As mentioned above, Iside de Cesare, the chef/owner of La Parolina in Trevinano, is putting on a series of dinners. I discovered this when I was browsing the Marriott Moments site, where you can bid on experiences with Bonvoy points. One item was a five-night stay here with a private dinner prepared by her. I figured that couldn't be the only reason she was coming and inquired. She is doing two other dinners: the one we attended last night and Friday at the Whale Bar.

Last night's dinner took place in the resort's wine cellar. There were eleven guests, plus the property's food and beverage director, who led the experience.

(As an aside, the fact that all eleven guests who attended this dinner at a resort with an international clientele were from the United States made me reflect on the marketing and economics of "fine dining." And in this installment of "it's a small world," we used the same wedding planner as the couple sitting next to my wife, nine years later.)

The dinner was not cheap, but it was almost a good (relative) value considering the high duties imposed on alcohol in the Maldives. The food was outstanding, and the wine kept flowing--I had multiple pours during most courses. The memory of the 1996 La Montrachet chardonnay (one of the "mystery wines") will stay with me, as will the passionfruit and mango dessert.

One other note: on the preferences questionnaire before I arrived, I noted that I tend to avoid seafood but do not have an allergy or aversion. Although I fully expected to have seafood for this meal, they modified it for me by replacing the cod with an egg and removing the prawns. I ate some of my wife's cod; it was really good.


Champagne as we waited for other guests.


The panzanella gelato was wildly inventive and was accented wonderfully by the watermelon.








The two "mystery wines"