I just got back from a three-day cruise aboard Holland America line's MS Amsterdam from San Pedro, Calif., to Vancouver, B.C.

The sailing was delightful and the food superb. Chefs Darren Lewis and Franck Tieben autographed "A Taste of Excellence Cookbook" (Rizzoli, 2006), a compilation of the line's best dishes, for me to give away to a lucky reader/listener.

Did you know the executive chef and his staff on a midsize ship like the Amsterdam pump out 11,000 meals a day for 1,400 guests and 690 crew members? Weekly food consumption includes 8,500 pounds of meat, 4,000 pounds of poultry, 2,500 pounds of seafood, 2,000 pounds of fish, 18,000 eggs and 12,000 pounds of veggies. Check out www.hollandamerica.com.

While in Vancouver's Gastown neighborhood, which dates to the 1860s, I had lunch with actor Ben Kingsley at the Water Street Cafe! We both had the double-smoked bacon frittata, albeit at separate tables, of course.

Sir Ben was in town filming "Elegy" with co-star Penelope Cruz, a movie about a respected professor who begins an affair with a student. I was told it's not surprising to see celebrities in and around Vancouver because the city is known as Hollywood North -- that's how many films are shot there.

While on the subject of cruises, Odyssey II out of Navy Pier has generously donated a dinner cruise for two to a lucky reader/listener.

Chef Leonel Martinez's gourmet menu (Roasted Duck Confit, Pacific Rim Lobster Bisque, Tuscan Chicken) marries well with Chicago's skyline views from every table, live entertainment and dance floors. Odyssey offers year-round brunch, lunch, midday, dinner and moonlight cruises. To book passage, call (888) 957-2322 or visit Odyssey.com.

Learn how to win the book and cruise by listening to my segment on Ric Federighi's Morning Show on WIMS AM 1420 Fridays at 8 a.m.

Bar Louie's opened March 14 in the space formerly occupied by Jackson's Bar & Grill on U.S. 41 in St. John. The franchise is managed by Bill Vincent and is touted to be a hip restaurant bar specializing in oversized sandwiches and jumbo martinis, among others. Call (219) 548-7453 or visit www.barlouieamerica.com to get a sense of the place.

I'm told Helen's Place, 5783 Ind. 10, in Roselawn is the place to go for casual eats.

Formerly known as Little Augie's, Helen Kralovansky assumed ownership six years ago and has endeared herself to locals, out-of-towners and truckers -- the true test of a good restaurant! Kralovansky is best known for her beef sandwiches and from-scratch chili. She even makes a trek to Gonella on Huron Street in Chicago three times a week for her bread and rolls.

The diner opens at 11 a.m. daily. Call (219) 345-4040 for the special of the day.

Chicago chefs Gale Gand of Cenitare and Dimitri Fayard of Vanille Patisserie were named two of the 10 best pastry chefs in America for 2007 at a ceremony at Chicago's French Pastry School Sunday.

Their work will be showcased in the August issue of Pastry Art & Design, the magazine sponsoring the event.

Additionally, chef Alain Roby, executive pastry chef for the Hyatt Regency Chicago and a man for whom I had the pleasure to work, was inducted into the magazine's Hall of Fame for his outstanding body of work in sugar.

Congratulations, chef! For more restaurants, check out the Dining Guide in the yourSaturday section of the paper and visit nwi.com for even more listings.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. She can be reached at brolek@nwitimes.com or 219.933.3256.