Madrid, March 21: MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise line and industry leader in Europe and South America, announces a new partnership with award-winning Spanish chef Ramón Freixa, effective this April. Chef Freixa embodies the excellence of Spanish cuisine with his innovative and modern style, further enriching MSC Cruises’ culinary offerings.
The collaboration was unveiled at an exclusive event held at Freixa's two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Madrid. Through this partnership, the chef will create exceptional dishes and tapas that will be available across the fleet[1], as well as an exclusive selection of dishes specially designed for the Christmas and New Year's menus. A gastronomic cruise is also planned for gourmands from around the world seeking the ultimate culinary and travel experience.
Ramón Freixa will work alongside the team of prestigious chefs from MSC Cruises, offering them detailed and interactive training to transmit his skills and experience, so that they can recreate his signature dishes on board with the highest level of quality.
Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Chef Freixa to our already impressive team of international chefs and restaurateurs, representing some of the world’s most renowned cuisines. Each has their own unique style, personality, and concepts, and together they create a fine dining experience for our guests. Our aim is to work with world-class experts and collaborate with partners who share our values. Ramón Freixa is a perfect partner for us, as he shares our strong Mediterranean influence, desire to innovate, commitment to excellence, and genuine passion for food.”
Freixa is known for his ability to create a balance between tradition and innovation, drawing inspiration from his Mediterranean roots. In addition to being awarded two Michelin stars and three Repsol Suns for his eponymous restaurant in Madrid, he has also received culinary excellence awards such as Best Chef and Best Restaurant. With two restaurants in Madrid, one in Colombia, appearances on the Spanish television program MasterChef Celebrity, and four books to his name, Chef Freixa enjoys considerable international acclaim.
Ramón Freixa commented: “My cuisine is based on three elements: preparation and technique, feeling, and a continuous search for magic, where each dish is conceived to tell a story in sequences of flavor, texture, and color. I have incorporated this approach into the recipes I have created exclusively for MSC Cruises, thus reflecting our shared passion for the Mediterranean.”
Gastronomy within everyone's reach
All ships in the MSC Cruises fleet offer excellent dining every evening in their main restaurants. A different menu is presented each night, featuring the finest Mediterranean and international specialties, providing a sophisticated dining experience in an elegant setting.
As part of the Elegant Night, passengers visiting the main restaurants will be able to enjoy Freixa's signature dish, a delicious Royal cream foie gras and onions.
MSC Yacht Club Private Restaurant
Passengers to MSC Cruises' exclusive MSC Yacht Club will have the privilege of savoring an exceptional lacquered Iberian pork shoulder with grilled vegetables , or, for something lighter, they can enjoy a tempting selection of tapas. The MSC Yacht Club's private restaurant offers a wide variety of culinary delights in an elegant and stylish setting.
Mr. Onorato continued explaining: “MSC Cruises experiences are designed for our passengers to discover new cultures and create unforgettable memories, not only by visiting different places but also by discovering new cuisines thanks to the incredible variety of dining options they will find on board our ships.”
An award-winning team of international chefs
Chef Freixa joins five other internationally renowned chefs currently collaborating with MSC Cruises. In December 2017, Roy Yamaguchi welcomed its first guests aboard MSC Seaside. This innovative pan-Asian dining experience includes three distinct restaurants: Teppanyaki, Sushi, and Asian Fusion. This popular concept will also be available on MSC Seaview, the next MSC Cruises ship to set sail in June of this year.
MSC Cruises also recently announced that Joe Bastianichwill create a special dish for MSC Seaside, primarily aimed at a North American audience. Passengers aboard MSC Meraviglia can discover the delights of chocolate thanks to award-winning chocolatier and pastry chef Jean Philippe-Maury, and this collaboration is scheduled to extend to MSC Bellissima starting in March 2019. Acclaimed Chinese chef Jereme Leung has long worked with MSC Cruises and recently created the new Hot Pot – Sea Pavilion for MSC Splendida.
These are just some of the most outstanding restaurants you'll find on board the MSC Cruises fleet, with options to suit all tastes and a wide variety of culinary styles.
For more information about MSC Cruises' dining options, please visit msccruises.com
[1] In the summer season of 2018, the dishes will be available across the entire MSC Cruises fleet, with the exception of ships departing from the USA and China, and in the winter season of 2018-19 they will be available on cruises in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Emirates
