Holland America Introduces Food & Beverage Aficionado Cruises Featuring Culinary Council Members, Mixologist, Wine Curator & Winemakers
World-renowned
celebrity chefs, vintners and cocktail collaborator host select 2018 cruises
Seattle, Wash., Mar. 8, 2018 —
Holland America Line is introducing Food & Beverage Aficionado Cruises in
2018 that showcase the talents of the members of its esteemed Culinary Council,
Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff, and the premium line's wine curator and
winemaker partners. The Culinary Council comprises a collection of elite
international celebrity chefs who bring global influence to every dining venue
across Holland America Line's fleet of premium ships.
The Culinary Council is led by Holland America Line's Master Chef Rudi Sodamin,
who is joined by international chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Elizabeth
Falkner, Andy Matsuda, Ethan Stowell and Jacques Torres. The cruise line also
collaborates with acclaimed wine critic James Suckling on curating its wine
program, master mixologist Dale DeGroff on its cocktail program and vintners
from its home state of Washington, including Chateau Ste. Michelle winery,
which helped develop the BLEND wine experience on board Koningsdam.
"We have an unrivaled breadth of talent among our Culinary Council, wine
curator, master mixologist and winemaker partners. These new Food &
Beverage Aficionado Cruises give our guests a unique opportunity to have an
up-close and personal learning experience with some of the world's most notable
experts," said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line's president. "It's not
every day that you get to see a famous chef cooking live or have a personal
conversation with someone whose restaurant you've dined in, and we're making
those experiences possible for our guests through these cruises."
During each Food & Beverage Aficionado Cruise, guests will have the
opportunity to attend cooking, cocktail or wine demonstrations; get to know the
experts at presentations; meet them at photo opportunities; and join an
intimate reservation-only dinner in the Pinnacle Grill.
All events are complimentary excluding the Pinnacle Grill dinner. Guests who
wish to make reservations for the specialty dinner can contact Holland America
Line's Ship Services department upon booking to secure their spot.
The current schedule of Food & Beverage Aficionado Cruises includes:
Rudi Sodamin,
Culinary Council Chairman
Sodamin was born in Austria and trained in France. The Master Chef recently
released his latest culinary masterpiece, an art table book called "Food Faces"
that features more than 150 images of edible creations that display a whimsical
spectrum of human emotion. His innovative approach has made him the most
decorated chef on the world's oceans.
- Koningsdam, 7-Day Norse Legends, July 1, 2018, roundtrip Amsterdam, Netherlands
David Burke
Burke is a restaurateur, cookbook author, inventor and consultant at ESquared
Hospitality, which owns and operates the BLT restaurant brand. He has been
featured on "Iron Chef America" and "Top Chef Masters." He is a graduate of the
Culinary Institute of America and has worked with legendary chefs in France and
New York.
- Zuiderdam, 10-Day Colors of Canada & New England, Sept. 13, 2018, New York City to Quebec, Canada
Andy Matsuda
The Japanese-born Matsuda is at the forefront of sushi trends and techniques.
At Matsuda's Sushi Chef Institute in Los Angeles, California, he teaches
aspiring chefs and professionals about sushi and Japanese cuisine.
- Nieuw Amsterdam, 7-Day Western Caribbean, March 17, 2018, roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Koningsdam, 7-Day Norse Legends, June 3, 2018, roundtrip Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ethan Stowell
With an impressive roster of highly acclaimed restaurants, Stowell 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.
- Eurodam, 7-Day Alaskan Explorer, May 26, 2018, roundtrip Seattle, Washington
- Amsterdam, 7-Day Alaskan Explorer, Sept. 16, 2018, roundtrip Seattle, Washington
Jacques Torres
A French-trained Master Chef and artisan chocolatier, Torres is a James Beard
award winner. After rising to executive pastry chef at New York's legendary Le
Cirque, he opened a chocolate factory and stores throughout New York. Torres is
co-hosting and head judge on the new Netflix culinary show "Nailed It" with
Nicole Byer.
- Westerdam, 7-Day Glacier Discovery, June 24, 2018, Vancouver, Canada, to Seward, Alaska
- Veendam, 14-Day Summer Cuba, Aug. 4, 2018, roundtrip Boston, Massachusetts
Dale DeGroff
DeGroff 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 is a partner in the award-winning Beverage Alcohol Resource bar-training
program and founding president of the Museum of the American Cocktail.
- Zuiderdam, 18-Day Azores and Normandy, April 22, 2018, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Copenhagen, Denmark (DeGroff on board through Bermuda call on April 25)
- Oosterdam, 7-Day Tropical Caribbean, Nov. 10, 2018, roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Top Vintners Share
Their Love of Wine
The spotlight is on wine — and its fascinating journey from vine to table — on
select Koningsdam itineraries
throughout 2018. On each of these special cruises, a different Chateau Ste.
Michelle expert will join the onboard vinologist for three, one-hour sessions
each day 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. There is a modest fee for
this dinner.
BLEND — the only purpose-built wine-blending venue at sea — has a tasting table
that accommodates 10 guests who can create their own blend from a selection of
five barrels of single-vineyard red wine. In addition to participating in the
blending process, guests also will learn about wine from each wine expert.
BLEND has a small fee.
Leah Adint
Adint holds a bachelor's degree in viticulture and enology from Washington
State University and a Master of Science in enology from the University of
Adelaide. After working at wineries in Australia, Burgundy, central England and
Scotland, she joined Chateau Ste. Michelle in 2015.
- Koningsdam, 12-day European Splendour, May 1, 2018, Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy to Amsterdam, Netherlands
David Rosenthal
In 2007, Rosenthal rejoined Chateau Ste. Michelle as white wine enologist and
was later promoted to assistant winemaker in 2011. Rosenthal continued to excel
and was promoted to white winemaker in 2015, where he currently manages
day-to-day operations at the winery's white wine cellar in Woodinville,
Washington.
- Koningsdam, 7-day Norse Legends, June 3, 2018, roundtrip Amsterdam, Netherlands
Kara Koh
Koh is assistant winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle and has been with the
winery for more than 20 years working in most aspects of the business. Koh
regularly shares her knowledge and experience at tastings and wine-pairing
meals.
- Koningsdam, 7-day Norse Legends, July 1, 2018, roundtrip Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tracey Keller
President and winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle, Keller oversees the winery
operations and collaborates with his winemaking team to develop blends and
tastes for the acclaimed winery.
- Koningsdam, 7-day Viking Sagas, July 22, 2018, roundtrip Amsterdam, Netherlands
For more information, contact a travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
Editor's note: Photos
are available at https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/p1gpjsu8.
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About Holland
America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and
CUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers more than 500 cruises to more
than 400 ports in 98 countries, territories or dependencies around the world.
From shorter getaways to 113-day itineraries, the company's cruises visit all
seven continents, with highlights including Antarctica explorations, South
America circumnavigations, Cuba cruises and exotic Australia/New Zealand and
Asia voyages; four annual Grand Voyages; and popular sailings to the Caribbean,
Alaska, Mexico, Canada and New England, Bermuda, Europe and the Panama Canal.
The line welcomed Koningsdam
in 2016 and has a second Pinnacle-class ship,
Nieuw Statendam, to
be delivered in December 2018. A third Pinnacle-class ship, due for delivery in
2021, recently was announced.
The company is undergoing $300 million in brand enhancements to secure its
position as the leader in premium cruising. Fleetwide, the ships feature
innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on
destination immersion and personalized travel. Guests can expand their
knowledge through an exclusive partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine; during
an America's Test Kitchen show; at Explorations Café presented by The New York
Times; and by taking a Digital Workshop powered by Windows. Outstanding
entertainment fills each evening at venues including Lincoln Center Stage,
Billboard Onboard and B.B. King's Blues Club. The dining experience can be
savored at a variety of restaurants with menus that feature selections from
Holland America Line's esteemed Culinary Council, comprising world-famous chefs
who design dishes exclusively for our guests.
CONTACT: |
Sally Andrews |
PHONE: |
800-637-5029 |
EMAIL: |
pr@hollandamerica.com |