Chef Bogdan Drăghici
Executive Chef · Polar expeditions · Cruises · Yachts

I cook where the map runs out.

From my mother’s kitchen in Romania to the Arctic and Antarctica. Today I am Executive Chef onboard an expedition ship.

Chef Bogdan Drăghici in his Executive Chef jacket
About me

Curiosity took me further than any recipe.

Chef Bogdan Drăghici on deck on the Seine in Paris

I was born in Romania, into a family that loved to cook. We harvested fruit and vegetables from our garden, and by my mother’s side I learned what it means to cook for the people you love. From an early age, I was preparing meals for the whole family.

I started out in a 4-star restaurant in Romania, worked as a travelling chef for a professional kitchen equipment company, and in 2014 moved to the United Kingdom as Chef de Partie at Corfe Castle.

Since 2015 I have cooked on the water: first on the Seine and the Danube aboard river cruise ships, rising from Chef de Partie to Executive Chef, and then on the polar routes of National Geographic Endurance.

“Remain fresh and simple, ensure the dining experience is elegant and let the products speak for themselves.”My cooking philosophy
2015
cooking at sea since
40,000+
guests served on rivers and expeditions
1,000,000+
meals cooked for guests and crew
35+
countries across all 7 continents
Journey

From Romania to the “End of the World”

Chef Bogdan Drăghici beside a penguin colony on expedition
2006 – 2010
Training
A.D. Xenopol Economic College, Bucharest, then culinary school
Romania
Cook, 4-star restaurant
My first years in a professional kitchen
Romania
Travelling chef
Professional kitchen equipment company
2014
Chef de Partie
Corfe Castle, United Kingdom
2015 – 2021
Chef de Partie → Sous Chef → Executive Chef
AmaWaterways and Phoenix river cruises on the Seine and the Danube
2021 – present
Sous Chef, then Executive Chef (since 2022)
National Geographic Endurance, Arctic and Antarctic routes
2025
Sole Chef
M/Y Al Adaid, 36 m private yacht
Gallery

Moments from my journey

Kitchens, decks and places along the way, from my first cooking demonstrations in Romania to the ice of Antarctica.

Live cooking demonstration at a trade fair
2012Live cooking demonstration at a trade fair
Early years: buffets and events
2012Early years: buffets and events
Lobster, torched at the final plating
2014Lobster, torched at the final plating
Oyster bar on deck with fresh garnishes
2018Oyster bar on deck with fresh garnishes
On board with my colleagues
2019On board with my colleagues
Deck buffet at sea
2021Deck buffet at sea
A tabular iceberg in Antarctica
2022A tabular iceberg in Antarctica
Fishing in the Arctic
2023Fishing in the Arctic
From my kitchen

Dishes

Plates from the menus I have created at sea and on the rivers: technique, seasonality and products that speak for themselves.

Seared scallops with pink foam and crispy bacon
Prosciutto-wrapped terrine, purple carrot and squash purée
Grilled beef fillet, pork tenderloin and demi-glace
Fish rolls, spinach risotto and saffron sauce
Romanian sarmale with polenta, sour cream and braised cabbage
Four-course tasting menu
Duck breast, pumpkin and charred onion
Pork tenderloin with glazed carrots and croquette
Beef two ways, bok choy and black raviolo
Braised beef with spring vegetables
Duck leg confit, truffle mash and orange
Crusted venison, herb sponge and chanterelles
Services

What I can do for you

Private & charter yacht chef

Menus created for owners and guests, provisioning anywhere in the world and a spotless galley on board.

Private dinners & events

Tasting menus, buffets and events, from an intimate dinner to hundreds of guests.

Menu development & consulting

New menus, kitchen organisation, cost control and team training.

Cooking demonstrations

Live cooking and masterclasses for food lovers or professional teams.

What I cook

Fine diningMediterraneanFrenchScandinavianAsianLatin American

Menus created for every voyage, built on seasonal ingredients and local produce and adapted to any preference or dietary need, even in the most remote places on the planet.

Cover of The Expedition Chef by Chef Bogdan Drăghici
My book

The Expedition Chef

Appetizers, Soups & Main Courses · Bold flavors, global horizons

The recipes I have cooked on Europe’s rivers and on polar expeditions, adapted for the home kitchen. More than 80 recipes, each serving six, with difficulty ratings, allergens and both metric and US measurements. Alongside them you’ll find the basics from my kitchen and 9 complete menus with wine pairings.

20 appetizers18 soups43 main courses9 suggested menus106 pagesFirst edition, 2026
Contact

Let’s cook something together.

For collaborations, private and charter yachts, events or questions about the book, write to me.

Chef Bogdan Drăghici shucking oysters on a ship’s deck