Alila Kothaifaru Maldives has announced the arrival of its new Executive Chef, Nguyen Minh Phuc. A native of Vietnam, Chef Phuc brings a wealth of experience gained at hotels across the globe. 

To mark his debut, Chef Phuc is launching a Boat to Table BBQ night at the resort’s signature restaurant, Seasalt, set to be held every Sunday. The new experience allows guests to choose fresh seafood from a local fisherman’s boat – which will dock by Seasalt each week – which is then cooked to their liking on charcoal by Chef Phuc and his culinary team. 

The BBQ night at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives is a celebration of the local community’s fresh produce, as well as sustainable practices. Guided by Hyatt’s food philosophy of “thoughtfully sourced, carefully served”, Chef Phuc is committed to supporting the local community, especially fishermen in the Raa Atoll Maldives, and reducing food waste. 

 “I am so pleased to be joining the team at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives,” says the chef. “I have long been an admirer of the resort and the way it incorporates sustainable practices and local customs into its programming for guests. While creating my debut menu for the resort, it was important to me to celebrate the local fishermen, giving them the chance to show guests that their food is truly authentic and local, and creating a space for guests to connect and engage directly with the fishermen. 

“The Boat to Table menu will give guests of the chance to taste a variety of freshly caught fish, all native to the Maldives, and gives us the chance to help them minimize food waste by choosing the correct size of fish according to their appetite.”  

Chef Phuc will also be bringing his signature cooking style to the rest of the resort’s restaurants, which include Umami, Pibati, Mirus Bar and the recently opened The Shack.