Geoffrey Zakarian, a celebrity of the restaurant world and a judge on the Food Network shows like "Chopped" and "Top Chef," has a new project. He's been tapped to open a restaurant on the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship, USA Today reports.
Norwegian Cruise Line announced late Thursday that Zakarian's new restaurant, which will be called Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian, will be a seafood restaurant that promises "a luxury seafood dining experience," according to USA Today's article. The Breakaway will be just as new as the restaurant; it hasn't made its debut yet. Although the eatery is based on a ship, the cruise line said that it will be "utilizing all of the ingredients and techniques that Zakarian would employ in a land-based establishment.
In addition to Ocean Blue, Zakarian will oversee an adjacent watering hole called The Raw Bar. He will also have a hand in a more casual version of his cruise ship restaurant, which will be named Ocean Blue on The Waterfront.
Zakarian will do more than cook. Norwegian has said that the celebrity chef will have input inall aspects of the dining areas of both of the spaces, including details like uniforms and china. Occasionally, the ships passengers will be offered a meet-and-greet with Zakarian, as well as cooking demonstrations.
"It is an unbelievably exciting prospect to create a concept for such a groundbreaking ship," Zakarian said during the announcement. "I am nostalgic at heart, so the thought of making a modern experience that harkens to the age of steamship travel is just terrific."
Currently, Zakarian oversees both The Lambs Club and The National in New York City. He also oversees Atlantic City's Water Club at Borgata.
While Zakarian helps plan his restaurants and continues his television appearances on the Food Network, The Norwegian Breakaway is under construction at a German shipyard. When it's completed, the ship will feature over a dozen restaurants, ensuring that none of its 4,000 passengers will go hungry. Some of those eateries will be located on a boardwalk on the ship that faces the ocean. In addition to the food and drink options, the Breakaway also will feature larger children's areas than previous Norwegian ships and new cabin designs.
When the ship debuts in May of next year, it will make year-round voyages from New York to Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Florida.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
