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SatApr 6

National Food Faces Day – April 6, 2024

National Food Faces Day occurs every year on April 6. The day was created in honor of Chef Rudi Sodamin’s work as a food-face artist, and also to celebrate his birthday, which happens to be on this exact same date. Chef Sodamin is the Holland America cruise line’s Master Chef, and as a way to entertain his team members, came up with the idea of making food faces. He began designing them, and eventually started taking photographs, collecting them until, years later, he went on to release his coffee table book “Food Faces.” It featured over 150 images of his edible characters, each one created from food items like vegetables, fruit, meats, fish, grains, and sweets.

History of National Food Faces Day

Holland America Line came into existence in 1873. It was founded in the Netherlands and from 1873 to 1989, it operated as a Dutch shipping line, a passenger, cargo, and cruise line that primarily moved between the Netherlands and North America. In 1895, Holland America Line offered its first vacation cruise, and its second vacation cruise, from New York to Palestine, was first offered in 1910.

In the late 1970s, after the boom in transatlantic jet air travel, Holland America Line ended its transatlantic service and in 1989, the Holland America Line was purchased by Carnival Corporation & plc and became an American-owned cruise line. Today, they have a fleet of ships that visit more than 470 ports in 98 countries around the world.

Chef Sodamin has been in the food industry for 35 years and is the Master Chef of Holland America Line. He began working for the Holland America Line in 2005 and has been creating food faces for several years. His art has been put into print and has received many ovations on social media. His book “Food Faces,” was published in 2018.

Rudi’s Sel de Mer, Chef Sodamin’s restaurant, can be found on two Holland America Line ships. Onboard the cruise liners, guests can meet the food-faces characters at dinner and enjoy the chef’s whimsical creations on exclusive plate chargers. Each one features a different character from the book, for a colorful evening.

National Food Faces Day timeline

1873
Holland America Line Begins Sailing

Cruise line Holland America is created.

1895
The First Vacation Cruise

Holland America Line offers its first vacation cruise.

1989
Carnival Corporation Buys Holland America Line

Holland America Line becomes an American-owned company.

2005
Chef Sodamin Moves to Holland America Line

Chef Sodamin starts working at Holland America Line.

2018
“Food Faces" is Published

The collection of Chef Sodamin’s art is documented in a book.

2021
National Food Faces Day is Created

Holland America Line officially creates National Food Faces Day.

National Food Faces Day FAQs

What is food art called?

Culinary arts are the cuisine arts of food preparation, cooking, and presentation of food, usually in the form of meals.

Can you make art with food?

Yes, art has featured food for thousands of years, and people who dedicate their time to turning food into art are called food artists.

Is cooking a creative art?

Cooking is said to be an art form as there is a lot of subjectivity involved even when following a recipe.

National Food Faces Day Activities

  1. Create your food faces

    Make up your own characters. Get creative in the kitchen!

  2. Read "Food Faces"

    Read Chef Sodamin's book "Food Faces" or one of his other books. It’ll serve as great inspiration.

  3. Host a Food Faces Dinner Party

    Invite your friends and have a Food Faces Dinner Party. All the meals should be food faces you create yourselves.

5 Facts About The Culinary Arts

  1. Fine dining was created in France

    Fine dining was created in France, and eventually, this style of dining spread to England and then to the U.S.

  2. Boston had the first American cooking school

    The first U.S. cooking school opened in Boston in 1879.

  3. The first modern cookbook appeared in 1796

    The first known American cookbook was “American Cookery,” by Amelia Simmons.

  4. Cookbooks were first written on clay tablets

    The earliest recorded cookbook dated back to 1700 B.C. and was written on clay tablets.

  5. Chopsticks were initially a cooking tool

    Originally, chopsticks were cooking tools, not eating utensils.

Why We Love National Food Faces Day

  1. It is all about good food

    The day celebrates good food. Who doesn’t love food?

  2. It celebrates creativity and artistic cuisine

    National Food Faces Day pays homage to creative cooking and a sort of sculpting. It’s about two arts combined.

  3. It is a new, innovative celebration

    National Food Faces Day is still a young holiday. We look forward to it growing in popularity.

National Food Faces Day dates

YearDateDay
2024April 6Saturday
2025April 6Sunday
2026April 6Monday
2027April 6Tuesday
2028April 6Thursday

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