Savor Culinary Cruising – Bon Appetit

(20 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Jo Ann Buening

La Crosse, WI
Alaska Destination Specialist and Travel Expert

Alaska became a state of the union on January 3, 1959, the same day I was born. I must have been destined to make this my specialty and over the years, I have developed a passion for Alaska! My first visit to ‘The Great Land’ was in the mid ‘80s. ...

‘Add 2 garlic toes’, ‘Garnish with garlic chive blossoms’, ‘Substitute peanut butter for Tahini’ – All of these are statements that may be heard during a Culinary Arts Center presentation onboard Holland America Line. Recently I returned from a sailing on this Premier cruise line in which I attended several Culinary Arts Center demonstrations as well as wine tasting events. The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine is a room onboard Holland America Line cruise ships which has a ‘state-of-the-art’ show kitchen. In this special kitchen the chefs onboard conduct complimentary demonstrations on how to make recipes or educational demonstrations for clients onboard. Examples would be ‘Pita chips & hummus’, ‘Preparing for a cocktail party with snacks’ and ‘Flower arranging for a dinner party’. Holland America Line also offers a program where local chefs can be brought onboard to conduct cooking demonstrations for only their group of passengers. I contacted a local chef in our city and it was agreed that we would work together to promote a Culinary Arts Group such as this. After his credentials were reviewed by the cruise line and acceptance was made, I coordinated the requirements necessary to make a group like this possible. Recipes were tested and ingredients were listed by the chef, groceries ‘onboard the ship’ were ordered, as well as several other details that were orchestrated by me. Those clients who chose to be part of the group departure were treated to private demonstrations, samplings of items prepared, a wine tasting event and much camaraderie during our seven days of sailing. I escorted this cruise to make sure all of the details were handled, to ensure that a ‘seamless’ vacation was had by all. Other cruise lines also offer ‘culinary’ experiences for those who are culinary connoisseurs or culinary connoisseur ‘wannabes.’ On Oceania Cruises one can be immersed in the joy of cooking gourmet cuisine at the Oceania Cruises' Bon Appétit Culinary Center. It's the world's only hands-on culinary studio at sea. Expert Chefs provide instruction in a professional kitchen atmosphere. Individual cooking stations with two guests per station will make up the class. Recipes will be made from regional cuisines as well of the secrets of homemade pasta; the hands-on classes are perfect for every aspiring chef. There is a fee to book these classes and only a limited number of classes as well as attendees are permitted per sailing Should you be a chef interested in doing your own Culinary Arts cruise, or a traveler who is interested in having the option of attending Culinary Arts demonstrations during your cruise or are interested in a specific themed cruise voyage, please contact me at joann.buening@travelleadersgo.com or 608-791-8358 for more information. This niche-type of cruising and the interest in becoming a ‘culinary star’ has become very popular and I would be happy to help you find that perfect voyage! 020215

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