New Cuisine Onboard P&O
October 24, 2008 by Paula
Australians’ passion for modern, fresh, home grown cuisine has driven P&O Cruises to embark on a culinary overhaul to please its passengers’ palates.
As demand grows for sophisticated food, P&O has responded with a revamp on both Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun cruise ships. It involves:
- Introducing fresher, locally-grown ingredients on a range of new menus
- Replacing international wine brands with an Australian and New Zealand-only list focusing on boutique and regional wineries
- Embracing Australian’s love of coffee by introducing specialist onboard coffee ambassadors and appreciation classes
- Recruiting a new Corporate Executive Chef and Manager of Food and Beverage Operations to drive forward innovation in cuisine selection
The overhaul has seen the launch of signature dishes including Indian chilli crab, coral trout sourced from northern Australian waters, served with a lobster ragout and beurre blanc sauce as well as wagyu beef burgers served on basil and garlic focaccia.
In the months leading up to the revamp, the P&O Cruises team scouted the country’s best providores to select produce that would appeal to Australian tastes and meet passengers’ high expectations. The process began more than four months ago with the introduction of new menus, wine list, and tableware across the fleet. The enhancement program will be complete by April 2009.
Lars Kristiansen, Manager of Food and Beverage Operations at P&O Cruises, said revitalising the menus with quality local products is a testament to Australian’s increasingly discerning tastes.
“We are taking the passenger culinary experience to a different level. Australians have high expectations when it comes to dining. They are looking for crisp, fresh produce, and so we’ve responded to that demand and taken it up a notch. Our aim is to exceed their expectations.”
Newly appointed Executive Chef Uwe Steifel continued, “Australians are now demonstrating more loyalty towards locally-sourced food and we’re delighted to recognise this and invigorate our menus. My ambition is for Australians to choose cruising because of the sparkling cuisine itself.”
In a further boost to the Australian market, P&O Cruises recently ditched international wine brands in support of 64 local winemakers from Australia and New Zealand. Wines that made the cut include emerging boutique wineries such as Hunter Valley’s Glandore Estate and ACT’s Lake George Winery.
P&O Cruises has also embraced Australians’ love of quality coffee, developing coffee appreciation courses for it’s passengers. Internationally renowned barista Ryan Spinoglio has spent the past six months in intensive training with five P&O Cruises crew members.
Mr Spinoglio, who samples more than 300 cups of coffee each day and about $900 million worth of coffee per year, is attributed with introducing coffee art globally.
“It’s easy to make coffee, but it takes passion to master the technique of creating great coffee. After putting the P&O Cruises’ baristas through their paces, they will now be able to pass on the skills required to craft the perfect espresso,” Mr Spinoglio said.
The newly appointed coffee ambassadors will pass on trade secrets learned from Mr Spinoglio with free classes for cruises departing in November. They will provide passengers with information on coffee origins, bean varieties to suit the Australian palate, and will help participants learn how to handcraft the elusive perfect cup of coffee.
Sydney-based superliner Pacific Dawn features 11 decks with two swimming pools, a choice of five evening dining areas, nine bars and lounges, “The Dome” entertainment area, a two-storey show lounge and fitness centre.
Meanwhile Australia’s favourite ship, Pacific Sun, now features a new child-free Oasis spa retreat, ocean-view gym and coffee bar, as well as five restaurants and cafes, multiple bars and lounges and two pools for the adults.
Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun depart from Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland and travel to the South Pacific and selected destinations in Australia and New Zealand.
For more information and bookings contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13 24 69 or visit www.pocruises.com.au
Official Press Release P&O Cruises Australia dated 24th October 2008.
