Robert Pickens is a chef on some of the world’s most luxurious private/charter megayachts. He grew up in Mississippi, the grandson of a restaurateur, where he was first introduced to the world of food. Years later, while wandering across the country, he further developed his passion for food and decided upon attending culinary school. Consequently, to pay for his tuition, he worked as a deckhand on towboats pushing barges up and down the river systems of America. This is where he developed his other passion, life on the water.

Credit: John Rowe

Upon graduation, Robert spent the next 5 years training in top restaurants, private clubs, and hotels. Today, he is a chef on private yachts where his dual passions for food and life at sea have commingled for over 8 years. Besides the occasional break to further his education, such as stints at famous restaurants, working at a private estate and a world famous private club, his winters are generally spent in the Caribbean and summers in New England or the Mediterranean.

Fortunately, being a yacht chef, affords him the opportunity to experience different cultures and cuisines in a way few have. Aside from cooking for a truly elite clientele, Robert’s job entails provisioning at ports around the world, from local farmers’ markets, and if necessary right from a local’s backyard. Throughout his travels he seeks out every opportunity to eat the indigenous food, work in local kitchens, collect recipes and experience each region’s culture. His experience has propelled him to create a series of books that encompass pertinent facts, histories, recipes, and general information that highlight the regions he travels, information that will forever connect the traveler to the journey.

In his first book, Caribbean Cuisine A Culinary Voyage, he shares a taste of those travels.

Editor Marilyn Mower has more than 27 years’ experience as a journalist specializing in yachts and travel writing, including more than 14 years as an editor for exclusive ShowBoats International magazine and CharterFleet International. She is co-author/editor of “The Megayacht Century.” She lives and cruises aboard a 44-foot ketch named Southern Cross based out of South Florida.

Location and lifestyle photographer Jim Raycroft has spent the last quarter-century shooting yachts, cruise ships, travel images, resorts, cars, food and other glamorous subjects around the world. His work frequently appears in national advertising campaigns andon the pages of international publications. He operates out of studios in Boston, Massachusetts, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Food photographer Ken Epstein has more than 25 years’ experience shooting food, people, places, jets, and other products for catalogues and periodicals. He works on location and from his studio in Scottsdale, Arizona.