The chef and JRE member Juan Carlos Ferrando has traveled to the Maldives to represent the cuisine from la Rioja and Spain.

The 9th edition of “Dining with the Stars” will run from January to April 2023, where JRE chefs will share their skills, recipes, and passion with the Diamonds Athuruga and Thudufush Resorts guests. Each JRE Chef will host three events throughout the week: a signature dish, a cooking class, and a gala dinner.

From February 20 to March 6, Juan Carlos Ferrando, an Argentinian chef based in la Rioja, will interpret the Rioja and Spanish cuisine through three events with approximately 100 guests each.

Chef Ferrando will travel with regional ingredients that he will use for creations combined with local products such as fish and vegetables. Some of the dishes that Juan Carlos has prepared for this event:

• Marinated Mackerel, mushroom juice, grapes and cauliflower

• "Alubias de Anguiano" (La Rioja) with Chorizo Riojano and bell pepper

• Tiradito de pargo, pickled onion, passion fruit and green apple

• Fennel risotto, camarano cheese (Rioja goat cheese) and marinated red tuna

• Roasted tomato smoked tuna, capers and lettuce soup

• Roasted eggplant, escabeche de ave and watercress

• Roasted onions, potato cream, sauteed mushroom and egg yolk

• Salted sea bass, stewed mussels and spinach

• Creamy chocolate, passion fruit cream, toffee and olive oil from La Rioja