Explora Journeys, MSC Group’s luxury brand, has announced a new signature fine-dining restaurant aboard Explora I–Anthology. The restaurant offers guests a diverse and rich culinary experience in Italian cuisine curated by the cruise line’s Head of Culinary, Franck Garanger.
Garanger discovered his passion for cooking at an early age and began his career as an apprentice with French Master Chef Jean-François Piers at the Michelin Starred Le Vert D’ Eau in Angers, France. Garanger has world alongside culinary greats Paul Bocuse, Alain Passard and Thierry Marx as well as numerous world-renowned restaurants. He also has held leading culinary positions for luxury ocean travel brands for more than a decade.
Of Anthology he said, “Anthology is more than just a restaurant; it’s a voyage through Italy’s gastronomic landscape. For me, Italian cuisine is about respecting the people, the ingredients, and the traditions that have been passed down through generations. It’s about sharing the soul of Italy, one dish at a time. This will be a culinary reflection of the rich tapestry of the sights, scents and flavours of Italian cuisine, which I am deeply passionate about.”
Dishes on the menu will celebrate Italy’s finest ingredients that have been crafted to highlight the culture and culinary heritage of the Mediterranean. The menu features dishes such as Mediterranean seabass with Arabica coffee and tonka bean and scallop cannelloni with black truffe. Plant-based options are available for each course as well.
Anthology’s setting is contemporary yet refined and offers an intimate but elevated dining ambiance. Guests can dine outdoors while overlooking the beautiful waters of the Western and Eastern Mediterranean or indoors while watching chefs prepare the dishes behind glass. Either way guests will find a one-of-a-kind culinary experience when they dine at Anthology.
Explora I is spending the summer in the Mediterranean. She will be joined by Explora II in September 2024 who recently completed a successful set of sea trials.