Gourmet dining is synonymous with luxury and learning to prepare those delicious dishes is among the top foodie experiences for luxury travelers. Guests sailing with Regent Seven Seas Cruises can combine both as the cruise line offers unrivaled dining experiences and hands-on cooking classes.
In anticipation of the arrival of Regent Seven Seas Cruises‘ new flagship Seven Seas Splendor, we recently visited Seven Seas Explorer, the most luxurious cruise ship in the world, to discover the seven amazing dining venues onboard and attend a cooking class in the ship’s Culinary Arts Kitchen.
SEVEN AMAZING DINING VENUES
Compass Rose
At the heart of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ culinary dining experience is Compass Rose. Regent Seven Seas Cruises transformed its signature restaurant into the largest specialty restaurant at sea. On the menu, a fully customised epicurean experience with an unequalled variety of gourmet options. Compass Rose features a sophisticated contemporary look featuring cascading aqua-blue murano glass chandeliers and exclusive Versace design plates.
Pacific Rim
This dramatic specialty restaurant features intricate architectural details, wood carvings and an immense art installation setting the tone for the culinary journey that awaits. The Pacific Rim menu brings life to rich culinary traditions with a diverse array of delightfully prepared, Pan-Asian dishes.
La Veranda (Breakfast and Lunch) and Sette Mari at La Veranda (Dinner)
La Veranda is the perfect place to start the day with a sumptuous breakfast while taking in the gorgeous ocean views, or savor the lunch buffets in the chic indoor dining room or al fresco on the shaded, open-air deck.
Chartreuse
Evoking memories of a chic Parisian fine-dining restaurant discovered during an evening stroll along the Seine or just off the Champs-Élysées, Chartreuse features classic French fare with a modern twist. The restaurant derives its name from the sultry chartreuse-coloured glass panels that adorn the dining room walls
Prime 7
The gourmet menu in Prime 7 offers succulent steaks, chops and seafood in an elegant ambiance inspired by the private clubs of London. With dark purple hues and silver accents the décor is a departure from the traditional steakhouse design. Plush leather banquette and table seating surrounded by decorative metal screens to create intimate alcoves for romantic evening meals. This intimate and elegant steakhouse exudes glamour and elevates the classic American fare to new heights.
Coffee Connection
The Coffee Connection on board Seven Seas Explorer feels like a classy metropolitan café with baristas delivering the perfect pick-me-ups alongside a number of delectable bites. The expanded Coffee Connection on board Seven Seas Splendor will be designed with muted pastels and crisp whites and seamlessly transition to trendy, open-air seating with astonishing ocean views on deck.
Pool Grill
Dining al fresco at the Pool Grill offers all the best views in any weather, whether enjoying a relaxed lunch or a casual dinner. An on-deck dining experience pairs perfectly with a panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes, mesmerizing sunsets included.
HANDS-ON COOKING CLASSES IN THE CULINARY ARTS KITCHEN
In anticipation of the arrival of Seven Seas Splendor we attended a mini cooking class on board Seven Seas Explorer. Under the professional guidance of Chef Instructor Linda Miller we tried our hand at creating a delicious appetizer and dessert from the Culinary Arts Kitchen Recipes cookbook.
Each of the cookbook’s chapters reflects the recipes taught in 18 individual Culinary Arts Kitchen classes aboard Seven Seas Explorer. In total, the cookbook contains recipes for 95 items, 20 desserts and 14 beverages and cocktails.
The regular two-hour cooking classes are designed by Kathryn Kelly, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ executive director of culinary enrichment. Chef Kelly, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, has spent 40 years traveling to explore the world’s many different cuisines and the cultures that created them. She and other Master Instructors teach the classes.
Guests attending classes in the Culinary Arts Kitchen receive highly individualized instruction, as each student cooks from their own personal workstation for authentic, hands-on training.
The Culinary Arts Kitchen features eighteen individual cooking stations in three long curved rows with white quartzite countertops and stainless-steel accents, and close-up details are displayed on large-screen monitors.
The workstations are fully equipped with top-of-the-line induction cooktops, stainless steel sinks and a comprehensive collection of additional cooking essentials. The state-of-the-art culinary center also features floor-to-ceiling windows for magnificent ocean vista views from its perch on Deck 11.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering 16 new Culinary Arts Kitchen classes during the 2020 inaugural season of Seven Seas Splendor. To find out more and book your culinary experience visit rssc.com.