Food for thought - Windstar Marks 10-year Partnership with the James Beard Foundation®
Windstar Cruises marks a decade-long collaboration with the James Beard Foundation®
Image Credit: Windstar Cruises
2025 marks a decade-long collaboration between Windstar Cruises and the James Beard Foundation®, and to commemorate, the luxury cruise brand is unveiling an exciting lineup of culinary voyages for the occasion.
To mark this significant milestone, Windstar will host five renowned “All-Star” chefs, four of whom are returning favourites from past sailings. These acclaimed chefs, including Jamilka Borges, José Mendin, Jennifer Hill Booker, Jennifer Jasinski, and Larry Forgione (making his Windstar debut), will showcase their regional culinary expertise and signature dishes on board.
As the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar shares the Foundation’s dedication to celebrating, supporting, and elevating America’s food culture. With a focus on talent, equity, and sustainability, the Foundation’s ethos aligns seamlessly with Windstar’s commitment to delivering fresh, locally sourced culinary experiences while minimising food waste.
Guests on James Beard Foundation sailings can look forward to intimate interactions with the chefs, including chef-hosted dinners, wine pairings, onboard cooking demonstrations with takeaway recipes, and shoreside market tours. Since the inception of the partnership, over three dozen James Beard Foundation-affiliated chefs have sailed with Windstar, enriching the culinary journey for guests.
Christopher Prelog, President of Windstar Cruises, expressed his enthusiasm for the milestone, stating, “We are thrilled to recognise our 10-year partnership with the James Beard Foundation. We take pride in the numerous chefs who have sailed with us, shared their stories, and crafted signature dishes – enhancing the culinary experience for all of our guests on Windstar.”
The 2025 James Beard Foundation themed cruises feature a diverse range of itineraries, each paired with a unique culinary experience. From Chef Jamilka Borges’ exploration of San Juan’s culinary heritage to Chef José Mendin’s homage to Spanish flavours, these voyages promise unforgettable gastronomic adventures.
Chef Jennifer Hill Booker brings her modern Southern healthy cuisine with a French twist to the Baltic shores, while Chef Jennifer Jasinski tantalises taste buds with her award-winning fare amidst the Adriatic Archipelagos. Finally, Chef Larry Forgione, hailed as “The Godfather of American Cuisine,” showcases his pioneering farm-to-table philosophy on a voyage through Southeast Canada.
Details Of James Beard Foundation Themed Cruises 2025
15th March 2025 with Chef Jamilka Borges on a seven-night “Windward Ways & Tobago Cays: Aruba to Bridgetown” sailing aboard Windstar’s 312-guest Star Pride
Chef Jamilka Borges Image Credit: Windstar Cruises
As the owner of Lilith, Chef Jamilka Borges was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico where she developed an interest in art and food early in her life. In 2015, she was named a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Rising Star Chef of the Year and was also honoured as Best Chefs America’s Rising Star Chef. In 2019, she was recognised as a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.
12th April 2025 with Chef José Mendin on an eight-night “Spanish Symphony: Lisbon to Barcelona” sailing aboard Windstar’s flagship 342-guest Wind Surf
Chef/restaurateur José Mendin Image Credit: Windstar Cruises
Chef/restaurateur José Mendin co-founded the Pubbelly Boys Restaurant Group in 2010 and has since opened several other restaurants in Miami including La Placita, which pays homage to his Puerto Rican roots, and the beloved Casa Isola in Sunset Harbor. The latter also recently expanded to Mexico City. Mendín is a five-time James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best Chef: South.
29th June 2025 with Chef Jennifer Hill Booker on an 11-night “Baltic Beauty: Stockholm to Copenhagen” sailing aboard Windstar’s 312- guest Star Legend
Chef Jennifer Hill Booker Image Credit: Windstar Cruises
Chef Jennifer Hill Booker has taken her Southern culinary heritage, her belief in healthy, seasonal foods and her classic French training to create a unique cuisine — modern southern healthy cuisine with a French accent. She wears many culinary hats as chef: cookbook author of Field Peas to Foie Gras: Southern Recipes with a French Accent and Dinner Déjà Vu: Southern Tonight, French Tomorrow; reality TV personality; culinary educator; and business owner, most recently the acclaimed Bauhaus Biergarten, a place for German and European food and drink, in Springdale, AK. Chef Booker is an alum of the James Beard Foundation Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change.
27th August 2025 with Chef Jennifer Jasinski on a nine-night “Adriatic Archipelagos & Greek Goddesses: Venice to Athens” sailing aboard Windstar’s flagship 342-guest Wind Surf
Chef Jennifer Jasinski Image Credit: Windstar Cruises
Chef Jennifer Jasinski won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2013 and was a semi-finalist for Outstanding Chef in 2016 and Outstanding Restaurateur in 2020. A Wolfgang Puck alum, her restaurants - including Rioja, Bistro Vendôme, Ultreia and Stoic & Genuine - consistently rank among Denver’s top establishments, solidifying her remarkable legacy in the culinary world. Fans of Top Chef Masters will also recognise Jasinski from the show.
7th October 2025 with Chef Larry Forgione on a 12-night “Southeast Canadian Explorations: Montreal to New York” sailing aboard Windstar’s 312-guest Star Pride
Chef Larry Forgione Image Credit: Windstar Cruises
Chef Larry Forgione is hailed as “The Godfather of American Cuisine” for his role in changing the way Americans eat today. At his restaurant, An American Place, he embraced the virtues of national cuisine and used only seasonal, local ingredients, beginning the entire “farm-to-table” movement. Chef Forgione’s An American Place Cookbook won a James Beard Award for “Best American Cookbook” in 1996 along with the Foundation’s 1992 “Best Chef in America” award. Chef Forgione co-founded and developed The Conservatory for American Food Studies at The Culinary Institute of America. The Culinary also presented him with an award as the “Pioneer of American Cuisine” for his far-reaching influence.
For more information on the James Beard Foundation cruises with Windstar and reservations, visit www.windstarcruises.com or call 0808 178 2233.