A Decade of Flavor & Adventure: Windstar Cruises Celebrates 10-Year James Beard Milestone with Tourisme Montréal at Restaurant Graziella
Join chefs Amy Brandwein and Graziella Battista for an exclusive culinary evening in Montréal celebrating a decade of Windstar’s relationship with the James Beard Foundation—limited tickets remain.
MIAMI, FL, October 2, 2025 – Windstar Cruises and Tourisme Montréal invite culinary enthusiasts to join an extraordinary evening of flavor and celebration in Montréal. On October 6, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., Restaurant Graziella will host A Decade of Flavor & Adventure, a signature dinner created in honor of Windstar Cruises' 10-year collaboration with The James Beard Foundation. The dinner kicks off Windstar’s last JBF culinary cruise of the year aboard Star Pride, hosted by award-winning Chef Amy Brandwein, departing October 7 from Montreal to New York City.
The dinner marks a milestone moment: a decade of Windstar’s exclusive culinary collaboration with the James Beard Foundation, which has brought top chefs aboard Windstar’s intimate yachts to create destination-inspired dishes and immersive dining experiences. Windstar’s specialty James Beard Foundation sailings include chef-guided market tours in key ports, chefled demonstrations on-board, and exclusive menus. With fewer than 350 guests per yacht, travelers enjoy meaningful connections with celebrated James Beard Foundation-affiliated chefs.
Chef Amy Brandwein is a revered Washington D.C.-based chef and owner of refined Italian concept Centrolina. She is best known for her versatility, grace, and overall delicacy of Italian cuisine, making her collaboration with Chef Graziella Battista a natural fit. In this intimate, one-night-only dinner, chefs Amy and Graziella will craft a menu that intertwines Italian culinary heritage with the richness of Québec’s seasonal bounty. From limoncello oysters and sablefish crudo with pluot and trumpet royale mushrooms to Kamouraska lamb rib eye glazed with coffee and balsamic, the five-course menu promises an unforgettable culinary voyage, paired with world-class wines.
How to buy dinner tickets
Tickets are $195+ per person and reservations can be made here.
“Celebrating this milestone is deeply meaningful to me, both personally and professionally,” shared Peter Tobler, director of food and beverage for Windstar Cruises. “Over the past decade, collaborating with these renowned chefs has allowed us to elevate our menus fleetwide, bringing the artistry and flavors of James Beard Foundation-recognized cuisine to every guest. In Montréal, where food, culture, and adventure thrive, I’m proud to honor the connections and culinary discoveries we’ve fostered together.”
Windstar Cruises has been calling on Montreal since 2018, making it a recurring highlight of the line’s Canada & New England voyages. Typically featured twice per sailing season, Montreal remains a guest favorite thanks to its dynamic cultural blend, walkable historic core, and worldrenowned culinary scene. In 2026, Windstar will debut a new roundtrip Montreal itinerary that circumnavigates Newfoundland—an immersive journey made possible by the line’s yacht-sized vessels. For warmer weather getaways, travelers can enjoy Windstar’s Caribbean sailings, which includes signature James Beard Foundation itineraries that visit St. Maarten, Anguilla, Antigua, and so much more.
Unlike larger ships, which are restricted by bridge height on the St. Lawrence River and must stop short in Québec City, Windstar’s intimate yachts—carrying just 148 to 342 guests—can dock directly in downtown Montreal, offering unmatched access to the city. Guests disembark just steps from Old Montreal’s cobblestone streets, where landmarks like the Notre-Dame Basilica and Rue Saint-Paul’s art galleries, artisan shops, and cafés are all within easy reach.
Montreal is also one of North America’s most celebrated food cities, known for everything from beloved staples like poutine and smoked meat to inventive fine dining. With strong airlift and a variety of upscale hotel options, the city serves as an ideal turnaround port, encouraging extended stays before or after a Windstar voyage.
##
Images Here, credit to Windstar Cruises.
Contacts:
Sarah Scoltock, Director of Public Relations, Windstar Cruises /
sarah.scoltock@windstarcruises.com
Claire Skinner, Vice President, LDPR, windstar@ldpr.com
About Windstar Cruises:
For four decades, Windstar Cruises has been reimagining small-ship cruising with a distinctive blend of relaxed luxury and genuine connection to the world’s most captivating destinations. From its origins with motor sailing yachts tailored for upscale yet casual travel, Windstar has grown into a diverse fleet of three Star Class all-suite yachts and three Wind Class sailing yachts, offering voyages that are both intimate and inspiring. Two highly anticipated new yachts, Star Seeker and Star Explorer, set to debut in December 2025 and 2026, expand the fleet to eight yachts accommodating 150-350 guests. Windstar’s legendary Wind Class sailing yachts are also undergoing a meticulous two-phase redesign to be completed by 2027. Windstar yachts sail to more than 330 ports across Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, Alaska, Canada and New England, Japan, the South Pacific, and Asia. Unlike most cruise lines, Windstar sails year-round in the Mediterranean and Tahiti, offering different destination experiences seasonally. Each Windstar voyage is designed to immerse guests in authentic cultural experiences, all while delivering the comfort, service, and style that define the Windstar difference.
Windstar Cruises is proud to be part of the Xanterra Travel Collection®, a distinguished group of global hospitality and travel companies with a legacy spanning over a hundred years. Xanterra operates iconic national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, and Death Valley. The Xanterra Travel Collection® is owned by The Anschutz Corporation, the ultimate owner of the Broadmoor, Sea Island, and entertainment giant AEG, Anschutz Entertainment Group.