Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian to host Norwegian Cruise Line curated dining experiences at sea

       Norwegian Cruise Line is offering two exceptional opportunities for foodies to experience their ultimate vacation while cruising with celebrity chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian.

       Guests on the December 7, 2014 sailing of Norwegian Breakaway from New York and the January 10, 2015 sailing of Norwegian Getaway from Miami can enjoy an exclusive culinary experience at sea, featuring personal encounters with the Ocean Blue chef, including meet and greets, cooking demonstrations, book signings and intimate dinner experiences.

            There will be plenty of opportunities to meet Chef Zakarian and hear his favorite recipes and cooking tips during exclusive events including a meet and greet session, giving guests the chance to take a photo with the famed chef, along with an energetic cooking demonstration, followed by a personalized book signing of his recently released cookbook, “My Perfect Pantry: 150 Easy Recipes from 50 Essential Ingredients.” 

The highlight for these sailings will be the opportunity for a limited number of guests to experience a specially-curated Ocean Blue tasting menu served by Zakarian.  This limited-guest event will be hosted twice during each sailing and will include a five-course meal with wine and beverage pairings for $130 per person. Reservations can be made online prior to sailing or onboard. 

Zakarian is the culinary mind behind the sister ship’s popular eateries Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian, an elegant seafood dining experience that focuses on premium ingredients and expert culinary and service techniques; The Raw Bar, an adjacent bar that highlights crustaceans, crudos, cocktails and wines by the glass; and Ocean Blue on The Waterfront, a more casual dining option that serves fun and easy fare for lunch on sea days. 

His distinct influence and flavor can be recognized on nearly all aspects of the guest experience from the high quality fresh ingredients, to the beverages, to the finest standards of service, to the linens and plating, Zakarian brings the atmosphere and quality of his land-based restaurants to sea.  

Zakarian's taste, style and passion for fine cuisine have defined his career, which has spanned more than 25 years. An accomplished chef who has presided over some of the country's top kitchens, he currently has three popular restaurants in New York City – The Palm Court, The Lambs Club and The National; one in Atlantic City – The Water Club at Borgata; and two highly acclaimed cookbooks including the recently released “My Perfect Pantry: 150 Easy Recipes from 50 Essential Ingredients.”

Zakarian emerged victorious in the fourth season of Food Network's The Next Iron Chef, Super Chefs. He appears regularly on Iron Chef America, demonstrating a razor-sharp knowledge of culinary techniques in this fast-paced cooking competition. When he's not battling in kitchen stadium, Zakarian stays busy serving as the culinary director for New York’s exquisite The Plaza Hotel; filming CHOPPED, where he is featured as a recurring judge; and his newest show to arrive on Food Network, The Kitchen, which covers all things culinary with a panel of celebrity co-host chefs dishing out family meal tips, trend discussions and more. 

            To book a cruise on either sailing with Geoffrey Zakarian, contact a travel professional, call Norwegian at 866-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit www.ncl.com.