For the Love of Food
Posted on 05/02/2024
Magnificent discoveries for the palate abound, on Explora Journeys’ ships
For so many travelers, the pursuit of exceptional food and the leisure of a holiday often intentionally coincide. One’s sensorial memories of a place can tap into emotions like the joy of discovery, and the utter contentment of sharing a meal with a loved one – even long after a holiday has ended.
For ocean travelers, when restaurants on the open sea rival – and exceed – those on land, it can feel like a paradise of sorts. It’s a combined effect of the vast horizon tapping into an awareness of possibility, right alongside the distinct elation that comes from experiencing outstanding food and drink.
On Explora Journeys’ EXPLORA I and the soon-to-set-sail EXPLORA II, is a cosmopolitan ambiance complemented by the timeless gold thread of European luxury. Whilst onboard, you revel in experience after experience that defies your expectations, from the elegantly inviting design of the 461 suites to the emphasis on freedom, choice, and privacy in how you spend your time.
And amongst those beautiful experiences is an unparalleled choice of 18 restaurants, bars and lounges, each its own celebration of global talents and cultures.
Not only is there no set dining time or place, there’s a seemingly endless bounty of thoughtfully sourced, artfully prepared and warmly shared dishes to enjoy. One can relish one of nine fully included culinary experiences and discover, perhaps unexpectedly, that a personal list of ‘favorite restaurants in the world’ now includes some found only on the ocean.
At Emporium Marketplace, an abundance of globally inspired preparations for breakfast, lunch and dinner ranges from the sumptuous to the health-conscious, with mouthwatering homemade pastas and pizzas, exquisite sushi and ceviche, and an evolving array of plant-based options. The fresh juices and smoothies prepared during breakfast are so perfectly balanced that some guests have found themselves, back home, yearning for just one more bright and sustaining sip of ‘Sweet Green,’ a hydrating blend of fresh spinach, cucumber, apple, lemon, ginger, and mint.
Sakura’s immersive Pan-Asian ambience and menu are nothing short of sublime. Whether at lunch or dinner, whether at the sushi bar, a table for two, or a long high-top perfect for groups, service, like everywhere else onboard, is attentive, friendly and timely. Although the restaurant’s name is the Japanese word for that country’s national flower, the cherry blossom, a bloom that symbolizes renewal and optimism, the menu offers not only Japanese but also Thai, Vietnamese, and Malaysian flavors and preparations. Complemented by the included wines and beers selected by sommeliers to enhance each restaurant’s overall flavor profile – as well as a curated collection of sakes and shochus – the entire Sakura experience is extraordinary.
Aside from the totality of any one restaurant’s offering, some dishes, like the redefined European steakhouse Marble & Co. Grill’s ‘Crushed Fingerling Potatoes and Normandy Butter with Chives, Calvisius Oscietra Caviar and Crème Fraîche,’ can singlehandedly validate any sense that on Explora Journeys’ ships, one could take all their meals onboard and discover that their traveler’s desire to incorporate fantastic cuisine into their trip, is wholly satiated. This simple dish is executed with the finest ingredients. The potatoes are prepared with Bordier butter, arguably the finest butter in the world. Calvisius Oscietra caviar, known the world over for its outstanding calibre, is sustainably sourced in Italy, in an area rich with fresh spring water, contributing to its high quality and low-salt flavor.
As well, Marble & Co. Grill’s signature grilled prime rib is aged 30 days and served with cherry tomatoes and Hollandaise sauce. Here, provenance and quality take center stage, to create the finest version of a steakhouse classic. From a local producer in the Deux Sévres region of the lush Loire Valleé, it’s clear why the famous Jersiaise breed, renowned for its sensational flavor and intense marbling, is one of the most sought-after cuts of prime rib.
When experiencing Med Yacht Club, Fil Rouge, Crema Café, Gelateria & Creperie at The Conservatory, Explora Lounge’s daily afternoon tea, or In-Suite Dining, countless more equally elevated discoveries await your palate.
Chef’s Kitchen’s immersive offerings of culinary classes and private dining, and Anthology’s platform for some of the world’s most celebrated chefs, are well worth the extra fee.
Travelers – as well as travel advisors who have experienced every sort of luxury ocean experience in operation – have been open about their sheer delight at the culinary experience Explora Journeys has created.
It’s no secret that the entire food and beverage program onboard has been a very special focus, not only for expert culinarians like Explora Journeys Head of Culinary Franck Garanger and his team, but also for every host onboard.
But for all the passion that goes into the selection of each ingredient, the fine-tuning of every recipe, and the outstanding hospitality of service, it’s the experience that travelers have, whilst finding joy through Explora Journeys’ gorgeous food, and the conviviality of sharing that joy with their companions, that resonates most deeply.
Some attribute Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw with coining the widely used statement that “There is no love sincerer than the love of food.”
Indeed, this is a universal truth across eras, cultures, and individuals. Our ability, as humans, to derive not only nourishment but also pleasure from the exploration of flavors, textures, aromas and temperatures, can feel, at times, divine – especially when food is exceptional.
On Explora Journey’s ships, the culinary journey can connect guests with their deepest senses, on the simplest level, and in so doing, get them even closer to their Ocean State of Mind.
