Holland America Cruise Line's Signature Master Chef's Dinner: Food for all the Senses
April 06, 2006
Holland America Cruise Line has created another signature side dish to go with their excellent cuisine. But you won't find this new dining feature on any plate. Rather, it's part of the dining experience itself. The waiters dance; pepper shakers are vaulted into the air and caught like batons; napkins are transformed from the utilitarian into the entertaining. With each course comes a different show. Why didn't anybody think of this before!?
Dubbed the Signature Master Chef's Dinner, it's a feature with Holland America that combines the premium line's award-winning cuisine, service, and entertainment into an engaging new fine dining concept at sea.
"We are well-known for our outstanding service, excellent food and innovative entertainment," said Richard D. Meadows, vice president of marketing and sales. "Our new Signature Master Chef's Dinner builds on these strengths while creating an unforgettable dining experience."
When guests entire the dining room, they will be greeted by more than 75 friendly service staff. Dining room stewards, cruise activities staff, and the ship's singers and dancers-all will be dressed as "chefs," wearing crisp white hats and jackets.
The pleated chef's hat is decorated with a clever collector's menu in the shape of kitchen utensils and describes the evening's dining and wine selections. Stewards welcome guests to the special dinner event and invite them to join in the fun and don the honorary chef's hat, which when lifted off the plate reveals a fresh-baked dinner roll also in the shape of a chef's hat.
Musicians will create a lively ambiance for the evening with custom-made "foodical" instruments such as drums shaped like cakes, a banana saxophone, and a pear-shaped bass. As the music begins, so does the rest of the show.
During Act 1, the "Waltz of the Napkins," the staff performs a choreographed waltz when delivering the napkins to the tables. Then comes a domed silver platter containing the "Chef's Amuse Surprise," a treat from the executive chef. The "Chef's Amuse Surprise" selections are served on a rotating schedule and include various amuse bouche.
The "Show Salad Spectacular" is Act 2 gives new meaning to a tossed salad, as stewards juggle colorful vegetables into an over-sized salad bowl. A singer costumed in a green sequined gown accompanies the action. The juggling becomes more intense as pepper grinders join in on the fun. Salads are then delivered direct from the galley while guests wait eager for their starters, which include dishes like Alaskan Salmon Tartare with Avocado, Golden Baked Brie in Phyllo Dough, and Lobster Bisque.
Then, onto Act 2, Scene 3 and the delectable array of entr?es: Whole Roasted Tenderloin of Beef, Grilled Lamb Chops with Oregano and Apple Chutney, Duck Breast a l'Orange, just to name a few. The band provides background music during the starter and main courses.
Finally, the Grand Finale; yet this is one that doesn't call for a standing ovation. The Signature Master Chef's Dinner final act features Master Chef Rudi Sodamin's "Hats Off" dessert-bittersweet chocolate in a luxurious mousse, surrounded by berries, topped with a white chocolate chef's hat with Chef Rudi's signature in dark chocolate. Okay, so maybe a standing ovation wouldn't hurt.
The Signature Master Chef's Dinner will be featured in the main dining room once on every Holland America Line cruise by fall of 2006. While it has only occurred so far on the ms Volendam, by early July, the dinner theater show will be on the ms Rotterdam, ms Zaandam, ms Maasdam, ms Ryndam, ms Statendam and ms Veendam. The dinner show debuts on the ms Prinsendam in late July and will be on board the Vista-class ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam, ms Westerdam and ms Zuiderdam in the fall.
For more information, consult a Cruise Network Cruise Representative at 1-888-267-1232.
