Atlas Ocean Voyages has announced a lineup of chefs and culinary experts for its upcoming 2025 “Epicurean Expeditions.” Guests exploring Europe will be immersed in each destination’s culture, cuisine and wines aboard World Traveller, World Voyager and World Navigator. Culinary experts for the 2025 season include:
- Chef Paulette Mitchell (World Traveller, April 15, 2025) – Mitchell is an author, culinary instructor, food and travel writer, photographer and recipe developer for websites and various publications. She will engage explorers with culinary presentations including the Mediterranean diet as a way of life, showcasing local ingredients. Her cooking demonstrations will also highlight regional use of herbs, spices and distinctive flavorings in traditional Italian and Greek dishes.
- Chef Philip “Ippy” Aiona (World Voyager, May 27, 2025) – Aiona’s cuisine is rooted in the traditions of both his Italian heritage and Hawaiian upbringing. He graduated top of his class from Le Cordon Bleu, San Francisco, and, at 23 years old, gained national acclaim as the youngest finalist on “Food Network Star.”
- Anna Wilamowska (World Navigator, April 20, 2025) – A French pastry chef and chocolatier, Wilamowska collaborates with local artists and sculptors. She caters to those with dietary restrictions, offering vegan and gluten-free desserts.
- Mara Papatheodorou (World Navigator, “President’s Cruise” June 7, July 20, 28; World Voyager, May 27, September 1, 2025) – A culinary specialist and historian, Papatheodorou highlights the diverse stories and connections of cuisine and culture worldwide through facts, flavors and folklore.
- Chef Jeff Durham (World Navigator, June 7, 14, 2025) – Durham’s winemaking journey began in his family’s vineyard in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. His hospitality roots grew deeper as he worked as a busboy in local valley restaurants. His connection to hospitality and design shines through at the Gentleman Farmer Bungalow, where he offers his expertise on pairing food and wine.
- Jon Schlegel (World Navigator, July 12; World Voyager October 11, 2025) – Attimo Winery’s CEO, Schlegel moved to Monforte d’Alba in Piedmont, Italy, with his family in 2013 and settled on the Ginestra Hill with their own small Barolo vineyard. There, he worked and learned from wine-producing families with generations of experience.
- Chef Luciana Berry (World Navigator, July 12, 20, 2025) – Berry, “Top Chef Brazil 2020,” showcases the exotic flavors and ingredients that are integral to Brazilian cuisine. She is an ambassador of Brazilian cuisine and culture in the U.K.
- Chef Bobby Marcotte (World Navigator, “President’s Cruise,” July 28, 2025) – Marcotte is the creator of the award-winning Hop + Grind, Rise + Grind and The Barn at Merry Hill. He has competed on “Tournament of Champions” and “Fire Masters Canada.” Since becoming executive chef of The Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery in 2013, he has led the restaurant to earn multiple accolades.
- Chef Peter Campbell (World Navigator, “President’s Cruise” July 28, 2025) – A master pizza chef, Campbell was featured on shows like “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” and “Guy’s Grocery Games.” In 2021, he launched an interactive cooking class to connect with pizza enthusiasts. He started Red Wagon Pizza Company in Minneapolis in 2012 as a mobile pizzeria, and opened a stand-alone restaurant in 2014.
- Chef Massimo Capra (World Navigator, September 1, 2025) – Canadian celebrity chef and author Capra is best known for his roles as host on his own television series “Gourmet Escapes,” judge on “Chopped Canada” and chef-host of “Restaurant Makeover.” He is the owner of Massimo’s Italian Restaurant at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel and Boccone at the Toronto Pearson International Airport, as well as Capra’s Kitchen, in his hometown of Mississauga, ON.
- Chef Stephan Pyles (World Navigator, September 27, 2025) – Pyles is a two-time James Beard award winner, celebrated chef and founding father of Southwestern cuisine. His career spans over four decades, and he is a four-time cookbook author and host of the Emmy Award-winning PBS cooking series “New Tastes from Texas.”
- Chef Paula Lambert (World Navigator, September 27, 2025) – Lambert is an artisanal cheesemaker and founder of Dallas Mozzarella Company, which has been crafting cheese for over 40 years. Her company produces over 30 artisanal cheeses. She is the author of “The Cheese Lover’s Cookbook and Guide” and “Cheese, Glorious Cheese!” She also conducts cooking classes across the U.S. and Europe.
- Chef Plum (World Navigator, October 22, 2025) – Chef Plum is the executive producer and host of the PBS series “Restaurant Road Trip,” which has received three New England Emmy nominations. He also produces the acclaimed video series “On the Road” with Edible magazine, highlighting the origins of food with a comedic twist.
- Chef Christy Rost (World Navigator, October 11, 2025) – Rost is the nationally televised host of the cooking and lifestyle series “At Home with Christy Rost” and “A Home for Christy Rost: Thanksgiving.” She was mentored by Master Chef Martin Yan of “Yan Can Cook” and her early career garnered the guidance of Julia Child. Rost’s menus are influenced by her travels and conversations with farmers, vintners, distillers and culinary artisans.
For more information, visit www.atlasoceanvoyages.com.
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