On Tuesday, Sarah and I drove to Downtown Los Angeles for an exciting dinner at Officine BRERA. Princess Cruises has just announced their collaboration with Chef Angelo Auriana and invited us to his restaurant to try a few of his dishes–one of which will appear on Princess Cruises’ Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria’s new menu.

Sabatini’s has been serving up tasty Italian dishes since its debut aboard the Grand Princess in 1998. Now, close to 20 years later, Princess Cruises has unveiled a fleetwide enhancement to its specialty restaurant with new antipasti and handmade pasta dishes from Chef Auriana.

Chef Angelo Auriana cooking for Princess Cruises Quote

Whether you’re familiar with Sabatini’s or not, the fresh new design is something everyone will appreciate, and the food follows suit. Additionally, Italian Princess executive chefs fleetwide have added to the menu, sharing their family recipes.

The transformed Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria first debuted on the Caribbean Princess following a multi-million-dollar drydock, then to Grand Princess. Those planning to cruise on other Princess ships will be happy to know that in the coming months the refreshed Sabatini’s menu will expand across the entire fleet, so you too can experience the delicious handmade pasta!

Sabatini's Italian Trattoria dishes

Here are a few of the offerings Chef Auriana created for cruise-goers:

  • Picagge – marjoram-infused long pasta, white prawns, clams, artichoke pesto, ligurian olive oil
  • Tortelloni – mint-speckled pasta, roasted lamb, pecorino crosta nera, cacio e pepe sauce, broccoli rabe
  • Pappardelle – wide ribbon pasta, celeriac, nebbiolo-braised beef cheek
  • Risotto – vialone nano rice, beets dolce latte, gorgonzola, pistachios
  • Torchietti – whole wheat pasta, foraged mushrooms, rosemary oil

Fun fact: Princess Cruises has more chefs from Italy than any other country, so you know they bring along some of their favorite family recipes. Here are a few featured on the new Sabatini’s menu:

  • Roman Seafood al Cartoccio – grouper, shrimp, black mussels, scallops, potato, artichoke
  • Porchetta – rolled pork belly toscana, fennel seeds, potatoes, spinach, roasted tomato
  • Breaded Veal Vallet – marjoram roasted potatoes & artichokes, sun-dried tomato, provolone

What’s sharing good Italian food without a cocktail or two? Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria features an all Italian wine menu, classic Italian cocktails, and Limoncello liqueurs. A $25 per person cover charge includes a four-course dinner, plus dessert.

You can learn more about the new partnership with Chef Auriana by watching their launch video below:

Sabatini’s tasting at Officine BRERA

I just couldn’t leave you hanging with just a mention about our dinner at Officine BRERA. It was our first time there and let me tell you, it will NOT be our last. Every dish of our 4-course meal was to die for, and one of them is exclusive to Sabatini’s new menu. The third dish down was the Casarecce, a delicious handmade curly eggless buckwheat pasta, with foraged mushroom sugo, and reggiano. If you happen to cruise with Princess, it’s a must try.

Amazing chickpea flour appetizer from Officine BRERA
Farinata – chickpea flour, garda olive oil, cracked pepper
Tasty pink snapper mousse appetizer from Officine BRERA
Brandade – pink snapper mousse, roasted red pepper, olivata, grilled ciabatta
Casarecce - curly eggless buckwheat pasta, foraged mushroom sugo, reggiano
The Casarecce dish is available at Sabatini’s and consists of curly eggless buckwheat pasta, foraged mushroom sugo, reggiano
Delicious gnocchi from Officine BRERA
Gnocchi Piemontesi – house-made potato dumplings, castelmagno fonduta
Manzo all' olio - slow braised beef shoulder, root vegetables, anchovy-oil, potatoes, natural jus
Manzo all’ olio – slow braised beef shoulder, root vegetables, anchovy-oil, potatoes, natural jus
Pisarei e verdure - house-made bread dumplings, seasonal vegetables, reggiano
Pisarei e verdure – house-made bread dumplings, seasonal vegetables, reggiano
Fried doughnuts, anise sugar, salty bourbon caramel sauce
Fried doughnuts, anise sugar, salty bourbon caramel sauce

Ready to book your next vacation? Find all of the information you need about Princess Cruises by calling 1-800-PRINCESS or by visiting them online at Princess.com.