A
Taste of Excellence
Personalize Your Cruise Ship
Dining Experience
by Linda Coffman
We hadn't intended to do it, but during a recent cruise aboard
Holland America Line's Westerdam, we never ate in the
dining room. To foodies—indeed
to most cruise passengers—the
thought is, well, unthinkable. For us, though, it made a lot of
sense to have meals our way.
After boarding, my husband and I immediately made a reservation
for dinner in the upscale Pinnacle Grill for later in the week, but
decided a casual dinner in the Lido Restaurant that first night
would offer us the opportunity for some down-time. We didn't have to
rush to make a set seating time and we wouldn't have to make small
talk with strangers.
While Holland America Line features gracious dining in the main
restaurants—and was in the process of introducing their innovative
As You Wish™ dining program that
affords passengers the selection of either a traditional seating and
dining time or a flexible/open seating dining schedule—it
wasn't yet available on our Westerdam sailing.*
Happily, we found more than we expected in the Lido Restaurant
and it suited our lifestyle perfectly—we
prefer to eat when we're actually hungry. After
selecting a salad and
appetizer from the buffet, we made our choices from several
entrees and were shown to a candlelit table set with a crisp linen tablecloth
and
fresh flowers. Our water glasses were filled and, with
impeccable timing, the waiter served
our entrees. When we finished, the table service continued
with dessert and coffee. Best of all, we were relaxed and truly
enjoyed ourselves.
The next night we couldn't pass up the opportunity to tailor our
evening our way. I'm so glad we did because that was the night we
discovered maple syrup-glazed salmon. Aside from the Pinnacle Grill,
it became one of the most memorable dishes we've ever eaten on a
cruise ship. Just because it was casual, didn't mean the Lido
Restaurant was what you think of as typical "buffet" dining. Options
each night included such items as crab or shrimp appetizers, meat or
fish entrees with side dishes, and a variety of ice creams, cakes,
and pies for dessert. Freshly prepared pasta and pizza were also
available for dinner as well as lunch. Breakfast even featured my
favorite Eggs Benedict in addition to made-to-order eggs and
omelets.
After our much-anticipated and very elegant dinner-for-two in the
Pinnacle Grill, we inquired about the possibility of a second
reservation and were pleased they could accommodate us on formal
night. For that evening, I chose Chef Rudi Sodamin's "special filet"—with
a green peppercorn sauce that added just the right touch of seasoning—and asparagus on the side. For dessert, how could
I
pass up the Warm Grand Marnier
Chocolate Volcano Cake? I
didn't.
It might be unthinkable not to dine at least once in the main
dining room, but I believe it's unthinkable not to dine at least
once in the Pinnacle Grill. The $30 per guest surcharge for
dinner (or $15 for lunch) is modest compared to similar
restaurants on land, where that amount would barely cover a tip.
And, in case you wondered... yes, we followed the recommended dress
code, either Smart Casual or Formal, for every evening of our
cruise. Fellow casual diners in the Lido Restaurant did as well.
We hated to see our leisurely cruise end and, in an attempt to re-create our Holland America dining experiences
at home, I've been trying out the recipes from
A Taste of Excellence Cookbook, available on board
Holland America Line ships and
online from Amazon.com. Author and Master Chef Rudi Sodamin is the
culinary consultant for Holland America Line and the cookbook
includes not only his recipes, but also cocktail creations and
"Chef's Notes From the Galley" contributed by Holland America's
Executive Chefs.
How am I doing in my kitchen? Chef Rudi need not fear the
competition, although my salmon measures up pretty well (only slightly modified
for my limited skill). On the other hand, by following the
instructions in A Taste of Excellence Cookbook, I can serve a Holland America "Ultimate
Bloody Mary" with pride!
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*Note:
As You Wish™ dining will be available on Holland America Line
fleet-wide by summer 2008.
If you choose the flexible/open seating program, you may make
reservations daily until 4pm, or simply walk up for a table during dining hours.
