Cunard has announced an exclusive partnership with Michelin-starred chef, Michel Roux Jr.
The Michelin-starred chef will be working alongside Cunard’s culinary development chefs to create an exclusive gala menu for the new ship debuting in May 2024, Queen Anne, and the Queen’s Grill restaurant as well as a new menu for Queen Anne’s on-board pub, the Golden Lion.
The new menu, currently in development, will feature a selection of refined pub favourites, reimagined by chef Michel. It will launch on-board Queen Anne in May 2024, before being rolled out to the existing fleet later in the year. SixStarCruises Managing Director, Alison Earnshaw attended a special event hosted by Cunard and the Michelin-starred chef at The Wigmore in London on 8th August where guests were treated to a sample menu of what to expect from the Golden Lion pub on Queen Anne. The gastro pub will focus on freshly made dishes which change with the seasons as well as featuring special dishes on the menu.
Chef Michel was wowed by the ship’s galley which had “every imaginable piece of kit”. Speaking on his partnership with Cunard, Michel Roux said “They have the same ideas and principles” as him, similar to his collaboration with The Wigmore, London, and that his experiences on-board were “exceptional and mind-blowing.” In addition, he is “really excited about working on the whole thing” and his involvement in addition to The Golden Lion menu will include regular stays on-board, ensuring the menu and food experience is “as he wants it to be”. With his approach that whether you are serving pub food or 3-star Michelin restaurant food it “should always be the best”, these experiences will surely be unique, impressive and influenced by the man himself.
Guests can sample the Michelin-starred chef’s cuisine can enjoy Le Gavroche at sea, on Queen Mary 2 this September on the Festival of Food and Wine 2023 event voyage.
Cunard has also revealed four additional dining experiences that will be available on Queen Anne – Aji Wa, Aranya, Sir Samuel’s, and Tramonto – which will offer guests more choices than ever before.
Three of these original venues aboard the luxury cruise line’s newest ship will be alternative evening dining options, available as a supplement, complementing the inclusive fare options offered for lunch or dinner in Tramonto and the Golden Lion pub.
A brand-new concept for Cunard, Aji Wa will feature creative Japanese cuisine influenced by the seasons of the year, featuring sushi and an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner, with an additional option to participate in a special Omikase “chef’s choice” tasting menu in the evening.
In another new taste direction for Cunard, Aranya takes guests on a journey through the rich spice flavours of India with menus curated by experts in their field. It’s a multi-sensory experience, from the vibrancy of the flavours to the luxurious interior which includes stunning floor-to-ceiling windows to ensure magnificent views while dining.
The epitome of a high-end steakhouse, Sir Samuel’s will showcase the very best of British and Australian beef and seafood, complemented by an exceptional wine programme. Selected for their provenance, steaks here will be of the foremost quality seared to perfection. Alongside a vast array of beef options, there will also be a wide range of fish and seafood dishes. All the produce has been sourced responsibly to bring the freshest flavours to the table.
Tramonto will transport guests to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean, with a menu full of fresh flavours and an opportunity for guests to dine al-fresco while watching the sunset on a warm summer evening.
Guests will also have exclusive use of dining appropriate to their stateroom type, from the grand two-tiered Britannia restaurant, the largest Britannia Club restaurant in the fleet, to the opulent settings of Princess Grill and Queens Grill dining.
Angus Struthers, Acting Senior Vice President, Cunard, said:
“We’re excited to share a flavour of what will be served on board Queen Anne in 2024. Cunard is renowned for high-quality dining options, and we’re delighted to be working with the very best chefs, at the top of their different culinary fields to offer such a wide range of dining options to our guests. From embracing the best of Japan in our new sushi and sake bar to dining al-fresco in Tramonto or enjoying a pub meal in the Golden Lion, there really will be something for everyone.”
Michel Roux added:
“It is an absolute privilege to be working with Cunard’s hugely talented and passionate culinary development chefs as we countdown to the launch of their newest ship Queen Anne. For me, there is no better recipe than blending high-quality ingredients with elegant execution to create unforgettable experiences for diners, and I am incredibly excited to showcase our elevated, reimagined pub classics to Cunard guests very soon.”