Chefs
Sit back and relax, our chefs have the cooking and washing up covered! They will keep the boat stocked up with delicious local delicacies.
First time sailing?
We aim to make sailing accessible to everyone. Your skipper will navigate your yacht through paradise all week, while your chef gets creative on your floating home to provide you with the freshest local cuisine. And don't worry about cleaning up, they have that sorted too. These little extras will make a big difference to your dream holiday.
How does it work?
We will be in touch with you before you sail to make sure we know about any dietary requirements you might have so that your chef can build a delicious menu that suits you. With their vast knowledge and experience of each destination, they will be bringing you local delicacies daily. As well as keeping you looked after on-board, your chef will also be on hand to book any extra excursions for you throughout the week, recommend the absolute best restaurants from island to island, and introduce you to the locals!
What will your chef do?
Your chef will:
- Do all your grocery shopping throughout the week
- Prepare all breakfasts, lunches and two dinners
- Keep the communal areas of your yacht clean and tidy
- Clean your bathrooms
- Sleep on the yacht
Your chef won’t:
- Clean your cabins
- Drive your yacht
- Clean the outside areas of your yacht (your skipper will be on top of this)
Q&A
with Alissa Fitzgerald, a Yachts and Friends Hostess
Where are you from?
San Francisco, CA by way of Boston, MA
Where did you learn your expert hostessing skills?
Technically, I went to culinary school in Cambridge,MA, but my mom taught me how to be a great hostess. She has always thrown the best family gatherings and massive dinners. No one's glass is ever dry or their plate empty. When I moved to San Francisco, I began hosting my own dinner parties and discovered that nothing makes me happier than a table full of good friends laughing over great food and wine.
When did you begin sailing?
My first sailing trip was with friends in the British Virgin Islands in the spring of 2012. I was instantly addicted! Nothing beats waking up to a sunny day on clear blue waters in the middle of paradise. I made sure our skipper was always well fed and he taught me the basics of tacking and dropping anchor.
What are your favourite dishes to prepare?
I love feeding large groups and using locally sourced food and wine. The mussels are amazing and so fresh! Especially when steamed in a white wine, garlic and butter sauce. I usually serve this with a light caramelized onion risotto and pair it with whatever wine I've used for the mussels. My favorites are the dry white wines from Vis, Croatia. For a light snack it's hard to go wrong with prosciutto wrapped melon and a glass of sparkling wine before dinner!
What was your favourite moment on a Yachts and Friends charter?
Having pre-dinner cocktails and snacks after mooring up in Primosten (Croatia). We were all relaxed after a full day of sailing and swimming, chatting about what everyone does back in the real world when the sun started setting over the cathedral in the center of Hvar. We all silently watched it sink down and each one of us forgot about the real world completely.
When you're not hostessing, you are...
Catering for a bike and wine tour company in San Francisco and counting down the days until my next sailing adventure!