All the lobsters devoured in the Maldives š¦
From grilled to spice-braised, each one tastes of the sea My days in the Maldives felt like stumbling into a lobster paradiseāfrom the moment I saw āLive Lobsterā on the menu on my first day, I made a silent vow: Iād try every preparation possible. And let me tell you, the sweetness of fresh, live lobster is undeniable, but itās the Maldivian chefsā creativity that gives each crustacean its own unique soul. š The āunlockedā lobster preparations: So fresh youāll lick the shell, with surprising spices Char-grilled lobster: A classic, but with a ājuice-lockingā trick. Live lobsters are cooked over charcoal š„, their shells turning a charred red; when you slice into them, juices drip down the sides. The meat carries a faint smokiness, springy enough to bounce on your tongue. A squeeze of lime cuts through the richness, blending the seaās freshness with the warmth of the fireāsimple, but utterly satisfying š. Cream-baked lobster: A cheese loverās dream š§. Lobster meat is pulled into chunks, baked with melted Parmesan and light cream until bubbly, served in a shell-shaped dish. The cheeseās saltiness wraps around the lobsterās sweetness, each bite feeling like āa hug between the sea and the pasture.ā Pair it with crispy bread to soak up the sauceāyouāll be licking your fingers clean š . Maldivian spiced lobster: This is the ālocal exclusiveā surprise š¶ļø. Chefs simmer whole lobsters in a sauce made with curry leaves, fresh coconut milk, local red chilies, and a pinch of turmeric. The spice layers are stunning: coconut milk softens the chiliās heat, while turmericās subtle bitterness brings out the lobsterās sweetness. Itās nothing like heavy curriesāinstead, itās bright and island-fresh. Scoop every last drop of sauce with rice; youāll go back for seconds š. šØš³ The chefās ālittle prideā: Anticipation when serving, joy when praised What touched me most wasnāt just the lobsterāit was the chefsā dedication. Once, we ordered the spiced lobster, and it was brought out by a local chef with a beard, his apron dotted with coconut milk, a shy smile on his face š. He set the plate down gently, saying āeat slowlyā in broken Chinese. Ten minutes later, he returned, wiping his hands on his apron, and asked softly, āGood?ā When we nodded, fork in hand, saying āAmazing! The spices are perfect,ā his eyes lit upālike a kid given candy š¬. He grinned, showing his teeth, repeating āThank you! I love cook lobsterā three times, then turned and walked away, pausing to give us a thumbs-up over his shoulder š. His satisfaction was brighter than our full bellies š„°. šØ Ritz-Carltonās ātaste gemsā: More than lobster, care in every detail Dining at the Ritz never disappointed. Our favorite spot? The overwater Italian restaurantāa glass house over the lagoon, with tropical fish swimming beneath our feet š . At sunset, the sea turns golden-red š , and weād eat lobster pasta (shrimp mixed with tomato ragù, every strand coated in umami), while the napkins carried a faint gardenia scent. We went almost daily; eventually, the waiters smiled when they saw us: āTry the lobster risotto today? We used local coconut milk and saffronāyouāll love it.ā Even room service had surprises. One lazy day, we ordered asparagus with black truffleā6 spears, bright green as if just picked š±, blanched and drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with truffle shavings. Biting into them, they crisped with a ācrunch,ā carrying earthy sweetness. At 200 RMB, it was a splurge, but that āfresh-to-glowā taste made it worth it āØ. On our last day, we had lobster sashimiādipped in a little wasabi and soy, so fresh it felt like holding the sea on our tongues š. Suddenly, I understood why chefs always ask āGood?ā The care in their cooking is more memorable than the flavor itself. #RitzCarltonMaldives #MaldivesLobster #IslandFood #TravelEats #RitzCarltonDining