Bianchi on Board the Excellence Princess
Enjoyment meets craftsmanship: The gourmet festival on board the Excellence Princess transformed the journey from Strasbourg to Basel into a premier culinary experience.
From Strasbourg to Basel – A touch of luxury, a dash of creativity, and pure culinary enjoyment: The Excellence Gourmet Festival transformed the Excellence Princess into a floating stage for culinary masterpieces.
We – Jocelyn and Michelle from the Bianchi marketing team – had the pleasure of personally accompanying this experience on October 27 and 28.
View this post on Instagram
Elegance par excellence. From the moment we stepped onto the ship, we were impressed by the stylish interior. The Excellence Princess radiated an atmosphere that was both elegant and inviting.
This first impression heightened our anticipation for what the evening would hold. We were greeted by the cruise management in the lounge around 2:30 PM. During the subsequent apéro – featuring everything from sweet to savory – we enjoyed the ambiance on board and let our gaze wander over the Rhine as the afternoon slowly turned into evening. A particularly interesting moment was when the ship passed through one of the ten locks and rose as if in a gentle lift – a brief but impressive insight into the technology of river cruising.
The elegant staircase overlooking the cabin corridor of the Excellence Princess.
The elegant staircase overlooking the cabin corridor of the Excellence Princess.
A cozy atmosphere during the apéro on board – a foretaste of an evening full of enjoyment.
A cozy atmosphere during the apéro on board – a foretaste of an evening full of enjoyment.
A welcome apéro to start: everything from sweet to savory was included.
A welcome apéro to start: everything from sweet to savory was included.
Things became official around 6 PM: Christa Rigozzi opened the evening. Over an apéritif with fine amuse-bouches, she introduced top chef Danny Khezzar and his team before guests were invited to the dining room on the lower deck.
Enjoyment meets glamour: Christa Rigozzi and top chef Danny Khezzar.
Enjoyment meets glamour: Christa Rigozzi and top chef Danny Khezzar.
Culinary masterpieces. The subsequent dinner was a tribute to creativity and precision. Danny Khezzar presented dishes that were as refined as they were surprising – from the hazelnut as a trompe‑l’œil to the porcini mushroom tart and the lemon tart with meringue. Each course was carefully composed, demonstrating the passion and skill inherent in his creative and exquisite restaurant kitchen. A wine selection specially curated for the evening harmoniously rounded off the menu and made the experience complete.
Porcini tart – confit porcini carpaccio
Porcini tart – confit porcini carpaccio
The Lemon – Like a lemon tart with meringue
The Lemon – Like a lemon tart with meringue
Our conclusion. Simply enjoy and let your soul unwind for a while.
The Excellence Gourmet Festival provided the perfect stage for top-tier gastronomy, hospitality, and Swiss quality – an experience that combined culinary art and relaxation in a special way. We were particularly impressed by the organization on board: everything ran calmly, precisely, and was perfectly coordinated. You felt well looked after at all times – without haste, without stress.
We enjoyed this evening to the fullest.