Holland America Line is launching a culinary program that sources fish from 60 ports and prepares the catch in dishes created by chef Masaharu Morimoto.
Holland America said fish go from port to plate in less than 48 hours.
Morimoto, a Japanese chef who became a star on the TV show "Iron Chef America," will serve as the line's "Fresh Fish Ambassador." He will introduce curated dishes served in HAL's dining rooms fleetwide by early October, available for a supplemental charge.
The Morimoto menu items will include black cod yuzu with yogurt miso pickled vegetables, kimchi eggplant, fried rice and garlic soy; lobster tails with lemon foam, vegetables and Morimoto's epice powder; and halibut with XO sauce. All three will cost $25 per person. All non-Morimoto fish dishes in the dining room will be complimentary.
Morimoto will also create dishes for a new pop-up restaurant, Morimoto by Sea, to open in November. The menu will include dishes and beverages once per cruise in the Tamarind or Pinnacle Grill restaurants, depending on the ship. The cover charge will be $55 per person cover charge and include a multi-course menu. There will be vegetarian and vegan options.
Appetizers include sushi, tempura calamari salad (quinoa, white miso dressing) and fresh tuna pizza (anchovy aioli, kalamata olives, red onion, jalapeno). Entrees include angry lobster pad Thai (Maine lobster, rice noodles, Thai red curry sauce), crispy fried whole fish and ishiyaki buri bop (Pacific yellowtail on rice, cooked tableside in a hot stone bowl).
Desserts include dark chocolate sphere (ganache, marshmallow, hot milk chocolate sauce) and tofu cheesecake (mango and passion fruit, pineapple salsa).
Beverages at the pop-up will include Morimoto Brut Rosé and Sake Junmai Morimoto to complement dishes on the menu.
The pop-up restaurant will be available fleetwide in early 2024.
The fresh-fish initiative builds on HAL's decision a year ago to earn a certification verifying it serves 100% of its fish on Alaska sailings from responsibly managed and sustainably-sourced Alaskan fisheries.