Jacques Pepin

Mary Hart To Christen Newest Oceania Cruise Ship

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Yachts & Sailing

Oceania Cruises has announced the christening date of its newest ship, the Marina. On February 5, Entertainment Tonight show host Mary Hart will smack a 15-liter Nebuchadnezzar of champagne, custom-made by Armand de Brignac over the hull in Miami. After the christening festivities, Marina sets sail on February 8 on the first of two 18-day Panama Canal transits that visit San Francisco or San Diego, both new ports for Oceania Cruises. After that the ship will embark on a 12-day Caribbean cruise, round-trip from Miami, departing March 16, before sailing along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and on to Europe to begin her inaugural Mediterranean season.

The new ship is 66,000 tons and can carry 1,250 guests. The ship has 10 dining venues, six of which are open-seating, gourmet restaurants, including Jacques, the first restaurant at sea for Chef Jacques Pepin. Other highlights include a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub, Bon Appetit Culinary Center, Owner's Suites furnished exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home, and a grand stairway custom-crafted by renowned French glass master, Lalique.

Tags: jacques pepin, marina, oceania cruises

Celebrity Chefs To Convene In Aspen For The Food & Wine Classic

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Events

If David Kiley's comprehensive look at pig dinners got your mouth watering, you need to book tickets for the 28th annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen on June 18-20, 2010. The event will feature demonstrations and seminars with chefs such as Jacques Pepin, David Chang, Giada DeLaurentiis, Michael Symon, and Thomas Keller. Top Chef judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons will cook delicious meals, as well as hosting a Classic Quickfire with Top Chef season 6 winner Michael Voltaggio competing against Top Chef Masters season 1 winner Rick Bayless.

New to the festival are chefs Tim Love and Art Smith and wine expert Paul Greico. The American Express Trade program will host trade-only power lunches with David Chang, Morimoto, among other greats. And for pig lovers there is The Grand Cochon event, featuring ten chefs who will create their best pork dishes at the Hotel Jerome. Tickets for the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen are $1,185. FOOD & WINE will donate 2% of the proceeds from every Classic ticket to Grow for Good ,FOOD & WINE's national initiative dedicated to supporting local farms and encouraging sustainable agriculture.

To do even more for Grow for Good you can opt for a Grow for Good pass at $3,100 per pass. Along with all the regular pass benefits, each Grow for Good Pass will include a $1,000 donation to the Grow for Good Campaign out of each pass price, an invitation to the Classic Welcome Reception held Thursday, June 17th, a ticket to FOOD & WINE's Best New Chefs dinner held Saturday, June 19th, a one-time pass to the Classic Green Room, the VIP Gifting Suite, having your name listed on the Green donors page in Tasting Notes, the Classic event program and VIP access to seminars and Grand Tastings.

Tags: david chang, food and wine, GiadaDeLaurentiis, jacques pepin, mario batali, michael symon, rick bayless, thomas keller, Tom Colicchio

Jacques Pepin To Have New Cruise Ship Restaurant

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Yachts & Sailing

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]

Tags: jacques pepin, JacquesPepin, oceania cruises, OceaniaCruises

Pinot Lovers' Cruise

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Yachts & Sailing

The second "Pinot Lovers' Cruise" is scheduled for May 31 - June 12, 2009, and combines the wines of August West with Freeman Vineyard & Winery. The 12-day trip on Oceania Cruises' Insignia makes stops in 12 cities, starting in Rome and ending in Istanbul. Oceania only carries 650 passengers and is known for its relaxed, no-tie policy, and gourmet cuisine, overseen by Executive Chef Jacques Pepin. The cruise includes a private winemakers' dinner, wine tastings and discussions, tours of top Italian wine-estates and plenty of Pinot parties.

Freeman has been named as one of the Magnificent 30 "Hottest Pinots" by the Wine Spectator, while the San Francisco Chronicle recognized August West as one of its top 10 wineries of 2005. Both wineries have received multiple 90+ scores from Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast and the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine.

Cruise prices range from $3,649 - $7,049 per person double, including free airfare from 20 major U.S. airports. Book by September 1 and receive prepaid gratuities, worth up to $300 per cabin.

Tags: August West, AugustWest, cruise, cruises, cruising, Freeman, Jacques Pepin, JacquesPepin, pinot noir, PinotNoir, wine