Cruise & cuisine
WINNING RECIPES
Sylwia Stachyra , winner of Top Chef Poland in 2018 , on working with Atlas Ocean Voyages and her favourite travel destinations
Above from left : World Navigator ® at sea ; chef Sylwia Stachyra ; La Salle Garnier in Monaco
How did you become a chef ? I knew I was destined to be a chef from an early age . I moved to London and trained at Gordon Ramsay ’ s Savoy Grill and studied at Bournemouth College . I ’ ve achieved an NVQ3 chef ’ s degree , run two restaurants and created several successful concepts for gastronomic businesses .
How did you end up working with a cruise line ? I ’ ve spent years travelling and cooking on yachts , visiting places and getting to know different cultures , which made a huge impact on me and my cooking style . Every place is a new adventure filled with the tastes of regional specialties and the aromas of the best spices . I absorb the world ’ s cuisines with my whole being , but I ’ m never fully satisfied . I still have an appetite for more .
What does your work with Atlas Ocean Voyages involve ? One of my favourite parts of the Epicurean Expeditions on the voyages is the yachtsman ’ s cook-off , where the guests get to be the contestants and I get to be the judge .
It ’ s fun for everyone . I also host cooking demonstrations where I take explorers on a culinary journey , talking about the textures and flavours of the food .
Where do you love to travel ? My taste buds have been shaped by my travels : England , Turkey , Italy , Monaco , Spain , Japan , Cyprus and more . My passion is French cuisine , and I love using local ingredients wherever I go to create dishes that conquer palates and hearts . My signature flavour is adding a pinch of Asian spices to make unique dishes that combine with and complement regional favourites .
How do you add local , seasonal ingredients at sea ? One of the best parts of travelling is visiting the local markets . The colour and vibrant atmosphere inspire all the senses , which in turn inspires me to use what I find in port to create something fantastic on board . My travels have helped to give even more variety to my dishes .
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