We know the power food can have to turn a good day into a great one. One of the best ways to explore a destination is to try the native dishes that tell stories of the history, culture and lives of the locals. That’s why P&O Cruises are collaborating with local leading chefs to bring these incredible food experiences to our Guests’ holiday on board Iona, when she launches.
Our ‘Local Food Heroes’ will bring the taste of the fjords to Iona’s summer holidays to Norway, and the thrill of the tapas trail to her winter breaks to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands. With locally sourced ingredients, traditional recipes and menus brimming with authentic flavours, Guests will be able to continue their exploration through their taste buds.
Who are our Local Food Heroes?
José Pizarro
Originally from Cáceres, Spain, José grew up on a farm being inspired by the scents emanating from his mother and grandmother’s kitchens. His glittering career has seen him work in some of the finest Spanish restaurants in Madrid and London, including Eyre Brothers and Brindisa. He now owns three successful restaurants in London, with a fourth gastropub in Surrey. He is a regular on cookery programmes, the food festival scene and has written five cook books. His passion for fresh, simple, seasonal ingredients showcases the best of Spanish cuisine. José is bringing his talents to Iona with a bespoke tapas menu for The Glass House as well as creating street food style dishes for Taste 360.
Kjartan Skjelde
Kjartan was born and raised in Stavanger, Norway, and still lives and works there today as the founder and owner of two restaurants: Tango and Fish & Cow brasserie. He is a high profile chef locally, having appeared as a judge on TV series MasterChef Norway and Camp Kulinaris and has penned four cook books. He places his focus on produce and provenance, good ingredients and cooking from scratch. He uses seasonal produce, making the most of the wilds of Norway and he is keen to bring Nordic fine dining to the world-stage. He is creating a bespoke six-course taster menu exclusively for The Epicurean.
Marte Marie Forsberg
Born and raised in a small coastal town in the south of Norway, Marte Marie is a writer, photographer and home cook. Her work focuses on provenance, local ingredients, traditional recipes and beautiful presentation. She has been featured in magazines, newspapers and online articles across the world, from Bon Appétit to Food & Wine. She is author of The Cottage Kitchen, a beautiful collection of recipes and photography. She also runs the Marte Marie Forsberg Workshops; cookery classes where her guests learn local and traditional recipes. Marte Marie is bringing her talents to Iona’s main restaurants with Norwegian dishes to feature on various menus, as well as dishes for Taste 360.