Two Master Chefs of France will be replacing legendary celebrity chef Jacques Pépin as Oceania Cruises’ executive culinary directors.
Chefs Alexis Quaretti and Eric Barale succeed Pépin who founded Oceania’s culinary philosophy and will remain in a new role as executive culinary adviser. He will also continue working with Oceania in philanthropic work undertaken by The Jacques Pépin Foundation..
“It’s truly remarkable to have two Master Chefs of France leading our culinary team,” said Frank A. Del Rio, president of Oceania Cruises. “Chefs Alex and Eric are the next generation of our culinary innovation and will continue the evolution of our foodie story, carrying forward Jacques’ incredible legacy.” Oceania Cruises is the only cruise line to boast two Master Chefs of France, as both Chef Alex and Chef Eric have been inducted into the prestigious echelons of the Maîtres Cuisiniers de France.
Both chefs are long-standing members of the culinary team, Eric being one of the first members of Oceania Cruises’ culinary family and Alex joining shortly after in 2004. Their complementary skill sets, experience and shared vision create a perfect partnership to protect and further develop the line’s culinary story.
“With Allura launching in 2025, we will have eight ships in the fleet and more than 40 restaurants constantly circulating the globe, and having these two talented executive culinary directors at the helm means we can maintain our laser focus on serving The Finest Cuisine at Sea,” Del Rio added.
