Velaa Private Island has introduced a personalised approach to dining with their bespoke tasting menus.
As an innovative response to the autocracy that usually comes part and parcel with a dictated tasting menu, Velaa’s signature Aragu restaurant now features tasting menus based on each guests’ personal preferences. This new approach adds an element of choice to the gourmet tasting dining experience.
At first, guests select from a simple list of about 16 sustainable and quality ingredients from around the world. Diners can choose to do a flight of three or five products out of the ever-changing list of products, which range from locally-produced Maldivian Lobster, Island Coconut or Line-Caught Reef Fish to foreign- sourced Tasmanian Ocean Trout, Bresse Chicken or Japanese Saga A5 Tenderloin.
Then, lauded Chef Gaushan de Silva, who has previously worked at the two-Michelin-star Danish restaurant Noma and as the private chef to the royal family of Jordan, crafts an individual menu based on their favourite things.
“A lot of our guests wanted to enjoy a journey of a variety of flavours in different dishes, so we decided to implement this at Aragu restaurant,” Chef Gaushan said.
Tucked away within the collection of islands that form the northern Noonu atoll, Velaa Private Island is elegantly positioned to overlook enchanting vistas of a cerulean ocean. Its name derived from generations of sea turtles that flock there to nest and hatch; it is comprised of 47 private villas, houses and exclusive residences. The resort also includes a Romantic Pool Residence which can only be reached by boat.
At Velaa Private Island, all details have been considered: each villa comes with a personal butler, all services offered can be tailored to personal specifications. Attention to detail everywhere is also impeccable: stone pavements from the desert in Jordan, Indonesian flowerpots, luxury wood panelling from Borneo, and glimmering Italian marble.
Velaa Private Island offers endless exclusive opportunities. These unique offerings include the Maldives’ first and only snow room, the largest and most extensive wine collection in the region, one of the few Maldivian resorts with a private submarine, an extraordinary kids’ club conceptualised as the world’s ideal kids’ club by the owner’s seven-year-old daughter, and the only resort in Asia with a My Blend by Clarins spa.
Personalising and tailoring the entirety of the island depending on specific requirements, there is no limit to ensure the ultimate experience. Guests can sit back in the knowledge that the island’s highly trained and dedicated butlers will cater to each and every whim. Whether it is watching a spectacular fireworks display within the Maldivian night sky, dancing into the early hours with an Al fresco live music event, stepping aboard the island’s private yacht for a glamorous sunset cruise or enjoying a private, open air cinema night, anything is possible. Other interactive activities perfect for private groups include gourmet cooking classes with one of the resort’s chefs or wine tasting within the Maldives’ largest wine cellar.
For those looking to get involved in some Indian Ocean adventure, Velaa’s high-tech water toys, including the hover board, jetpack and fly board serve as the definitive adrenaline rush. While discovering the wonders beneath the island’s welcoming waters, guests can learn to dive or simply snorkel the coral rainbow.