Chef Nobu Matsuhisa to Sail Aboard Crystal Symphony

World-class master chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa will travel aboard the award-winning Crystal Symphony this spring to officiate the opening of two new restaurants. Silk Road and The Sushi Bar were conceived in partnership with luxury cruise specialist Crystal Cruises and will feature the coveted cuisine of this legendary chef.

On March 21, 2008, at the start of Crystal Symphony’s Hong Kong to Beijing cruise, Nobu will preside over a traditional sake ceremony for all guests. During the cruise, he will personally oversee the launch of both restaurants and will continue to work closely with his Nobu-trained chefs on the delicate nuances of preparing his eclectic cuisine – an innovative blend of classically styled Japanese foods with Peruvian and European influences.

Occupying the former Jade Garden space, Silk Road and The Sushi Bar will accommodate a total of 68 guests and will be open most evenings. While there is no additional charge, reservations are recommended for Silk Road; dining at The Sushi Bar will be on a first come, first served basis.

The new restaurants represent an expansion of Nobu’s culinary alliance with Crystal Cruises. Since 2003, his cuisine has enjoyed tremendous success aboard Crystal Symphony’s fleetmate, Crystal Serenity. All of the head chefs in Silk Road and The Sushi Bar have held key positions at one of Nobu’s worldwide restaurants. In the case of Crystal Symphony, the head chefs were chefs at his Los Angeles or Tokyo establishments.

“During the past four years, Crystal has done an incredible job of ensuring the consistent quality and integrity of my cuisine served aboard Crystal Serenity, regardless of wherever the ship may be in the world,” comments Nobu. “I am very pleased to build upon my relationship with Crystal Cruises and fully expect the opening of The Sushi Bar and Silk Road to further enhance Crystal Symphony’s tradition of culinary excellence.”

Toni Neumeister, Crystal’s vice president of food and beverage operations, adds, “Like Nobu, we share a deep appreciation of discovering the world and its people through food, and we look forward to presenting our savvy clientele with yet another new dimension of choice and excellence.”

The 15-day cruise program (12-day cruise plus three-day land program) includes two ports of call in Japan, including an overnight stay in Kobe and a full day in Hiroshima. China is explored with two days in Shanghai, a call Dalian and an inclusive three-day overland adventure to Beijing.