Top Chef at Sea

I am an unabashed fan of Bravo TV’s Top Chef – so much so that I once more or less stalked show judge (and noted chef) Tom Colicchio at a casino opening. So I think Celebrity Cruises is really smart for its new partnership “Top Chef at Sea.”

You’ll remember last year Celebrity hosted a “Top Chef: The Cruise” charter sailing. With the Emmy Award-winning show’s 11th season finale broadcasting tonight, the line has announced four sailings this year will feature “Top Chef” alums.

Top Chef on a Cruise

The cruises are to Bermuda (embarking July 27), Alaska (August 15), Europe (September 19) and the Caribbean (November 15). Click here for details.

On the sailings, passengers will be able to meet “Top Chef” chef’testants (the line isn’t naming names yet), sample their dishes and attend chef demos. A YouTube video about the theme cruises features Season 10 winner Kristen Kish, now chef de cuisine at the fancy Menton restaurant in Boston.

Even meatier, as part of the deal 10 Celebrity ships will host participatory Quickfire Challenges (fun!) and Top Chef menu evenings (yum!) on all sailings for a year beginning in July. Passengers will have a chance to taste and experience the show.

Celebrity has not been shy in terms of bragging about its own culinary expertise – including its status as the first cruise line to have chefs cook at the prestigious James Beard House in New York.

Think of the new Top Chef partnership as icing on the cake.