Cultural Immersion: Behind the Scenes of a Spanish Delicacy

From deep dives into the art of flamenco to exclusive culinary tastings and behind-the-scenes tours, Spain was the perfect destination to debut The World’s new Cultural Immersion (CI) program. Over the course of two weeks in June, Residents & Guests were treated to a series of special programs that took them beyond traditional sightseeing and created true cultural connections during the Ship’s voyage across the vibrant and diverse country of Spain. A new segment of CI activities in August will reveal even more local insights and special experiences.

As part of the preparation for our Spain Cultural Immersion program, we extended an invitation to our Food & Beverage team to deepen their own culinary education while The World was in dry-dock in Cádiz, Spain.

Senior Food & Beverage Director Saikumar, Senior Executive Chef Geoffrey and Executive Sous Chef Lionel enjoyed an exclusive visit to El Palacio del Jamón in Puerto de Santa María. Owner Juan Carlos gave them a warm welcome and offered a glimpse into the world of Jamón Ibérico, widely considered one of Spain’s most prized foods and a delicacy.

Juan Carlos passionately shared his extensive knowledge on how to distinguish between locally favored artisanal jamón and more commercial varieties. He educated the trio on all the nuances of Jamón Ibérico, which has a protected designation of origin (D.O.) in Spain – meaning the ham can only be produced from Iberian-breed pigs. They received an insightful training session on the traditional methods of raising Iberian pigs – detailing their acorn-rich diet, meticulous care, and the long aging and curing process that ultimately delivers the exquisite flavor found in each expertly carved slice on a jamonero (ham stand) and a long, flexible, sharp knife, along with a puntilla (small knife) for trimming.

This immersive experience was meant to enhance their understanding of the cultural and culinary significance of Jamón Ibérico. Even more exciting, they had the opportunity to hand-select some of the finest jamón legs to bring back on board for the enjoyment of Residents & Guests. They bought a substantial amount to provide this exquisite treat throughout the sailing season. Juan Carlos then boarded The World to lead a masterclass for our culinary team on the traditional preparation techniques of Jamón Ibérico, ensuring an authentic and elevated experience for all.

As part of our special Cultural Immersion program in Spain, The World offered a special tasting at Marina restaurant, bringing Spain’s true flavors straight from the source and directly to our Residents’ plates and palates. During the second segment of our Cultural Immersion program in August, even more gourmet delights, onboard experts and exclusive excursions will be offered.