Making Breakfast Special in the Lido

Sherwin Mojana makes waffles under the watchful eye of Second Executive Chef Francis Leong.

As second executive chef, Francis Leong is in charge of making certain that Eurodam’s Lido Restaurant is ready to satisfy special requests at breakfast every morning. Paul Lasley asks Leong about some of the finer points of customizing comestibles.

To listen to the podcast, click on the arrow below.

Rotterdam Restaurants to Serve Gala Menu

In honor of the Eurodam inaugural, eight restaurants in Rotterdam will serve dishes that are on the menu for the gala inaugural dinner on board ms Eurodam just after the naming ceremony July 1. People in Rotterdam who weren’t lucky enough to be invited for the gala dinner can still enjoy Holland America’s cuisine at one of the participating restaurants.

Executive Chef Rudi Sodamin created the gala dinner menu served on board Eurodam and in eight participating Rotterdam restaurants.

As part of the special arrangements, Spido sightseeing boats are offering special tours to witness the fireworks that will conclude dedication day in Rotterdam. Spido also offers boat trips on Sunday, June 29, for welcoming the Eurodam when it arrives at Rotterdam and on Wednesday, July 2, when the ship sails for its prelude cruise to Hamburg and Copenhagen.

Spido sightseeing boats are a common sight in the waters of Rotterdam.

Rotterdam restaurants serving Holland America’s inaugural menu:

Biilderberg Parkhotel
Westersingel 70, Rotterdam.
Tel. 010-4363611
www.bilderberg.nl

Café-Restaurant Rotterdam
Wilhelminakade 699, Rotterdam.
Tel. 010- 2151098
www.caferotterdam.nl

Euromast
Parkhaven 20, Rotterdam.
Tel. 010-4364811
www.euromast.nl

Golden Tulip Hotel Inntel
Leuvehaven 80, Rotterdam.
Tel. 010-2175730
www.hotelinntel.com

Restaurant de Engel
Eendrachtsweg 19, Rotterdam.
Tel. 010-4138256
www.eneglgroep.com

Restaurant Engels
Stationsplein 45, Rotterdam.
Tel. 010-4119550
www.engels.nl

Restaurant de Old Dutch
Rochussenstraat 20, Rotterdam.
Tel. 010-4360344
www.olddutch.net

Bar Restaurant Rosso
Van Vollenhovenstraat 15, Rotterdam.
Tel. 010-2250705
www.engelgroep.com

To book a Spido sightseeing tour, contact:
Spido Sightseeing Boats
Willemsplein 85, Rotterdam.
Tel. 010-2759993
www.spido.nl

Piano Bar Is Perfect for Mellow Tunes

Pam snapped these photos of the Piano Bar. It looks like a cozy, relaxing lounge to enjoy, well, tunes on the piano!

Sail Away at the Ocean Bar

We asked Pam to take photos of the venues we haven’t seen yet, and here’s your first look at the Ocean Bar. This popular lounge is at the top of the atrium and is the perfect locale for cocktails and dancing.

First Inaugural Dinner a Success

Just to let you know that we have started our intros, and the first of 65 events has been completed. It was an appreciation dinner hosted by Dan Grausz, Holland America Line’s senior vice president of fleet operations.

All Eurodam officers, Eurodam newbuild staff, Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding inspectors, Seattle staff currently on board and Zuiderdam officers were invited.

As you can see, Executive Chef Robert Schumann and the galley team were still smiling at the end of the evening, so the first official dinner was a great success.

Pinnacle Bar is Complete

Pam sent us this photo of the Pinnacle Bar, which is adjacent to the Pinnacle Grill, looking ready to welcome its first guests. It seems like just yesterday that the ship was only wires and steel!

Benvenuto a Canaletto

Here are the latest photos of Canaletto, taken by Pam. Canaletto will serve fine Italian food for dinner only. Although there is no charge to dine in the alternative restaurant, reservations are suggested.

The 66-seat restaurant is located on Deck 9 in a special section of the Lido Restaurant created by installing movable screens.

Meet Tamarind’s Staff

Blog Board member Ed van Weijen just sent us this photo of Tamarind. It looks like an elegant and intimate dining venue.

Jafar Al-Shibibi, corporate manager, guest and dining services for Holland America Line, sent us this photo of some of Tamarind’s all-female wait staff.

They have moved on board since we received the photo, but we thought it would still be fun to post with the latest image of the venue.

Our first class of Indonesian ladies went through an intensive five-week English course and then completed a three-week skills course, which included all service aspects of their job and specialized training from myself and HAL’s corporate dining services trainer, Stephane Carriou.

Our newest waitresses will be working in the new pan-Asian alternative restaurant, Tamarind, on board Eurodam.

Front row left to right: Bagus, Tamarind manager; Tamarind waitresses Maria, Putu, Yayuk and Yurike; Sam, dining room skills junior trainer; Tamarind waitresses Meyssi, Erick and Agustina, and Tamarind Chef Tino Sugiarna.

Middle row: Stephane Carriou, corporate dining services trainer; Tamarind waitresses Komang, Diah, Winda, Ira, Anngun, Yuyun, Kadek, Linda and Yenni.

Back row: Nick Nichols, academic director; Jafar Al-Shibibi; Tamarind waitress Mira; Joost de Raad, general manager, and waitress Eka.

Tamarind’s manager, Bagus, is on board and ready to take reservations! This photo was taken in Tamarind by Pam.

Culinary Arts Center

Pam sent these photos of Eurodam’s Culinary Arts Center, the innovative theater-style venue with a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen. Presented by “Food & Wine” magazine, the center provides guests an opportunity to experience demonstrations and hands-on classes conducted by top chefs, wine experts, and leading cookbook authors featured in “Food & Wine” as well as the ship’s own culinary experts.

In addition to the amazing facilities — similar to the show kitchens seen on television cooking programs — the center has large plasma video screens so guests don’t miss the fine details. Guests also can choose to watch the broadcast on their stateroom TV.

Loading the Libations

Cheers! In this photo from Pam, Bar Manager Marc Spijkerboer supervises a pallet of liquor being loaded on board Eurodam today.