Holland America special menu to celebrate Alaska’s 50th anniversary

A new commemorative dinner menu featuring the best of Alaska cuisine plays a starring role one night during each seven-day Alaska cruise this summer on Holland America. The special menu is in celebration of the state’s 50th anniversary of statehood in 2009.

Master Chef Rudi Sodamin researched Alaska’s culinary heritage and combined traditional foods with his own flair to create the cruise line’s commemorative menu. In addition, “Salmon 50 Ways” returns to the ships’ menu offering fresh, wild Alaska salmon in 50 different recipes over the weeklong cruise.

“The celebration dinner incorporates the foods found in Alaska’s communities into one grand menu,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Alaska offers abundant fresh ingredients, a favorite being wild seafood, and our culinary team has created a memorable menu to showcase the tastes of Alaska.”

For example, as an appetizer, he spikes a berry mélange with a splash of whiskey. A Fairbanks Seafood Platter combines Alaskan prawns, salmon jerky, clams, smoked salmon and smoked halibut. For an Alaskan inspired salad, he adds smoked salmon to frissee lettuce, pear and fennel. Soup choices include Ketchikan Fisherman’s Chowder, Reindeer Sausage and Vegetable Chowder and Chilled Yukon Gold Vichyssoise.

Guests have a choice of nine different entrées including Razor Clams, Bay Scallops and Manila Clams over Noodles; Grilled Salmon with Endive and Caramelized Orange Zests; Grilled Venison with Wild Mushrooms and Alaskan King Crab Cobb Salad.

Appropriate for a celebration dinner, decadent desserts adorn the menu. Highlights include an Alaska Dessert Sampler of chocolate mousse in a chocolate shell, maple cheesecake and apple buckle with sugared berries. A cruise favorite, Gold Rush Baked Alaska is a decadent combination of chocolate ice cream surrounded with vanilla sponge cake and coated in meringue dusted with edible gold. It comes with a choice of topping: Peppermint Hot Fudge, Raspberry Chocolate Swirl or Praline Crunch.

The line’s popular “Salmon 50 Ways,” first offered on Alaska-bound ships in 2005, returns to further commemorate the state’s 50th anniversary. Between the various dining venues serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, fresh, wild Alaskan salmon will be prepared 50 different ways over the course of the weeklong cruise.

Holland America Line buys approximately 1.3 million pounds of wild Alaskan seafood per year, the majority being salmon. As the salmon season hits full stride, Holland America Line’s famous on-deck Salmon Bake will prepare an array of flavors such as Basted Honey Maple, Soy Garlic, and Holland America Line’s award-winning Dill, Sea Salt and Vodka, a salmon culinary treat.