The inaugural Addu Culinary Festival has concluded at Nooraanee School in Hithadhoo, bringing together 20 professional chefs from the Chefs Guild of Maldives and community cooks to celebrate the southern atoll's distinctive gastronomic heritage.
Organized in partnership with the Addu City Council Secretariat and local women's development committees, the three-day event celebrated traditional culinary methods while promoting vocational opportunities for young people across southern islands.
Competitions and heritage recipes
The festival featured competitive showcases, including a wedding cake baking contest that attracted 17 entries and a creative cake decoration competition with seven participants. Teams from multiple wards and islands demonstrated family recipes passed down across generations, highlighting Addu's distinct spices, seafood marinades, and traditional starch preparations.
Alongside the main competitions, professional master chefs held public culinary demonstrations detailing how indigenous ingredients are harvested, preserved, and blended according to historical southern Maldivian culinary practices.
"Our purpose was to document and celebrate the rich culinary identity of Addu, honor the pivotal role of local women in preserving our food culture, and inspire the next generation of Maldivian hospitality professionals," the Chefs Guild of Maldives stated.
Youth guidance and nutrition outreach
To mark the upcoming International Chefs Day, the guild conducted nutrition and food safety workshops for 120 school students drawn from seven schools across Addu City, emphasizing balanced diets and kitchen hygiene.
The organizers also hosted career orientation sessions for senior students at Nooraanee School, introducing them to career paths in commercial gastronomy, hotel pastry production, and restaurant operations. Addu City Council officials expressed hope that the annual gathering will elevate the atoll's standing as a cultural and culinary tourism destination.
