THE CULINARY ISSUE – SPICE UP YOUR HOLIDAYS

THE CULINARY ISSUE - SPICE UP YOUR HOLIDAYS Continuing Aqua Expeditions' tradition of selecting world-renowned chefs to curate its onboard cuisine, Australia's Benjamin Cross is planning the menus for the company's new ocean-going Aqua Blu. Trained by Sydney's best culinary talents - Neil Perry at Rockpool and Janni Kyritsis at MG Garage - Benjamin Cross went on to co-found the award-winning Urbane in Brisbane. Next came work at Barcelona's three-Michelin-star Can Fabes, as well as at Tom Colicchio's Craft in New York prior to opening his own three restaurants in Bali.  For the Aqua Blu, Cross has masterfully created over 100 recipes that showcase a journey of refined flavors drawn from the ancient Spice Route from Africa to the Middle East and Asia, highlighting the islands of Indonesia's role as the focus of the global spice trade in the 16th- and 17th-centuries. In executing his eclectic culinary vision for the Aqua Blu, Chef Cross will rely on local ingredients sourced primarily from Bali and eastern Indonesia, including indigenous spices such as nutmeg and cloves, as well as a wealth of seafood such as giant Papuan prawns sustainably sourced from the Indonesian seas.    Learn more Discover the Spice Islands as 2019 becomes 2020 As a new year dawns, there is still time to follow Aqua Blu's discovery of the ancient trade route to the Spice Islands and to admire the richest marine biodiversity on our planet in Raja Ampat.  There are limited suites to join us for a memorable year-end celebration on the brand-new Aqua Blu! BOOK NOW The Icon of the Amazon Since the birth of Aqua Expeditions, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino has been at the helm of its Amazon vessels' cuisine. Schiaffino is a pioneer of rainforest-to-table cuisine with more than a decade of work supporting its indigenous Amazonian communities. He will be recognized at the 2019 Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants awards. Time to come on board the Aria Amazon and indulge in a culinary journey through the Amazon! EXPERIENCE THE AMAZON NOW  World-Class Cuisine on the Mekong Travelers on the Aqua Mekong can experience the Thai-influenced cuisine of renowned chef David Thompson, known for Michelin-starred restaurants and other lauded dining establishments in Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.  Specializing in elevated Thai street food, Thompson brings the best of local ingredients together with Southeast Asian spices to create a culinary adventure on the Mekong. EXPERIENCE THE MEKONG NOW aquaexpeditions.com