Asia’s Top Chefs Gather For ‘No Guests, Just Chefs’ In Maldives – Hosted By Chef Dharshan Munidasa
Maldives, October 5, 2023: The first ever ‘No Guests, Just Chefs’ event hosted byrenowned Sri Lankanchef and restauranteur Dharshan Munidasa concluded successfully with the participation of some of Asia’s best chefs. The three-night chefs’ gathering at The Marina at CROSSROADS Maldives was held at Chef Munidasa’s three iconic restaurants, Ministry of Crab, Carne Diem Grill by Dharshan and Nihonbashi Blue. This unique event was organized by Chef Munidasa to serve as a springboard for like-minded counterparts to relax and connect away from the hustle and bustle of the restaurant life, while having an opportunity to experience Maldives as a holiday destination.
Among those who attended this event were Executive Chef & Owner of one Michelin starred Le Du, ranked at No.1 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ list 2023 and No. 15 on the World’s Best Restaurants’ list 2023, and Executive Chef & Owner of Nusara ranked No.3 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ list 2023 ThiTid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn, Owner & Chef of the one Michelin starred Potong, No. 35 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ list 2023 Pichaya ‘Pam’ Soontornyanakij, Executive Chef of the two Michelin starred Da Vittorio, Shanghai positioned at No. 34 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ list 2023 Stefano Bacchelli, Head Chef at Masque, positioned at No.16 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ list 2023 Varun Totlani, and winner of the ‘Grand Prix de la Baguette de Traditional Française de la Ville De Paris’ 2023 Tharshan Selvarajah.
The attending chefs were accommodated at Hard Rock Hotel and Saii Lagoon Maldives located at CROSSROADS Maldives, the largest multi-island integrated lifestyle destination in the country. The chefs were welcomed on the first day for a Champagne Sundowner followed by dinner at Ministry of Crab, where they feasted on majestic mud crabs and giant freshwater prawns flown in from Sri Lanka, paired with champagne and rosés sponsored by Maritime & Mercantile International Maldives Pvt Ltd. On day two, the chefs sat down to a steak dinner complete with Westholme Wagyu Steak and Maimoa Lamb Racks at Carne Diem Grill by Dharshan with Clarendelle wine sponsored by Grape Expectations Pvt Ltd. In addition, Navean Pvt Ltd also created a custom range of wines for the three restaurants which were provided to the attendees. The event concluded with an exclusively curated Japanese ‘Omakase’ menu at Nihonbashi Blue preceded by a Dassai Sake tasting session sponsored by Vintners Pvt Ltd.
In addition to the series of curated dinners hosted by Chef Dharshan Munidasa, the attending chefs took advantage of the island’s offerings enjoying the amenities of the resorts as well as various water sports offered by The Marina at Crossroads. Speaking about the event, Munidasa said, “Maldives is an amazing destination, where we as chefs often get invited for pop-ups, which is why it was important for me to create ‘No Guests, Just Chefs’ so that we would have an opportunity to relax and unwind. I am so grateful to all the chefs who attended the first edition, where we enjoyed great conversations, camaraderie, and cuisine away from our busy schedules, and I am so happy that everyone had a great time. I look forward to doing this again next year in Sri Lanka and in the Maldives, with many more chefs joining us!”
About the Restaurants:
Ministry of Crab
A stunning offering from one of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (2015 – 2022), unsurpassed in its celebration of the legendary Sri Lankan Mud Crab. Housed at The Marina at CROSSROADS, Ministry of Crab Maldives is built on a foundation that prioritizes the freshness of its ingredients, and the finest Sri Lankan Lagoon Crab is air flown twice a week to Maldives to uphold this standard, with the smallest size being 500 grams right up to the mammoth 2KG Crabzilla! The restaurant, created by celebrity chef Dharshan Munidasa, also adheres to the same strict no-freezer policy as the flagship restaurant in Colombo, which is a testament to its commitment to freshness.
Nihonbashi Blue
Nihonbashi Blue is an offshoot of Sri Lanka’s acclaimed Nihonbashi, ranked among Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (2013-2018). Emulating its Colombo flagship, this casual Japanese restaurant located at The Marina at CROSSROADS boasts a sake bar, sushi counter with dedicated chefs, a Private Dining space that can seat 36 people and a cozy tatami-seating area for both casual and celebratory dining. Relish the star dish, Real Japanese Wagyu Sukiyaki, and experience the exclusivity of Lobster Sashimi, gracefully kept alive in a custom-made tank at the heart of the restaurant. Nihonbashi Blue also offer diners the chance to enjoy our one-of-a-kind outdoor Teppanyaki experience under the Maldivian Sky.
Carne Diem Grill by Dharshan
Carne Diem Grill by Dharshan, is a premium steakhouse by Sri Lanka’s most renowned chef and restaurateur Dharshan Munidasa, located at The Marina at CROSSROADS. The restaurant was built around a unique charcoal grill ‘Ignis Maximus’ engineered by Munidasa himself, that operates at a temperature of 750˚C. Built on the principles of a charcoal yakitori grill, the meat is skewered and exposed to the direct radiation of the embers. Each charcoal pit has its own sliding hood that converts the grill into an oven. When the hood is closed the heat envelopes the cut of meat and creates the high cooking temperature within the chamber, cooking premium cuts of Wagyu Beef from Westholme, one of the finest producers in Australia. This unique technique has resulted in what many of our guests call “The Best Steak Ever”.
About CROSSROADS Maldives:
Crafted from tales of the past, and designed to inspire the present, CROSSROADS Maldives is the Indian Ocean’s first and only multi-island, integrated leisure destination. CROSSROADS Maldives features three award winning resorts – Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, SAii Lagoon Maldives – Curio Collection by Hilton, SO/ Maldives, and The Marina at CROSSROADS. The archipelago’s only “one-stop, non-stop” lifestyle destination invites adventurous travellers from the four corners of the globe to cross paths and explore a treasure trove of iconic oceanfront resorts, upscale lifestyle outlets and endless entertainment offerings, as well as the stunning natural, cultural, and nautical attractions that have lured maritime travellers to the Maldives for centuries. CROSSROADS Maldives is where cultures meet.
To learn more visit www.crossroadsmaldives.com.
For more information, please contact:
Shalini Canagasabey
Group Public Relations Manager – Ministry of Crab
Tel: +94 766 260 814
E-mail: shalini@ministryofcrab.com