Epicurean News

What’s new in the world of food, drinks and travel

By Isabelle Labrosse

A NEW ERA FOR AN ICONIC RAIL JOURNEY

© MARTIN SCOTT POWELL

Luxury travel pioneer Belmond appointed Jean Imbert as the new chef for its legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE), thereby unveiling a new gastronomic era for the world’s most famous train. Launched with the 2022 season, the new concept and menu created by Imbert blend the VSOE’s culinary excellence with the celebrity chef’s passion for fresh ingredients and focus on seasonality. Imbert has also redesigned the train’s three 1920s restaurant cars to reflect his vision while preserving their rich history and heritage, allowing guests to relish in an eversophisticated dining experience on their journey through Europe’s spectacular landscapes.

A FOODIE’S PARADISE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

An hour from London, the Fairmont Windsor Park started welcoming guests earlier this year in an elegant English country manor set on 40 acres of green space. With seven restaurants and bars, it’s heaven for food lovers. At MOREISH, the Middle Eastern meets European cuisine is expertly prepared in an open theatre kitchen and served with fine wines or gin cocktails from Schroders’ Botanicals Bar. The 1215 restaurant uses ingredients from the Royal Farms, local artisans and its own herb and vegetable gardens to celebrate the best of British dining. Guests can also participate in a series of masterclasses hosted by the hotel’s chefs, sommeliers and mixologists.

DECARBONIZING TRAVEL, ONE BITE AT A TIME

Always looking to lower its carbon footprint, Intrepid Travel recently introduced new plant-based experiences to its revamped Real Food Adventures, a collection of 21 itineraries to foodie favourites such as Mexico, India, Vietnam, Italy and South Korea. Curated to encourage less carbon-intensive eating habits, these experiences emphasize how important it is to make climate-conscious decisions in the day-to-day. A visit to a traditional Tuscan farm to dine on spreads made from freshly harvested ingredients, a plant-based Buddhist meal at a pagoda in Vietnam and a cooking class to learn about ker sangri, a vegetarian curry made from ker tree berries found in Rajasthan, are among the new experiences offered.

FIRST-IN-CLASS SHIP AND DINING

Setting sail this summer, the latest addition to Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, Norwegian Prima – also the first ship of the cruise line’s new Prima Class – promises elevated food and drinks offerings for guests onboard. The Metropolitan Bar will be the first-ever cocktail and wine bar putting sustainability at the forefront with biodynamic wines and cocktails using renewable ingredients. Another first for the cruise line will be the Penrose Atrium, an elegant three-storey, glass-walled atrium with restaurants and lounges overlooking the ocean. Other venues will include delicious Greek-style seafood at Palomar, chic French cuisine at Le Bistro and spectacular hibachi cooking at Hasuki.

ONBOARD DINING, THE NOVA WAY

Luxury cruise line Silversea recently unveiled the new asymmetrical design for its 11th ship, Silver Nova, scheduled for delivery in 2023. The added outdoor space provided by this inventive configuration will not only allow guests to better connect with each destination, but also put a strong emphasis on al fresco dining. One new venue, The Marquee, will offer Silversea’s trademark ‘hot rocks’ culinary concept as well as the best pizza at sea. Another, Dusk Bar, will be a classy, open-air sky bar where guests can enjoy a craft cocktail with 270-degree panoramic views. In total, the ship will include eight incredible dining venues taking inspiration from the world’s best restaurants.