To develop this further Regent have announced their Epicurean Perfection programme, drawing upon the existing culinary experiences with the addition of an array of specially designed onboard and shoreside programmes tailored to, as they put it, their foodie friends and aficionados.
Details of the Epicurean Explorer Tours, a programme of chef-led excursions, have already been released with wine & spirit plus food & wine tours still under development and due to be announced soon. Alongside these there will be opportunities for guests to dine at local hotspots that showcase authentic, destination-inspired dishes and enhancements to Regent's fabulous pre- and post-cruise land tours (that are particularly popular for guests travelling long-haul), that aim to provide immersive exploration centred around the destination's culinary heritage.
A sample of the chef-led tours that have been highlighted reveal a common format with a market tour hosted by the chef of the Culinary Arts Kitchen followed by lunch at a delightful local eatery, so when in Valencia you can shop for ingredients for a paella cooking class at the Central Market, then head to Malvarrosa Beach for a causal seaside meal at La Pepica, one of the city's most popular restaurants.
Other examples include a Provencal cooking demonstration hosted by renowned Michelin-starred Master Chef René Bérard followed by an elegant lunch at Le Bistrot de Jef from Sanary-sur-mer and a chance to discover the subtleties of authentic St. Lucian cuisine with a visit to Castries Market, where farmers have been bringing locally grown fruits, vegetables, and spices for nearly 100 years.
As well as curated shore excursions in selected ports there are also a number of Epicurean Spotlight Voyages. These include the August 2023 sailing on board Seven Seas Mariner on which guests will join the world-renowned British Michelin-starred chef Alain Roux, as well as a range of chefs and master sommeliers who will be presenting lectures, leading shoreside excursions and revealing their culinary secrets during onboard demonstrations.
Other hosts include Mark Bittman, an American journalist, food writer and author of 30 books who will be accompanying an Alaska voyage on board Seven Seas Explorer this summer, and the founders of Napa Valley winery Honig Vineyard who'll be on Seven Seas Splendor sailing through Greece, Turkey (both of which have a fascinating and often overlooked history of winemaking) and Italy in November.
A dedicated Epicurean Tasting programme is also in the works for guests to expand their palates and explore new wines, spirits and more under the masterful guidance of the onboard sommeliers, mixologists and chefs. More information on which will follow.
Combine all this with the Italian specialities on offer at Sette Mari at La Veranda, the superb Pan-Asian dishes of Pacific Rim, the classic French fare at Chartreuse, and the elevated American classics of Prime 7 and it's clear that Regent are working hard to develop an industry leading culinary programme which we're confident they'll be able to deliver, although the proof is in the pudding!
