'Our 2018 Food and Beverage Aficionado Cruises were extremely successful, with every demonstration standing-room only and each specialty dinner sold out, so we’re thrilled to bring this program back in 2019,' HAL president Orlando Ashford said.
Cooking, cocktail or wine demonstrations
During each cruise, passengers will have the opportunity to attend cooking, cocktail or wine demonstrations. Also featured is an intimate, reservation-only dinner in the Pinnacle Grill.
The Culinary Council is comprised of celebrity chefs who influence every dining venue across the fleet. Led by Rudi Sodamin, the group includes Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Elizabeth Falkner, Andy Matsuda, Ethan Stowell and Jacques Torres. James Suckling, world-renowned wine critic and the line’s wine curator, has created an extensive new wine list on board.
And Holland America collaborates with DeGroff on its cocktail program plus vintners from its home state of Washington, including Chateau Ste. Michelle winery, which helped develop the BLEND wine experience aboard Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam.
Rudi Sodamin and David Burke
Rudi Sodamin will be aboard Nieuw Statendam's Feb. 17 sailing and and Veendam's Nov. 13 cruise. Both vist the Eastern Caribbean. The chef's latest book, 'Food Faces,' features more than 150 images of edible creations, some of them immortalized on Bernardaud porcelain and on display in Rudi’s Sel de Mer, a sea brasserie available on all Holland America ships.
David Burke, restaurateur, cookbook author, inventor and consultant at ESquared Hospitality, which owns and operates the BLT restaurant brand, will join Rotterdam's March 3 Western Caribbean cruise round-trip Tampa and Veendam's Sept. 7 Canada/New England sailing from Boston to Québec City. Burke has been featured on 'Iron Chef America' and 'Top Chef Masters.'
Sushi master Andy Matsuda
The Japanese-born Andy Matsuda is at the forefront of sushi trends and techniques. At Matsuda’s Sushi Chef Institute in Los Angeles, he teaches aspiring chefs and professionals about sushi and Japanese cuisine. He'll be aboard Nieuw Statendam's March 3 Eastern Caribbean cruise and Eurodam's Oct. 19 Mexican Riviera sailing, round-trip San Diego.
Ethan Stowell, with a roster of highly acclaimed restaurants, has helped to change the face of the Seattle food scene. He was named one of the Best New Chefs in America by 'Food & Wine' magazine in 2008 and chosen as one of the Best New Chef All-Stars in 2013. He'll join Eurodam's May 11 Alaska cruise, round-trip Seattle, and Noordam's July 21 Alaska voyage from Vancouver, BC, to Seward.
Chocolatier Jacques Torres
French-trained master chef and artisan chocolatier Jacques Torres, a James Beard award winner, is co-host of the Netflix culinary show 'Nailed It' with Nicole Byer. He'll be aboard Zaandam's June 1 Canada/New England cruise from Montréal to Boston.
Dale DeGroff, who received the James Beard Award for Wine & Spirits, was inducted into the prestigious James Beard Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America in 2015 and is author of 'The Essential Cocktail' and 'The Craft of the Cocktail.' He'll be aboard Zuiderdam's April 10 Panama Canal cruise round-trip Fort Lauderdale and Westerdam's Aug. 4 Alaska cruise from Seward to Vancouver.
Chateau Ste. Michelle vintners
The spotlight is on wine during select Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam itineraries throughout 2019. On each of these special cruises, a different Chateau Ste. Michelle expert will join the shipboard vinologist for several one-hour sessions daily at BLEND by Chateau Ste. Michelle. They'll also be present for the ship’s special Cellar Master's Dinner at the Culinary Arts Center, where the accent will be on perfect wine and food pairings.
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