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Windstar has marked a decade of partnership with the renowned James Beard Foundation®, illustrating years of enhancing the onboard cuisine experience and introducing travelers to chefs with diverse culinary backgrounds and unique approaches to food.
“Our collaboration with the James Beard Foundation has significantly enriched our culinary culture,” expressed Peter Tobler, Windstar’s director of hotel operations (featured in the image above taken in May 2024 on Star Legend, during his journey with James Beard Foundation chef Tanya Holland). “We welcome chefs with varied culinary expertise, sometimes tailored to the region of the voyage, to showcase global flavors and regional dishes.”
“By the conclusion of 2025, nearly 40 James Beard chefs will have participated since the inception of our partnership.”
Beyond themed journeys, Windstar’s affiliation with the foundation integrates its chefs and recipes into all dinner menus at Amphora. “Among the 24 dishes on our daily Amphora menu aboard our Star Class vessels,” Tobler shared, “at least two to three are creations of a James Beard Foundation chef. On Wind Surf, Amphora will feature three unique dishes each night.”
We had the opportunity to engage with Peter recently to delve into the realm of James Beard, explore the foundation further, and understand what lies ahead in this partnership.
Guests who have voyaged on Windstar’s James Beard Foundation cruises likely grasp the essence of the man and the foundation, but could you enlighten us further?
I particularly admire this description of James Beard, a native of Portland, Oregon: “Regarded as the Dean of American Cookery, James Beard was the pioneer of the first televised cooking show. Author of 26 cookbooks and numerous articles, he paved the way for today’s celebrity chefs. As Julia Child famously stated, ‘In the beginning, there was Beard.’”
The James Beard Foundation came into being nearly four decades ago as a channel for Beard’s culinary passions. It upholds food culture and extends support to the industry through diverse initiatives encompassing diversity, advocacy, and more.
The nonprofit organization’s aim is to honor, bolster, and raise the individuals fueling America’s food culture, while advocating for high-quality food anchored in talent, fairness, and sustainability. The Foundation strongly aligns with Windstar’s dedication to fresh and locally-sourced epicurean experiences worldwide.
How does a James Beard-inspired cruise differ from other Windstar voyages?
An energetic ambiance envelops the culinary arts onboard, as alongside the guest chef, members of Windstar’s culinary team are also present. In addition to the James Beard Foundation partnership, we celebrate another delightful collaboration with the luxury segment of Gallo to incorporate its sommeliers and winemakers into the Windstar experience during select JBF chef-themed cruises.
The dialogues amongst us, particularly with our guests, exude liveliness, joy, and profound insights. By the time we conduct the inaugural culinary presentation or wine tasting event, our 180-passenger main lounge is filled to capacity. Besides the two live culinary demonstrations, there are two official wine seminars, chef-led dinners, and an onshore “shopping with the chef” outing.
It’s worth mentioning that all events (excluding the chef-shopping shore excursion) are scheduled early in the day or later in the afternoon to avoid interfering with our port visits.
For Windstar, continuing to nurture this relationship and its impact on our guests remains a key investment. The culinary scene is ever-evolving, and travelers are eager to savor new and daring dishes.
“Shopping with the Chef” experiences onboard are among my preferred ways to spend a day ashore. could you elaborate on this unique experience?
In a selected port on every culinary voyage, the guest chef, accompanied by the ship’s resident chef, organizes “Shopping with the Chef.” They give guests a tour of a local market, shedding light on their process of selecting fresh produce, seafood, and artisan items sourced locally. These hand-picked items are later incorporated into the evening menu at Amphora and other venues.
The very same evening, the showcased dish from the demonstration is featured at Amphora and across our dining outlets.
The 2025 lineup of JBF-themed cruises will navigate through the Caribbean, Europe, and the Mediterranean, featuring acclaimed past chefs, alongside an extraordinary journey led by iconic chef Larry Forgione, cruising through the St. Lawrence Seaway and along the Northeast coast, concluding in New York City, the Foundation’s headquarters. Anticipate a plethora of delightful surprises and exclusive opportunities throughout the year as we commemorate this significant anniversary.
For further details on the partnership between the James Beard Foundation and Windstar, please click here.
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