Exclusive with Andrea Berton: World’s First Michelin Star Chef to Manage an Underwater Restaurant

You & Me by Cocoon Maldives recently rebranded its H2O underwater restaurant to ‘H2O by chef Andrea Berton’. Andrea Berton is an Italian chef, who won 4 Michelin stars.

Throughout his career, Chef Andrea worked with the likes of Gualtiero Marchesi and Alain Ducasse. His ‘Ristorante Berton’ in Milan earned a Michelin star in less than a year after its opening.

Winning 4 Michelin stars is an extraordinary feat. This is also the first time in the world a Michelin starred chef will manage an underwater restaurant. So, we caught up with Andrea Berton to talk about his latest project; managing the H2O underwater restaurant in the Maldives.

01. Chef, could describe your excitement to take over the underwater restaurant H2O?

Chef Andrea Berton: When I first received the proposal to manage H2O it made me feel extremely happy. I came here years ago and worked alongside the team and had a fantastic experience. We agreed to work on this project quite early on.

Image: IM Studio | Instagram: @immaldives

To have my close friendship with You & Me turn into a collaboration is an amazing achievement. Besides, there are only a few underwater restaurants in the world. So, I feel honoured to be able to present my food here.

02. What will be the new concept of H2O?

Chef Andrea Berton: All of my restaurants feature a distinct concept. The dishes served at H2O is different from what my restaurant in Italy serves. Here we source the local ingredients and take inspiration from the Maldivian culture.

It’s not the same food diners will find in Milan. We find the compromise between life in the Maldives and the magical atmosphere of the underwater restaurant. After all, we want our guests to enjoy the amazing experience.

03. What’s the philosophy behind the dishes served at H2O?

Chef Andrea Berton: My philosophy is to characterize the plate with minimal fresh ingredients. The flavours are curated from the best ingredients. Moreover, we want to focus on the best ingredients that you can find in the Maldives.

I also use the fishes found in our lagoon (the lagoon of You & Me Maldives) to create stocks, broth and soups to finalize the plate.

04. Tell me some of your signature dishes diners can find at H2O?

Chef Andrea Berton: One of my signature two dishes, the risotto will be available at the restaurant. For the last 5 years, I’ve also worked on creating a very unique broth.

This broth gives a nice texture to every plate. The broth also changes seasonally as it’s cold in the summer and hot in the winter. I believe these simple things will make the experience of guests better.

05. What is your opinion on Maldivian cuisine?

Chef Andrea Berton: I first tried Maldivian food at the buffet back in Cocoon Maldives when I came to the Maldives years ago. I can easily recognize the cultures and flavour of Maldivian cuisine. The combination between Italian food and Maldivian is also pretty interesting for me.

Feature image by IM Studio

In April, the idyllic resorts of the Maldives remained steadfast in their pursuit of perfection. With this, resorts worked on ushering in a wave of key appointments and promotions to elevate the guest experience to new heights. Committed to crafting unforgettable moments and personalized services, these appointments underscored the unwavering dedication of the industry to anticipate and exceed the expectations of every traveller. Here, we delve into the notable appointments made across the archipelago, showcasing the ongoing efforts to redefine luxury, sustainability, culinary excellence, and wellness in paradise.

Mahmoud Elkhouly Returns to Nika Island Resort & Spa as Assistant Director of Sales & Marketing

Nika Island Resort & Spa recently welcomed Mohmoud Elkhaouly as Assistant Director of Sales. Prior to working in the Maldives, Mahmoud worked in Egypt as a Reservations Sales Agent. His career started as a Reservations Sales Agent at Sonesta Beach Resort. From there, he worked his way up to Reservations Supervisor at Ayada Maldives Resort & Spa.

Sun Siyam Iru Veli Appoints Athif Ibrahim as Learning & Development Manager

This April, Sun Siyam Iru Veli also appointed Athif Ibrahim as the new Learning & Development Manager. Athif’s hospitality journey started at One & Only Reethi Rah, Maldives. From here on, Athif has worked in various roles. This includes a notable tenure in front-office management. His his current role, Athif will harness his expertise to drive innovative learning strategies and create tailored developmental programs. Through these programmes, he can ensure the empowerment of staff members at Sun Siyam Iru Veli.

Sun Siyam Resorts Promotes Ahmed Naufal to Group Director of Sales & Marketing

Sun Siyam Resorts also announced the promotion of Ahmed Naufal to Group Director of Sales & Marketing. Prior to this role, Naufal worked as Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing at Sun Siyam Resorts. In his new role, Naufal will be responsible for developing robust sales and marketing growth strategies, fostering global partnerships, and driving business success for all of Sun Siyam Resorts. Naufal has been working with Sun Siyam Resorts since August 2021. He started his journey with the brand as Director of Sales and Marketing, playing a vital role in the global sales initiatives.

Chef Warren Moore Joins Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives as New Executive Chef

Chef Warren Moore, hailing from South Africa brings his wealth of experience as he joins Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll as the resort’s new Executive chef. With over 25 years of experience in the Restaurant and Hospitality industry, Chef Warren is set to elevate the culinary front at Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll. Prior to this role, Chef Warren also served as the Executive Chef at Jawakara Islands Maldives. Additionally, he has also spent seven years working in various esteemed properties of the Crown and Champa Resorts Group.

Baglioni Maldives Announces Two Key Appointments in April

This April, Baglioni Maldives also announced the appointments of Ahmed Azeef as Front Office Manager and Mariyam Rishma Hameed as Sales & Events Manager. With this appointment, Ahmed Azeef brings his wealth of experience to Baglioni Maldives. Additionally, Mariyam Rishma also brings a decade of experience to enhance the sales and events aspect of the resort.

The Ozen Collection Appoints Maalik Abdul Qayoom as Sales Manager

Yet another important appointment was announced this April at The Ozen Collection as Maalik Abdul Qayoom takes the role of Sales Manager – Destination Management Companies (DMCs). With this appointment, Maalik brings over 8 years of experience in Reservations and Revenue management. Prior to this role, Maalik has worked with esteemed hospitality brands such as Jumeirah, Fairmont, and The Residence as well.

SO/ Maldives Appoints Narain ‘Nick’ as Sales Manager

SO/ Maldives also made an important appointment this April as Narain ‘Nick’ takes on the role of the new Sales Manager of the resorts. Before this appointment, Nick has gained over 15 years of experience in different fields. In addition to hospitality, Nick also has experience in airlines and travel as well.

Avani + Fares Maldives Appoints Thaaif Ahmed

The newly opened Avani + Fares Maldives Resort announced the appointment of Thaaif Ahmed as the new Director of Sales & Marketing as well. With nearly two decades of experience in the industry, Thaaif brings exceptional leadership capabilities to the role. Prior to this, he played a pivotal role in driving revenue and growth at NH Collections Maldives. He has also worked at Anantara Dhigu Resort Maldives, Anantara Veli Resort Maldives as well as Naladhu Private Island.

W Maldives Promotes Ahmed Zahir and Ismail Saeed

This April, W Maldives announced the well-deserved promotions of Ahmed Zahir, who transitions into the role of Rooms Division Manager, and Ismail Saeed, now assuming the position of Welcome Manager. Formerly excelling as the Welcome Manager, Ahmed Zahir brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role. The promotion is poised to further enhance guest experiences and operational excellence within the Rooms Division. Ismail Saeed, previously serving as the Lounge Manager, steps into the pivotal role of Welcome Manager. In this new role, his exceptional leadership skills and dedication to guest satisfaction will undoubtedly flourish.