Le Méridien Maldives unveils festive dining with guest chef, seafood feasts and beach BBQs
Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa will bring together international cuisine, seafood, live cooking stations, beachfront barbecues and a culinary collaboration with guest chef Dmitry Parikov as part of its festive programme, running from 20 December 2026 to 10 January 2027.
Presented under the theme “The White Isle”, the celebrations will draw inspiration from the Maldives’ white sandy beaches and Le Méridien’s European heritage, with food and beverage experiences forming a central part of the Christmas, New Year and Orthodox Christmas celebrations.
For chefs, pastry professionals and food and beverage teams, the programme will feature festive buffets, interactive cooking stations, seasonal desserts and a guest-chef dining experience.
Christmas Eve seafood and live cooking
The festive programme will begin with A Night to Shine, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Le Méridien Hub on 21 December.
The event will feature a gingerbread house, festive treats, live music and entertainment, bringing pastry craftsmanship into the opening celebrations.
On 24 December, La Fête de Noël will take place at Turquoise, featuring a Christmas Eve dinner combining seasonal favourites, international specialities and freshly prepared seafood.
Live cooking stations will form part of the dining experience, allowing chefs to prepare and finish dishes in front of guests. An assortment of festive desserts will also be presented alongside live entertainment.
For the resort’s culinary team, the event will bring together buffet production, seafood preparation, interactive cooking and pastry presentations within a single festive service.
French-inspired New Year’s Eve dining
The culinary programme will continue on 31 December with Midnight in White, a New Year’s Eve beach celebration inspired by the French Riviera.
The evening will begin with cocktails at Velaa Bar + Grill before moving to a beachfront dining experience featuring seasonal specialities, live cooking stations, barbecues and festive beverages.
For the kitchen and beverage teams, the event will require coordination between outdoor cooking, cocktail service and the evening’s entertainment programme.
The celebration will continue with a midnight countdown and live DJ performances to welcome 2027.
Chef Dmitry Parikov to lead Orthodox Christmas dining
One of the principal culinary highlights will take place on 6 January, when Le Méridien Maldives welcomes guest chef Dmitry Parikov for a special Orthodox Christmas dining experience.
Presented as Rozhdestvo Khristovo, the collaboration will bring together traditional festive flavours and Parikov’s contemporary culinary approach.
The guest chef will present his signature creations as part of the celebration, offering diners an interpretation of Orthodox Christmas cuisine accompanied by live entertainment.
For the resort’s resident culinary team, the collaboration will provide an opportunity to work alongside a visiting chef and explore different approaches to ingredients, cooking techniques and menu presentation.
Pastry traditions and sustainable produce
Beyond the main dining events, the festive programme will highlight the resort’s broader culinary offering, including its hydroponic Greenhouse.
The facility introduces guests to methods of growing fresh produce in the Maldives, where local agricultural production and ingredient sourcing present particular challenges for resort kitchens.
The festive gingerbread display and seasonal desserts will also place the resort’s pastry and bakery teams in focus, showcasing the decorative and technical elements of Christmas baking.
Throughout the celebrations, guests will be able to enjoy dining experiences alongside marine conservation activities, family programmes, wellness and island excursions.
Located on Thilamaafushi Island in Lhaviyani Atoll, Le Méridien Maldives will use The White Isle to present a combination of international gastronomy, beachfront dining and festive culinary traditions.
From Christmas Eve seafood and live cooking to New Year’s Eve barbecues and Chef Dmitry Parikov’s Orthodox Christmas collaboration, the programme will provide the resort’s chefs, pastry professionals and beverage teams with opportunities to showcase different culinary disciplines throughout the festive season.
