Silver Cloud - Monterey,California Chef Joins Sept 22/29,Adriatic & Aegean Cruise

**Ally** · 03-26-2008, 11:30 AM

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Silversea has expanded its distinctive wine and culinary arts enrichment program for 2008 featuring world-class wineries and award-winning chefs. Chef Maureen Signorella, a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier and the American Institute of Wine and Food, joins a distinguished panel of guest wine and culinary experts slated to share their talents on select cruises throughout the year.

On September 22 Signorella, chef-owner of Pasta Mia Trattoria on California’s famed Monterey Peninsula, will showcase her skills on ultra-luxury Silversea in the Adriatic and Aegean Seas. Following a shipboard overnight stay in romantic Venice, the 296-guest, country club-like Silver Cloud will sail along the dramatic Dalmatian Coast to Zadar and Dubrovnik, Croatia and Kalamata, Mykonos, and Athens, Greece.

Guest gourmands will taste and learn as Maureen Signorella shares her epicurean expertise featuring regional cooking demonstrations, Italian wine tastings, discussions on food and wine pairings, a “meet the locals” walking and tasting tour in Venice, exclusive receptions, and an Italian winemaker dinner. Sip Prosecco from a gondola, enjoy the ‘Primativo’ grape origins of Zinfandel in Croatia, sample Ouzo and Retsina ‘Wine of the Gods’, with grilled peaches, yogurt & honey in Greece, and hearty eggplant and lamb specialties with Mediterranean spices, saffron, olive oil, raisins. . .

A hallmark of Silversea is the opportunity to visit regions in personal, intimate ways. This sailing is no exception. “On arrival in Venice we’ll set the tone for our intimate culinary adventure as we visit with our local connection, my cousin, in search of the True Venice,” says Signorella. “We’ll seek out markets, little known restaurants, creative shops, and local haunts. We’ll stop and chat with owners and visit Venice’s best wine bar secrets while enjoying an intimate tour of the city.”

Epicures will find their gastronomic voyage enhanced by the Silver Cloud’s state-of-the art culinary theater equipped with professional-caliber appliances and cookware custom designed by Viking Range. The six-star, all-inclusive vessel offers discriminating diners a choice of four top class restaurants, The Restaurant, La Terrazza, Poolside Grill or the intimate Wine Restaurant by Relais & Châteaux designed to celebrate the rich heritage of some of the world’s most distinguished wine regions. Silversea is a member cruise line of the exclusive Relais & Châteaux – Relais & Gourmand international association.
2008 Wine & Culinary Enrichment Program Highlights

Silversea’s diverse series of lifestyle enrichment programs throughout 2008 features noted wine and culinary experts. Highlights include:

* From April 17-27, award-winning Carmel, Calif. chef Kurt Grasing of Grasings and the Chop House will host a culinary program on Silver Cloud’s 10-day Mediterranean cruise from Istanbul. Turkey to Sicily, the Balearic islands, to Barcelona. Grasing has worked at some of the world’s finest restaurants including La Gavroche in London, New York’s Pierre Hotel, Ventana in Big Sur, San Francisco’s Clift Hotel and 231 Ellsworth in San Mateo. Fares begin at $5,276 per person including a 20% savings.
* On June 21- July 1 John Shafer of Shafer Vineyards in Napa Valley, CA will host a wine connoisseur and Relais Chateaux Gourmand program on Silver Shadow’s 10-day Alaska cruise from Vancouver to San Francisco. Shafer Vineyard is recognized as one of the world’s best producers of cabernet; wine expert Robert M. Parker ranks Shafer as “one of the world’s greatest wineries.” Fares begin at $5,690 per person including a 20% savings.
* On July 5-12, guest wine experts Shari and Garen Staglin of the prestigious, organic-certified Staglin Family Vineyard in Napa Valley, will host a wine connoisseur program on Silver Whisper. The seven-day voyage sails from Athens to Croatia to Venice. Fares start at $6,350 per person.
* Silver Whisper sails August 16 on a seven-day southern Mediterranean voyage from Barcelona to Corsica, France, Monaco, Tuscany and Rome. California Wine Country restaurateur Sondra Bernstein and executive chef John Toulze will host a food & wine aficionado program. Bernstein is the owner of the popular Sonoma, CA restaurant ‘the girl & the fig.’ Fares start at $4,546 per person including a 30% savings.
* From August 31 – September 12 – Sail under London’s Tower Bridge, to Bordeauex, Porto, Lisbon, Malaga, St. Tropez to Monaco, for “Tasting and Tango” with Justin and Deborah Baldwin. Founders of JUSTIN Vineyards of Paso Robles, will host guests at noted friends wine estates in Bordeaux, Portugal and France such as Rauzan-Segla, Chateau Pichon, Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Chateau Richelieu, Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman ~ Domaine Ott . . .
* 2007 International Star Diamond Award winner Mollie Ahlstrand hosts a September 29 – October 8, Culinary cruise on the Silver Wind from Barcelona to France, Monte Carlo, Tuscany, Sicily, the Amalfi Coast and Rome. Mollie is chef-owner of the acclaimed Trattoria Mollie in Montecito, California. Trattoria Mollie is a local favorite of the Hollywood stars including Oprah, and is recognized by National Geographic as one of the “Ten Best Destination & Special Restaurants in the World” in their book, “Ten Best of Everything.”

Fares begin at $6,625 per person including a 15% savings.

For more information and a Silversea brochure contact Michael Mastrocola at msmastrocola@sbcglobal.net, 831-659-0151, or visit Welcome to Millennium Travel [ Welcome ].

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About Maureen Signorella

Born in Monterey, California, Maureen Signorella is from one of the original seven Italian families who started the San Francisco Opera. She received her classical training in Italian and French cuisine at the University of Dijon, France, then honed her cooking skills during five years of studying and working throughout Italy, from Lake Como to Sicily. After a two-year stint in Florence she returned to the Monterey Peninsula and opened Pasta Mia Trattoria, featuring Northern and Southern Coastline Italian cuisine. Pasta Mia was the first in the area to purchase line-caught fish and organic produce and became a favorite of local film and sports celebrities including Clint Eastwood, Joe Montana, Jim Nance and Doris Day. Featuring innovative, multi-regional dishes ranging from wild mushroom lasagna from the north to a risotto with Sand Dabs from Lake Como and exotic, fragrant Sicilian dishes with Moorish influences, Pasta Mia has won numerous awards and accolades in its 20-plus year history. For more than 10 years it was consistently named “Best Italian Restaurant on the Monterey Peninsula” in numerous polls, it has been featured in guide books such as Frommer’s as one of the “Best Restaurant in Northern California,” and mentioned in gourmet publications including Bon Appétit. In addition to running Pasta Mia, Maureen teaches Italian cooking and serves on the board for Les Dames Escoffier and the American Institute of Wine and Food. She is currently authoring an Italian regional cookbook.
About Silversea Cruises

Silversea is renowned for its six-star, all-suite, all-inclusive luxury. The line offers guests large-ship amenities aboard intimate vessels designed to offer an atmosphere of congeniality and casual elegance. Ships feature all ocean view suites, most with private veranda; complimentary fine wines and spirits served throughout the ship; fully stocked in-suite beverage cabinet; open seating dining; fine Bulgari toiletries and luxurious Frette linens. All onboard gratuities are included in the cruise fare. Silversea has been voted "World's Best Small Ship Cruise Line” by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler nine times and six times by the readers of Travel & Leisure. For more information visit Silversea Cruises.
About Michael Mastrocola & Millennium Travel - Silversea Voyages

A 30-plus year travel veteran, Michael Mastrocola was born in Silicon Valley into an Italian family, whose father is from Rome. A graduate of Santa Clara University, he has lived in Italy, circumnavigated the world, and guided groups to Europe over a hundred times. From his studio in Carmel, CA., he specializes in designing innovative adventures laced with luxurious pleasures for the premium up-market. He partners with Silversea to pair distinguished culinary and wine professionals for unique lifestyle enriching programs designed to please discerning, affluent travelers. Mr. Mastrocola and Millennium Travel have been recognized for their 33 years in the travel business in Luxury Travel and Gourmet magazines. Michael volunteers on the Board of Directors of American Institute of Wine and Food, Monterey chapter, and is a Director Emeritus of the American Musical Theatre of San Jose.

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