globally relevant.
Expanding beyond its usual Michelin-starred focus, the remaining chef lineup for the year will also include a number of rising culinary talents. These include Chef Iris Jordan Martin of Restaurant Ansils in Aragón, Spain, winner of the 2025 Michelin Guide Young Chef Award; Chef Ash Valenzuela-Heeger of Riverine Rabbit in Birmingham, United Kingdom; and Chef Niyati Rao of Ekaa in Bombay, India. Their inclusion broadens the scope of the series while highlighting emerging voices whose work is helping shape the future of international gastronomy. This approach not only strengthens the programme’s creative range but also supports the discovery of new culinary narratives for guests visiting the Maldives.
Commenting on the initiative, Ranjit Batra, Chief Executive Officer of Ventive Hospitality Limited, said the company’s focus remains on building assets that stand out through differentiated experiences, with culinary offerings playing a central role in that strategy. He said the Guest Chef Series enables Ventive to bring together global talent, local context, and immersive formats to create experiences that go beyond traditional dining. He further noted that the all-female lineup this year is both timely and important, reflecting the changing dynamics of the global culinary industry while reinforcing the company’s commitment to inclusive growth.
Chef Francis Purification, Culinary Director at Anantara Veli Maldives Resort, said the resort is excited to present an all-female lineup this year. He observed that the culinary industry continues to be male-dominated, while many female chefs deserve equal recognition and visibility. He added that the resort’s own culinary team stands to benefit greatly from the opportunity to work alongside and learn from these accomplished chefs. He also highlighted that each residency features collaborative dinners with the resort’s chefs, cooking classes, and a long table dinner hosted by a member of the resort family, allowing guests to engage not only with exceptional cuisine but also with the stories and inspirations behind it.
Through this latest edition of the Michelin Star Guest Chef Series, Anantara Veli Maldives Resort continues to enhance its position as a destination where culinary innovation, luxury hospitality, and meaningful guest experiences converge. For global travellers seeking immersive dining in one of the world’s most celebrated island settings, the series offers a compelling reason to experience the Maldives through a new and sophisticated lens, while also showcasing how curated gastronomy can deepen the value and identity of a resort destination.
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