Michelin-starred Chef Maye Cissoko at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi

TheGlitz says… there are luxury vacations… and then there are journeys remembered through flavour.

This July, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi transforms into a destination for serious gastronomes as the resort welcomes acclaimed Michelin-starred French chef Maye Cissoko for an exclusive culinary residency under its elegant “Art of the Chef” series. Set against the impossibly blue waters and powder-soft shores of the Maldives, the collaboration promises a rare meeting point between refined French gastronomy and the relaxed sophistication of island living.

Timed around Bastille Day celebrations, the residency at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi will unfold through two specially curated dining experiences on July 22 and July 27 — each designed not merely as dinners, but as immersive culinary journeys where storytelling, artistry, wine, and destination seamlessly converge.

Chef Maye Cissoko, owner of the historic 105-year-old Maison Burnel in France’s picturesque Vosges region, is known for transforming rustic regional ingredients into Michelin-starred poetry on a plate. An alumnus of the prestigious Institut Paul Bocuse and formerly associated with the renowned Barrière Group, his cooking philosophy revolves around seasonality, precision, freshness, and deeply rooted French culinary traditions elevated through contemporary finesse.

And now, for a brief and extraordinary moment, that philosophy arrives in the Maldives.

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi – A Michelin-Starred Feast Beneath Maldivian Skies

The first evening, “Art of the Chef: Cellar Dinner,” takes place on July 22 at the resort’s newly renovated French restaurant, Flavours. Designed as an intimate and refined gastronomic affair, the experience feels almost cinematic in its composition.

Guests can expect delicately layered dishes such as Scallop Carpaccio finished with leek essence and pike roe, Spider Crab paired with smoked haddock espuma, and local reef fish elevated with caviar and katsuobushi sauce. The evening concludes with an elegant French strawberry tartlet — light, delicate, and unmistakably Parisian in spirit.

Five days later, on July 27, the atmosphere shifts from intimate cellar glamour to elevated barefoot luxury with “Art of the Chef: Sublime Festin” at Islander’s Grill.

Set beside the ocean beneath starlit Maldivian skies, the menu celebrates indulgence through dishes like scallops in a green herb and truffle crust, Maldivian sea bass gravlax, and local lobster served with vegetable ravioli, artichoke purée, and a slow-simmered seafood bisque rich with coastal flavour. Dessert arrives in the form of a decadent Guanaja chocolate entremet balanced with vibrant mango-lime chutney — tropical, refined, and beautifully theatrical.

Adding another layer of sophistication to both evenings is resident sommelier Sunil Kumar, who will present carefully selected French wines thoughtfully paired to complement Chef Maye’s menus.

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi – Where Fine Dining Meets Island Serenity

What makes this collaboration particularly compelling is the setting itself.

Unlike traditional fine dining experiences housed within formal city restaurants, these dinners unfold amidst the serenity of the Maldives — where ocean breezes, flickering candlelight, and the quiet rhythm of island life become part of the sensory experience.

The residency also reflects Sun Siyam Iru Fushi’s growing focus on destination-led luxury experiences that feel personal, immersive, and emotionally resonant. With 15 restaurants and bars spread across the island, the resort has steadily evolved into one of the Maldives’ most ambitious culinary destinations.

Working alongside Chef Maye is Executive Chef Putu Wijana, whose 26 years of experience across global luxury hospitality brands continue to shape the resort’s evolving gastronomic identity. Following the residency, select signature dishes from Chef Maye’s collaboration will also become permanent additions to the resort’s menus — allowing future guests to continue experiencing pieces of this culinary partnership long after July ends.

Why TheGlitz Picked This

Because luxury travel today is no longer just about where you stay — it’s about how deeply a destination makes you feel.

And this collaboration captures that shift perfectly.

TheGlitz loves experiences that blend culture, artistry, wellness, and sensory indulgence into something far more meaningful than traditional hospitality. A Michelin-starred French chef cooking beside turquoise Maldivian waters feels less like a dinner reservation and more like a beautifully curated memory waiting to unfold.

From truffle-crusted scallops and French cellar elegance to oceanfront dégustation dinners beneath the stars, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is quietly redefining destination dining.