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Heritance Aarah had been open just three months when it won its first culinary award. Fast forward three years and the premium all-inclusive resort in the Raa Atoll in the Northern Maldives, continues to shine with its culinary excellence.
In late 2022 the resort’s culinary team, headed by Executive Chef Amila Silva, returned to the Maldives in glory, having won 13 medals at the Villeroy & Boch Culinary World Cup. The prestigious international culinary contest took place in conjunction with the gastronomy trade fair EXPOGAST from 26 to 30 November 2022 in Luxembourg-Kirch-berg. The Villeroy & Boch Culinary World Cup is one of the biggest and best-known culinary contests in the world. The 7-member team won 5 Gold, 4 Silver and 4 Bronze medals scoring the highest number of wins for an individual hotel at the competition.
Just a month earlier, Heritance Aarah’s trademarked contemporary ‘Heritance’ dining experience, Ambula Restaurant, took home an award for Indigenous/Heritage Cuisine at the 2022 World Luxury Restaurant Awards. The World Luxury Restaurant Awards is a global organisation that inspires excellence, ignites healthy competition in the luxury restaurant industry, and provides restaurants with the recognition they deserve.
Executive Chef Amila Silva
Chef Amila has a wealth of experience spanning over 20 years in the luxury hotel sector in Sri Lanka, Dubai and the Maldives. He has been instrumental in helping young chefs from the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India to carve a path for themselves in the culinary world.
His leadership at Heritance Aarah has seen the culinary team strive to continually create inspirational cuisine and exceptional dining experiences both at the resort and when competing on the world stage in culinary events.
Extending a generous premium all-inclusive experience at Heritance Aarah
Heritance Aarah presents an exquisite and generous all-inclusive package in the Maldives, earning TripAdvisor’s recognition as ‘Best of the Best’, among the top 25 hotels in the world.
Exceptional dining is taken to epic proportions with guests spoilt for choice with seven restaurants and five bars. With its Signature ‘Dining by Design’ gastronomic experience, guests can choose from an International Buffet Restaurant or various a la carte restaurants that have a focus on French, Mediterranean, Fusion, Seafood or Urban street food.
Innovative offerings include whiskey tastings and embrace international cuisine in the ultimate destination dining experience, crafted for true connoisseurs of the finer things in life. From the complex layers of exotic island fare to the simple joys of everyday fresh produce; the property offers the finest ingredients and spices sourced from around the world that unfold to a sumptuous private dining experience at Heritance Aarah Resort, catering for every palate.
The resort’s restaurant offerings include:
Ambula presents an exceptional dining experience that showcases the best of Maldivian and Sri Lankan cuisine. An explosion of Sri Lankan spices and Maldivian flavours, the restaurant serves contemporary Heritance cuisine, with an inventive, eight-course tasting menu experience which encompasses exotic dishes from both islands. Drink pairings with the resort’s wine sommelier go hand-in-hand, along with a detailed narration by the waiter creating a theatrical setting with each dish. A vegan menu is also available at the restaurant.
Baani Overwater Fine Dining is an eclectic, all-day café that brings together a melting pot of cultures, style and moods in a unique social space where guests can sample contemporary fusion cuisine from around the world and a range of impressive wines. Breakfast and lunch can be ordered from the a la carte menus, while dinner is a six-course affair.
Ralu Overwater Restaurant overlooks the Indian Ocean and is adjacent to the Ralu Overwater Lounge Bar serving a decadent selection of French & Mediterranean meals inspired by the French and Italian Mediterranean brasseries lining the Riviera coast. A wine sommelier is on call to recommend the best pairings with dishes.
Hathaa Restaurant is where the alchemy of cooking comes to life in a fun and interactive experience that brings the best of street food, a celebration of vibrant food cultures, which promises a distinctive culinary journey from the streets of Bangkok to Tokyo.
Ginifati, the island’s seafood grill restaurant, offers dining in a private and exclusive pod setting. Here guests enjoy a fine selection of the day’s catch, prepared to their liking, and paired with a selection of fine wines or spirits along with the restaurant’s signature rum punch cocktail.
Ranba Restaurant is a buffet-style restaurant offering the world on a plate and a reflection of real, everyday international cuisine. From east Asian hawker stalls to a western farmers’ market, through honest and down-to-earth cooking that will transport guests across continents.
Those seeking a mid-afternoon bite can head to the Pizza Shack by the main pool and Bandhi Bar. Here enjoy hand-crafted pizzas, straight from the oven. The pizza shack presents a relaxed space to enjoy the resort’s pool and ocean, and wind down over beers and freshly baked pizzas. The shack also offers a snack menu, making this a great venue to hang out with the kids.
Beverage Options
Heritance Aarah has five bars serving premium beverages including innovative concoctions, molecular cocktails, organic and bio-dynamic wines and a large rum collection. The resort’s comprehensive premium included beverage list offers something to delight any wine buff, whisky or cocktail connoisseur, champagne is on offer at all the bars.
Destination Dining
Start off the morning with Heritance Aarah’s exquisite Floating Breakfast experience, or while away the afternoon with Floating Cocktails before taking in the stars with a private beach dining experience. The team at Heritance Aarah have a range of culinary experiences and destination dining options to further elevate your client’s holiday experience.
While the Premium All-Inclusive rates include an amazing array of dining options and an extensive beverage offering, it also includes a complimentary minibar replenished daily, butler service, complimentary spa credit, complimentary activities including excursions, introductory dives and a choice of water sports.
Heritance Aarah is featured with Maldives luxury specialist suppliers and on-sites such as Addicted to Maldives, ID Travel Group, Hummingbird and Vue Maldives, along with a number of wholesalers focussed on Maldives. Travel advisors can contact Kirsty Thomas-Thoeun of Journeys Representation who represents the property in Australia & NZ via australia@heritancehotels.com for a range of images and videos for their social media or client newsletters, or to arrange an in-house or online training session on Heritance Aarah.
See heritancehotels.com/aarah/ for more information.
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