Cruise Holidays of Mission Viejo’s very own retired Executive Chef, Ben Bajak is a big fan of the Culinary Arts Center on Holland America Line.
The Culinary Arts Center features:
- An innovative theatre-style venue with a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen
- Multiple large plasma video screens so you don’t miss the fine details (or you can watch the broadcast from the comfort of your own stateroom)
- Cooking demonstrations and hands-on cooking classes by our own award-winning chefs and their culinary staff
- Wine and cheese experts hosting special wine tastings and food pairing seminars
- Special guest chefs, wine experts and leading cookbook authors who appear in the pages of Food & Wine magazine
- Book signings, Q&A sessions, market tours in selected ports of call
Demonstrations and Seminars from Top Chefs
The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine, provides guests on select Holland America cruises the opportunity to experience demonstrations and hands-on classes conducted by top chefs, wine experts, and leading cookbook authors from the pages of Food & Wine Magazine. Onboard all sailings, you will learn tricks-of-the-trade from top professionals, try your hand at preparing dishes and taste wines representative of the specific ports-of-call you will visit. Guests on selected cruises will also receive Food & Wine recipe cards and wine tasting notes that you may take home along with copies of the magazine. Other opportunities might include book signings, question and answer sessions, specially designed dinner menus and more. Previous guest chefs include:
- Jacques Torres – Chocolatier Extraordinaire.
- Max McCalman – Maître Fromager,
Artisanal Premium Cheese. - Marcus Samuellson – Chef of Aquavit and Ringo, NYC.
- Susan Sokol Blosser – President and wine visionary, Sokol Blosser Winery, Dundee, OR.
Scheduled culinary experts are subject to change at any time without prior notice