Oceania Cruises has announced Food & Wine’s acclaimed Best New Chefs franchise will serve as the official godparent of the line’s newest ship, Oceania Allura, which debuted in July 2025 and will be christened in Miami on November 13. This collaboration marks the first time the prestigious godparent title has been bestowed upon a culinary brand rather than an individual.
“For nearly four decades, Food & Wine Best New Chefs have shaped dining in America and inspired the way we experience food,” said Tom Bair, publisher of Food & Wine. “We’re thrilled to celebrate this legacy with Oceania Cruises, a partner that shares our passion for extraordinary cuisine and discovery, and to make this milestone christening with journeys where food is every bit as memorable as the destinations.”
Celebrated alumni who will represent the Food & Wine Best New Chefs franchise at the christening and naming ceremony of Oceania Allura include:
- Katie Button (2015 F&W BNC) is a five-time James Beard Award nominee, cookbook author, and media personality best known as the chef and founder of Asheville’s acclaimed Cúrate restaurant group. A former engineer turned chef, she trained under Ferran Adrià and José Andrés before opening her own award-winning concepts, including Cúrate Bar de Tapas, recipient of the 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Hospitality. She also hosts “From the Source” on Magnolia Network and authored “Cúrate: Authentic Spanish Food from an American Kitchen.” Through her living wage-certified restaurant group, Button champions equitable, sustainable practices in hospitality.
- Calvin Eng (2022 F&W BNC) is the chef and owner of Bonnie’s, a celebrated Cantonese American restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the author of “Salt Sugar MSG: A Cantonese American Cookbook.” Born and raised in Brooklyn in a traditional Chinese family, Eng founded Bonnie’s to honor his heritage and reimagine the flavors of his upbringing through a modern lens. Eng has been recognized as a James Beard Award finalist for Emerging Chef, a Food & Wine Best New Chef, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, a StarChefs Rising Star, and a two-time James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef: New York State.
- Aisha Ibrahim (2023 F&W BNC) is an acclaimed chef celebrated for her global perspective and leadership in modern fine dining. Born in Mindanao, Philippines, and raised in the U.S., she began her culinary journey rooted in her family’s cooking traditions before honing her craft in some of the world’s top kitchens, including Manresa, Azurmendi and Nihonryori Ryugin. In 2021, she made history as the first female executive chef at Seattle’s Canlis Restaurant, where she served until 2025. Recognized among Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs (2023) and a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist, Ibrahim continues to push the boundaries of culinary innovation and equitable kitchen culture.
- Tavel Bristol-Joseph (2020 F&W BNC) is the partner, pastry chef and director of hospitality for Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, overseeing seven acclaimed concepts across Austin and San Antonio. Named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs (2020) and Esquire’s Pastry Chef of the Year (2024), he has earned multiple James Beard semifinalist nods for Best Chef: Texas. Under his leadership, Hestia received a Michelin Star, while Emmer & Rye earned a Green Star and Bib Gourmand recognition. Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Bristol-Joseph continues to shape Texas’ dining landscape through innovation, warmth and community-driven hospitality.
- George Mendes (2011 F&W BNC) is a Culinary Institute of America graduate and 2011 Food & Wine Best New Chef best known for bringing modern Portuguese cuisine to the forefront of New York City’s dining scene. He was the executive chef/owner of the Michelin-starred Aldea from 2009 to 2022 and opened Veranda at the ModernHaus SoHo hotel in 2021. Mendes began his career at Bouley and L’Arpège and went on to open Lupulo in 2015. He is the co-author of “My Portugal: Recipes and Stories” and has appeared on “Top Chef Masters,” “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” and “Worst Cooks in America.” Based in Boston, he is embarking on a new fine dining restaurant project along with a café bakery in the South End neighborhood.
- Lawrence “LT” Smith (2024 F&W BNC) is an NFL hopeful turned award-winning chef and founder of Chilte in Phoenix, where he redefines Southwestern cuisine through bold, ingredient-driven dishes rooted in Mexican, Black, and Midwestern traditions. His cooking blends Sonoran chiltepin with African techniques and soulful nods to Mexican comfort, creating flavors that are vibrant, balanced, and deeply personal. Named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs (2024) and a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist, Smith has earned national acclaim for pushing culinary boundaries while telling stories of heritage, identity and culture through every plate.
For more information, visit OceaniaCruises.com.
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