“In our Culinary Center, guests cook under the instruction of faculty members who are CIA graduates and have apprenticed under a who’s who of renowned chefs. We continue to add new topics to keep things fresh for past guests and this year we’re proud to honor our consummate teacher, Jacques Pepin, with a special class.”
The highlight of the culinary immersion program is a friendly competition where teams of four guests are paired together to prepare a dish that is judged by the culinary team. All participants receive a special certificate at the end of the program, while the winning team can claim culinary bragging rights for the remainder of the cruise!
Oceania Cruises is also creating a new, exclusive class that includes recipes from Jacques Pépin cookbooks. The new class “La Technique: A Celebration of Jacques Pépin’s 80th Birthday” will enable guests to learn five basic techniques around eggs, proteins, vegetables, sauces and desserts. At the conclusion of each class, guests will pose for a photo which will be incorporated into a special birthday card for Chef Pépin.
The Culinary Center is also introducing 20 new classes as part of its Gourmet Explorer Series. These classes will showcase regional cuisine from Morocco, Peru, the Pacific Northwest and more. The classes will incorporate flavours and techniques inspired by the cultures and regions the ship visits. The new classes include Planet Veggie, Viva Tapas, At Home in Sicily, Rock Your Wok, What Mermaids Know, Global Gourmet and the Pizza Master Class.