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Seattle, WA, March 24, 2009 —A new commemorative dinner menu—featuring the best of Alaska cuisine—plays a starring role in the main dining room one night during each seven-day Alaska cruise this summer. Holland America has created the special menu in celebration of the state’s 50th anniversary of statehood in 2009.
Master Chef Rudi Sodamin researched Alaska’s culinary heritage and combined traditional foods with his own Signature of Excellence flair to create the cruise line’s commemorative menu. In addition, “Salmon 50 Ways” returns to the ships’ menu offering fresh, wild Alaska salmon in 50 different recipes over the weeklong cruise.
“The celebration dinner incorporates the foods found in Alaska’s communities into one grand menu,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Alaska offers abundant fresh ingredients, a favorite being wild seafood, and our culinary team has created a memorable menu to showcase the tastes of Alaska.”
Served in the main dining room one evening, Chef Sodamin excites diners’ palettes with his own twists on traditional Alaska cuisine. For example, as an appetizer, he spikes a berry mélange with a splash of whiskey. A Fairbanks Seafood Platter combines Alaskan prawns, salmon jerky, clams, smoked salmon and smoked halibut. For an Alaskan inspired salad, he adds smoked salmon to frissee lettuce, pear and fennel. Soup choices include Ketchikan Fisherman’s Chowder, Reindeer Sausage and Vegetable Chowder and Chilled Yukon Gold Vichyssoise.
Guests have a choice of nine different entrées including Razor Clams, Bay Scallops and Manila Clams over Noodles; Grilled Salmon with Endive and Caramelized Orange Zests; Grilled Venison with Wild Mushrooms and Alaskan King Crab Cobb Salad.
Appropriate for a celebration dinner, decadent desserts adorn the menu. Highlights include an Alaska Dessert Sampler of chocolate mousse in a chocolate shell, maple cheesecake and apple buckle with sugared berries. A cruise favorite, Gold Rush Baked Alaska is a decadent combination of chocolate ice cream surrounded with vanilla sponge cake and coated in meringue dusted with edible gold. It comes with a choice of topping: Peppermint Hot Fudge, Raspberry Chocolate Swirl or Praline Crunch.
The line’s popular “Salmon 50 Ways,” first offered on Alaska-bound ships in 2005, returns to further commemorate the state’s 50th anniversary. Between the various dining venues serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, fresh, wild Alaskan salmon will be prepared 50 different ways over the course of the weeklong cruise.
Holland America Line buys approximately 1.3 million pounds of wild Alaskan seafood per year, the majority being salmon. As the salmon season hits full stride, Holland America Line’s famous on-deck Salmon Bake will prepare an array of flavors such as Basted Honey Maple, Soy Garlic, and Holland America Line’s award-winning Dill, Sea Salt and Vodka, a salmon culinary treat.
Holland America Line has been leading tours in Alaska for more than 60 years and has eight premium ships offering a total of 156 cruises and 29 CruiseTours ranging from 10 to 20 days in length. For more information about booking, contact a travel agent or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.
Editor’s Note: Photos available here. http://www.cleanpix.com/cleanpix/portal/WAqd:wNc:qDN
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 320 ports in more than 100 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, and highlights include Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. A 15th ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, is scheduled to join the fleet in 2010.
Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $525 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine - a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes - Explorations Café powered by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds.
Worlds Leading Cruise Lines
The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World's Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.