Author: Renee Morrison

Atlas Ocean Voyages Just Announced an Impressive New Dining Experience

30 September 2025

Atlas Ocean Voyages is raising the bar on culinary travel with a newly enhanced dining program designed to immerse guests in the flavours and traditions of the destinations they explore.

Under the leadership of Corporate Executive Chef René Afleñzer, who recently returned from a sourcing journey across Argentina, the luxury cruise line has unveiled menus that spotlight locally inspired dishes and seasonal ingredients sourced directly from regional farmers, vintners and artisans.

“Food is an integral part of exploration,” said Chef Afleñzer. “Guests deserve a culinary journey as rich and inspiring as the destinations we visit. Our menus are designed to surprise and delight, blending creative presentation, exceptional quality and fresh regional flavours.”

A Taste of the World on Board

Guests can now enjoy Chef Afleñzer’s creations across all dining venues, including the elegant main restaurant, the alfresco 7Aft Grill, casual Paula’s Pantry, and 24-hour room service. Highlights range from raw Hamachi with soya-parsley and dill salad, to lobster ravioli with garlic butter sauce, to plant-based options such as roasted white onion with wild mushroom ragout and hazelnut cream.

The curated menus also include a standout dessert program featuring treats like infinity chocolate peanut butter cake and pistachio caramel sauce crumble. Beverage pairings, sommelier-led wine tastings and market-to-table dinners round out the expanded offering, creating a holistic dining experience designed to connect travellers to the culinary traditions of the regions they visit.

Expanding the Epicurean Experiences

Atlas Ocean Voyages has also announced the return of its popular Epicurean Expeditions for 2026 and 2027, sailing the Mediterranean with a line-up of guest chefs, wine pairings, market-to-table excursions and shoreside tastings.

“As one of the cornerstones of the Atlas experience, our culinary program continues to evolve,” said James A. Rodriguez, President & CEO of Atlas Ocean Voyages. “Our guests’ feedback and strong ratings confirm that dining with Atlas is truly exceptional.”

With its expanded menus, expert-led experiences and commitment to sourcing sustainably, Atlas Ocean Voyages is charting a course to make dining at sea as memorable as the destinations themselves.

Pack Your Appetite: Taste of Shangri-La is Back

30 September 2025

From Paris to Phuket, the luxury hotel group’s annual Taste of Shangri-La celebration returns this October with more than 100 hotels showcasing exclusive dishes, signature menus and immersive dining events.

Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts is inviting travellers to savour the flavours of the world with its much-anticipated Taste of Shangri-La culinary festival, running throughout October 2025. The month-long event spans the brand’s legendary portfolio of hotels and resorts across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, India and the Americas, each presenting multi-course menus and signature creations that reflect local traditions and global influences.

Highlights include foie gras dumplings with fruit chutney in Paris, Bánh Xèo with chicken quang noodles in Ho Chi Minh City, and hand-dived scallops with miso butter in London. In Dubai, Shang Palace will showcase Cantonese flavours with dishes such as King Oyster Mushrooms with Charcoal-Steamed Buns, while in Abu Dhabi, Bord Eau will serve French gastronomy with dishes like Rose de Saumon paired with green apple and miso gel. Guests can also expect curated wine pairings, immersive dining events and exclusive menus designed by Shangri-La’s award-winning chefs.

More than 28 signature restaurants and 14 hotels will participate in this year’s edition, giving travellers the chance to discover new flavours while celebrating Shangri-La’s rich culinary heritage. 

Learn more on the Shangri-La website.

Bon Appétit Just Released Its List of the Best New Restaurants in the US for 2025

15 September 2025

Every September, food media rolls out its picks for the year’s most exciting places to eat — and Bon Appétit has just dropped its 2025 Best New Restaurants list. While it’s not the only voice in the conversation, the roundup offers a useful snapshot of how dining in America is evolving. This year’s collection of 20 restaurants leans heavily into storytelling: chefs using their menus to explore identity, migration, and memory.

Instead of headline-grabbing gimmicks, the restaurants Bon Appétit highlights are rooted in personal history and a sense of place. In San Francisco, Fernay McPherson’s Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement feels like a homecoming, with soulful plates that link her family’s past to the present-day Fillmore district. In Seattle, Lenox channels chef Jhonny Reyes’s Puerto Rican roots into dishes that also celebrate the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. His crackling lechon with farm-fresh mustard greens bridges San Juan, New York, and Seattle in a single dish.

Lenox in Seattle

The list also celebrates bold expressions of cultural fusion. In Atlanta, Avize looks like a traditional Alpine restaurant until a plate of frog legs dusted with Atlanta’s own lemon-pepper seasoning lands at the table. The dish captures the dual identity of chef Jason Paolini’s project: European at first glance, Southern at its core. Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, Dōgon marks the triumphant return of star chef Kwame Onwuachi, who pays homage to the city’s Ethiopian and Trinidadian communities with Wagyu short ribs in smoky awaze sauce and fried lamb surrounded by curried chickpeas.

Not every entry is high-profile. In Pittsburgh, Fet-Fisk has transformed a Little Italy bar into a Nordic-leaning hotspot where diners sip marigold schnapps alongside pickled mackerel. In New York, Ha’s Snack Bar (pictured above) has become the city’s buzziest reservation, serving Vietnamese-French small plates from a chalkboard menu that changes nightly — a place so coveted that reservations vanish as soon as they’re posted.

What unites these 20 restaurants isn’t cuisine or geography, but intimacy. Bon Appétit’s editors describe them as meals you won’t experience anywhere else, each one shaped by the specific journey of the chef who created it. In a year where dining out has to be more than just dinner, this list proves that the most exciting restaurants in America are memoirs you can eat.

Compass Group Hosts the World’s Largest Culinary Celebration for Chef Appreciation Week

15 September 2025

Most of us rarely think about the people cooking behind the scenes — the chefs who fuel hospital wards, campus cafeterias, stadium crowds, and company dining halls. But for one week every September, Compass Group makes sure the spotlight is firmly on them. The global foodservice giant marked Chef Appreciation Week 2025 (September 7–13) with what has grown into the largest culinary celebration in the world.

The initiative began with Donald and Lisa Crutch, founders of Chef Appreciation Week and advocates for recognizing chefs’ dedication both inside and outside the kitchen. When Compass partnered with the Crutch family in 2018, the event expanded beyond the U.S., eventually becoming a worldwide movement. Today, Compass brands in healthcare, education, business, sports, and senior living all take part, creating a ripple of gratitude across continents.

The 2025 edition introduced a fresh look, curated with input from Compass’s Global Culinary Forum — a council of chef leaders across its business. The result was a celebration that felt both premium and purposeful, reflecting the sophistication and diversity of the company’s culinary teams.

So what does a global thank-you look like? All week long, Compass sites hosted Appreciation Stations and Shoutout Boards, giving colleagues and clients a chance to share messages of gratitude. Cafés and restaurants rolled out Chef Specials featuring signature dishes with personal backstories, while kitchens organized family meals that brought front- and back-of-house staff together at one table. Certificates of recognition and social media spotlights rounded out the festivities, with #ChefAppreciationWeek and #LoveMyChef buzzing across platforms.

Behind the campaign is a recognition that chefs do more than cook. “Our chefs and frontline teams are the unsung heroes who bring our culinary vision to life, day in and day out,” said Chef Chris Ivens-Brown, Chief Culinary Officer for Compass Group North America. “Their commitment to safety, excellence and flavor make Compass a leader in our industry.” Deborah Lee, Group Chief People Officer, echoed that sentiment, calling chefs and culinary staff “the heart and soul of our operations.”

Appreciation Week is an invitation to look beyond the plate. It’s a reminder that every salad tossed in a café, every soup ladled in a hospital, every burger flipped at a game is the result of countless hours of skill, care, and creativity. And sometimes, the most meaningful way to honour that is the simplest: just saying thank you.

The World’s Best Female Chef Was Named Godmother of This Cruise Ship

15 September 2025

Cruise ships are no strangers to star power — but usually it comes in the form of Broadway-style productions or celebrity guest speakers. Celebrity Cruises is taking a different tack with the launch of its newest ship, Celebrity Xcel. The line has tapped Janaina Torres, named World’s Best Female Chef 2024 by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, to serve as the ship’s godmother, a role steeped in maritime tradition and symbolism.

For those less familiar with the practice, a ship’s godmother is more than a ceremonial title. Historically, the godmother blesses and christens the vessel, embodying its spirit and values as it begins its journeys. In Torres, Celebrity Cruises has chosen a figure whose career is defined by hospitality, generosity, and cultural celebration — qualities that echo the brand’s own positioning at sea.

Torres is best known for her work at A Casa do Porco in São Paulo, a restaurant she co-founded with her husband, chef Jefferson Rueda. The restaurant, which pays homage to Brazilian pork cookery in inventive and democratic ways, has become a destination in its own right and is frequently ranked among the world’s best. What sets Torres apart isn’t only her culinary prowess but also her commitment to accessibility: fine dining that welcomes everyone, not just the privileged few. That philosophy resonates with Celebrity Cruises’ ambition to blend sophistication with inclusivity across its fleet.

The naming ceremony of Celebrity Xcel will, of course, involve the traditional champagne bottle-breaking moment, but the symbolism extends further. By aligning with one of the world’s most celebrated chefs, Celebrity underscores its focus on dining as a central part of the travel experience. It’s not just about feeding passengers — it’s about turning meals into defining memories of a voyage.

Food has always been a major differentiator in the cruise industry, but this announcement feels like a declaration of intent. With Torres as godmother, travelers can expect food and beverage programming that reflects her influence — whether through chef collaborations, menu inspiration, or culinary events at sea. While details remain under wraps, the partnership hints at a future where dining on board is as destination-worthy as the ports of call.

As Celebrity Xcel prepares to set sail, Torres’s presence ensures it will carry not just passengers, but also a culinary legacy rooted in warmth, creativity, and connection. It’s a reminder that on the open sea, food is more than sustenance — it’s the heartbeat of the journey.

Grand Hyatt is Unveiling Bold New Culinary Experiences Across Asia Pacific

15 September 2025

When people think of hotel dining, they often picture breakfast buffets or copy-paste menus. Grand Hyatt wants to change that. Across Asia Pacific, the brand has rolled out a series of initiatives that put food — innovative, sustainable, conversation-starting food — at the centre of the guest experience.

At the Grand Hyatt Singapore, the kitchen is leading the charge with menus designed not just by chefs but also by nutritionists. The result? Meals that are indulgent without being heavy, celebratory yet balanced. What diners won’t necessarily see is the hotel’s closed-loop aquaponics system working behind the scenes: kitchen scraps are transformed into compost that nourishes herbs and vegetables, while tilapia raised in the system find their way to the table. It’s sustainability and flavor working in tandem.

Grand Hyatt Singapore

In China, the brand recently staged one of its most ambitious collaborations yet: the “10-hands Black Pearl Signature Dishes Experience.” Ten chefs from across the Hyatt portfolio came together to design a single wedding banquet, turning what might have been a standard reception meal into a once-in-a-lifetime culinary spectacle. Guests weren’t just fed; they were treated to a narrative of regional Chinese cuisines woven into a celebratory feast.

Sustainability is becoming a defining thread in Hyatt’s approach to food. In Taipei, the Cha Lounge at Grand Hyatt became the first restaurant in Taiwan to earn a three-star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association. That accolade signals serious commitments: sourcing local and responsible ingredients, minimizing waste, and building transparency into operations. For a global brand, it’s a powerful example of how scale and sustainability can go hand in hand.

The message is clear: Grand Hyatt doesn’t want its food and beverage programs to be an afterthought. Weddings, conferences, and social gatherings are being reimagined as opportunities for culinary creativity — whether through hyper-local sourcing, blockbuster chef collaborations, or operational systems that quietly but effectively reshape the footprint of the kitchen.

Celebrate National Guacamole Day with This Celeb Chef Recipe

15 September 2025

September 16 marks National Guacamole Day, and what better way to celebrate than with a recipe from one of America’s most recognizable chefs? Bobby Flay, who’s built a career blending bold flavours with approachable techniques, has been known to throw down on everything from burgers to tacos — but his guacamole has become a signature in its own right.

Guacamole is the rare dish that’s both timeless and endlessly customizable. In his TikTok demo, Flay builds his guacamole the way he builds most of his food — layering flavour. He mashes ripe Hass avocados just enough to stay chunky, then folds in finely diced red onion, minced serrano chiles, cilantro, fresh lime juice, and plenty of kosher salt. Whatever you do, he says, do not add tomatoes to your guac (yes, chef).

Try it at home:

  1. Mash three ripe avocados in a bowl until chunky.

  2. Stir in red onion, serrano chile, tomato, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, and salt to taste.

  3. Serve right away with tortilla chips — or let it rest a few minutes so the flavours meld.

The beauty of this recipe is that it’s adaptable. Add extra lime for brightness, or more spice, if you like it hot. However you mix it, guacamole is the ultimate party trick: fast, fresh, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

rise of wine tourism

Wine Tourism is on the Rise: Where to Sip and Stay

2 September 2025

According to a recent Future Market Insights report, wine tourism is no longer a niche pursuit but a booming travel trend that’s only getting stronger. More than just tastings, today’s vineyard visits are immersive cultural experiences blending terroir, gastronomy, design and hospitality. From boutique stays in French villages to cutting-edge wine museums, travellers are increasingly pairing their love of wine with their love of place.

Here are some of the destinations shaping the next chapter of wine travel:

SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites — Mendoza, Argentina

Created by pioneering Argentine winemaker Susana Balbo and her daughter Ana Lovaglio Balbo, this boutique estate offers seven design-forward spa suites where wellness meets wine. Each suite features private amenities such as steam rooms, aromatherapy showers, and vinotherapy-inspired soaking tubs. Guests can dine at La VidA, the Michelin-recommended restaurant pairing seasonal menus with Balbo’s celebrated wines, or enjoy curated tastings and vineyard visits across Mendoza.

Food at Spier Wine Farm
Spier Wine Farm's Tasting Room

Spier Wine Farm — Stellenbosch, South Africa

Established in 1692, Spier is one of South Africa’s oldest family-owned wineries. Its approach blends centuries of tradition with modern sustainable practices. Visitors can explore its working farm, regenerative agriculture projects and even join eco-friendly Segway tours through the vines. For those seeking slow travel, Spier offers picnics among gardens, organic dining, and a chance to taste wines cultivated with a deep respect for the land.

The MUSE Saint Tropez — French Riviera, France

In the sun-soaked south of France, MUSE Saint Tropez offers a luxurious base for wine enthusiasts. With 16 suites named after iconic muses, the boutique hotel arranges intimate tastings with local vintners and exclusive access to nearby estates such as Château des Marres. Guests can pair Provençal cuisine with coastal vintages, enjoy spa treatments inspired by grape-based therapies, and dine alfresco in quintessential Riviera style.

Quinta dos Vales — Algarve, Portugal

Set amid 44 hectares of rolling vineyards just a short drive from the coast, Quinta dos Vales is both a wine hotel and a working winery. Guests stay in villa-style accommodations, many with private pools and terraces overlooking the vines. Beyond tastings and cellar tours, the estate offers the immersive Winemaker Experience, where visitors can create and follow their own personalized blends with expert support. Seasonal events — from Fado, Yoga & Wine evenings to sunset cinema and gourmet food pairings — add a cultural flourish, ensuring every stay is as memorable as the wines themselves.

Segera Retreat Kenya
Segera Retreat

Segera Retreat — Laikipia, Kenya

Kenya may not be the first place that comes to mind for wine, but Segera Retreat proves otherwise. Surrounded by vast wilderness, the lodge has carved out one of East Africa’s most extensive private wine cellars, stocked with over 2,000 bottles. Visitors can pair game drives with candlelit tastings, blending safari adventure with sommelier-led explorations of global vintages.

Byblos Hotel — Florence, Italy

Inside the Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà, a 16th-century palazzo outside Verona, art meets oenology. The hotel offers curated experiences with Amarone producers, showcasing one of Italy’s most iconic wines. Guests can admire contemporary art installations, indulge in Michelin-starred dining, and join private vineyard excursions across Valpolicella.

Forsthofgut Nature Hotel — Leogang, Austria

In the Austrian Alps, Forsthofgut has unveiled weinWALD, a forest-inspired wine lounge woven into the hotel’s spa complex. Tastings spotlight local alpine vintages alongside international labels, complemented by wellness rituals like vinotherapy treatments. Surrounded by spruce trees and mountain air, the experience captures the marriage of sustainability, craft and Alpine serenity.

Martinique stuffed crab

Martinique Gourmande Festival: A Taste of the Island Across Quebec

2 September 2025

Every September, a little slice of Martinique arrives in Quebec, bringing with it the scents of Creole kitchens and the rhythms of Caribbean culture. The Martinique Gourmande Festival, now in its 18th year, runs from September 9 through 21, 2025, turning Montreal and Quebec City into stages for Martinique’s culinary heritage.

Known internationally as the Island of Flowers, Martinique is famed for its volcanic landscapes, pristine beaches, and storied food traditions. The festival offers a window into that world, spotlighting the island’s rich mix of African, French, and Caribbean influences. Visitors can taste their way through a program that blends gourmet dining, cultural experiences, and hands-on discovery.

This year, more than 50 participating restaurants across Quebec — including Montreal and Quebec City — will feature Martinique-inspired menus. Local chefs are working alongside Martinican culinary ambassadors to showcase dishes like accras de morue (salt-cod fritters), Creole boudin sausage, spiced seafood, and desserts fragrant with tropical fruit. Rhum agricole, one of Martinique’s proudest exports, takes centre stage in cocktail creations, while wine pairings explore the island’s terroir.

Beyond the dining rooms, the festival spills into public spaces. Street-food kiosks, cooking workshops, and market pop-ups invite Quebecers to taste Creole specialties in a convivial, open-air atmosphere. Cultural programming layers in music, storytelling, and artisanal crafts, turning the event into more than just a food fair — it’s a celebration of Martinique’s identity.

Visitors can also expect thematic evenings dedicated to rum pairings and fresh seafood, along with family-friendly activities that bring the island’s festive spirit to life.

“Martinique Gourmande is an invitation to travel,” the organizers note, “an opportunity to discover the flavours, aromas, and warmth of our island without leaving Quebec.” For 13 days, gourmands, culture seekers, and anyone curious about the Caribbean will find a reason to celebrate.

So whether you’re booking a table at a participating restaurant or simply wandering through one of the festival’s public events, consider this your passport to Martinique.

Ordering gluten-free while travelling abroad

The Best Cities for Gluten-Free Travellers

2 September 2025

For years, travelling gluten-free meant living in a constant state of negotiation: scanning menus, grilling servers, and packing emergency snacks “just in case.” Thankfully, a handful of cities around the globe have turned that anxiety into freedom — embracing gluten-free dining not as an afterthought, but as a vital part of their culinary culture.

A new study by InsureandGo, which analysed nearly 200 destinations worldwide for their gluten-free friendliness, crowned Barcelona the global leader. With more than 1,000 gluten-free restaurants — 82% of them rated four stars or above — the Catalan capital is as safe as it is delicious for travellers avoiding wheat. Close behind are Sydney and Lisbon, both offering an impressive density of gluten-free menus across every style of dining, from brunch cafés to fine dining.

The top 25 also includes cities closer to home. Vancouver is Canada’s gluten-free champion, ranking 23rd globally thanks to its wide range of GF-friendly restaurants, bakeries, and breweries. Meanwhile, destinations like Rome and New York City, long praised anecdotally by travellers with celiac disease, are backed up by the numbers: both scored high for the sheer number and quality of gluten-free restaurants.

What unites these cities isn’t just their food, but their philosophy: dining gluten-free should be about abundance, not deprivation. Travellers in these destinations can leave behind the stress of cross-contamination and instead focus on discovery — of flavour, of community, of cultures that have chosen to make everyone feel welcome at the table.