One of world’s fittest chefs to lift the bar for gourmet cuisine aboard the world’s newest and largest sailing ship – Golden Horizon
One of the world’s fittest and strongest chefs, muscle builder Derek Allen, has been appointed as Head Chef for new UK cruise line, Tradewind Voyages, which will soon launch the world’s largest and newest sailing ship, Golden Horizon – set to grace Australian waters next summer.
Healthy, classic dishes with a modern, creative twist, using fresh, locally sourced produce for menus inspired by destinations visited by the majestic, five-masted ship will be the focus of cuisine aboard Golden Horizon, according to Chef Allen, 40, from Canada.
“‘Eat well, be well’ will be our dining philosophy with healthy food that tastes fantastic – and always with a twist,” said Allen, who has worked on cruise ships and in major hotels and restaurants since 2011. “Guests will enjoy a great variety of cuisine, always designed beautifully, and some local dishes, depending on where we are, with a lot of fresh produce bought from local markets.
“When we cruise around Australia next summer, we’ll be sourcing fresh, premium local salmon, lamb and beef because we know Australian produce is amongst the best in the world. And although Golden Horizon’s voyage to Australia will be my first visit to the country, which I’m very excited about, I know Australians have courageous palates and love healthy, spicy, top-quality cuisine so we’ll be offering that on the menu during our Australian season – in addition to vegemite for breakfast of course! Our onboard sommelier will also be including fine Australian wines to pair with the cuisine.”
Chef Allen said an example of a classic dish with a modern twist that will feature aboard Golden Horizon will be his signature Beef Wellington with truffle puree and sauteed chanterelles. “And of course we’ll offer ‘naughty but nice’ dishes such as my white sponge-cake with blueberry mousse and white chocolate shavings. Guests are on holiday after all!” he said.
Although Chef Allen will have 19, personally selected chefs assisting him aboard Golden Horizon, he says he will be very hands-on in the kitchen. “I love to plan menus, manage staff and teach but my passion – ever since I was a young man – has been cooking so that’s what I’ll be doing,” he says. “And when I’m cooking, I do lots of tasting to make sure the food is right so the calories can add up which is why I train in the gym and jog around in ports to keep me in shape and energised ready for long hours in the kitchen. Exercise keeps my mind and body focused and in top performance mode and I also come up with ideas for menus in the gym also.”
Renowned for experimentation with new techniques and flavours and bold artistic presentation, Chef Allen loves to spice his menus with knowledge and exotic flavours garnered from his travels as a chef on ships around the world. “I have worked on many ships but when I first saw Golden Horizon, I knew this is where I wanted to work next – such a beautiful ship, like nothing I’ve seen before,” he said.
The elegant Golden Horizon will offer guests up to 15 dining options each day including meals in the spectacular, two-level dining room with curved, wrought-iron balconies that sweep towards a stunning central skylight. Meals can also be enjoyed alfresco under sail in the outdoor Horizon Bar and Grill. Early breakfast, afternoon snacks such as scones and cucumber sandwiches and late night snack grazing will be offered in the piano bar and Horizon Bar while ‘deck delights and canapes’ will be served on deck and in the bars. Room service and beach picnics are also on the menu.
Five course dinners will feature dishes such as grilled Canadian lobster in garlic butter with herbed mash, lemon glazed vegetables and lemon butter foam, and for dessert, cannoli dipped in chocolate, stuffed with orange mascarpone, or cookie and fudge brownie with butterscotch sauce.
The 272-guest Golden Horizon is a modern, luxurious and spacious sailing ship but also graceful and traditional in style, with Tradewind Voyages planning to have the eco-friendly vessel, which boasts 6300 square metres of billowing sails, under the sole power of wind for 70 per cent of the time.
The head-turning tall ship will offer modern-day seafarers two restaurants, three pools, gym, library, spa sanctuary, five bars and a marina platform. All 140 cabins will offer ocean vistas.
After her official launch this June, Golden Horizon will head to Australia this December and offer local journeys until February, 2022, visiting 36 destinations around Australia during her spectacular, history-making circuit of the continent. Expected to attract big crowds of sightseers, the record-breaking clipper will also visit every State capital as well as Darwin during her debut Australian season.
As the exclusive launch partner for Tradewind Voyages, Australia’s leading small ship cruise specialist, Cruise Traveller, is offering a range of Australian sectors aboard Golden Horizon from, 14 to 73 nights, with fares starting at A$7760 per person (14 nights) including beer and wine with lunch and dinner aboard the ship. Rail and sail packages are also available in conjunction with the iconic Indian Pacific train.