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Holland America Line’s Master Chef and Culinary Pop Artist Rudi Sodamin Releases First-of-Its-Kind ‘Food Faces’ Art Book

Simpleportraits created from ingredients found around the globe emphasize theuniversality of both food and art.

Seattle,Wash., Jan. 10, 2018 —Holland America Line's Master Chef Rudi Sodamin just released his latestculinary masterpiece, an art table book called "Food Faces" that features morethan 150 vibrant images of edible creations that display a cast ofunforgettable characters expressing a whimsical spectrum of human emotion.

Sodamin began to design and photograph his stylized Food Faces several yearsago as a labor of creative love. Since he created his first Food Face, Sodaminhas captured hundreds of distinctive characters through his lens. His artisticinspiration comes from culinary ingredients and human expression, and hecreated each plate personality from food items including vegetables, fruit,meats, fish, grains and sweets.

Sodamin captured the images in his photography studio, working with hisperfectionistic approach to bring each piece of art to life, fine-tuning theemotional coloring of each Food Face as he adjusted lighting, depth and focus.

In the forward to "Food Faces," Thomas Keller, chef, restaurateur and cookbookauthor, writes: "Rudi has a keen eye, playful sensibility and a willingness tolet inspiration take him where it will. Rudi puts happiness front and center."

"Rudi is an icon in the cruise industry for his culinary talent and creativityin the kitchen and is regarded as the hospitality industry's most innovativechef, but today we congratulate him for his innovation as an artist with hisbeautiful new book," said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line's president."Rudi is esteemed throughout the world for his passion for his craft and hisability to translate that creative energy into serving thousands of guests eachday on our ships. 'Food Faces' allows people to be inspired by Rudi's workevery day in their homes."

With several cookbooks already under his belt, Sodamin applied his artistictalent this time to creating a unique and transformative portrayal of theingredients that have inspired him throughout his culinary career.

On board Holland America Line ships, guests who dine in Rudi's Sel de Merpop-up restaurant can enjoy his dynamic Food Faces on exclusive limited-editionplates made by Bernardaud, the leading French manufacturer of Limogesporcelain. Each plate charger features a different image from the "Food Faces"book, creating a table setting unlike any found anywhere in the world.

"ʽFood Faces' has a universal appeal that crosses all ages, languages, art,cultures and food groups," said Sodamin of his concept. "Food is aninternational language, understood by all, and everyone in the world,regardless of race, gender, experience or social status, can communicate andconnect through food."

"Food Faces" was published by Welcome Books, an imprint of Rizzoli, and isavailable for purchase in bookstores nationwide. Sodamin will beexhibiting his Food Faces art in Miami, Florida, and in Europe in 2018.

About Master ChefRudi Sodamin
Master Chef Rudi Sodamin is a culinary artistand internationallyrecognized culinary authority. He is Culinary Consultant and Master Chef forHolland America Line, and chairman of the cruise line's award-winning CulinaryCouncil. As one of the hospitality industry's most innovative chefs, Sodamin isa member of the Academie Culinaire de France, the Maîtres Cuisiniers de Franceand the prestigious Club des Chefs des Chefs.Sodamin has authored severalinternational cookbooksincluding the award-winning"Seduction andSpice."With more than 35 years of experience as a culinary artist, hemaintains an unflagging passion for his craft.

For more information, contact a travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425)or visit hollandamerica.com.

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