Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts Celebrates World Vegetarian Day on 1 October 2019

Leading Indian-Ocean resort brand, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, will celebrate World Vegetarian Day on 1 October 2019 at two of its Maldivian resorts – Atmopshere Kanifushi and OBLU Select at Sangeli.

Both resorts offer dedicated vegetarian-only restuarants – JUST VEG and SIMPLY VEG – that delight the pallete without the need for meat or fish.

Vegetarianism is a increasingly popular lifestyle choice, with one in eight Brits identifying as vegetarian or vegan and one in five choosing to be “flexitarian” – eating a largely vegetable-based diet with the occasional inclusion of meat. This comes after numerous reports over the last few years that suggest that avoiding meat and dairy products is the single biggest way consumers can reduce their impact on the planet.

Atmosphere Kanifushi was one step ahead of the curve, opening the Maldives’ first purely vegetarian restaurant, JUST VEG, in 2013. Following increased customer demand, OBLU Select at Sangeli, which opened in July 2018, launched SIMPLY VEG, offering plant-based fine dining based on seasonal, local ingredients.

Each restaurant redefines contemporary non-meat cuisine by experimenting with original and surprising flavour combinations. Serving mouth-watering Mediterranean, Arabic and Indian combinations and offering a special menu specifically for Jain cuisine, guests leave with a new sense of appreciation for vegetarian dining.

Senthil Kumar, Chef de Partie at JUST VEG, recently won a Gold Award at the Food & Hospitality Asia Maldvies (FHAM) Culinary Challenge for a dish that he created. Over 500 chefs from Maldivian resorts and hotels take part in the competitions at the annual event, and only the very best win Gold Awards.

Chef Kumar says that guests often leave the restaurant pleasantly surprised about how much they enjoyed their meals, despire the absence of meat. He says: “I enjoy creating innovative and rustic meals that feature fresh, quality ingredients. I love to push the boundaries and create dishes that people might not expect to enjoy, but they are surprised at how much they love it. More guests are seeking vegetarian and vegan options, and we are delighted to be able to provide delicious options for them, without skimping on quality or flavour.” 

The resort will be welcoming Italian Michelin-Star vegetarian cuisine chef, Fabrizio Marino, to JUST VEG at Atmosphere Kanifushi in January 2020. Mr Marino, his Assistant Chef, and Manager will all visit JUST VEG and work with the culinary team to share their superior vegetarian cuisine knowledge and service skills over the course of a week.

Resort guests will have the opportunity to dine at JUST VEG which will feature specially-designed menus by Mr Marino and his team.

Visit www.atmosphere-kanifushi.com or www.atmospherehotelsandresorts.com for further information.

About Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts:

Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts is a dynamic and fast-growing Indian Ocean Hotels & Resorts group currently based in the Maldives. Atmosphere’s first property, Atmosphere Kanifushi, opened its doors in December 2013. The group opened its second property, OBLU by Atmosphere at Helengeli, in November 2015; followed by their flagship Lifestyle Luxury sub-brand, OZEN by Atmosphere, in July 2016; and then OBLU Select at Sangeli, which opened in July 2018. The newest addition to the portfolio, VARU by Atmopshere, offering a naturally Maldivian experience, is due to open in October 2019.

Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts offers guest-centric resort experiences through unique Resort Plans, offering guests a range of all-encompassing experiences, with varieties of dining options as well as a number of complimentary amenities and activities that ensure a relaxed, hassle-free holiday experience at each resort, all while staying true to the brand’s core philosophy: ‘The Joy of Giving’.