Exciting news from Holland America Line! Today we announced Chef Elizabeth Falkner as the newest member of our prestigious Culinary Council. Falkner’s focus will be to enhance appetizers and main courses for our menus, in addition to offering her guidance to our culinary program.

Currently, Falkner serves as executive chef and part owner of Brooklyn-based pizzeria and restaurant Krescendo in New York and is the author of two cookbooks, as well as a frequent judge and competitor on popular reality competition shows including “Top Chef” and “The Next Iron Chef.”

A San Francisco, Calif., native, Falkner began her career working for Julian Serrano at Masa’s, a four-star French restaurant and later for Traci Des Jardins at Rubicon. She then started her own business as chef and a managing partner for two Michelin-recommended restaurants: first at Citizen Cake and then at her second restaurant, Orson. Falkner is known as a pioneer and expert in many types of cuisines.

Falkner is the recipient of numerous awards including a nomination for a James Beard Award. She also was named one of America’s 10 top pastry chefs by Bon Appetit magazine and, most recently, she placed first at the 2012 World Pizza Championships in Naples, Italy.

In Dec. 2012, Falkner was inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame. That same month, she released her second book “Cooking Off the Clock.” Her first cookbook, “Demolition Desserts,” was a finalist for the International Association of Culinary Professional’s Julia Child, Best First Cookbook Award and was selected “favorite book” by the students of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

Falkner will join Holland America Line’s Master Chef and Council Chairman Rudi Sodamin, and renowned international chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Jacques Torres and Charlie Trotter on the Culinary Council.