Holland America Line is revealing a roster of celebrated chefs, authors and epicures scheduled to sail as part of the line’s Culinary Arts Center Program in 2014. Highlighting the lineup are Food Network “Next Iron Chef” competitor chef Jehangir Mehta, Food Network “Extreme Chef” winners Chef Amadeus and Terry French, and The New York Times columnist and cookbook author Mark Bittman.
The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine, is an onboard enrichment program that offers guests the opportunity to learn from some of the most respected culinary figures in the business. Industry leaders engage guests in a range of activities from cooking shows and wine tasting, to question and answer sessions in the ships’ full show kitchen.
“We attract many culinary fans and the Culinary Arts Center continues to be a cornerstone of our onboard enrichment program and one of the most popular activities we offer,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. “It’s a unique experience that we are able to give our guests with access to high-caliber chefs and experts who share insider knowledge and tricks of the trade.”
Renowned Chefs Lined Up for 2014 Include:
Chef Amadeus is the first winner of the Food Network’s “Extreme Chef” series and owner of Southern Passion, a line of salt-free blended spices that reflects his southern up-bringing and global fusion-style of cooking. He will be onboard ms Eurodam’s seven-day western Caribbean cruise departing Jan. 5.
Mark Bittman is an opinion columnist with The New York Times dining section. His books include the bestselling “How to Cook Everything” and the groundbreaking “Vegan Before 6 P.M”. Guests can join him on ms Prinsendam’s Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage from Jan. 5 – March 14.
Before gaining his title as winner of the 2012 Food Network “Extreme Chef,” Terry French was known by another notable nickname: The Rebel Chef. In addition to several projects currently in development, Chef French’s catering company, Culinary Dreams, creates unique dining experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime. Chef French also gives back with his nonprofit organization, Chef’s for Life. French sails on ms Amsterdam’s Grand World Voyage from Feb. 5-17, Fiji to Cairns, Australia.
Ash Fulk is known as one of the competitors from the Emmy award winning season six of Bravo’s hit series “Top Chef.” Fulk has recently been the chef of Hill Country Barbecue Market in Manhattan, where he delivered the restaurant two stars from The New York Times and made it the highest rated Barbecue spot in NYC. Fulk will sail Jan. 5-9 during the 68-day Grand South American & Antarctica Voyage aboard ms Prinsendam.
Jeff Maxfield will sail through Alaska on ms Westerdam for a seven-day voyage departing Sept. 6. Maxfield is known for creating impeccable local-inspired cuisine as the executive chef at the acclaimed SkyCity Restaurant, a revolving dining room atop the Space Needle in Seattle, Wash.
Mumbai-born Jehangir Mehta is a protégé of Jean-Georges, and is the chef/owner of Graffiti in New York City. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, Mehta gained national attention as a competitor on the Food Network’s “Iron Chef” followed by “The Next Iron Chef.” He will be joining ms Zaandam’s June 27 Alaska cruise.
Sergeant First Class Brad Turner is the original grill sergeant and star of the show by the same name. “Grill Sergeants” airs every week on the Pentagon channel entertaining troops worldwide, and all of the chefs on the show are active-duty military. He will join the Culinary Arts Center in Alaska on ms Oosterdam May 18.
