W Maldives has partnered with world’s best pastry champion Julien Alvarez to host a series of culinary events on its tropical playground in September.
The culinary week will include:
- September 19: Pastry Masterclass at KITCHEN restaurant (1-2pm)
- September 20: Afternoon team at KADA café (4-6pm) / dessert menu takeover at FISH overwater specialty restaurant (from 6pm)
- September 21: Beach Market featuring live cooking show by Julien Alvarez himself (from 6pm)
- September 22: Dessert menu takeover at FISH overwater specialty restaurant (from 6pm)
Born in Bergerac, France, the 29-year-old chef grew up in a rich culinary environment, where in 2002 he made his official pastry debut at his parent’s restaurant. His first career achievements include the Best Apprentice of France, and an Assistant to the World Pastry Champion (2006) in Phoenix, US. Julien has also participated in Un des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, a famous craftsmen competition held exclusively in France every four years, where he met well-known Franck Kestener, Bruno Montcoudiol, Stéphane Glacier, David Wesmael and Franck Michel.
Julien also worked at Carles Mampel’s patisserie Bubó in Barcelona, where he ignited his interested in international pastry competitions by taking part in the Spanish World Chocolate Masters in 2007, where he took the fifth place.
In 2008, Julien assisted Philippe Conticini and Angelo Musa (MOF) in opening their first retail pastry store La Pâtisserie des Rêves. Then he also scooped the third prize in the Charles Proust Relais Desserts competition.
From 2009-2013, under the wing of Jean Michel Perruchon (MOF), Julien trained the young apprentices in Bellouet Conseil gastronomic school in Paris. In 2011, Chef Julien won the Champion of the World title in the most prestigious international contest La Coup du Monde de la Patisserie in 2011, which inspired him to become a self-employed trainer and consultant.
Nowadays Julien shares his professional expertise via writing culinary books, participating in TV shows, acting as a pastry stylist and consultant during the various pastry store and restaurant openings around the world.
W Maldives has also recently announced a partnership with Ewa Chodakowska, one of the most popular personal trainers in Europe, to host a wellness week in November.
W Maldives offers 77 escapes and suites located both ashore and overwater, including 28 Wonderful Beach Oasis, 46 Fabulous Overwater Oasis, 3 WOW Ocean Escape and one Extreme WOW Ocean Haven (the W brand’s interpretation of the Presidential Suite). Each chic and spacious escape features infinity plunge pool.
There is a mixture of six bars and restaurants at W Maldives. Kitchen, the all-day dining bistro, and Fire, where guests have their choice of four different barbecues, provide menus for everyone’s palate. Swim up to the pool bar Wet and order a light lunch. There is even a dining option on the resort’s private desert island, Gaathafushi, or Fish, the resort’s specialty seafood restaurant set over the water and under the stars. Fifteen Below is the only underground club in the Maldives, with its own resident DJ and a sushi bar Sushi Beat.
Guests can also spoil themselves with a selection of over 125 treatments at the award-winning overwater Away Spa.