Eataly To Open On Cruise Ship

When MSC Cruises' new ship MSC Preziosa sets sail in March 2013, the cruise ship will feature Mario Batali's Eataly restaurant onboard.

The at-sea 80-seat Eataly Restaurant will mirror Eataly's original concept, serving Italian lunch and dinner. The menu, created by the cruise ship's corporate chef team and the Eataly team, features 18 dishes from Eataly plus a few new creations.

The chefs behind the menu include Enrico Panero, head chef at Restaurant Marin Eataly in Genoa, Italy, and a team of Italian Michelin-starred chefs, including chef Ugo Alciati of Guido in Pollenzo, Italy, Moreno Cedroni of La Madonnina del Pescatore in Senigallia, Italy, and Pino Cuttaia, of La Madia in Licata, Italy. Mario Batali was not involved in the at-sea Eataly's menu creation.

The restaurant space will also include aisles of the same Italian products, like olive oil, aged balsamics, dried pasta, artisanal sweets, and wines, found at Eataly restaurants in Italy, Japan, and the U.S.

The ship will also feature a 24-seat Ristorante Italia, which will serve a daily table d'hôte dinner menu based on dishes from Slow Food Presidia products.

To celebrate the forthcoming Eataly restaurant at sea, MSC Cruises and Eataly are offering the chance to win one of two cruises on sister ship MSC Divine, which is slated to debut in Fall 2013 and sail from the Port of Miami to the eastern and western Caribbean. The sweepstakes ends Feb. 28, 2013.

Lauren Mack is the Special Projects Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @lmack.