Food heroes
New to cruising Food and drink Food Heroes

Meet our Food Heroes

Get to know our incredible Food Heroes from the Godfather of British cooking, Marco Pierre White, to the highly acclaimed wine specialist, Olly Smith.

5 min 08 Mar 2024

Editorial Team

Author

Marco Pierre White

Known the world over, legendary chef Marco Pierre White has been pushing the boundaries of cuisine for over 30 years. Arriving in London as a 19-year-old with “£7.36, a box of books and a bag of clothes”, he began his training as a commis under maestros Albert and Michel Roux at Le Gavroche. By the age of 33, he had taken the restaurant scene by storm when he became the youngest ever chef to be awarded three Michelin stars. Dubbed the godfather of modern cooking, Marco is regarded by many to have single-handedly put the British culinary scene back on the gastronomy map.

 

Today, Marco’s passion for serving up superb dishes continues with P&O Cruises. His Celebration Night menus are a treat for all, and, as patron of The Cookery Club he hosts masterclasses and dinners when on board Britannia. And on our Excel class ships, Arvia and Iona, he will host live cooking demos as well as Q&A sessions, serving up answers to all of your culinary qualms.

I have been working with P&O Cruises for many years so there aren’t many of their itineraries I haven’t travelled on! I always enjoy seeing the beautiful Norwegian Fjords and I can’t wait to sail on Iona to this region. The thing that impresses me most is that nothing is too much trouble for the crew, they all have a great attitude.

Olly Smith

Multi-award-winning wine expert, Olly Smith is best known for his boundless knowledge and infectious enthusiasm on TV cookery shows. His passion for wine has made him one of the UK’s best-loved figures in the world of food and drink.

 

Olly has been named International Wine and Spirits Communicator of the Year, Drinks Writer of the Year at the Great British Food Awards and the UK’s official Drinks Ambassador to China. He is the author of six books including his latest Home Cocktail Bible, containing every cocktail recipe you could possibly ever want, and is the host of his own podcast A Glass With... On top of all that, Olly is the wine columnist for You Magazine in the Mail on Sunday.

 

As well as being P&O Cruises resident wine expert, Olly heads up The Glass House, where he has added his flamboyant touch to this popular wine bar and restaurant for over ten years. Not only does Olly oversee the wonderful and varied wine list and wine pairings, he also develops wine tasting experiences for guests to enjoy a selection of dishes to accompany their choice of wine. Olly will join guests on board specially selected cruises to offer tasting masterclasses, book signings and Q&A sessions.

It’s such a privilege to contribute to someone’s special holiday moment, whether it’s sharing a glass of something scrumptious or leading a shore experience somewhere splendid. On a cruise there are so many opportunities to celebrate the wonder of travel together.

Wine expert, Olly Smith
Wine expert, Olly Smith
Wine expert, Olly Smith
Wine expert, Olly Smith

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. As well as owning four successful restaurants in London and a gastropub in Surrey, José has recently opened up Iris Zahara in Andalusia – where he offers exclusive culinary experiences.

 

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 Arvia and Iona with his bespoke tapas menus for The Glass House as well as creating street-food-style dishes for Taste 360. And from 2023, guests on Arvia’s holidays to the Mediterranean will have the chance to enjoy José’s Celebration Night menus in The Olive Grove.

Acclaimed Spanish chef and Local Food Hero, José Pizarro
Acclaimed Spanish chef and Local Food Hero, José Pizarro
Acclaimed Spanish chef and Local Food Hero, José Pizarro
Acclaimed Spanish chef and Local Food Hero, José Pizarro
  • slider img
  • slider img
  • slider img
  • slider img
  • slider img
of

Explore our Food Hero cruises here.