The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is proud to present Nishantha Parana Vithanaga as the Executive Chef of the 100-villa resort, poised to open on June 1, 2021. With over 30 years of experience in luxury brands such as the One & Only, Jumeirah and Hilton Group in the Middle East and Asia, the Sri-Lankan-born Chef brings an exclusive culinary experience at the seven restaurants of the resort.
Nishantha's culinary passion began at a very young age when he started helping his mother with her banqueting business as an after-school hobby. He started his hospitality career as a trainee at the age of 19, taking new heights as he progressed globally in Hilton Colombo, Jumeirah Vittaveli - the Maldives, One & Only Reethi Rah Maldives. Over the years, trained under celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs, experimenting cuisines and managing multi-cultural teams, Nishantha's culinary style balances on three principles: clean, simple and palatable.
His philosophy is reflected at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives's culinary offerings; fresh and organic herbs and vegetables are cultivated daily from the organic garden, and fresh fish and lobsters caught sustainably from the Maldivian seas are part of the menus. While creating a long-lasting memory through unique flavours is what the chef is remembered for by his guests.
When his Chef hats are off, Nishantha is found at the heart of Sichuan province searching for the fieriest peppercorn, in the rainforests of Malaysia exploring exotic fruits or in the familiar routes of his home country, Sri Lanka, learning heirloom recipes from grandmothers. Guests can enjoy one of such discoveries at the Beach Shack, the Jaffna-style mud crab.
Nishantha and his team of chefs are looking forward to taking guests on a culinary journey with exquisite dishes crafted with rare and sustainably sourced ingredients and bespoke experiences.