Silversea Cruises is offering a new collection of 14 culinary and wine theme cruises in 2008. The enrichment cruises will showcase the chefs of top dining establishments from around the world, including Relais & Châteaux-Relais Gourmands, the international association of boutique hotels and restaurants. In addition, wine experts from prestigious estates and wineries will be on hand to host the Wine Series voyages. Through its partnership with Bon Appétit magazine, Silversea will host the opening of the first Bon Appétit Supper Club on the high seas. The concept of a limited-time dining experience has also popped up in such places as New York City and the Sundance Film Festival. Top chefs are enlisted to craft menus for VIP dinners. Onboard, La Terrazza will be transformed into a New York-inspired restaurant.
Aboard Silver Shadow's Nov. 18 sailing from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, California chef and restaurateur Suzanne Tracht will be in residence to cook in the Bon Appétit Supper Club. On the culinary sailings, guest chefs will display their talents during cooking demonstrations. Among them are Lydia Shire, chef/owner of Boston's Locke-Ober restaurant and winner of the James Beard Award as "America's Best Chef-Northeast"; Anne Desjardins, the CAA/AAA Four Diamond chef/owner of L'Eau à La Bouche in Ste-Adèle, Québec; Eyvind Hellstrøm, owner and chef of Michelin two-star Bagatelle in Oslo, Norway; and Alois Vanlangenaeker, the Michelin starred chef of Il San Pietro Hotel in Positano, Italy.
The Culinary Arts enrichment voyages also feature escorted provisioning trips to international markets (when the itinerary permits), food and wine pairings, creative regional dishes, and a five-course grand gourmet dinner. Throughout these voyages, the featured guest chef and Silversea's executive chef are on hand to share their culinary expertise and answer any questions. During Silversea's wine-themed cruises, experts include Virginie Coutou, managing director of Spain's Diva Wines, and John Shafer, chairman of Shafer Vineyards, Napa Valley, Calif. They will provide lectures, conduct tastings of vintage blends and guide Silversea's guests on excursions to wineries and vineyards in select ports of call.
Other epicurean enrichment specialists slated to share their expertise include Gordon Bell, brand ambassador and master of Scotch whisky, and Georges Muller, a former consultant for Riedel Crystal. For more information, call 800-300-4567 or visit www.all-travel.com/silverseacruises