Jacques Pepin To Have New Cruise Ship Restaurant

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jul 22nd 2009 at 9:01PM

One of the heroes of my chef-adoring youth, Master Chef Jacques Pepin will open his first restaurant at sea, Jacques, on board Oceania Cruises' new 1,258-guest Marina, scheduled to launch in late 2010. Pepin's new restaurant is inspired by bistros in his home town of Lyon, France. The restaurant will be outfitted with custom Jacques Pepin signature china, antique flatware and Lalique glassware. An art collection comprised of some of Pepin's favorite personal pieces and original works Pepin created especially for Marina will decorate the room. Highlights of the menu are to include an appetizer of homemade Pumpkin Soup a l'Anglaise served in a pumpkin shell, fresh Mussels Mariniere, freshly roasted free range chicken, duck, lamb and other specialty cuts of fine meat. Nine classic French desserts and a cheese tray with 12 AOC French cheeses will round out the experience.

The new Marina cruise ship will have 10 dining venues total. There will be six open-seating, gourmet restaurants including Jacques and Red Ginger. Guest accommodations are comprised of 629 staterooms and suites, 96 percent of which have private verandas. The ship includes bars and lounges, a CanyonRanch SpaClub, fitness center, outdoor swimming pool and hot tubs.

Pepin isn't the only chef on the high seas. You can enjoy restaurants from Wolfgang Puck and Nobu Matsuhisa on Crystal Cruises. Todd English offers his ample Mediterranean-style portions on Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. Marco Pierre White has created The White Room on P & O Cruises Ventura ship. Chef Charlie Palmer works with Seabourn cruises and Italian chef Aldo Zilli's fare can be found on Thomson Cruises.

[via USA Today Cruise Log]