Making big waves in the Australian culinary scene, UK-born Chef Nelly Robinson is ready to join the culinary team at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort this September. The luxury resort in the Maldives, which has been the playground for international chefs over the last years, looks forward to welcoming another exciting visiting chef to its portfolio.

No stranger to the critiques of The Guide Michelin and Gault & Millau, Robinson creates mouthwatering dishes with innovation and local hooks in his well-accolated restaurant ‘NEL’ in Sydney. With menus that boast the freshest local ingredients and testaments to Robinson’s travel, passion and childhood memories, changing every 11 weeks, visitors of his establishment can be sure to be welcomed to a culinary journey on every visit.  

Already early on, at the age of 15, Nelly Robinson started his culinary ventures at Michelin-starred restaurant Northcote Manor in the UK, where he worked under renowned chef Nigel Haworth. Early in his career, Robinson learned to appreciate local and seasonal ingredients, a path he would follow throughout his culinary career. At 22, he was appointed head chef at Stanley House before he moved to Sydney, Australia, where he opened ‘NEL’ at the age of 29.

This fall, Robinson will make his way to the secluded island of Maamunagau in Raa Atoll to bring his innovative and boundary-pushing cuisine to The Lighthouse. Guests of the resort can look forward to creative, eclectic and modern creations in the most beautiful setting, with the Indian Ocean as a backdrop. 

His dishes leave room for imagination and anticipation when innocent names of a dish turn into an explosive culinary journey, not just for the taste buds but also for the eye. Kingfish Firebark, Wildfire Spiced Barramundi, or Chef Nelly’s take on Kedgeree, to name just a few of them, are naturally fusing into the ocean-inspired setting. Also, lamb, local lobster and truly interesting vegetarian creations are on his delectable menu set at The Lighthouse during his stay from 1 to 4 September 2023. He will add his island-inspired creations as a la carte options, and a well-curated tasting menu for guests to indulge in.