Meals & Wine Finest New Cooks alumni Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Katie Button, Calvin Eng, Aisha Ibrahim, George Mendes, and Lawrence “LT” Smith to function Godparents of Oceania Allura on the Christening Ceremony in Miami on November 13, 2025
COURTESY Oceania Cruises: MIAMI, October 13, 2025 – Oceania Cruises®, the world’s main culinary- and destination-focused luxurious cruise line, at the moment introduced Meals & Wine’s acclaimed Finest New Cooks franchise will function the official godparent of the road’s latest ship, Oceania Allura, which debuted in July 2025 and will likely be christened in Miami on November 13. This historic collaboration marks the primary time the distinguished godparent title has been bestowed upon a culinary model relatively than a person, underscoring Oceania Cruises’ unwavering dedication to culinary excellence, creativity, and international discovery.
Representing the Meals & Wine Finest New Cooks franchise as godparents in the course of the christening ceremony in Miami on November 13, 2025, are celebrated alumni Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Katie Button, Calvin Eng, Aisha Ibrahim, George Mendes, and Lawrence “LT” Smith who will officiate the time-honored custom of breaking a Champagne bottle throughout the ship’s bow, bestowing success on Oceania Allura and all who sail aboard her.
“At Oceania Cruises, our ships are a celebration of wealthy tradition, distinctive delicacies, and international discovery, and Oceania Allura isn’t any exception,” mentioned Jason Montague, Chief Luxurious Officer of Oceania Cruises. “Paying homage to the Meals & Wine Finest New Cooks program and having its alumni symbolize as her godparents displays our perception that meals lies on the coronary heart of worldwide exploration. These visionary cooks embody the spirit of culinary excellence, and we’re honored to have them be part of the Oceania Cruises household.”
Since 1988, the Meals & Wine Finest New Cooks program has honored almost 400 rising culinary stars who’ve redefined how we cook dinner, eat, and join by meals. Now, for the primary time, the franchise itself will function godparent of Oceania Allura, with a distinguished group of alumni cooks officiating the ceremony. Collectively, these cooks embody this system’s international legacy of innovation and creativity whereas championing Oceania Cruises’ dedication to epicurean excellence at sea—providing vacationers unforgettable experiences centered round meals and led by the world’s most celebrated cooks.
“For almost 4 many years, Meals & Wine Finest New Cooks have formed eating in America and impressed the best way we expertise meals,” mentioned Tom Bair, Writer of Meals & Wine. “We’re thrilled to have a good time this legacy with Oceania Cruises, a companion that shares our ardour for extraordinary delicacies and discovery, and to make this milestone christening with journeys the place meals is each bit as memorable because the locations.”
Oceania Cruises’ latest 1,200-guest ship guarantees an elevated onboard expertise outlined by immersive locations and The Most interesting Delicacies at Sea®. With the grandeur of its signature Grand Eating Room, an expansive hands-on professional-grade Culinary Middle and accompanying Chef’s Studio, and the return of Oceania Cruises’ signature French restaurant, Jacques, Oceania Allura embodies the cruise line’s dedication to culinary excellence whereas pushing the boundaries of innovation.
Oceania Allura has twelve distinct culinary venues, together with 4 at all times complimentary specialty eating venues: Jacques, pan-Asian Pink Ginger, Italian Toscana, and Polo Grill, the road’s subtle steakhouse. New to the model is the Crêperie, serving delicate, genuine French crêpes, scrumptious Belgian and bubble waffles and decadent Italian ice cream sundaes. Additional underscoring its popularity for The Most interesting Delicacies at Sea, Oceania Allura maintains an unequalled ratio of 1 chef for each eight company, with half of the ship’s crew devoted to culinary operations.
This prestigious partnership underscores Oceania Cruises’ dedication to the enduring affect of cooks on luxurious journey. This previous August, 2023 Meals & Wine Finest New Cooks alumni Aisha Ibrahim led the road’s inaugural Finest New Cooks Cruise in Alaska, treating company to unique menus, stay cooking demonstrations, and curated pairing experiences. By deepening its decades-long relationship with Meals & Wine and honoring the Finest New Cooks franchise as godparent, Oceania Cruises reaffirms its dedication to delivering distinctive culinary experiences.
Meals & Wine Finest New Cooks alumni who will symbolize the long-lasting Meals & Wine Finest New Cooks franchise on the Christening and Naming Ceremony of Oceania Allura embrace:
Katie Button (2015 F&W BNC) is a five-time James Beard Award nominee, cookbook creator, and media persona greatest often called the chef and founding father of Asheville’s acclaimed Cúrate restaurant group. A former engineer turned chef, she skilled beneath Ferran Adrià and José Andrés earlier than opening her personal award-winning ideas, together with Cúrate Bar de Tapas, recipient of the 2022 James Beard Award for Excellent Hospitality. She additionally hosts From the Supply on Magnolia Community and authored Cúrate: Genuine Spanish Meals from an American Kitchen. By means of her residing wage–licensed restaurant group, Button champions equitable, sustainable practices in hospitality.
Calvin Eng (2022 F&W BNC) is the chef and proprietor of Bonnie’s, a celebrated Cantonese American restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the creator of Salt Sugar MSG: A Cantonese American Cookbook. Born and raised in Brooklyn in a conventional Chinese language household, Eng based Bonnie’s to honor his heritage and reimagine the flavors of his upbringing by a contemporary lens. Since opening, Bonnie’s has garnered widespread acclaim from The New York Instances, The New Yorker, New York Journal, Eater, Bon Appétit, and extra. Eng has been acknowledged as a James Beard Award finalist for Rising Chef, a Meals & Wine Finest New Chef, a Forbes 30 Underneath 30 honoree, a StarChefs Rising Star, and a two-time James Beard semifinalist for Finest Chef: New York State.
Aisha Ibrahim (2023 F&W BNC) is an acclaimed chef celebrated for her international perspective and management in trendy advantageous eating. Born in Mindanao, Philippines, and raised within the U.S., she started her culinary journey rooted in her household’s cooking traditions earlier than honing her craft in among the world’s high kitchens, together with Manresa, Azurmendi, and Nihonryori Ryugin. In 2021, she made historical past as the primary feminine Govt Chef at Seattle’s iconic Canlis Restaurant, the place she served till 2025. Acknowledged amongst Meals & Wine’s Finest New Cooks (2023), TIME’s 100 Subsequent (2024), and a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist, Ibrahim continues to push the boundaries of culinary innovation and equitable kitchen tradition
Tavel Bristol-Joseph (2020 F&W BNC) is the Associate, Pastry Chef, and Director of Hospitality for Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, overseeing seven acclaimed ideas throughout Austin and San Antonio. Named considered one of Meals & Wine’s Finest New Cooks (2020) and Esquire’s Pastry Chef of the Yr (2024), he has earned a number of James Beard semifinalist nods for Finest Chef: Texas. Underneath his management, Hestia obtained a Michelin Star, whereas Emmer & Rye earned a Inexperienced Star and Bib Gourmand recognition. Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Bristol-Joseph continues to form Texas’ eating panorama by innovation, heat, and community-driven hospitality.
George Mendes (2011 F&W BNC) is a Culinary Institute of America graduate and 2011 Meals & Wine Finest New Chef greatest recognized for bringing trendy Portuguese delicacies to the forefront of New York Metropolis’s eating scene. He was the manager chef/proprietor of the Michelin-starred Aldea from 2009 to 2022 and opened Veranda on the ModernHaus SoHo resort in 2021. Mendes started his profession at Bouley and L’Arpège and went on to open Lupulo in 2015. He’s the co-author of My Portugal: Recipes and Tales and has appeared on High Chef Masters, The Finest Factor I Ever Ate, and Worst Cooks in America. He’s at present primarily based in Boston and is embarking on a brand new advantageous eating restaurant challenge together with a restaurant bakery within the South Finish neighborhood.
Lawrence “LT” Smith (2024 F&W BNC) is an NFL hopeful turned award-winning chef and founding father of Chilte in Phoenix, the place he redefines Southwestern delicacies by daring, ingredient-driven dishes rooted in Mexican, Black, and Midwestern traditions. His cooking blends Sonoran chiltepin with African methods and soulful nods to Mexican consolation, creating flavors which are vibrant, balanced, and deeply private. Named considered one of Meals & Wine’s Finest New Cooks (2024) and a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist, Smith has earned nationwide approval for pushing culinary boundaries whereas telling tales of heritage, id, and tradition by each plate.
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About Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises® is the world’s main culinary- and destination-focused luxurious cruise line. The road’s eight small, luxurious ships carry a most of 1,250 company and have The Most interesting Delicacies at Sea® and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated journey experiences can be found aboard the designer-inspired, small ships, which name on greater than 600 marquee and boutique ports in additional than 100 nations on seven continents, on voyages that vary from seven to greater than 200 days. Oceania Cruises® has 4 Sonata Class ships on order scheduled for supply in 2027, 2029, 2032, and 2035. Oceania Cruises® is a completely owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH).
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