Travel insights from Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages is calling seasoned foodies and travelers craving a delicious getaway to celebrate the brand’s second annual Eat & Drink Festival. Spanning across two months, this culinary and cocktail showcase aboard Richard Branson’s travel fleet promises exciting international flavors, unique pairings, and incredible bites all brought to life through the brand’s award-winning food and beverage offerings.
This August and September, Sailors aboard Virgin Voyages’ three ships – Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady – can sink their teeth into a series of gastronomic events created by the brand’s Culinary Collective and brought to life by the talented chefs aboard each vessel. From multi-course dinners and wine pairings to chef-led demos, ship-wide bar experiences, healthy walkabouts and special amuse bouches to start any meal in style, Sailors are sure to be surprised and delighted with the event line-up and special chef appearances.
Back for the second consecutive year are culinary powerhouses including Brad Farmerie, Sohui Kim, Eric Kim Haugen, Matt Lambert, Silvana Salcido Esparza, Waki Ng and Virgin Voyages’ very own Chef Levi Mezick, along with legendary mixologists Charles Joly, and Miami beverage creators Unfiltered Hospitality and Cocktail Cartel. Joining the festivities for the first time ever are:
- George Motz, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, author and producer called the foremost authority on hamburgers by The New York Times.
- The Taste Curators: Lish Steiling and Abbey Cook, cookbook authors and a wife duo who inspire joy by showcasing the connections between food, fashion and color. A former “Chopped” champion, Lish has worked for The Today Show, Vanity Fair, The Food Network and Epicurious. Abbey is a color and trend forecaster who’s worked for Malhia Kent, Martha Stewart, Doneger Group and Cotton Incorporated.
- The Couple’s Kitchen: James Briscione and Brooke Parkhurst, who opened their first restaurant, Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano, in Pensacola, FL. Brooke is both Wine Director and Director of Marketing. Prior to opening the restaurant, James was a Food Network personality with multiple wins on “Beat Bobby Flay.”
- Effie Panagopoulos, the first Greek woman in history to start a liquor brand: KLEOS Mastiha Spirit, a premium liqueur made with mastiha, an ancient Greek superfood found only in Chios.
- Mark Farrell, the founder of Ten to One Rum who was born in Trinidad & Tobago before attending MIT, the University of Cambridge and finally Harvard Business School. He created Ten to One, which is grounded in authentic elements of Caribbean culture and heritage.
- Burnt Sage out of Barcelona, a dynamic consulting firm that emerged in 2021 from the fusion of two rival bars in Barcelona: Lilith & Sons and Kyoudai 33.
- Miami’s Finest, including Danilo Bozovic of Swizzle, Robert Valls of The Sylvester, Arnoldo Ferrer of Cafe La Trova and Naren Young of Sweet Liberty.
- Barcelona’s Finest, including Marta Calero of Piñata Cocktail Cantina, Baptiste Etcheverry of Lilith & Sons, Ivan Di Giovanni of Marlowe and Ana Michel Alves Martínez of Collage Cocktail Bar.
Virgin Voyages is also collaborating with its time-honored beverage partners Intelligentsia, JoJo Tea and Filthy Food to host hands-on events for Sailors during the Eat & Drink Festival. This year’s line-up includes more than 30 special activations including two anchor events and dedicated happenings aboard each ship.
Fresh off a Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence” win for its 1920s-inspired steakhouse, The Wake, Virgin Voyages continues to draw Sailors back with its elevated food & beverage and impeccable service. The new brand – less than two years old – recently swept the Cruise Critic 2023 Cruisers’ Choice Awards, taking home a win for best dining, a pillar of the on-board experience and revered in Sailor reviews and editorial articles alike. Pink Agave, the brand’s Mexican eatery known for serving up authentic street food in a sleek Tom Dixon-designed space, also won best dining venue in TravelAge West’s recent WAVE Awards. Given the success of its Michelin-inspired menus, six signature eateries and unique ever-evolving menus, Virgin Voyages is proving that the reimagined cruise dining concept is here to stay.
Sailors wanting a taste of the Eat & Drink Festival will receive a $300 Bar Tab when they book voyages during August and September. To reserve a cabin or to learn more about Virgin Voyages’ special F&B events, contact us.