Saké's Sashimi Combo, Edamame & Bankai cocktail
	Shaun Presland at Saké Sydney

Australian celebrity chef Shaun Presland from award-winning Saké Restaurant & Bar will be a star attraction on board Holland America Line’s ms Volendam when it cruises out of Sydney Harbour on January 17, 2012 to tour New Zealand. Presland will be one of a stellar line-up of celebrity chefs in the line’s Culinary Arts Center, which features top chefs from kitchens and restaurants from around the world on all 15 ships.

Resembling the elaborate demonstration kitchens on television cooking programs, the “show kitchen at sea” has large plasma video screens to display overhead and close-up video views of food preparation. There are vast cooking display counters where guests can learn new cooking techniques and dishes. On each voyage, guests have the opportunity to attend culinary demonstrations and participate in cooking classes with either guest chefs or Holland America Line’s talented onboard chefs. 

“We know Australians love their chefs and high quality food, so we’re very proud to add Shaun into the mix of talent,” said Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “The Culinary Arts Center offers experiences that guests can take home and share with their friends and family from learning regional recipes to party planning and more.”

Presland will conduct two 45-minute cooking demonstrations and one 90-minute cooking class on board ms Volendam’s 14-day New Zealand Discovery voyage that explores New Zealand’s Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, Akaroa in Canterbury, Wellington, Napier, Rotorua, Auckland and the Bay of Islands.

The Executive Chef of both Saké Restaurant in Sydney’s The Rocks and Saké Brisbane at Eagle St. Pier is one of Australia’s pre-eminent chefs of contemporary Japanese cuisine. Saké has won a coveted  Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide’s Chef’s Hat each year since opening and people now visit from around the world for a unique Saké experience.

Presland began his cooking career in a Ryokan in the mountains of central Japan, learning the fine craft of the traditional local cuisine.  The talented chef later set up Sushi-e and other restaurants with the Merivale Group before being invited by famed chef Nobu to set up one of his restaurants in the Bahamas.  He went on to work with restaurateur John Szangolies on the Saké concept when he returned to Australia.

Saké is a contemporary Japanese restaurant and bar with a focus on high quality, produce and dishes matched with unique sakes and a shochu list that was unprecedented in Sydney. Saké Sydney opened in 2009 and Sake Brisbane a year later.

Presland has featured as a guest judge and celebrity chef on Masterchef and Junior Masterchef in Australia.