British comedian and TV presenter Judi Love joined us on board one of our luxury yachts, Emerald Azzurra, to film ‘Judi Love’s Culinary Cruise,’ a unique five-part food and travel series. Bringing on board her signature humour to this delicious voyage of discovery, Judi visits a succession of incredible destinations featured on Emerald Cruises 8-Day ‘Mediterranean Enchantment’ itinerary.

Journey with Judi as she immerses herself in the captivating culture and scenery of each destination, meeting locals and sourcing ingredients before heading back to the yacht to create authentic dishes – often, adding her own unique twist to traditional recipes.

Tune in to ‘Judi Love’s Culinary Cruise;’ on SBS Food (Freeview channel 33) on Saturdays at 7:30pm from 12 April – 10 May.  

On her exciting travels, Judi meets an assortment of fascinating locals and takes in the distinctive sights, sounds, tastes and traditions of the Mediterranean. She then returns on board to savour Emerald Cruises unique yachting lifestyle, the glorious sunshine, magnificent views and of course, mouthwatering regional cuisine.

Judi’s culinary tour starts in Kotor, a historic walled town on Montenegro’s Adriatic Coast, renowned for its maze-like Old Town and dramatic mountain backdrop.  Episode One sees Judi tasting olives at a local food market, discovering how they produce oil from one of the world’s most ancient olive trees, before collecting ingredients from one of the region’s oldest oyster and mussel farms, to cook on board.

In Episode Two, Judi travels to Corfu, one of Greece’s most verdant islands, celebrated for its coves lapped by crystal-clear water, vibrant cultural heritage and aromatic spices. Highlights include a butter tasting at the region’s oldest dairy shop and dancing with a local dance troupe in traditional Greek attire.

Episode Three sees Judi sail south to the olive oil-rich land of Parga, a charming seaside town on the Greek mainland, famous for its colourful hillside houses. Here, she tours the fruit and vegetable gardens of boutique beach resort, Villa Rossa and makes traditional olive bread at a local bakery.

Episode Four takes Judi to Cephalonia, the largest of the Greek Ionian Islands and renowned for its rugged natural beauty. On this magical island, she bakes traditional Cephalonia pie and samples wine at a local vineyard.

Ending her grand adventure in the charming port town of Itea, for Episode Five, Judi explores Delphi, one of the world’s most important archaeological sites, gets acquainted with some industrious bees at a honey farm and makes a traditional Greek sweet treat in a local bakery.

Judi cooks up a storm on board Emerald Azzurra, creating recipes inspired by the cultures of the destinations she discovers on her onshore travels, infused with a signature spin inspired by her own Jamaican roots. Each episode features a delectable new dish, including mussels in a fennel and white wine sauce, spicy lamb chops with saffron rice accompanied by a yoghurt and cucumber dressing and honey and rum peaches with mini doughnuts.

Inspired to recreate Judi’s regional dishes for yourself? Check out her delicious recipes here and treat your tastebuds to the unmistakable flavours of the Mediterranean at home.

Judi was full of praise for her Emerald Cruises experience:

“Being on board a luxury yacht was a truly fantastic experience. I’ve never been on a yacht cruise before so I wasn’t sure what to expect, however this exceeded my expectations. It had everything I needed to relax, including pools, a spa, comfy cabins and of course amazing food. The attention to detail from the wonderful attentive staff gave it a really luxury feel. It was such a great way to explore the beautiful Mediterranean, especially because we were able to dock right in the heart of many incredible destinations.” 

If Judi Love has inspired you to experience the Emerald Cruises luxury yacht lifestyle, find your perfect cruise and embark on an unforgettable adventure. From sun-kissed coasts and idyllic islands to ancient architectural wonders and cultural heritage, there are endless treasures to discover as you sail across the sparkling azure waters of the Mediterranean and Adriatic.

Emerald Cruises offers an inspiring collection  of itineraries to suit every taste; whether you wish to follow in Judi’s footsteps and explore the sun-drenched Mediterranean & Adriatic, or venture further afield to the stunningly beautiful islands of the Caribbean or Seychelles and Indian Ocean.