If you have clients interested in sampling a taste of Holland
America Line, two special coastal cruises this September may be of
interest. The cruises, in conjunction with Food & Wine
magazine, will highlight HAL’s recently upgraded onboard Culinary
Arts Centers. Both cruises depart Sept. 25 from Vancouver, BC. One
is a three-day cruise to San Diego on the Ryndam, and the other is
a four-day cruise to Los Angeles on the Veendam.
The San Diego cruise will feature Mike Davis, chef and owner of 26
brix Restaurant in Walla Walla, Washington. Ryndam passengers can
experience the new Culinary Arts Center, which allows them to watch
Chef Davis demonstrate cooking techniques. Davis is known for his
“neoclassical” cooking style that combines Northwest cuisine with
classical European techniques. He is the spokesperson for Walla
Walla sweet onions and his 10-course “Walla Walla Extravaganza”
menu was recently featured at the famed James Beard House in New
York City.
Chef Davis trained at acclaimed restaurants, including Ponti
Seafood Grill in Seattle, The Village at Breckenridge and The Lodge
and Spa at Breckenridge in Colorado. He also served as executive
chef at The Salish Lodge and Spa at Snoqualimie Falls, Washington.
His goal is to turn the Walla Walla culinary scene into the “Napa
of the Northwest.” Cruise fares for the three-day cruise to San
Diego start at $299 per person, double occupancy.
The Los Angeles cruise on the Veendam will feature wine tasting
with Susan and Alison Sokol Blosser of Oregon’s acclaimed Sokol
Blosser Winery. Guests will enjoy Sokol Blosser’s world-class pinot
noir and other wines during presentations by the mother-daughter
team. They will also learn about the process of producing premium,
handcrafted wines.
Sokol Blosser is the first Oregon winery to produce a pinot noir
with the new Dundee Hills appellation, which was designated an
American Viticultural Area in January. The family-owned winery has
been in business for more than three decades, and has won numerous
awards for its sustainably produced wines, especially Pinot Noir.
Susan Sokol Blosser is owner and president of the winery. Her
daughter Alison is marketing director. Cruise fares start at $389
per person, double occupancy.
877-724-5425
www.hollandamerica.com
