Local couple selected as guest chefs on cruise ship
Neil and Erika Cline. (Photo provided)
Local husband and wife chefs, Neil and Erika Cline have been invited aboard a cruise ship to cook for guests for a week.
The power couple will be showcasing BVI cuisine aboard Holland America’s MS Prinsendam from March 16 to 24.
While sailing with the cruise line, the husband and wife duo will also be hosting hands-on cooking classes and producing a five-course menu that will be served at the ship’s Pinnacle Restaurant.
The Clines will showcase local dishes such as scallion saltfish fritters, brown sugar braised pigtails with scotch bonnet mango chutney, coconut-laced red peas soup, and thyme-scented roasted conch.
Skill, charity, experience
The cruise line selected the Clines as guest chefs because their skill in the kitchen, their charitable donations in culinary arts, and their combined experience of more than 50 years, said a media release from a boastful BVI Tourist Board this week.
“I am very pleased to have this opportunity to showcase BVI cuisine, history, and culture to discerning cruise visitors,” Neil said.
“I consider this an opportune time, with the rebuilding of the territory, to show that we are not only a destination for the traditional sea, sand and sun vacations, but we are a great destination for experiencing unique, authentic cuisine and heritage,” he said.
“Because of our great cultural mix, our cuisine is even more impressive and versatile and is as favoured and well-received as any other,” added Neil who is also a culinary educator and businessman in the British Virgin Islands.
He owns and operates De Loose Mongoose Restaurant on Beef island while his wife Erika owns Bleu Chocolat, a pastry store in Road Town.
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Excellent news!!!
Brilliant – well done this positively promotes our Island ,,we love “De loose mongoose” its a great place to eat, drink and chill at ….
Something to be VERY proud of . Very happy for you both . Kudos
Big ups Neil! You’re a hidden gem full of talent! Great to read postive news from the BVI for a change!
Yea NEILO!!!
Wow this is nice………….
Good news overloads this morning. Congratulations!
Pride
Neil and Erika
Congratulations power couple.
What a great honor. Those passengers are in for a real treat!
Congratulations to them both ,
Power couple…you are joking…Neil is a chef…
Happy for you Neil and your wife a great opportunity has knock on your door do your best as always
Excellent news. Lovely couple. Perfect match for the cruiseline. That will be an awesome week for the passengers.
vex faces
Stop pretending and trying to cause confusion, you are not a local. We are proud of them.
Excellent ! Well done you 2!
Congratulations to you both. Hard work plus talent pays off!
Congratulations to them both, This will be a nice romantic vacation from them as well.
Congratulations Mr and Mrs Cline. However, with the exception of the salt fish, those are not “BVI cuisines”
Congratulations to this couple – what an honour – but um… the menu? Those are NOT traditional BVI dishes, maybe the base product, but not the flavor – who eats brown sugar glazed pigtails, and thyme scented roasted conch? Maybe go more simple and traditional – bbq pigtail, and conch in butter sauce. Just a suggestion.
Congrats to them …