Soneva Stars

Wassim Hallal moved to Denmark in 1985 and, after working in some of the country’s best restaurants, opened his own place, Frederikshøj, in 2009. Housed within the former staff lodge of the Royal Palace, the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in 2015 and its second in 2022. The same year, Wassim was also awarded the Chef Mentor Award. His menus are a sensory journey in refinement and rendition without a horizon. Following the seasons, he creates technically superior and deeply personal dishes, with the utmost respect for his ingredients. Unrestrained by traditional conventions, he believes that care, excitement and dedication can be both felt and tasted. Wassim has also published several cookbooks and appeared on Hell’s Kitchen Denmark and MasterChef Denmark. He is also a proud ambassador for the Aarhus region, shining a light on the quality of local produce through his precise and creative cooking style.

Recently named Latin America’s Best Female Chef by the World’s 50 Best, Manu Buffara is the Executive Chef and Owner of Manu located in Curitiba, Brazil. Paving the way for gastronomy in Brazil and putting the city of Curitiba on the world gastronomic map, the menu has received critical acclaim and earned the restaurant the number 46 spot on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Inspired by her family and background, Manu learned the value of land and animals growing up in the countryside and incorporates this in her everyday technique. At Manu, she uses organic ingredients from carefully selected suppliers and her own garden. Manu’s devotion to sustainability and quality ingredients stems from her commitment to Curitiba, working with local communities to transform abandoned sites into urban gardens and educating locals on how to care for the gardens and feed themselves. Throughout 2023, Chef Manu is running a 12-month pop-up at Fresh in the Garden at Soneva Fushi. Inspired by the ecological connection between land, sea, minerals, roots, fruits and animals, and the transformational power of food, the exclusive pop-up seats just 35 guests per sitting and offers an intimate dining experience with one of Brazil’s most exciting culinary talents and her team.