Some people thought that Seabourn were taking a big gamble with their very first “Food & Wine” Cruise. Actually it paid off handsomely and was a tremendous success! Mediterranean Cruises late in the season are notoriously difficult to fill and the trip from Monte Carlo to Rome could have been the same. So why not theme the cruise and indulge in the wonderful Food & Wine of the area? Add a few Celebrity Chefs and Seabourn were on to a winner.
Joining the ship in Monte Carlo on a bright late October day were Chef Patrice Olivon, Program Director of Culinary Arts L’Academie de Cuisine and Chef Alfio Longo, Executive Chef at Circo NYC. Add to that Seabourn’s corporate chefs Luca di Matteo, Tony Egger and Executive Chefs Graeme Cockburn and Neal Anthony Breen – this was to be a culinary experience to remember.
© Mike King 2019 Celebrity Chefs enjoying some light hearted banter
At the sail away all the chefs were presented to the guests which as always when food is mentioned, brought cheers of joy! So to shopping with the Chef. A simple concept where guests are invited to go ashore with the chef and buy fresh previsions for the cruise. In Livorno we were privileged to be with Executive Chef Neal Breen and Seabourn’s Lucca Di Mateo.
© Mike King 2019 Shopping with the Chef
© Mike King 2019 Shopping with the Chef
Neal’s task was shopping for fish – and Neal certainly knows his fish. Chef Neal is passionate about his food and says “never trust a skinny chef”. We were given his pre market talk about what he was looking for and away we went looking for fish. Inside the market were all the locals buying their fresh produce and the sight of a bunch of passengers from a cruise ship made them stare. But Neal was determined. His was on the hunt for Monkfish which were learned was in short supply that day. In the end he bought all the Monkfish available.
© Mike King 2017 Monk Fish Chef Neal
© Mike King 2019 Seabourn Executive Chef Tony Egger
© Mike King 2019 Shopping with the Chef – Amazing Foods
Then it was off to finish a busy day of food shopping with a little fun with Cannoli purchased from Laboratorio Pasticceria di Lanza Domenico in Messina.
All in all, a recipe for Success. Well done to Seabourn, a great concept that really worked. We never doubted it really.
Try it next time you cruise….
Shopping with the Chef is becoming a feature with all the luxury brands. It is very popular and you should always try to book early to avoid missing out.
Those cruisers in the know always seem to get their names down on on day 1 of their cruise! We have missed out several times, but now know the secret.
Shopping with celebrity chefs goes one step further and great fun for all those lucky enough to experience this. A hugely popular program on Seabourn.
