P&O Cruises has revealed three new culinary partnerships ahead of the launch of new ship Iona next year.
Spanish-born chef Jose Pizarro, Norwegian chef Kjartan Skjelde and photographer and home cook Marte Marie Forsberg have all been enlisted by the line, which has also announced a new dining venue – Taste360 – for the ship.
Pizarro, who has three restaurants in London, will curate the menu for The Glasshouse on Iona as well as introduce his signature dishes for Taste360.
Pizarro co-founded the popular Brindisa restaurant chain.
Skjelde has created a six-course Norwegian tasting menu for The Epicurean Restaurant on Iona.
Forsberg, who was born in Norway but now lives in the UK, is designing a range of local dishes which will also appear in Taste 360.
Passengers dining in Iona’s main restaurants will be able to sample Norwegian food which will appears in the main dining room.
New 5,200-passenger ship Iona, which will launch in May 2020, will sail in the Norwegian Fjords in its maiden summer season, before spending its first winter season in Portugal, Spain and the Canary Islands.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “One of the best ways to explore a destination is to try the native dishes that tell stories of the history, culture and lives of the locals.
“Our new local food heroes will be champions of fresh, seasonal ingredients and recipes that fly the flag for their homelands.
“We are privileged to have chefs of their calibre helping us to create authentic dining experiences that reflect the ports we are visiting during Iona’s maiden year.”
TV chef Skjelde owns two restaurants – Tango and Fish & Cow Brasserie – and has appeared as a judge on MasterChef Norway.
Skjelde said: “What is most important for me is to build a strong Nordic cuisine that comes across in every dish I create.
“Working with P&O Cruises, I want guests to be able to smell, taste and see that each dish of my six-course taster menu for The Epicurean is truly Norwegian.”