Costa Cruises and Barry Callebaut Group (1996-founded, Zurich Switzerland-based producer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa) are renewing their partnership for an extraordinary travel experience called 'ChocoCruise - Explore the World of Chocolate.'
This unique pastry-themed voyage will take place on Costa Toscana (Mediterranean itinerary November 17-24, 2023) offering a delightful gastronomical journey with stops in Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona, Cagliari Sardinia, Naples, and Civitavecchia-Rome.
During this voyage, guests will be treated to the expertise of five world-class master pastry chefs hailing from Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. All these pastry masters are members of the Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy and esteemed Ambassadors of Barry Callebaut. They, along with Riccardo Bellaera (Costa's Corporate Pastry Chef & Baker) will provide an immersive experience, revealing the refined art of chocolate-related pastry. The five acclaimed pastry masters aboard "ChocoCruise 2023" are Alberto Simionato (Italy), Joel Perriard (Switzerland), Philippe Bertrand (France), Ramon Morato (Spain), and Alexandre Bourdeaux (Belgium).
The sailing will be filled with chocolate-themed experiences, from breakfast to dinner, including special dishes allowing guests to savor the delightful food in various forms and combinations based on the visited destinations.
Throughout the week, there will be meetings and cooking shows conducted by the master pastry chefs and Riccardo Bellaera, where they will share their professional stories, and kitchen secrets, and demonstrate the preparation of the chocolate dish of the day.
In the Lab/ship's galley laboratory, guests will have the opportunity to attend workshops focused on chocolate culture, led by the pastry masters, along with tastings of their signature dishes.
The chocolate extravaganza will also extend to beverages, as two Italian master bartenders - Bacardi's Europe Cruise Brand Ambassadors, will present exclusive cocktails with chocolate as one of the ingredients.
Additionally, guests onboard Costa Toscana will savor the "Destination Dishes" throughout the itinerary exploring Italy, France, and Spain. These dishes, curated by Costa's three world-renowned international chef partners, Bruno Barbieri, Angel León, and Helene Darroze, will be inspired by the destinations visited the following day. For a more extraordinary culinary experience, the Archipelago restaurant will offer three menus, one from each chef, consisting of 5 refined dishes designed to explore the flavors of the sea through their cuisine. Moreover, guests can indulge in creative Asian cuisine at Teppanyaki, Sushino, and Pummid'Oro, and enjoy 100% Made in Italy pizza.
Chocolate and food enthusiasts can secure their cabins for the ChocoCruise 2023 departing on Costa Toscana on November 17th through travel agencies or directly with Costa.