• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
Aqua Expeditions appointed Australian chef Benjamin Cross as consulting chef for Aqua Mekong, extending his culinary leadership beyond Aqua Blu to encompass the brand's river expeditions in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Cross brings more than 25 years of culinary experience spanning Australia, Spain and Bali. He began his career in Byron Bay before moving to Sydney, where he worked in some of the country's most acclaimed kitchens, including alongside pioneering chef Janni Kyritsis at MG Garage.
After further honing his craft at a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Spain, Cross relocated to Bali, where he spent more than a decade in leading culinary roles. In 2018, he established Brett Hospitality Group, embracing an ingredient-driven approach centered on local produce and wood-fire cooking.
Since joining Aqua Expeditions as consulting chef for Aqua Blu in 2019, Cross has developed more than 160 recipes featuring delicacies of the East Indonesian spice route, creating a destination-driven dining experience that celebrates bold regional flavours.
Cross will work alongside the ship's onboard team to direct menu development, refine execution and ensure a consistently exceptional experience across every voyage.
Francesco Galli Zugaro, CEO & founder, said: "Benjamin has been an integral part of the Aqua family for many years and I have long admired the care, curiosity and creativity he brings to his work. He has an intuitive understanding of the places we explore and a remarkable ability to translate that sense of place into an immersive dining experience for our guests. I can think of no one better to help guide this next chapter for Aqua Mekong."
Cross added: "For me, the most memorable dishes tell a story, and that story comes from spending time with the people who know a place best. I'm looking forward to learning from local producers, cooks and communities, building on the strong foundations already in place aboard Aqua Mekong, and bringing the extraordinary flavours of Cambodia and Vietnam to the table for our guests."
Passengers will begin experiencing Cross' enhancements progressively from late 2026, with Aqua Expeditions also planning to introduce chef-hosted sailings with Cross aboard Aqua Mekong from 2027. Additional details will be announced soon.