He’s one of the best Aussie exports to America – so when Curtis Stone was signed by Princess Cruises to open his signature restaurant, it was a culinary coup.
And last week, Princess Cruises celebrated with a grand opening of SHARE restaurant aboard the Ruby Princess docked in San Pedro Harbour, Los Angeles.
Princess $450 million refurbishment and the story behind SHARE
Cruise liners collaborating with celebrity chefs is now more than just a brand campaign. Royal Caribbean, APT, P&O…. all have invested in bringing a ‘star’ chef onboard.
But Curtis Stone wasn’t so sure about opening his first sea restaurant when approached by Princess Cruises.
“How could I do a restaurant on a ship?,’ he asked. “It doesn’t make sense at all. But hearing more about their ability to change things around, it started to become more interesting,” he said in an interview with The Los Angeles Times
Opening SHARE restaurant aboard on two more ships is part of the $450 million refurbishment plan announced in 2015. Princess Cruises renovations are part of their ‘Come Back New Promise’ campaign that focuses on enhancing guest experiences. “The campaign demonstrates a commitment by Princess Cruises to exceed guest expectations while continuously improving upon and delivering a high value cruise experience that inspires guests to return and introduce cruising to their family and friends,” said their press statement.
Crafted by Curtis’ menu items have also been made available fleet wide in main dining rooms.
The Menu
The concept of the SHARE is about communal dining with family, friends and other cruisers. The menu features dishes such as a Charcuterie starter course; Butter Poached Lobster with Caramelized Endive; Twice Cooked Duck Leg with Fennel, Bacon jus and Parmesan Crumb; Tagliatelle with Roasted Alaskan Crab, Chili and Parsley; and Potato Gratin with Truffles and Cream.
With an appetiser, main course, sides and dessert, a meal at SHARE will cost US$39 per person (not including wine), that’s almost half the price of dining at Chef Stone’s Beverly Hills restaurant, Maude
Focus on fresh ingredients
At SHARE, everything is prepared onboard and sourcing depends on where the ship is sailing from, ingredient samples are collected in advance. Chef Stone has credited Princess crew for sourcing the best and finding techniques to retain the freshness of ingredients, like the tomatoes are stored in a dark climate controlled area.
SHARE comes to Australia in 2016
The restaurant launches aboard the Emerald Princess that will cruise from Australia this year.
