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Our Report From Silversea: “An In-Depth Culinary Experience, S.A.L.T.” has just been published by Avid Cruiser.com

Our Report From Silversea: “An In-Depth Culinary Experience, S.A.L.T.” has just been published by Avid Cruiser.com
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S.A.L.T. is the acronym for Silversea Cruise’s extraordinary new culinary program. It stands for “Sea And Land Taste.” And our latest sampling of what’s on offer assures us it will be a huge favorite of culinary-inclined cruisers. Food Wine and Travel Writer Monte Mathews reports from Silver Muse.

S.A.L.T. is the invention of Adam Sachs, former editor of Saveur Magazine and a three-time James Beard Award-Winning Food Writer. Sachs is putting together an unrivaled culinary program set to launch on Silversea’s latest ship, Silver Moon. The sister ship to the line’s flagship Silver Muse, Silver Moon will be home to the largest hands-on cooking school Silversea has ever launched. And it’s not just a cooking school. The space has areas designated for In-depth Wine Tastings, Mixology Classes as well as accommodating the guest chefs and food authorities who will teach, speak and share meals with Silversea’s Culinary-minded passengers. And S.A.L.T will hardly be limited to the luxurious confines of Silver Moon. Ashore, each port will offer unmatched opportunities for culinary exploration, local cooking classes, and meals in settings ranging from out of the way to out of this world.

The idea of S.A.L.T. is to travel the world in culinary exploration. Passengers will be immersed in the food culture of every port the ship visits. A voyage anywhere in the world will allow passengers to make culinary discoveries with an on-board authority. Lectures and lessons and hands-on cooking classes culminate in meals shared with like-minded passengers. Ashore, Silversea’s S.A.L.T. participants will be led on food adventures that only an Anthony Bourdain – or an Adam Sachs – could know about.

Adam Sachs, Father of S.A.L.T. Photo credit Lucia Griggi

A recent sampling of S.A.L.T took a group of food writers on a seven-day sailing from Bali to Borneo and finally to the Philippines. In Bali, an authentic Indonesian dinner welcomed us ashore while aboard ship, Maya Kerthyasa, an expert on Balinese cuisine, introduced us to her 95-year-old grandmother’s recipes and immersed us in the extraordinary food culture of her native Bali. Hands-on cooking classes followed, and a shared tasting brought the group together for an unforgettable meal.

Maya Kerthyasa Photo credit Lucia Griggi

All the while, Silver Muse’s eight on-board restaurants served memorable meals ranging from Haute French Cuisine at La Dame, to complete Asian menus at Indochine, meticulously presented Japanese Kaiseki and a complete menu of Thin Crust Pizza at the outdoor Spaccanapoli.

In Borneo, our S.A.L.T. day began with a visit to a local restaurant so under the radar that there was not a tourist in site. At the aptly named “Good Taste” restaurant, we ate Bak Kuh Teh, the Malaysian breakfast of meaty pork ribs in a complex broth of herbs and spices. Off to the Central Market, we went, enthralled by the ingredients selected there by Silver Muse’s Executive Chef, Anne-Mari Cornelius who would later use them in a Malaysian lunch menu exclusively for S.A.L.T. passengers. A cooking class by one of Borneo’s premiere chefs, Linn Ngui followed by lunch, rounded out our visit. But because life is not all about food, we made our way to two of Borneo’s famous Conservation Centers: one for Orangutans, the other for Sun Bears. We did, however, time our visit to coincide with feeding times.

Bak Khu Teh at Good Taste © 2019 Monte Mathews

Next stop the Philippines. While Maya Kerthyasa bid us adieu, we were to be met by Nicole Ponseca, a San Diego-born Filipina who is determined to see the cuisine of her nationality achieve its rightful place at the world table. The owner of New Yorker’s “Jeepney Restaurant,” Ponseca presented us with her seminal cookbook “I am Filipino, and this is how we cook” (Artisan Books 2018).

Dessert Table at Feast in Manila © 2019 Monte Mathews

For his part, Sachs intends to find the kind of talent and commitment that both these young women brought to S.A.L.T. everywhere the ship sails. So, passengers can expect the same depth of culinary experience whether they are in Sri Lanka or St. Lucia.

Our S.A.L.T. adventure continued on remote Romblon Island, one of the 7640 islands that make up the Philippines. There we went on an island adventure no ordinary tourist could imagine. At the end of an unforgettable journey on the “Tricycles” the islanders fashion out of motorbikes with passenger cabins attached, we came to a family compound where the matriarch made a dish consisting of live freshwater shrimp and coconut right before our eyes.

Chef Sau del Rosario © 2019 Monte Mathews

The next day we reached Manila and in a final meal labeled “A Welcoming Feast,” we were hosted by the founders of Manila’s Center for Culinary Arts, the country’s pre-eminent culinary school. The Chef for this banquet was one Sau del Rosario, one of the country’s most famous chefs, a TV personality to rival Ina Garten. But what else would we expect from this extraordinary offering from Silversea. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until 2020 until S.A.L.T. is in place. But it might be a good idea to book now.

For in-depth articles about every conceivable cruise go to www.AvidCruiser.com


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My Travels: The Philippines and a recipe for Lamb Shank Caldereta from one of their most famous Chefs, Sau del Rosario

My Travels: The Philippines and a recipe for Lamb Shank Caldereta from one of their most famous Chefs, Sau del Rosario

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Spread the loveI confess. I am starting the trip reports completely backwards.  Quite simply, my amazing voyage of culinary discovery, aboard Silversea’s exquisite flagship, Silver Muse, ended in Manila.  And while I will take you to Bali and to Borneo and cannot wait to share […]



2 thoughts on “Our Report From Silversea: “An In-Depth Culinary Experience, S.A.L.T.” has just been published by Avid Cruiser.com”

  • An expedition with Silversea luxury cruises is unlike any other form of travel — thrilling, awe-inspiring and humbling all at the same time. It takes you to some of the most remote regions of the planet and shows them to you intimately. It is for the curious traveller who longs to see an orang-utan in the wild or what lies behind the next mountain ridge. But it’s not just about wildlife or mountains. It’s about immersing yourself in the culture, landscape and habitat of a region with the help of experts who can illuminate all you see. From the lush rainforests of the equatorial Pacific to the polar extremes at the very edge of the world, our expedition ships sail to all seven continents. You can explore pelagic wonderlands, admire volcanic plateaus gushing with geysers, or enter the realm of the Polar Bear. But no matter where you go, you’ll enjoy a uniquely immersive experience, expanding your global perspective and prompting you to re-evaluate what really matters. And rest assured- no creature comfort will be denied on an expedition cruise with Silversea. Not sure what to wear while onboard?

    • What a great piece of writing! Thank you so much for sharing. Now should you answer your own question about wardrobe?

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