Paradise Perfected, Gourmet Elegance At Ozen Reserve Bolifushi’s ORIGINƎ

The Maldives isn’t short on clichés, powder soft sands, sapphire lagoons, overwater villas. Sure, it’s paradise. But at OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI, it’s paradise with personality. A quick catamaran ride from Velana Airport brings you to the resort’s lush, sun dappled grounds where the pampering begins immediately, think floating breakfasts, starlit cinemas, and endless turquoise views. If you had to limit your meals to one place at the resort, it should be ‘ORIGINƎ,’ advised a fellow traveller over sunset cocktails. She wasn’t wrong. Imagine starting your evening in a contemporary yet intimate setting, greeted by a sommelier who immediately makes you rethink your preconceptions about wine pairings (‘This Malbec is interesting… but try the Riesling with your seafood’).Let me set the scene, a quiet table, soft lit elegance, and the sound of gentle waves just beyond. At ORIGINƎ, even the setting whispers decadence. But the real magic? It’s all on the plate. Five courses, endless possibilities, appetizer, soup, sorbet, main, dessert, and every bite escorted by wines so perfect, it feels like the sommelier’s reading your mind. Meat, seafood, or vegetarian? Pick your path!

Plates As Bold As Your Cravings

Whichever path you tread, prepare for surprises that make you grin like a kid stealing frosting off a cake. Take the vegetarian menu. It’s a love letter to the unexpected. Creamy, dreamy, and surrounded by heirloom tomato terrine, icy tomato granita, and tiny stuffed cherry tomatoes that burst with balsamic caviar. It’s like a summer garden decided to throw a party, and you’re the guest of honour. Then there’s the ‘Forest Mushroom’, an earthy masterpiece cozied up with porcini dust and goat cheese filled fagottini, all nestled in a scatter of multigrain ‘soil.’

Who knew vegetables could flirt? Seafood? Oh, it’s a spectacle. The ‘Octopus Carpaccio’ lands looking more like abstract art than food. Razor-thin slices drizzled with yuzu caviar, sea grapes, and orange gel that tastes like bottled sunshine. Then, just as your taste buds start to swoon, in come the ‘Confit Scallops’, decadently cushioned by asparagus, seaweed, and a velvety corn anglaise that wraps around them like a dream you’ll refuse to wake from. The Maldivian Lobster Medallions are pure art, candied tomatoes bringing sweetness, potato gnocchi offering substance, and a swipe of butternut puree anchoring it all. And for the carnivores? Buckle up. The ‘Foie Gras’  isn’t just food, it’s drama. Perched like royalty on a bed of multigrain ‘soil,’ it’s flanked by vibrant beets and playful microgreens that seem to say, ‘We dare you to take it slow.’ Then there’s the ‘Beef Tartare’, tangy and lush, each bite humming with shallots, pickles, and egg yolk, a slick, a snug hug of nostalgia, but sharper. Dessert doesn’t just arrive, it ‘demands attention’. The Mango Sorbet, so bright and zesty it’s practically imported sunshine, hits your palate with a playful zing. You’re convinced this is the perfect finale. But no, think again. The ‘Raspberry Chocolate Parfait’ steps in, smooth and sultry, with dark chocolate and raspberry layers that feel like velvet against your taste buds. The ‘Tiramisu’, espresso soaked Savoiardi and a bold Kahlua kick is like an indulgent late night secret you never want to end.

Edible Art, Unforgettable Every Bite

Our culinary journey ( we went for the Seafood and Meat option) began with an amuse bouche so intricately plated I half wondered if I should eat it or Instagram it (spoiler, I did both). Then, out comes the creamy seafood bisque, effortless in its richness, paired with bread so good you’d think carbs were making a global comeback. It’s that kind of meal, the one where you abandon every diet in blissful surrender.  The highlight, though? The Wagyu MS 6-7. Picture this, a piece of beef so marbled, it practically glistens under the dim lights. Cooked to buttery perfection, it’s balanced with a dollop of silky celeriac puree, roasted garlic pesto, and wild mushroom cream. The result? A bite so perfect I nearly teared up (and not just because of the wine pairing, though that didn’t hurt). By dessert, we were ruined in the best way. A twirl of dark chocolate mousse with tropical fruit left me swooning. Then, the ‘Baked Alaska’ storms the table. A flaming dome of meringue soaked in Grand Marnier, it’s part dessert, part spectacle, and 100% unforgettable.

ORIGINƎ isn’t just fine dining, it’s edible storytelling, each course quietly saying, ‘This is why you came here.’ You think you’re done. You’re not. Yet somehow, there’s still room for another surprise…. Picture this, you, perched at a sundappled table, as the morning unfurls like a silk napkin. Flaky croissants whisper of Paris, while creamy cheeses and handcarved charcuterie hum with indulgence. Just a fork’s reach away, exotic Asian dishes, steeped in tradition, mingle with jewellike tropical fruits plucked at their sweetest. Yes you read it right, you can be back here for Breakfast! Here, mornings aren’t rushed, they’re savoured, with a dash of European elegance and a sprinkle of island soul.

Fast Facts

ORIGINƎ, OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI

Breakfast: 07:00 to 11:00 (for RESERVE residents only).

Dinner: 19:00 to 22/30 | Reservation required for dinner

Where?: Bolifushi Island Kaafu Atoll, 20222, Maldives

Call?: +960 664 2020

Website: theozencollection.com