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MALDIVES
213
February15
The Cuisine
Baros may be isolated in the middle
of the Indian Ocean, but this island
sure knows how to serve up some
luxury dining experiences with a side
of romance. The resort’s Lighthouse
restaurant is definitely the highlight. It’s
also Baros’s trademark; the over-water
pavilion with a white sail pinnacle roof
is an iconic structure that’s visible long
before the island even comes into view.
Menu items include Asian spice-
grilled mahi mahi fillets and pan-fried
lemongrass sand-lobster tails (US$43),
and sesame-crusted Tasmanian salmon
with lime, dill and chilli crème fraiche
($41). Our alfresco dinner at The
Lighthouse was one to remember, and,
once we’d tasted the signature cognac-
flamed lobster bisque ($27), it was
clear why the restaurant is regarded as
one of the best in the Maldives. Grab a
sundowner upstairs at The Lighthouse
Lounge before dinner or for a post-
meal tipple; the lounge features an
extensive menu of drinks and canapés,
accompanied by live jazz music from a
Maldivian band every Friday.
For a more casual meal, Cayenne
Grill is a great option. Overlooking the
lagoon, it serves both lunch and dinner,
with a menu that includes an extensive
salad bar, wood-fired pizzas, wraps,
paninis, teppanyaki, satays, tandoori
platters for two and a variety of other
international specialties. Don’t miss the
weekly Maldivian night, where you can
sample local favourites like spicy mud
crab, Maldivian curries, grilled fish,
Maldivian “short eats” (pastry snacks),
local tropical fruits and banana fritters –
accompanied by
bodu beru
drumming
and dancing that’s unique to the islands.
For breakfast, Lime restaurant is
the place to go for a casual daily
buffet of Asian-influenced dishes and
international options. It’s open for all-
day dining as well, offering a selection
of sandwiches, burgers and wraps (we
loved the grilled vegetable focaccia,
$20), as well as an assortment of
skewers ($9 to $16), salads ($23 to $25)
and fish and chips ($30).
For lunch each day, we opted to
stay put on our beachside loungers
and order from the Sails Bar, which, by
night, transforms into a romantically lit
cocktail bar where local musicians play
three times a week. During the day, Sails
offers a menu of easy sandwiches and
salads, and those oh-so-necessary piña
coladas and beers.
And if you’re looking for something
slightly out of the ordinary, there are
plenty of bespoke dining experiences
available upon request. Whether you
want to dine aboard a luxury sailboat or
have a picnic on the sandbank, the Baros
staff can make it happen. In-villa dining
is available too, if you don’t even want to
move from your own private deck.
Maldivian night at Cayenne
The Lighthouse