new VP

[mari10]

Just received this email from Celebrity:

CELEBRITY CRUISES TAPS ‘RISING STAR’ VAN STADEN AS VP, FOOD & BEVERAGE

MIAMI – June 5, 2007 – Longrecognized

for providing fresh, gourmet cuisine, Celebrity Cruises

promises to take its culinary program to the next level, with the appointment of Jacques Van Staden as vice president of Food & Beverage Operations.

Nominated for a “Rising Star of the Year” award from the prestigious James Beard Foundation, Van Staden began his career in Washington, D.C., working under the late chef JeanLouis Palladin at JeanLouis, adjacent to the White House. He followed that invaluable experience serving as chef de cuisine at Alizé, rated one of the top five restaurants in Las Vegas; executive chef at Vegas’ Aladdin Hotel’s highend

London Club; and executive chef at the CaliforniaFrench restaurant Citronelle in

Georgetown, just outside Washington, D.C. He also operated his own casual, Mediterranean restaurant, “Café Olé”, specializing in tapas, before serving as executive chef for Washington’s

renowned Watergate Hotel, where he managed 250 employees and a $10million

food and beverage budget.

Van Staden now will oversee Celebrity Cruises’ food and beverage operations across the fleet,

and will play an integral role in shaping the line’s evolving culinary program.

“We’re thrilled to have someone of Jacques Van Staden’s caliber join our organization,” said Celebrity’s President Dan Hanrahan. “Jacques has as much passion for food as he does for people, and I’m confident our guests will experience the difference, as we deliver a fresh, creative culinary product and the same high level of service that will keep Celebrity at the top of our industry’s dining

polls

Mari:)

[judyfssw]

Hey Mari,

How are you? It's been awhile since we cruised the Mexican Riv together.

I read the article about the new VP. Did Celebrity say anything about the kind of food we can expect? I hope it is as good as Michael Roux's menus.