Cruise ships are famous for their
lavish food and their often flashy entertainment. Put the two together and you've got
Holland America's new Signature Master Chef's Dinner. The evening begins with
a menu in the shape of kitchen utensils listing evening's dining and wine selections. Each diner is given a chef's hat
and the dinner roll is also in the shape of a chef's hat. Even the musicians in the band have instruments that have
been changed to resemble food items. The meal's festivities include the "waltz of the napkins" in which the
napkins are delivered by the staff in a waltz which culminates in the presentation of a domed silver platter containing
the "Chef's Amuse Surprise," which can be a small treat ranging from salmon mousseline to mushroom
mousse or a foie gras petit four. Next, your salad is juggled to you while a singer dressed as a salad performs.
Thing settle down as the dinner (options include roasted tenderloin of beef, lamp chops, duck breast a l'orange or wild
mushroom streudel) progresses and the band provides background music. Things ramp up again for dessert as the song
"Sugar, Sugar" plays and out comes the "Hats Off" dessert, a chocolate mousse with macerated
berries topped with a white chocolate chef's hat. The ship's chefs make an appearance and the servers dance
through the audience and then form a kick-line. Oh, I need to see video of this.
