W Maldives turns up the flavour dial to 11 next month through a high-profile culinary collaboration that is equal parts bold, artful, and wildly indulgent.
Masterchef Australia alum Reynold Poernomo comes to the Maldivian resort for Dare to Taste, a part of the Flavours Unscripted series on the 10th and 12th of August.
This one-of-a-kind collaboration with the acclaimed culinary creative stands to redefine the tropical dining experience one plate at a time.
To mark the collaboration, Poernomo will also unveil an exclusive signature dessert, created just for W Maldives, which will be available on the menu for six months following his visit. Daring, decadent, and destined to be the most photographed dish on the island, it is a lasting tribute to this unforgettable partnership.
Poernomo himself said of the upcoming experience: “There's something electric about the Maldives: its textures, its moods, its light. This menu is my response to that, a dreamscape of flavour brought to life through technique, imagination, and a little island heat.”
W Maldives general manager Amila Handunwala added: “At W Maldives, we're all about pushing boundaries on the plate, behind the bar, and in the guest experience. Reynold brings a daring, creative energy that aligns perfectly with our vision. This isn't just a dinner; it's a story told in flavour.”
This collaboration is part of Flavours Unscripted, W Maldives' platform for culinary expression where global tastemakers meet untamed island creativity and nothing is ever scripted.
It is food without rules; flavour without borders.
What to expect
The main event unfolds on 12th August when guests will have the rare opportunity to experience Poernomo’s culinary artistry firsthand at FISH, the resort's signature overwater venue renowned for its sustainable ocean-to-table fine dining.
For one night only, the desserts master will present a specially curated three-course dinner inspired by island ingredients, global technique, and his unmistakable visual flair.
Guests can expect bold plating, layered flavors, and a few unexpected turns: this is Reynold Poernomo unleashed, Maldives-style.
Once in a lifetime indulgence
As part of this exclusive collaboration, W Maldives presents Marriott Bonvoy Moments, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for members to bid on a Private Castaway Dining Experience with Chef Reynold, paired with a luxurious four-night villa stay in a Premier Overwater One-Bedroom Villa from 9th to 13th August.
The package includes roundtrip shared seaplane transfers from Velana International Airport, daily breakfast, and a one-time signature treatment at AWAY Spa for the bid winner and their guest.
The highlight of the stay begins on 10th August, with an intimate starlit dinner on Gaathafushi, W Maldives' private castaway island, where Poernomo will personally host and curate a bespoke tasting menu.
On 12th August, lucky guests will receive front-row seats to his culinary showcase at FISH.
With only one package available, anticipation is high and competition will be fierce.
Meet Reynold Poernomo
Born in Indonesia and raised in Sydney, Chef Reynold is no stranger to pushing culinary boundaries.
A self-taught prodigy who rose to fame as a finalist on MasterChef Australia, he quickly became known as the nation's “Dessert King” for his intricate, art-driven creations.
In 2016, he co-founded KOI Dessert Bar with his family, which has since become one of Sydney's most iconic culinary destinations with a cult following.
The brand expanded in 2017 with KOI Dessert Kitchen, a production space that also hosts exclusive masterclasses and guest chef collaborations.
Poernomo’s approach to food is anything but ordinary: his plates are immersive, imaginative, and unapologetically bold.
