Jacques Van Staden is the VP of Culinary Operations for Celebrity Solstice, Equinox, and the soon to be named Eclipse. I am not sure where he was born, but I’m guessing Australia, because what he is doing on Eclipse is upside down. It is called “Qsine.”
He explains it this way, “Qsine is designed to offer a globally-influenced blend of nostalgic and contemporary favorites, artfully presented with elements of surprise.”
I explain it this way: Visualize an Upside Down Cake right side up.
Among the selections are spring rolls nestled in vertical springs, “Sushi Lollipops” (Nigiri sushi with soy center, wasabi mayonnaise and pickled ginger-radish salad), “Meatball Trilogy” (Kobe beef with cheddar and marinara sauce; veal with mushrooms and marsala sauce; and turkey with cranberry and sage gravy), “Chitinis” (Chinese selections served in martini glasses), “Tresviche” (tiger shrimp and bay scallops with lemon juice, tequila, cilantro, tomatoes and jalapeno oil), “Popcorn Fish & Chips.”
(Boddington’s-battered codfish and chips served with malt vinegar or aioli), “Slider Party” (mini-grilled Kobe beef patties with aged Wisconsin cheddar served on brioche buns with “Qsine’s original slider sauce” and garnishes), “Taco Royale” (Black Angus sirloin steak, homemade taco shells, caramelized onion-poblano, and do-it-yourself fresh guacamole, with a stone mortar and pestle), and “Lava Crab” (Alaskan King crab, sweet yellow corn and scallions with Hataifi and Old Bay sauce, served in glasses over heated red stones). What, no spaghetti?
Want to order, well try it. Qsine’s menu is a large, back-lit square filled with words and phrases. I’m not sure what happens when you push something, but if it’s anything like my new Nexus One cell phone, it could take me a week to order.
I’m sure it will all come clear when I try it April 25th when I am on board with Avid Cruiser editor Ralph Grizzle. The two of us have a history of dining together on cruise ships.
The price for this extravaganza is 00.03$. Oops, that was backwards, it’s $30.00. But I did find a photo of the new house of Jacques Van Staden being built.
Geoff Edwards is a veteran radio and television broadcaster. He has an Emmy for best talk show host, and an Emmy nomination for best Game Show Host. Besides hosting network game shows, he has appeared as an actor in numerous television shows and movies. In radio, he was top rated in Los Angeles on both KMPC and KFI.
With all of this, Geoff never lost his thirst for travel. He has been cruising since 1969 and has twice cruised around the world. From Morocco, to the Marshall Islands, and even to Branson, Geoff ‘s wit adds a special flavor to his travel commentary. Michael, Geoff’s wife, travels with him and records all on film.
Today, Geoff writes for several national magazines, currently broadcasts a weekly travel report to Monterey’s KION morning show, and does on “location” special travel broadcasts for CRN, the Cable Radio Network.
