Windstar Cruises Partners With James Beard Foundation For Chefs Series

Launching in 2016, Windstar Cruises is partnering with the James Beard Foundation — the culinary non-profit organization known for hosting the James Beard Awards, the ""Oscars of the food world" — with a special chefs series that will offer menus designed by Beard Foundation-featured chefs, as well as cooking demonstrations with the chefs themselves.

The program, a "bespoke portfolio of sailings," will apply to three Windstar voyages, the James Beard Foundation Culinary Cruise of Southern Spain and Morocco beginning April 24, and the James Beard Foundation Culinary Cruise of Spain and France. The latter trip will be conducted twice, with departures on June 10 and August 9.

The chefs, who will be announced in January, will prepare two cooking demonstrations and a nightly featured dish on board. Guests will also be invited to join the chef on a local culinary outing, like a visit to the farmers market.

In Southern Spain and Morocco, guests will enjoy five complimentary regional wine tasting sessions on board, three regional wines with each dinner, two food- and wine-themed events on shore, an onboard Flamenco show, and access to a sommelier on board, who will lecture periodically on local vintners and offerings specifically from Spain. In France, guests will be invited to enjoy a cooking demonstration at a chateau in Bordeaux as well as wine tastings, local excursions, and wine instruction from a sommelier.

Windstar is also donating a cruise for two as a silent auction package for the JBF Gala in New York City in November. In addition to those attending the event, the cruise will be available for bidding online beginning October 27 and continuing through the event on November 13.