Eat, Drink & Be Merry With Oceania

Epicureans will want to make a note of two special Oceania Cruises voyages early this summer, as the pair of Wine & Food Celebration sailings will enjoy presentations from celebrated chefs and wine connoisseurs, culinary demonstrations, wine tastings and more.

On Marina’s May 6 voyage, South American wine expert Daniel Soto will host wine lectures and tastings featuring the best of South American wines. Soto will be joined by chef and culinary author Paulette Mitchell, who will demonstrate classic South American dishes.

On Riviera’s June 23 cruise, Chef Kathryn Kelly of the Bon Appetit Culinary Centre will be joined by several culinary experts, including the the Culinary Institute of America’s Master Baker Eric Kastel, who will share the secrets of great bread making. Renowned New York wine educator, businessman and sommelier Tony Didio will lead a series of wine lectures, tastings and wine pairing presentations throughout the voyage. To complement the wine experience, Master Cheese Expert Max McCalman will be on board to share the secrets of great cheeses and advice on wine and cheese pairings.

Marina “Grand Panama Canal” – May 6; 20 days, Lima to New York City.

Riviera “Mediterranean Grandeur” – June 23; 10 days, Monte Carlo to Rome.

Another special cruise to look out for is a Wine Connoisseur voyage on Marina in September. The "Baltic Odyssey" sailing will enjoy master winemaker Armando Fumanelli, owner of the famed Italian winery Marchesi Fumanelli, who will host a series of wine lectures, tastings and pairings featuring the best of Italian wines and flavors. Located near Verona, the setting of Romeo and Juliet, the Fumanelli winery has been creating exceptional wines since 1470. Young actors from Verona’s drama academy will be on board to perform during select Fumanelli wine dinners offered at La Reserve by Wine Spectator.

Marina “Baltic Odyssey” – September 3; 10 days, Copenhagen to Stockholm.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Oceania Cruises Appoints New Culinary Enrichment Director

Oceania Cruises, who are renowned for offering some of the finest cuisine at sea, has named former businesswoman and passionate chef Kathryn Kelly as the company’s Culinary Enrichment Director.

In this newly-created position, American-born Kelly is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Bon Appétit Culinary Center, the first hands-on cooking school at sea on Oceania's recently-launched luxury ship Marina. The Center will also feature on sister ship Riviera, launching in April 2012.

Chef Kelly was previously the executive chef of the Culinary Center and will now develop the curriculum, recruit instructors and guest chefs, as well as integrate cooking classes with the shore excursion programme, in addition to teaching classes. Her love of cooking began in her grandmothers’ kitchens, and she was awarded a scholarship from Pillsbury as a “promising young chef,” subsequently working her way through college at Seattle’s prestigious Northwest Passage restaurant, where she discovered the bounty of the region.

After a fulfilling career that included founding one of the earliest healthcare software ventures, leading a multi-billion dollar global outsourcing company and being named one of the Top Female Executives by the YWCA, Chef Kelly returned to her passion, cooking.

Kelly has completed her ProChef certification from the American Culinary Foundation and is a member of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, Women Chefs and Restaurateurs and Chefs for Sustainable Agriculture. She holds two master’s degrees in Public Health and Community Medicine and completed her doctoral studies in epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.

For more information on Oceania Cruises or to order a brochure, visit www.oceaniacruises.co.uk or The Cruise Line Ltd.

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