P&O’s food ambassador Luke Mangan has found Australia’s biggest foodie – Sofia Levin from Collingwood, Melbourne has been chosen to be Chef Mangan’s Culinary Experience Officer.
Sofia will now travel the world with Luke, tasting her way through various countries to create recipes for his restaurants including eateries onboard the P&O fleet.
The trip will include a four-night P&O cruise to Hamilton Island onboard the Pacific Aria.
She was selected from some of Australia’s best foodies across three categories: Drinks Connoisseur, Talented Home Cook & Artisan Supplier. This included the likes of world class bartender Luke Ashton, My Kitchen Rules winner Sammy Jakubiak, pastry chef Chrisopher Thé of Blackstar Pastry and James Madden of Flinders Island Meat.
Luke even had some cheeky submissions on social media from Sir Richard Branson, Jamie Oliver and Mario Batali.
Sofia’s winning dish of beetroot cured Kingfish with citrus and fennel salad, avruga roe and horseradish cream will be available at Luke’s Salt Grill restaurant onboard each of P&O’s five ships between October 14 and October 30.
“There’s nothing I love more than food and travel, ideally simultaneously. For a panel of industry professionals to give me this opportunity has been the icing on the cake of what’s already been an incredible experience,” she said.
“The prospect of selecting Australia’s best foodie was an exciting challenge and one we enjoyed immensely. We were consistently stunned by the level of talent in our own backyard and welcome Sofia to our family with open arms,” said Luke.
“We’re looking forward to what we can achieve with Sofia, working through my network of restaurants and brand partnerships to push the destination of what it means to create and celebrate food in all its forms.”
