< Previous110 LIVE WELL 110 Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives promises innovative and creative culinary experiences that you will never forget. While it was tough to narrow the options down, here’s our pick of a few of their highlights THAT DREAMY LONG, LAZY LUNCH Right in the middle of Gili Lankanfushi lies one its most distinctive features – a lush, organic garden. Bordered by towering palm trees and jungly vegetation, neat rows of washed-wooden boxes brim with an abundance of herbs, beach lettuce, morning glory, spinach, rocket, chives, fennel fl owers, lemongrass, dangling bitter gourds, passionfruit vines and more. No chemicals or pesticides are used by the gardening team. Instead, natural solutions such as fermented banana skin or rice-water sprays are used to ward off pests. Deser t island dishes pg110-111_Maldives_Jan-Feb_2023.indd 11012/21/2022 2:13:48 PM111 W rit te n by T if fa n y E s li c k ; Ph ot o g ra p h y b y A a s iy a J a g a d e s s h & sup p li e d OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The garden salad; book into one of the stand-alone Crusoe Residences; aloe vera coconut ceviche; chef Hari. THIS PAGE, FROM TOP: The organic garden; By the Sea’s sumptuous menu offers sushi, sahimi and Japanese-fusion dishes created from the freshest ingredients; sleep under the stars. MATCHES MADE IN HEAVEN Set at the bottom of a glass spiral staircase, you’ll fi nd another of Gili’s unique offerings – an underground cellar. It’s the perfect hideaway for private dinners or home-made chocolate tastings with premium grape pairings led by an expert sommelier. This cosy ‘cave’ was designed around a huge piece of driftwood that was once swept ashore. It now serves as a striking banquet table which is engulfed by upcycled wooden walls. While hundreds of fi ne vintages are available to try, there’s also an impressive list of non-alcoholic beverages. CHERRY ON THE TOP! A must-do at least one evening during a stay at Gili, is to sleep under the stars. Your Mr or Miss Friday (Gili speak for private butlers) will curate this enchanting experience, setting up a pillowy soft bed surrounded by fl ickering candles atop your villa’s rooftop terrace. Bubbly is available on demand, and you’ll get breakfast in bed the next morning! Compost is made from the resort’s kitchen wastage, dried and fresh leaves as well as treatment water which comes from a traditional Sri Lankan ‘recipe’. The result is healthy soil with happy worms, which apparently thrive on leftover watermelon skin. When executive chef Harinath Govindaraj isn’t in the kitchen, you’ll fi nd him in this picture-perfect playground – a place which he says provides him with continuous inspiration. And it’s there that you have to try his multi-course vegan lunch experience. Cooking right in front of your table, Hari will keep you entertained and enchanted with his stories about his background, his love of creating new dishes and about each course on this experience’s menu. The whole affair will easily stretch over a couple of hours. It begins with an unforgettable aloe vera coconut ceviche (deemed worthy of a gold award by Food & Hotel Asia) and is followed by the likes of a peppery green gazpacho, a crisp salad sprinkled with edible fl owers, radish ‘scallops’ and mushroom risotto served on a zany purée, a simple but lip-smackingly good grilled aubergine ‘steak’ and fresh pandan leaf ice cream. THE SPICE ROUTE Eating local food when travelling abroad can offer a deeper and meaningful understanding of a country’s culture and its people. However, when holidaying in far-fl ung island destinations, opportunities to do so may sometimes be diffi cult. Fortunately, the chefs at Gili are happy to share a range of traditional dishes over and above anything already on the menus – so remember to ask for these. Even better – sign up to a cooking class and make a rich and velvety Maldivian reef-fi sh curry yourself. It’s great to experiment with regional ingredients. Follow this with a curry tasting experience, and, in addition to trying the fruits of your labour, a conga-line of curries from around the world will appear. The meal is a curation of colour and comforting fl avours with each of the recipes inspired by staff members’ family recipes from India, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Besides our own, home-made fi sh curry (we used meaty job fi sh) that was wonderfully aromatic and well spiced, we can’t stop thinking about the sticky, tangy Pakistani smoked beef curry, too. SUSHI, SASHIMI, SEAFOOD AND SEA VIEWS Gili’s Japanese intimate fi ne-dining restaurant By The Sea offers beautiful views from its terrace-style set up and consistently outstanding sushi, sashimi and Japanese fusion dishes using only the freshest fi sh. That’s because a local fi sherman delivers his daily catch at 6pm to Gili – and by 7pm two types of tuna, snapper and an array of reef fi sh are prepared and ready to serve to guests. There’s also an open kitchen with a Teppanyaki griddle – if you’re after theatrics! We’ve tried a lot at the restaurant, on a few visits, and while everything is consistently good – we always go back for the chef’s selection of sushi and sashimi (many of which feature freshly caught Maldivian tuna); the glazed reef fi sh teriyaki with aubergine and black pepper and the juicy and succulent Hamachi kama with crunchy grilled vegetables and tama miso. pg110-111_Maldives_Jan-Feb_2023.indd 11112/21/2022 2:14:21 PMLIVE WELL Illu st ra tio n Sh ut ter s tock .co m FIVE TO TRY: FAMILY-FRIENDLY STAYCAYS The weather is per fect for a night (or two) away with the kids – from child-friendly buffets to water slides, Helen Farmer rounds up some destinations that will keep ever yone happy DON’T MISS Listen out for Farmer’s Kitchen on Dubai Eye103.8FM in collaboration with Spinneys. It airs from 2-5pm on Fridays. BEST FOR… BUDGET Centara Mirage Beach Resort This new property on Deira Islands has fast become a favourite for those looking for a fun-fi lled, all-inclusive stay. You’ll lose count of the swimming pools (lazy river, infl atable obstacle course, splash pad, family pool, one for over-14s…) and there’s something to do from morning to night, including movies on the beach, kids’ disco and even a candy-themed spa for their fi rst (chocolate) massage. centarahotelsresorts.com BEST FOR… NOVELTY Queen Elizabeth 2 All aboard! This mighty vessel is moored at Port Rashid and offers the chance to sleep on a piece of history. There’s nostalgia at every turn, a heritage tour, indoor pool and accommodation options from a classic room to one of two Royal suites that were previously reserved for – you guessed it – members of the Royal family. Time it right and you can catch a show at Theatre by QE2. qe2.com BEST FOR… ACTION Lapita Located right next to Dubai Parks & Resorts, Legoland and Bollywood Parks, this Polynesian- themed hotel is a must for theme park lovers. You’ll be able to relax by the pool before screaming your head off on record-breaking rollercoasters, then explore Riverland’s dining options. Family rooms are available and access to a park of your choice is included for all guests. marriott.com BEST FOR… RELAXATION Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island Slap bang on one of the most beautiful beaches in the UAE, this resort offers the opportunity to truly unwind, with a minimum two-night stay and so much to do. It’s premium, all-inclusive, which includes outstanding dining, lots of activities, kids’ club, splash pad and more. Treat yourself to a trip to the spa while younger guests are otherwise occupied; its indoor-outdoor vibe has a snow room, alfresco Jacuzzi and impressive hammam. And don’t forget to wake up early to spot dolphins from the shore. rixos.com BEST FOR… GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL JA Hatta Fort Hotel With views of the Hajar Mountains, this unique retreat has been welcoming guests for decades. Recently renovated, the large rooms have a bright cabin feel, while outside you’ll fi nd two swimming pools, tennis and padel courts, mini golf, a summit high enough for little legs to feel they have conquered Kilimanjaro, archery, a playground and plenty of animals. On site there are deer, tortoises, bunnies, ponies, goats and birds, and there are supervised feeding sessions and interactions. Come afternoon, don’t miss kite fl ying on the lawn, and if you can tear yourself away from the hotel, there’s Hatta Wadi Hub nearby for climbing, biking and hiking, plus the dam for kayaking. And your dogs are welcome to stay there, too! jaresortshotels.com 112 pg112_HELEN_JAN-FEB_23.indd 11212/21/2022 1:23:09 PM114 RECIPE INDEX START ERS, SOUPS, SALADS & SIDES Quick offcut veggie stock 18 Chilled green soup 19 Muhammara salad with spiced olive oil and walnuts 30 Burnt aubergine fatteh 30 Buffalo fried smoked tofu with blue cheese dip 49 Quick kimchi 56 Kimchi gazpacho 57 Home-made yoghurt 60 Basic sauerkraut 61 Tempeh satay with cucumber sambal 64 Spinach and barley salad with tahini dressing 68 Roasted sweet potato, carrot and amaranth salad with green dressing 70 Mint and pea soup 76 Mixed mushroom espetada 81 Mushroom koftas 81 Turnip cakes 87 Sweet and sour ginger duck spring rolls 89 Dan dan noodle salad 89 Hot dates with cold feta and za’atar 96 DRINKS Basil and citrus oil sparkling lemonade 12 Blood orange spritz 31 Water kefi r 58 Kombucha activation batch 62 Kombucha tea 62 MAINS Aubergine chow mein 42 Thai coconut chicken Buddha bowls 43 Prawn kimchi fried rice 44 Firecracker ramen 45 Spicy beef and black bean stir-fry with crispy noodles 46 Adzuki bean and tofu teriyaki balls with herby brown rice 50 Shawarma spiced crispy tofu in tofu wraps 50 Five bean curry with soya yoghurt raita 68 Broccoli and courgette lasagne with cheat’s vegan cheese sauce 70 Sticky Marmite tofu with pickled shiitake mushrooms and kombu rice 71 Smoked mackeral loaded microwave sweet potato 74 Mushroom and miso home-made instant noodles 74 Lentil-loaded microwave nachos 74 Smoky chipotle pulled mushroom tacos 79 Mushroom sloppy joes 81 Peri peri prego oyster mushroom rolls 81 Future Farm shepherd’s pie with herby parsnip mash 82 Future Farm harissa burgers with crispy carrot fries 83 Spaghetti and Future Farm Meatball traybake with pesto 83 Hakka aubergine 87 Braised beef and shiitake dumplings with Sichuan chilli oil 87 Spelt and pea risotto with artichokes 96 Pistachio dukkah crusted fi llet steaks with baba ganoush mashed potato 96 Lemon curd glazed salmon fi llets 98 BREAKFAST & BRUNCH Courgette and ricotta involtini bake 34 Tofu waffl es with whipped chocolate tofu cream 50 Turkish eggs with mint yoghurt and za’atar 60 Future Farm vegan sausage breakfast bake 84 Korean hotteok with pecan cinnamon fi lling 102 Mini lemon curd and blueberry Dutch babies 102 Biscoff banana American pancake stack 103 French buckwheat galettes with goat’s cheese and blistered tomato basil 103 BAKED G OODS & DESSERTS Bottom of the fruit bowl frozen yoghurt 19 Kefi r crème fraîche pots with seasonal berries 30 Overnight citrus and fennel seed cake 31 Sourdough starter 54 No-knead sourdough potbread 55 Kefi r panna cottas with passion fruit 59 Reuben foccacia 61 Kombucha fl oats 63 Cacao and nut snack bars with miso caramel 65 Raspberry jellies with whipped coconut cream 96 Miso caramel apple cake 98 pg114_INDEX_Jan-Feb 2023.indd 11412/21/2022 1:23:47 PMMaking Life More Exotic www.rubicon-drinks.com rubiconarabia Rubicon’s 100% Organic Coconut Water – Finally real coconut water. We’ve taken great care to pick the world’s finest coconuts. Our farmers grow them with love in the best habitat that nature can provide, to bring you the ultimate source of natural hydration. Good for your body and great for your spirit. Every sip of our organic coconut water guarantees purity, quality and flavour.Next >