Vakkaru Maldives will be opening its shores to Alistair Birt, Head Pastry Chef of Harrods London this 22 25 October 2019 for an extraordinary experience with chocolate. Guests on island will be in for a treat as they embark on a journey to discover this ancient food of the gods with Alistair through a series of experiences curated exclusively for Vakkaru Maldives. From "Bean-To-Bar Chocolate Masterclasses" and "Cacao Cocktails" overlooking the Maldivian sunset, to a "Chocolate Degustation" and an afternoon in the sun with Alistairs "Chocolate Ice Cream Pop-up Parlour", Vakkaru Maldives will transform into an immersive chocolate playground for guests of all ages. As an Ambassador for Cacao Barry® — a gourmet brand of the Barry Callebaut group — world renowned chocolate producer for professionals since 1842, Alistair will be using Cacao Barry® chocolates and the recently discovered ruby chocolate by Barry Callebaut — the first new type of chocolate in 80 years, for this exclusive island experience.

Alistairs rise in the culinary world began in 2010 when he won the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Annual Awards of Excellence. During his time with renowned British chocolatier, "William Curley", Alistair rose through the ranks to become Head Chocolatier and went on to represent the UK at the 2015 World Chocolate Masters Final. In 2015, Alistair was Awarded the coveted Acorn Award — a 30 under 30 award for individuals making waves in the hospitality industry.

Alistair joined Harrods the world-famous department store in Knightsbridge, London in 2016 as Head Pastry Chef. He oversees a large talented pastry team and multiple award-winning outlets. He is heavily involved in the continued roll out of Harrods new food strategy and the historic food halls redevelopment programme where he completely redeveloped over 200 lines of bakery and patisserie items. Now successfully training and coaching his own team into competitions, Alistair is developing the next generation of young chocolatiers and Pastry Chefs. Very recently, one of his protégés at Harrods, Benjamin Dufour, won the 2019 UK & Ireland Junior Chocolate Masters competition under his coaching.

22 October 2019
Alistair Birts Bean-To-Bar Chocolate Masterclass at Vakkaru Reserve

Hosted in an intimate setting at Vakkaru Reserve, the resorts wine cellar surrounded by rare and vintage wine, this very exclusive masterclass by Alistair will take guests on a journey through the origins of chocolate from around the world, from the preparation of the beans in the cocoa plantations to the roasting of cacao beans. Guests will also learn about conching — a process where cacao butter is mixed under heat into a fine chocolate liquor, and tempering, a crucial step to achieve the perfect gloss and shininess of chocolate.
Throughout the masterclass, guests will also learn more about Cacao Barry®s commitment to "Thriving Nature" — a sustainability program addressing the challenges facing the cocoa industry where the brand is on a mission to become carbon neutral by 2025 by creating enough of an impact to offset its carbon footprint. Cacao Barry®s goal is also to become forest neutral by that time by eradicating deforestation in the supply chain and participating in reforestation efforts in cocoa-producing areas.

Through its core range, "Purete", is how Cacao Barry® is best expressing this commitment where 100% sustainable and traceable cocoa is sourced. For every kilo of Pureté sold, a premium goes towards training the farmer to protect plantations and increase their income in partnership with the Cocoa Horizons Foundation.

Ending the masterclass on a sweet note, Alistair will work with each guest to create their very own personalised chocolate truffles using Cacao Barry®s line of Origins — the Mexique 66% Origin Dark Chocolate Couverture, the Tanzanie 75% Origin Dark Chocolate Couverture, and the Ghana 40% Milk Chocolate Couverture.

23 October 2019
Alistair Birts Cacao Cocktails at Lagoon Bar

Whilst overlooking a surreal Maldivian sunset at the resort, sip on chocolate-infused cocktails like the "Cocoa Old Fashioned" made with cocoa nib-infused whiskey, bitters, sugar and a twist of orange or the "White Chocolate Pina Colada" made with Cacao Barry®s Zéphyr 34% White Chocolate, white rum, coconut cream and pineapple or take the plunge with the "Plantation Fever" a chocolate liquor, dark rum, lime juice and chipotle syrup cocktail. Guests will also have the option of trying Alistairs take on the classic Margarita with his "Frozen Chocolate Margarita", a cocktail laced with delicious chocolate liquor, tequila, cream, orange and lime. Also on the list, will be the refreshing "Chilled Mint Chocolate", made with Cacao Barry®s Tanzanie 75% Origin Dark Chocolate Couverture, mint infused milk and vanilla, making it the perfect mocktail for our Parrotfish Club members Vakkarus exclusive club for very special guests between the ages of 3 and 12.

24 October 2019
Chocolate Degustation at Vakkaru Reserve
Hosted by Alistair Birt and Island Sommelier Stefanie Weisner, Alistairs chocolate degustation menu is an experience for the senses with three bespoke chocolate desserts. Starting off the dinner with some of Vakkaru Reserves signature dishes, Alistairs desserts will then begin with "The Vakkaru", a playful take on the coconut with a Maldivian mango compote centre to celebrate his week at Vakkaru Maldives using a Cacao Barry®s Mexico Origin 66% Dark Couverture Chocolate paired with a dessert wine. Followed by the Chocolate Moelleux Tart a heart-warming chocolate moelleux tart using Cacao Barry®s Tanzanie 75% Origin Dark Chocolate Couverture served with Maldivian chilli and spice-roasted pineapple served with a light sparkling wine.

Alistair will end the indulgent night with his take on a classic British dessert a ruby Eton Mess. The ruby is a completely new taste and colour for chocolate, born from the ruby cocoa bean to achieve an intense pink colour with no additional colourants or fruit flavourings.

Presented "live" on the table enveloped in billowing curls of mist from dry ice, the Ruby Eton Mess promises a sensorial high for the epic end to an extraordinary dinner.