W Maldives turns up the flavour dial to 11 next month through a high-profile culinary collaboration that is equal parts bold, artful, and wildly indulgent.

Masterchef Australia alum Reynold Poernomo comes to the Maldivian resort for Dare to Taste, a part of the Flavours Unscripted series on the 10th and 12th of August.

This unique collaboration with the acclaimed chef aims to redefine the tropical dining experience one plate at a time. To mark the occasion, Poernomo will unveil an exclusive signature dessert crafted just for W Maldives, available on the menu for six months. Daring, decadent, and likely to be the most photographed dish on the island, it pays tribute to this memorable partnership.

Poernomo remarked about the upcoming experience, “There’s something electric about the Maldives: its textures, its moods, its light. This menu is my response to that, a dreamscape of flavour brought to life through technique, imagination, and a little island heat.”

Amila Handunwala, General Manager at W Maldives, added: “At W Maldives, we’re all about pushing boundaries on the plate, behind the bar, and in the guest experience. Reynold brings a daring, creative energy that aligns perfectly with our vision. This isn’t just a dinner; it’s a story told in flavour.”

The main event is set for the 12th of August, when guests will have the rare chance to experience Poernomo’s culinary artistry firsthand at FISH, the resort’s signature overwater venue renowned for its sustainable ocean-to-table fine dining.

For one night only, the dessert master will present a two to a three-course dinner inspired by island ingredients, global technique, and his distinctive visual flair. Expect bold plating, layered flavors, and some surprises: this is Reynold Poernomo unleashed, Maldives-style.

The collaboration includes a special offering, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, where members can bid on a Private Castaway Dining Experience with Chef Reynold, accompanied by a luxurious four-night stay in a Premier Overwater One-Bedroom Villa from the 9th to 13th of August, which also includes roundtrip seaplane transfers and daily breakfast.

The intimate starlit dinner will kick off on August 10, at Gaathafushi, W Maldives’ private island. Following this, on August 12, guests will enjoy front-row seats to his culinary showcase at FISH.

Chef Reynold, originally from Indonesia and raised in Sydney, is recognized for pushing culinary boundaries. He rose to fame as a finalist on MasterChef Australia, becoming known as the nation’s “Dessert King” for his intricate creations. In 2016 he co-founded KOI Dessert Bar, now one of Sydney’s iconic culinary landmarks.