Culinary theme cruises: gourmand guests are transformed into gourmet chefs on food & wine sailings - Cruise Roundup

Who wants to go on a cruise to cook--or even think about cooking? Surprisingly, quite a few! Mixing today's unprecedented appreciation of food, wine, and travel, seven cruise lines offer cooking demonstrations and/or wine seminars, with one even including cooking classes as part of its enrichment programs.

Educational, entertaining cooking demonstrations and hands-on experience for techniques, not just recipes, attract fine food and cooking enthusiasts. Going beyond cruise traditions of themed dinners and simple recipes taught by ships' chefs and maitre d's, presentations by guest chefs provide a closer look at the culture, custom, and cuisine of the nations visited, as well as cutting-edge recipes giving insight into contemporary trends.

Since Julia Child introduced French cuisine to American television audiences in the '60s sparking wide-spread interest in cooking, the Food Network's Wolfgang Puck, Too Hot Tamales' Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Millikin, and Emeril Lagasse have "kicked it up a notch."

Last year on Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, Le Cordon Bleu not only provided master chef cooking demonstrations, but also offered eight culinary workshops at sea onboard the Seven Seas Mariner. Chef Neil Patton, from London's Le Cordon Bleu, was instructor for three sociable two-hour Classe Culinaire workshops on a British Isles cruise from Southampton to Hamburg, Germany, last June. Following Patton's lecture-demonstrations peppered with culinary insights, students made a seafood appetizer, veal medallions with morel sauce, and fresh fruit spring roll, gaining skills and confidence. Using classic Le Cordon Bleu recipes, Patton extolled harmonious arrangement saying, "Symmetrical presentation looks sharp."

Attracting men and women of all ages, even three-generation families, these popular culinary classes, limited to 16 people each, must be booked in advance at $395 per person. All participants receive a chef's apron, toque, kitchen towel, Le Cordon Bleu cookbook, and attend private parties.

The inspiration behind the innovative French food on RSSC's Paul Gauguin, Jean-Pierre Vigato and compatriot Gilles Tournadre (both two-star Michelin Chefs), sailed on two Tahiti voyages in 2002. Their trademark dishes were featured at a gala dinner paired with wine, while cooking demonstrations preceded two dinners in the ship's alternative restaurant.

On Crystal Cruises' Wine & Food Festivals, both celebrated chefs and foremost figures in the wine world have been spotlighted. The program, which dates to 1996, widened through a "Luxury Alliance" with The Leading Hotels of the World in 2000, and more recently with Sotheby's.

On Crystal's 23 culinary cruises in 2002, famous chefs Jacques Pepin, California cuisine pioneer John Ash, and Sam Choy from Hawaii were headliners. On a Panama Canal cruise, Spago's Sherry Yard, named 2002 best pastry chef by the James Beard Foundation, delighted with desserts, while Valentino's executive chef Angelo Auriana prepared Italian fare in Prego (the line's Italian restaurant), both sharing recipes and tips at cooking demonstrations. In 2003, Crystal Cruises' three ships will feature 16 Food & Wine Festivals.

"People really are into this--food, cooking, and wine," said Zov Karamardian in a recent interview at Zov's Bistro in California. Honored by the James Beard Foundation in 2002 for advancing culinary arts; Zov sailed on the Crystal Harmony in 1999, preparing Mediterranean specialties at two gala four-course dinners and demonstrations.

Also on Crystal, master sommeliers such as Bob Bath and Bon Appetit wine and spirits editor Anthony Dias Blue demystify appellations, vintages, and varietals. Learning about viniculture in the regions visited, wine buffs swirled, sniffed, and sipped wine in Riedel stemware. Wine tastings and seminars are a meaningful way to learn to match wines with food and become familiar with the 200-plus selections Crystal features onboard!

Joining Silversea Cruises in 2002, John Fleer, Alain Passard, and Maxime Deschamps from Relais & Chateaux-Relais Gourmands properties were guest chefs. Culinary Arts Cruises will expand to 12 in 2003. Guest chefs might escort shopping tours for fresh indigenous ingredients; however, a five-course gala dinner in the chef's distinctive culinary style always is a highlight. Some 30 signature dishes and regional specialties appear on other menus.

On Silverseas 2003 calendar, lectures, tastings, and guided tours by experts and wine makers to wineries, cellars, and-vineyards in Australia and the Mediterranean appeal to enophiles.

On two Windstar Cruises' sailings with epicurean themes in 2002, vintner Gary Eberle of Eberle Winery in Paso Robles, spoke and conducted tastings on a Tahitian sailing. Jeanne Jones, "Cook It Light" syndicated columnist and Windstar's vegetarian/ spa menu creator, gave cooking classes in the Mediterranean. Their renowned wines and dishes are featured on other cruises.

Swan Hellenic, part of the P & O/Princess Cruises group, includes wine authors and masters on its education-enrichment slate. Onboard the Minerva, guests discovered regional wines with David Bird on a Barcelona to Bordeaux itinerary, and Greek varietals with Maggie McNie on an Aegean cruise. In 2003, Swan Hellenic's new ship, Minerva II (formerly Renaissance's R8) will continue the culinary tradition.

Royal Olympic Cruises introduced its Seafaring Gourmet series in 2002 with expert wine seminars, plus culinary demonstrations of keynote dishes by prominent chefs, who served some of their specialties. Top Texas chefs were on the Houston to Honduras "Mayaribbean" cruises on the Olympia Voyager, while on the Olympia Explorer's Grand Mediterranean itineraries, specialties and wine from a contemporary Greek restaurant in New York were featured. For 2003, experts from Wine Enthusiast magazine join selected cruises.

With different dates and destinations, cooking classes, wine seminars, and tours planned, 2003 culinary theme cruises are listed in the accompanying chart. Check with your travel agent or the cruise line (especially their web sites) for further information.

2003 FOOD & WINE THEME CRUISES

Chart Compiled By Lorraine & Phil Shapiro

CRUISE LINE     GUEST CHEF           WINE LECTURER        VOYAGE
  CRUISE SHIP     AFFILIATION          AFFILIATION          EMBARKS

CRYSTAL CRUISES

  Crystal/      Adam Fellow          Anne Stewart         January 21
  Harmony         Charlton House       Emilio Lusteau
                  Hotel                Sherries

                TBA *                Steve Mutkoski       March 23
                                       Cornell
                                       University

                Florian Trento       Eugenio Jardim       March 31
                  Peninsula,           Jardiniere
                  Hong Kong

                Lee Hefter           Eugenio Jardim       June 14
                  Spago                Jardiniere

                TBA *                Jay James, M.S.      August 25
                                       Bellagio Hotel

                Don Yamauchi         Andrew Vadjinia      November 29
                  Le Francais          Aureole

  Crystal       Angelo Auriana       Piero Selvaggio      January 19
  Symphony        Valentino            Valentino

                TBA *                Steve Mutkoski       February 7
                                       Cornell
                                       University

                Sam Choy             TBA *                February 25
                  Sam Choy's
                  Restaurant

                Thomas Keller        David Gordon         March 18
                  French Laundry       Tribeca Grill

                Serge Dansereau      Stephen Mack         April 14
                  Bathers              Top Line Wine
                  Pavillion            School

                Andre Soltner        TBA *                July 25
                  Lutece (former
                  chef)

                Jacques Pepin        Bo & Heidi Barrett   August 6
                  Cookbook Author      Chateau
                                       Montelena

                Sigfried Pucher      Bernard Sun          October 19
                  La Ciel              Montrachet
                  Restaurant

  Crystal       Enzo Beck            Leslie Sbrocco       October 13
  Serenity        La Pergola           N.Y. Times
                                       online

                Suzanne Goin         Kevin Zraly          November 28
                  Lucques              One-Hour Wine
                                       Expert

RADISSON SEVEN SEAS CRUISES

  Paul          Vigato               Winemaker cruises    TBA *
  Gauguin

  Radisson      Ken Davids, Coffee                        February 4
  Diamond       Author
                  VP, Green
                  Mountain Coffee

  Seven Seas    Steven Raichlen                           May 9
  Mariner         Cookbook Author
  ([dagger])
                  2 California       2 California         May 23
                  Chefs              Winemakers

  Seven Seas    3 New York Chefs                          May 14
  Navigator       Rocco di Spirito
                  (tentative)

  Seven Seas                         Rupert Symington     August 30
  Voyager                              Port Producer
  ([dagger]
  [dagger])

  Song of       Alexandra Marnier-   Aurelio Montes,      January 6
  Flower        Lapostolle           Lyn Farmer
                  Casa Lapostolle      Montess Wineries

ROYAL OLYMPIC CRUISES

  Olympic       Judy Gallagher/                           January 6
  Voyager       Susie Godsey
                  Florida Chefs

                Jeff Blank           Michael Schachner    February 22
                  Hudson's On The      Wine Enthusiast
                  Bend

                                     Josh Farrell         March 1
                                       Wine Enthusiast

                Robert Steinberg                          March 8
                  ScharffenBerger
                  Chocolates

                                     Michael Dreyfus      March 15
                                       Wine Enthusiast

                Arlyn Hackett        Steve Heimoff        March 24
                  Culinary             Wine Enthusiast
                  Historian

                Renie Steves         Sterling Steves      April 5
                  Cusine Concepts      Wine Enthusiast

  Olympia       Andre Soltner                             January 12
  Explorer        Lutece, New York

                Andre Soltner                             January 24
                  Lutece, New York

SEABOURN CRUISE LINE

  Seabourn      Jean Alberti                              TBA *
  Spirit          Kokkari (Greek
                  cuisine)

SILVERSEAS CRUISES

  Silver        Ken Vedrinksi                             January 3
  Cloud           Woodlands Resort

                                     Don & Rhonda         May 15
                                     Carano
                                       Ferrari-Carano
                                       Vineyards

                  Richard                                 August 7
                  Reddington
                    Auberge du
                    Soleil

                                     Robert Mondavi       August 7
                                     Winery

                TBA *                                     October 1

  Silver        TBA *                                     January 28
  Shadow
                                     Randy Ullom,         June 2
                                     Winemaster
                                       Kendall, Jackson

                                     Stephanie Putnam     July 2
                                       Winemaker,
                                       Far Niente

                                     Bill & Dawnine       July 16
                                     Dyer
                                       Owners, Dyer
                                       Vineyards

                Steven Tevere        Scott McLeod,        July 23
                  Meadowood          Winemaker
                                       Niebaum-Coppola
                                       Estate

                                     Mary Novak, Owner    July 29
                                       Spottswoode
                                       Vineyards

                                     Margaret Duckhorn    July 29
                                       VP, Duckhorn Wine
                                       Co.
                TBA *                                     August 5

                                     Castello Banfi       August 24
                                     Vineyard
                                       Estate & Winery,
                                       Tuscany

                                     Artesa Vineyards &   September 8
                                     Winery

                                     Joe Martin           September 22
                                       St. Francis
                                       Winery

                TBA *                                     November 28

  Silver        TBA *                                     March 28
  Whisper
                                     Eileen Crane         May 10
                                       President &
                                       Winemaker,
                                       Domaine Carneros

                Anne DesJardins                           September 20
                  Hotel L'eau a la
                  Bouche, Canada

                TBA *                                     October 16

  Silver Wind   TBA *                                     March 16

                Hisashi Kumagai                           July 19
                  St. Clearns,
                  Ireland

                                     Robert Mondavi       December 8
                                     Winery

SWAN HELLENIC

  Minerva II    Italian Food                              June 7
                Expert

                                     Wines of Spain,      June 21
                                     Portugal, Bordeaux

WINDSTAR CRUISES

  TBA *         Jeanne Jones         Wine Expert          TBA *
                  Cookbook Author

([dagger])--Additionally, RSSC's Seven Seas Mariner sails Le Cordon
Bleu Workshops on January 21, April 17, May 19, May 23, September 21,
October 17, and November 13.

([dagger][dagger])--Additionally, RSSC's Seven Seas Voyager sails Le
Cordon Bleu Workshops on April 1, June 10, August 30, November 9, and
November 23.

*--TBA=Guest Chef/Wine Lecturer/Program Theme/Ships/Embarkation
Dates To Be Announced.

COPYRIGHT 2003 World Publishing, Co. (Illinois)
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group