Themed brunch now served on Caribbean cruises; award-winning mixologist
David Wondrich crafts exclusive 18th
Century Pirate Punch
SEATTLE, Oct. 27,
2023 /CNW/ -- Fresh, local flavors lead the way for
Holland America Line's award-winning
cuisine on Caribbean sailings with
new regionally themed menus in the Dining Room and Lido Market.
Adding to the culinary journey, Caribbean-bound guests can now enjoy a new
themed brunch, indulge in local rum tastings, and savor a
traditional, pirate-inspired rum punch crafted by renowned
mixologist David Wondrich, who also
will share his expertise on a March cruise aboard Zaandam.
"The rich flavors of the Caribbean add a new dimension to our guests'
dining experience..."
Offered on sea days, all dishes on the new Caribbean Brunch menu
in the Dining Room showcase fresh, local ingredients. Selections
range from sweet tropical flavors to savory and include Jamaican
Banana Pancakes, Sweet Potato Chowder with chili peppers, Cuban
Medianoche Pork and Cheese Sandwich, Jerk Burger with grilled
pineapple salsa, Dominican Fried Chicken with beans and rice, and
Florida Key Mahi-Mahi Sandwich with
grilled pineapple.
"The rich flavors of the Caribbean add a new dimension to our guests'
dining experience with an immersion into the region's culinary
heritage — from fresh Puerto Rican tostones made from local
plantains to a variety of tropical fruits and spices," said
Michael Stendebach, vice president
of food, beverage and guest services at Holland America Line. "Even
traditional Holland America Line favorites, like our bread pudding
and crepe bar, will embrace Caribbean flavors with new variations in Lido
Market."
Local Flavors on Display in the Dining Room
The Dining
Room features a range of new dishes showcasing island staples and
favorites on all Caribbean
cruises, including:
- Chilly Caribbean Shrimp Cocktail with orange habanero
aioli.
- Jerked Pork Tenderloin with peanuts, rice pilaf and black
beans.
- Mahi Mahi Diablo with cilantro
rice and guajillo chilies.
- Spiced Pork Belly with pineapple, salsa, roasted squash and
sweet potatoes.
- Corn and Salt Fish Fritter with garlic aioli.
- Chicken and Callaloo Soup with butternut squash, garlic, thyme
and toasted coconut.
- Steamed Stone Crabs served chilled with a Dijon aioli dipping
sauce (supplemental charge).
Taste the Caribbean Islands
in Lido Market
During Caribbean sailings, the casual Lido Market
features regional favorites like Puerto Rican Tostones. Made fresh
daily with plantain chips, Puerto Rican Tostones are served
open-faced for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Topping selections
range from tropical fruit for breakfast to pulled pork, garlic
shrimp or vegetarian for dinner.
The Lido Market's popular crepe bar features regional fruits and
toppings with a buttered rum sauce. Lido dinner options include
Caribbean Lamb Curry, Caribbean Roasted Pork Sandwich, Jerk Lamb
Shank, Braised Brisket Criollo, Frita Cubana, Jamaican Garlic
Shrimp, Jamaican Braised Oxtail, Rockfish Cou-Cou, and a selection
of regional island hot sauces.
Caribbean Bread Pudding
Holland America Line's bread pudding
is a longtime favorite and the most requested recipe by guests.
While traditional bread pudding originated in Europe, it also has strong ties to the
Caribbean where early settlers
used local flavors to create their own, unique bread puddings. To
honor this fusion of flavors, Caribbean sailings feature new bread puddings,
including Jamaican Bread Pudding, Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding,
Caribbean Bread Pudding, Chocolate Bread Pudding, Coconut Bread
Pudding, Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding and Blueberry Croissant
Pudding -- all served with a warm rum vanilla sauce.
Pirate History Meets Modern Mixology
While the
original Caribbean pirates didn't
have the luxury of today's premium cruise ships, modern guests can
indulge in a concoction inspired by their seafaring traditions.
Crafted by David Wondrich, a
James Beard award-winning drinks
historian, the new 18th Century Pirate Punch draws inspiration from
the rum punch shared by pirates. It features pot-stilled Jamaican
rum, a dash or Orange Curaçao, various citrus juices and a
traditional sprinkling of fresh-grated nutmeg.
In addition to the punch, guests can indulge in a unique rum
tasting that samples premium rum from distilleries in the region.
Highlights of the rum tasting include:
- Bacardi 8 — Aged for a minimum of eight years, this
smooth, rich rum has a complex flavor profile with hints of
vanilla, caramel and oak.
- Pussers Admiralty — A British Navy-style rum that boasts
a full-bodied flavor profile with hints of brown sugar, toffee and
exotic spices.
- Pryrat XO — Aged up to 15 years in French Limousine oak
barrels for a deep amber hue and velvety texture, flavored with
caramel, honey and tropical fruits, complemented by subtle notes of
spice and vanilla.
- Brugal 1888 — Aged in ex-bourbon barrels from the
Dominican Republic and finished in
ex-sherry casks, resulting in a refined and complex flavor profile
with notes of chocolate, dried fruits and oak.
- Mount Gay Eclipse — A medium-bodied rum with subtle
notes of ripe banana, vanilla and almond.
Learn Cocktail History from Beverage Aficionados on Panama
Canal Cruise
Beverage aficionados David Wondrich and Jeff
Berry will be on the March 16,
2024, 14-day Panama Canal voyage aboard Zaandam to host
seminars and tastings titled "From Pirates to Tiki: A Voyage
Through the History of Cocktails on the Panama Canal."
An internationally renowned cocktail historian, Wondrich is one
of the founders of the modern craft cocktail movement. He is the
author of five books, including "Imbibe!" the first cocktail book
to win a James Beard award, and
editor-in-chief of the Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails.
Wondrich has been involved in the creation of several
world-renowned spirits found in most craft cocktail bars, including
Ransom Old Tom Gin and the multiple award-winning Plantation
Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple Rum.
Jeff Berry also is an innovator
of the cocktail revolution who specializes in vintage tropical
drinks. The New York Times cites Berry
as "the Indiana Jones of Tiki drinks." Berry has been
featured multiple times on national television and in major news
publications, including profiles in USA Today and Wine Enthusiast
Magazine, and his drinks have won critical acclaim in Esquire,
Playboy, The New York Times and other national magazines.
Fresh Fish Program
Holland America Line recently introduced a new fresh
fish program fleetwide. The pioneering initiative engages a
global network of 60 ports, including many in the Caribbean, to source and serve 80 types
of fresh fish on board in all
restaurants, going from port to plate in less than 48
hours.
2023-2024 Caribbean Voyages
Departing from
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Holland
America Line's Caribbean cruises
sail October 2023 through
April 2024 on six ships: Eurodam,
Nieuw Amsterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam, Volendam, Zaandam, Zuiderdam.
Voyages offer flexible itineraries with convenient weekend
departures ranging in length from seven-day getaways to 21-day
explorations. Most cruises include a stop at award-winning Half
Moon Cay, Holland America Line's private island, recognized as the
"Best Private Island" by the readers of Porthole Cruise
Magazine.
For more information about Holland America Line, consult a
travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit
hollandamerica.com.
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook,
Instagram and the Holland America Blog. You can also
access all social media outlets via the home page
at hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival
Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland
America Line has been exploring the
world for 150 years with expertly crafted itineraries,
extraordinary service and genuine connections to the destinations.
Offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience, its fleet visits
nearly 400 ports in 114 countries around the world and has shared
the thrill of Alaska for 75 years
— longer than any other cruise line. Holland America Line's 11 vessels feature a diverse
range of enriching activities and amenities focused on destination
immersion and personalized travel. Guests enjoy the best
entertainment at sea each evening and dining venues featuring
exclusive dishes by world-famous chefs. A new global fresh fish
program brings more than 80 types of fresh fish on board, sourced
and served locally in regions around the world.
CONTACT:
|
Bill Zucker, Erik
Elvejord
|
PHONE:
|
800-637-5029,
206-626-9890
|
EMAIL:
|
pr@hollandamerica.com
|
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fresh-puerto-rican-tostones-and-stone-crab-highlight-new-caribbean-menu-on-holland-america-line-301970430.html
SOURCE Holland America Line