Windstar Cruises and The James Beard Foundation Elevate Culinary Travel Experiences with New Multi-Year Exclusive Partnership

Windstar Cruises and the James Beard Foundation are serving up the best reasons to explore the world through expert-led, locally-inspired cruise cuisine, as the award-winning small ship cruise line and preeminent American culinary organization sign a multi-year agreement to continue their exclusive partnership, through early 2021. The long-term partnership is a result of past successes of the unique travel-culinary program, which hand-picks acclaimed culinary experts to share their knowledge of cuisines of the world with travelers, and showcases exclusive recipes and experiences on sailings across Windstar's fleet of six elegant ships. The relationship began in 2016 and grew in 2017 into an exclusive partnership naming Windstar the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation, a title that embodies the line's commitment to elevated epicurean experiences around the world.

Memorable meals prepared with locally-sourced ingredients by some of the most recognized culinary talent in the world? It's all a part of how Windstar travels the world differently. (See below for the lineup of chef and beverage experts featured on the James Beard Foundation Culinary Themed Cruises.)

On six culinary themed sailings yearly across a variety of Windstar's sailing regions, a James Beard Foundation-selected chef and beverage expert will charm guests with multiple culinary and beverage (wines and spirits) tastings and demonstrations, special and local menu items, wine-paired meals, unique culinary shore excursions, and local market tours with the chef. The program is designed to allow cuisine savvy travelers plenty of personal interaction with sought-after culinary experts.

The 2018 line-up features James Beard-recognized guest chefs along with renowned sommeliers and mixologists sailing aboard Windstar's intimate, small ships is aimed at attracting well-traveled gourmets and oenophiles ready to explore international gastronomic experiences.

"Windstar aims to be the leader in culinary offerings among small ship cruises worldwide," explained Windstar President John Delaney. "Through our partnership with the James Beard Foundation, we are pleased to introduce an array of incredible culinary superstars aboard our ships. An exciting component of the new multi-year partnership is to pay special attention to both our acclaimed chefs and also to notable wine and mixology experts. Because we believe great meals deserve to be paired with great wines, cocktails, and beers indicative of the region in which we're sailing. These chefs and beverage experts are all selected because of their connections to the countries they are visiting on their cruise - either through their own family heritage or their gastronomic passions. Because Windstar and the James Beard Foundation both are dedicated to making food more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone, we make a great pairing."

Windstar is enhancing the flavor profile of small ship cruising with the new three-year partnership, expanding the breadth and diversity of culinary offerings with daily activities on board, new dining menus, enhanced beverage selections, and foodie-focused opportunities ashore.

"The American culinary world is a mosaic of flavors and influences from around the world which is why we are thrilled to continue our partnership with Windstar allowing us to pair James Beard Foundation-recognized chefs and beverage professionals with sailings to some of the world's most delicious destinations," said Kris Moon, vice president of James Beard Foundation. "One of the best ways to experience a culture is through its cuisine and now guests aboard Windstar sailings have celebrated chefs and beverage professionals who can guide them through that experience in an even more meaningful way."

As the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation, cruise guests on every single Windstar sailing enjoy culinary demonstrations of James Beard Award-winning chef recipes and beverages prepared by Windstar chefs, as well as featured James Beard Foundation Signature Recipes aboard all Windstar sailings served nightly in AmphorA, the main dining room on each Windstar ship. Each dinner menu has featured recipes from a James Beard-recognized chef who has sailed with Windstar - including a starter, entrée, and dessert. Items celebrate the line's global destinations and were developed for recent James Beard Foundation culinary-themed cruises with dishes from chefs such as Andy Ricker of Portland and New York's Pok Pok fame, serving up Phla Plaa Tuna (Spicy Yellow Fin Tuna Salad) with Thai chilies, lime-coconut milk dressing, and jasmine rice. Other favorites include Marinated Grilled Lamb Rack with buttered new potatoes, preserved green and red tomatoes developed by Paul Berglund of The Bachelor Farmer in Minneapolis; and Pan-Seared Scallops with Thai green curry sauce and Asian mango slaw by restaurant powerhouse Jennifer Jasinski of Rioja, Bistro Vendome, Euclid Hall, and Stoic & Genuine in Denver.

The James Beard Chef dishes are specially notated on the menu, and no "upcharge" or additional fee is charged for ordering these show-stopping dishes. Plus, AmphorA menus are on a 14-day rotation, meaning guests enjoy new selections every evening.

Windstar's 2018 James Beard Foundation Culinary Themed Cruises

Windstar prides itself on delivering destination authenticity to guests and each culinary expert has been specially-chosen based on his or her affinity and passion for the cuisines and cultures of the cruise itineraries where the culinary expert will sail. The intimate small ships of Windstar carrying fewer than 310 guests provide the perfect atmosphere for daily one-to-one interactions with these accomplished and personable ambassadors of the world of cuisine.

June 27, 2018 - Spanish Symphony aboard Wind Surf:

Chef Anthony Sasso of La Sirena in New York, N.Y.
Growing up as one of four children in Glasco, New York, Anthony Sasso was always surrounded by art, music, and creativity. After graduating from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, Sasso's culinary career began with stints at Union Pacific and Bobby Flay's Bolo. He then found his way to a small corner spot on 17th and Irving: Andy Nusser's Casa Mono. Soon after, Sasso moved to the Costa Brava to live with his extended family and work at the renowned coastal marisqueria "El Hogar Gallego," which is run by the legendary Guillo family. When Sasso returned to the States, he was promoted to head chef at Casa Mono, and later began an apprenticeship at Fleisher's Butcher Shop where he learned to break down whole animals. In 2008, Sasso became one of the youngest chefs to be recognized by the Michelin Guide, obtaining his first of eight consecutive Michelin stars for Casa Mono. He joined La Sirena in January 2017 as executive chef and is thrilled to return to the Costa Brava and surrounds on this cruise and to enjoy the fresh Spanish coastal bounty with Windstar guests.

Beverage Expert Ashley Santoro of The Standard, The Standard Café, and Narcissa, New York, N.Y.
Curating the wine list for some of New York City's finest eateries is no small chore. Enter Ashley Santoro, who had a humble introduction to the industry, bussing tables at the age of 15. Now, Santoro, the former wine director of Casa Mono and Bar Jamón, was recently named the regional beverage director of the Standard Hotels. During her tenure at Casa Mono & Bar Jamón, Ashley was responsible for building a program of 500+ exclusively Spanish wines, ranging from a vast collection of sherry to back-vintage wines from the Iberian Peninsula. In addition to her work at The Standard, she also devotes time to traveling and teaching wine courses. Santoro has been featured in numerous publications including The New York Times and Wine & Spirits Magazines.

August 17, 2018 - Norwegian Splendors aboard Star Breeze:

Chef Evan Hanczor of Egg in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Evan Hanczor is the chef at Egg, a farm-to-table breakfast-focused restaurant in Brooklyn with an outpost in Tokyo and a farm in the Catskills. He is the co-author with George Weld, Egg's founder of Breakfast: Recipes to Wake Up For and also the creator and curator of Tables of Contents, an edible reading series hosted monthly at Egg. When not scrambling eggs, he works on food policy with the James Beard Foundation's Chef Action Network, collaborates with multi-disciplinary artists on culinary/artistic experiences, and partners with several food-focused nonprofits on both local and global issues. Evan is thrilled to join Windstar on a trip to the fjords to explore the natural beauty that influences the unique cuisine of the Nordic region, the amazing quality of its cold-water seafood, and the bounty of summer fruits and vegetables in the region, and to learn from a region that, though distant, bears particular similarities to the fishery- and small-farmer-dependent cuisine of the coastal Northeast. The accompanying beverage expert for this cruise will be announced soon.

November 26, 2018 - Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands aboard Wind Spirit:

Pastry Chef Emily Luchetti of Marlowe, Park Tavern, and The Cavalier, San Francisco, CA.
With six cookbooks to her credit and numerous awards, Emily Luchetti has helped to define what great pastry in America means. As chief pastry officer for Big Night Restaurant Group, she oversees the pastry operations for The Cavalier, Marlowe, Petit Marlowe, Leo's Oyster Bar, and Park Tavern Restaurant. She was awarded the 2004 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef and was inducted into the James Beard Foundation Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America. With a passion for vanilla, Luchetti can't wait to create exquisite pastry concoctions made with vanilla fresh from the islands and plans to accompany guests on excursions to local vanilla farms.

Beverage Expert Shelley Lindgren of A16 and SPQR in San Francisco, CA.
Owner and Wine Director Shelley Lindgren was honored by the James Beard Foundation in 2015 with the Outstanding Wine Program award for her work at A16. Her reputation for seeking out Italian wines made with lesser-known grapes has earned her recognition as a wine pioneer. She continues to search for evocative wines from around the world and plans to serve interesting pairings aboard Wind Spirit in Tahiti.

December 15, 2018 - Windward Islands Surf & Sunsets aboard Star Pride:

Chef José Mendin, Pubbelly Boys and FCHG restaurant groups, Miami FL and Puerto Rico
Chef/restaurateur José Mendin co-founded and created the Pubbelly Boys restaurant group and the newly formed Food Comma Hospitality Group (FCHG), with notable Miami restaurants such as Habitat, Pubbelly Noodle Bar, Pubbelly Sushi, Baja Bao, and PB Ysla in Mendin's hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mendin will be returning home on this cruise, which is a round trip journey from San Juan, bringing his ability to revitalize and re-imagine ancient and traditional recipes by maintaining the integrity of a dish's roots while infusing it with modern touches. He earned James Beard Foundation nominations for "Best Chef: South" from 2012 to 2016. He looks forward to showcasing his love for big flavors aboard Star Pride and sharing his favorite restaurants and flavors with guests in San Juan. The accompanying beverage expert for this cruise will be announced soon.

More Culinary Experts to be Announced: Guest chef and beverage experts for the following 2018 cruises will be announced soon: Hidden Harbors of the Côte d'Azur departing June 20; and Gems of the Adriatic Sea on August 7, both aboard Wind Surf.

Windstar is known for many things on its iconic small ships, such as personalized service, Watersports Platforms where guests can enjoy the ocean, and access to small intimate ports larger ships can't possibly enter. The line is also respected for its culinary programs - sourcing local food where possible, bringing guests to local markets to shop with the chef, baking all breads on board daily, preparing meals to order, serving regional specialties that vary by destination, and simply providing better quality ingredients.

As the exclusive cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar will be involved as a major partner for a number of the Foundations' annual endeavors supporting culinary excellence, growth, awareness, and advocacy including the Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change; the 2018 James Beard Awards at the Lyric Opera in Chicago, considered the ultimate prize in the world of cuisine; JBF's Taste America events - occurring in the fall in major cities around the country including fundraising dinners, complimentary culinary tastings and demonstrations with James Beard-recognized culinary experts; and a sponsor of Chefs & Champagne - the James Beard Foundation's annual summer tasting party in the Hamptons.

To learn more about authentic small ship cruising with Windstar, contact a travel professional or Windstar Cruises by phone at 877-958-7718, email info(at)windstarcruises(dot)com or visit http://www.windstarcruises.com.

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