Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant, Anantara Veli Maldives Resort

Monica Tindall

It’s surprising the variety of cuisine that can actually be found on the tiny resort islands of the Maldives. The Anantara team, for example, ensures that guests are not wanting for variety in their offerings. Thai, Italian, contemporary, European, Maldivian… the list of cuisine types could rival any city. We try Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant at Anantara Veli Maldives Resort and find the quality of produce of premium standard and the chef’s talent highly entertaining.

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant

Chef Gharib is our chef and CEO (Chief Entertainment Officer) for the evening. Right from the start he has a twinkle of fun in his eyes and a youthful grin on his face: we can tell immediately that this is going to be no ordinary dinner.Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant

As chef warms up the grill and performs a utensil-tossing act he assures us no one has (yet) died from the production. Just to be sure that we’re in no danger, he wittily affirms that he’s switched from knives to spatulas and scrapers rating this as a PG screening.

Origami Delight, a liquid shot of yuzu, Japanese tea, cucumber, jasmine and apple, opens our palates and we’re ready to discuss menu options. There’s a whole book full of teppanyaki menus ranging from vegetarian, seafood to meat with a combination of all in between. Chef’s Choice ($95USD) comes highly recommended and really, who’s going to argue with a knife-wielding chef?

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Origami Delight

Menu decided, our waiter suggests a sake pairing of Kiku-Masamune Kimoto Daiginjyo (5cl –USD$12, 72cl – USD$160) for its versatility. Achieving a harmonious balance of crisp and clean with strong aromatics it goes well with both with grilled meat and fish.

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Kiku-Masamune Kimoto Daiginjyo
Salad

Origami’s baby spinach salad kicks off our degustation. A classic sesame dressing livens the course. It feels great to eat greens to begin.

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Spinach Salad
Soup

Enoki Miso soup with seaweed acts almost as a palate cleanser and aperitif in one. The clear broth washes away the tasty sesame dressing from the salad, while its light saltiness has our mouths watering for more.

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Miso Soup
Appetizers at Origami Teppanyaki Restaurant

Chef brushes a stripe of beetroot and lemongrass paste from corner to corner of a white plate. He carefully places a plump juicy Hokkaido scallop in the centre and crowns it with a slice of squash and snow peas. Tiger prawns are next and these jewels from the sea have been aptly cared for by chef Gharib, who has polished their natural beauty maintaining flavour and texture.

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Scallops and Prawns
Seafood Main

Spiny lobster couldn’t be fresher taken just hours before from Maldives Anantara’s very own lobster tank. This fresh I’m sure it would be tasty all on its own, but with yuzu, garlic butter, sweet chilli, soy sauce, dashi, sesame paste and lemon juice, it’s absolutely divine. A beautiful fillet of snow fish is partnered with the lobster and is fantastically moist and soft while maintaining its texture. A pinch of salt, sprinkling of pepper, squeeze of lemon juice, and dash of kimchi annexe just enough interest to keep the palate attentive, but not too much to overpower the natural allurement of this fish.

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Lobster and Snowfish

A moment of pause to appreciate the setting: The hot grills are smoking and flames are shooting. The sounds of cooking utensils cling cling all the while the cool sea breeze refreshes. The sound of the waves rolling onto the shore is gentle background music. As I finish the last bite of fish, I can’t help but express admiration and gratitude for my surrounds.

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Plating
Meaty Main and Fried Rice

Wagyu Blackmore marble 7 from Australia is marinated with sour plum and sake. The marination, chef says, “makes the meat like butter. You can feel the tenderness but not the fat.” Black Angus tenderloin is cooked alongside the wagyu and when they both come off the grill they are escorted with a mouth-watering aroma. Mixed chunky vegetables including squash, broccoli and mushrooms alternate with the pieces of meat. Three lip-smacking sauces are spread the length of the plate making delicious dipping to change things up a bit.

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Teppanyaki Beef

Garlic, egg, sesame seeds, mixed vegetables, sesame oil, garlic, butter, Kikkoman soy and sake water combine to make one very toothsome bowl of fried rice ensuring that every last pocket of tummy space is joyfully filled. That is, of course, all but for the supplementary dessert pocket that always seems to have an opening.

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Fried Rice
Dessert

Black Sesame ice cream is made in house. Creamy and smooth it’s topped with a tart berry sauce. I’m not usually particularly fussed with the green tea or black sesame ice cream often served to conclude a Japanese meal. This gelato, however, is absolutely delicious. I plan to look for it again poolside tomorrow.

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Black Sesame Ice Cream
Digestive at Origami Teppanyaki Restaurant

I do love a liquor trolley and the team at Origami don’t disappoint. Out rolls a cart of aged whiskies, rums and Cognacs. Hubby chooses the Zacapa Rum XO and I’m enticed by the beautiful Louis XIII Remy Martin Grande Champagne Cognac.

Origami, Teppanyaki Restaurant
Digestives

Cheers to the digestive trolley, and kanpai to a delicious Japanese meal!

Origami Teppanyaki Restaurant
Anantara Veli Maldives Resort
Veligandu, South Male Atoll 20109
http://veli-maldives.anantara.com/

20 Comments

  1. Lovely photos and presentations, Monica! That spinach salad would be perfect for me!

  2. The beef sure looks droolworthy! Interesting that they chose to name the place after a handicraft.

  3. This chef looks like lots of fun!

  4. So yummy! Love those juicy delicious shrimp and scallops.

  5. Marble 7 Wagyu is just perfect for teppanyaki

  6. trust a restaurant on this island to do justice to seafood dishes! 🙂

  7. Thanks for the interesting post! Have a nice day)

  8. Wagyu Blackmore marble 7 from Australia?
    He he… It sounds like a perfume name! 😉

  9. The food looks fabulous and the chef looks like he is having a lot of fun 🙂

  10. What a fun restaurant. The chef looks like he’s having a really good time.

  11. Wow! Looks like a delicious experience. Thanks for your articles on the Maldives. I’ve been researching a place for our honeymoon. The Yum List has been very helpful considering we’re both foodies.

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