Two Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux is partnering with luxury cruise line Cunard to create menus for the new flagship Queen Anne.
The chef, who is famously associated with his London fine dining restaurant Le Gavroche, is turning his attention to refined ‘pub grub’ on the 3,000-passenger vessel launching next May. He will also be on board during certain sailings to curate the new menus and host talks and cookery demonstrations.
Cunard announced the partnership at an event held at The Wigmore, the bar which is part of the neighbouring Langham Hotel and where he oversees the menu.
Michel Roux will create an all-new menu for Queen Anne’s Golden Lion, the pub that’s a popular venue on all Cunard ships, and also work alongside the line’s culinary development team to produce an exclusive gala menu for the ship’s Queens Grill restaurant.
He told the audience:
“Whether serving pub food or fine dining it should always be the best. I love eating when I go to a pub and there is no reason why you should not have quality food when you go to a pub.”
Talking about the menu he said it would include favourites such as toasties, pies and crumpets, and puddings would be “sticky, sweet and delicious.”
The former MasterChef: The Professionals judge has already sailed on a Cunard ship and said he was very impressed by the set up in the kitchen.
He added:
“I was blown away by the galley. It’s got every imaginable piece of kit that a professional chef would want and more. I quickly realised I could work there, and I am very excited about it.”
He said he would be focusing on sourcing sustainable, seasonal and local ingredients and create a number of dishes themed around the destinations being visited during the cruise.
He went on to hint:
“There could be curried goat pie in the Caribbean. I have never tried it, but I want to. There will be fish and chips, but not just any old fish and chips. The fish would be the best quality and sustainably sourced. There will also be daily specials to keep the menu fresh and exciting.”
The new menu will launch on Queen Anne before being rolled out to the existing fleet later in the year. When Queen Anne sets sail it will be the first time since 1999 that Cunard will have four ships at sea.
Cunard also revealed four additional dining experiences that will be available on Queen Anne – Aji Wa, Aranya, Sir Samuels, and Tramonto – which will offer guests more choice than ever before.
Three of these venues will be alternative evening dining options, available as a supplement and complementing the inclusive fare options offered for lunch or dinner in Tramonto and the Golden Lion pub.
Aji Wa is a brand new concept for Cunard and will feature Japanese cuisine influenced by the seasons of the year, with sushi and an à la carte menu for lunch and dinner, with an additional option to participate in a special chef’s choice tasting menu in the evening. Aranya will showcase Indian cuisine and Sir Samuels is a steak and seafood restaurant. Mediterranean themed Tramonto will also include an al fresco dining area.
Angus Struthers, Acting Senior Vice President, Cunard, said:
“We’re excited to share a flavour of what will be served on board Queen Anne in 2024. Cunard is renowned for high quality dining options, and we’re delighted to be working with the very best chefs, at the top of their different culinary fields to offer such a wide range of dining options to our guests. From embracing the best of Japan in our new sushi and sake bar to dining al fresco in Tramonto or enjoying a pub meal in the Golden Lion, there really will be something for everyone.”
Michel Roux concluded:
“It is an absolute privilege to be working with Cunard’s hugely talented and passionate culinary development chefs as we countdown to the launch of their newest ship Queen Anne. For me, there is no better recipe than blending high quality ingredients with elegant execution to create unforgettable experiences for diners, and I am incredibly excited to showcase our elevated, reimagined pub classics to Cunard guests very soon.”
Author Bio:
Known as the ‘River Cruise Queen’, Jeannine Williamson is an award-winning travel writer, cruise expert and our cruise correspondent, who has clocked up thousands of nautical miles.
Photographs courtesy of Cunard and Christopher Ison Photography
Be the first to comment