Nov. 14–16, Nova Maldives hosts a two-day celebration of plant-based dining and island creativity. To help with the event, A Soulful Plant-Based Celebration with Elly Smart, the property teamed up with British plant-based culinary creator and author Elly Smart, known for her creativity in transforming classic and comforting dishes into plant-based meals.

Nova’s award-winning Executive Chef Sobah Hassan will join Smart on this culinary collaboration to bring visitors the best of Maldivian culinary tradition and modern plant-based dishes.

The experience will feature An Evening with Elly, an intimate dinner under the stars. The menu takes a regional twist on Smart’s award-winning tofu meatball featuring locally sourced ingredients. Guests can expect a Maldivian-inspired entrée and dessert with nods to the island’s culinary heritage. Smart will introduce each dish and share the inspirations, techniques and stories behind them.

The next event, Cooking with Elly at Soul Kitchen, features a cooking demonstration where guests can experience her creativity in person as she creates her iconic tofu dish. Guests can then taste and get an inside look to Smart’s approach to plant-based cooking.

“We’re delighted to welcome Chef Elly Smart to Nova for this exciting culinary collaboration,” said Abdulla Aboobakuru, general manager, Nova Maldives. “Plant-based dining resonates deeply with many of our guests — not only for its health benefits, but also for its environmental and ethical significance. Maldivian cuisine has long reflected the ingenuity of remote island living, shaped by limited access to imported goods and a deep reliance on what nature provides. Traditionally, islanders have crafted dishes from ingredients such as coconut, rice, tropical fruits, and root vegetables — creating a cuisine that is naturally light, plant-forward, and rooted in sustainability. At Nova, we’re proud to celebrate this legacy through innovative plant-based cuisine that is as flavourful as it is creative, perfectly aligning with our core values of wellness, sustainability, and progressive living.”