CRUISE GPS
Celebrating Place
& Plate
Celebrating Place & Plate
Windstar Cruises showcases James Beard flavors and local market cuisine.
Windstar Cruises is elevating epicurean travel with chef-led market tours, seasonal ingredients from each port city, and nightly menus infused with regional soul—all courtesy of a unique James Beard Foundation partnership. At the heart of these Windstar experiences lies a culinary ethos rooted in fresh, seasonal ingredients, with chefs hand‑picking produce at local markets to inspire nightly regional menus.
While the James Beard Foundation hardly needs a primer, a quick refresher: It was created nearly 40 years ago as a way to channel Beard’s passions of the culinary arts. It celebrates food culture and supports the industry through initiatives ranging from diversity to advocacy and beyond. Windstar’s partnership with the James Beard Foundation (JFB) marks its 10th anniversary this year, affirming a decade of culinary innovation and collaboration. As the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar invites JBF‑lauded chefs aboard its intimate yachts—not only to cook, but to lead demos, host dinners, conduct wine pairings, and guide immersive market tours ashore.
What can travelers expect? Imagine strolling through the stalls of a Mediterranean market under your chef’s guidance, selecting ripe local produce, or seafood just hauled from the water. Windstar’s Shop with the Chef shore excursions blend culture and cuisine, creating an indelible connection between place and plate. Back onboard, Windstar’s dining venues bring market treasures to life with each dish celebrating intentional sourcing and ingredient integrity. Even on non‑themed sailings, James Beard-curated creations appear nightly in Windstar Cruises’ Amphora restaurant.
On the 2025 JBF sailings, guest chefs include Jamilka Borges, José Mendin, Jennifer Hill Booker, Jennifer Jasinski, and Amy Brandwein. These stars design menus, engage in cooking demos and wine pairings, host dinners, and guide guests on market trips. To date, the ongoing collaboration has brought more than 45 JBF‑recognized chefs aboard Windstar Cruises, which also champions Good Food for Good, a philosophy aligned with JBF and rooted in deliciousness, accessibility, and responsibility.
Whether choosing a JBF sailing or enjoying another curated cruise, each nightly menu is crafted to highlight the spectacular flavors of the regional cuisine. Unforgettable voyages of taste await.
This is travel that’s 180 degrees from ordinary.
CRUISE GPS
Celebrating Place
& Plate
Celebrating Place & Plate
Windstar Cruises showcases James Beard flavors and local market cuisine.
Windstar Cruises is elevating epicurean travel with chef-led market tours, seasonal ingredients from each port city, and nightly menus infused with regional soul—all courtesy of a unique James Beard Foundation partnership. At the heart of these Windstar experiences lies a culinary ethos rooted in fresh, seasonal ingredients, with chefs hand‑picking produce at local markets to inspire nightly regional menus.
While the James Beard Foundation hardly needs a primer, a quick refresher: It was created nearly 40 years ago as a way to channel Beard’s passions of the culinary arts. It celebrates food culture and supports the industry through initiatives ranging from diversity to advocacy and beyond. Windstar’s partnership with the James Beard Foundation (JFB) marks its 10th anniversary this year, affirming a decade of culinary innovation and collaboration. As the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar invites JBF‑lauded chefs aboard its intimate yachts—not only to cook, but to lead demos, host dinners, conduct wine pairings, and guide immersive market tours ashore.
What can travelers expect? Imagine strolling through the stalls of a Mediterranean market under your chef’s guidance, selecting ripe local produce, or seafood just hauled from the water. Windstar’s Shop with the Chef shore excursions blend culture and cuisine, creating an indelible connection between place and plate. Back onboard, Windstar’s dining venues bring market treasures to life with each dish celebrating intentional sourcing and ingredient integrity. Even on non‑themed sailings, James Beard-curated creations appear nightly in Windstar Cruises’ Amphora restaurant.
On the 2025 JBF sailings, guest chefs include Jamilka Borges, José Mendin, Jennifer Hill Booker, Jennifer Jasinski, and Amy Brandwein. These stars design menus, engage in cooking demos and wine pairings, host dinners, and guide guests on market trips. To date, the ongoing collaboration has brought more than 45 JBF‑recognized chefs aboard Windstar Cruises, which also champions Good Food for Good, a philosophy aligned with JBF and rooted in deliciousness, accessibility, and responsibility.
Whether choosing a JBF sailing or enjoying another curated cruise, each nightly menu is crafted to highlight the spectacular flavors of the regional cuisine. Unforgettable voyages of taste await.
This is travel that’s 180 degrees from ordinary.
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Jessika's enduring passion for travel began on Pine Island in South Florida, where the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico and later the majestic mountains of Wyoming instilled in her a love for exploring new horizons. Growing up near Yellowstone National Park fueled her adventurous spirit, embracing places others dream of visiting. Her journey commenced in 2001 with Cody Trolley Tours, sharing the charm of her hometown in Wyoming.
Her career took a transformative turn in 2010 with Holland America Line, where she thrived as a Librarian, Travel Guide, and Assistant Shore Excursion Manager, traveling across all seven continents, and visiting nearly seventy countries. Meeting her Dutch husband, Marcel, along the way, Jessika embraced life on land and at sea, driven by a shared passion for cultural immersion and exploration.
By 2024, Jessika embraced her role as a Travel Advisor, with a focus on world cruise travel. She revels in crafting seamless back-to-back itineraries for retirees and s ...