Canaletto,,cotton candy

[78232]

In the past I read that the Canaletto served cotton candy at the end of the meal. If this is correct, is it possible to ask for cotton candy without eating the entire meal at the Canaletto. I love the candy but not Italian food.
Marcia

[Big Dawg CC]

My daughters (ages 12 and 13) have been treated to cotton candy by the Canaletto staff by politely asking for it. I do not know how typical that is, or whether they would do so for adults.

[spacepotatoes]

That sounds like a nice treat!

Along the same lines, is it possible to go to Canaletto for just one course (e.g a starter or dessert) rather than a full meal? Or would that be bad form?

[sail7seas]

The restaurant has limited seating and it is common for folks to be disappointed to not be able to get a reservation if they wait too long. If it's a quiet night and you walked by and asked, perhaps they would say fine but it really would not be a good idea IMO to book a reservation and then only order dessert. Someone who wanted to enjoy dinner there could possibly turned away due to no table available. If it were me that took that table but didn't intend to have dinner, I'd feel awful to know someone else was disappointed.

Last minute though, if you pass by and see empty tables...... sure. Go ahead and ask.

(We never touch the cotton candy.... all sugar and I can't figure out the point of it. It just seems 'out of context' to me to put circus food on the table but apparently others are enjoying it and that is what matters.)

[Krazy Kruizers]

That sounds like a nice treat!

Along the same lines, is it possible to go to Canaletto for just one course (e.g a starter or dessert) rather than a full meal? Or would that be bad form?

The Canaletto on some ships is not a very large restaurant.

Now -- I don't go by there all the time -- but many times when we have gone by there -- it has been very busy -- thus I doubt it if you only wanted to stop in for a starter or dessert that they would accomonodate you.

[78232]

I'll have a child with me. Maybe they will give us some cotton candy to go. That way we won't take a table from someone wanting to eat dinner.
Marcia

[Copper10-8]

The cotton candy machine started appearing as part of the, then new, pool party sometime in 2009. Next thing you know it was handed out as 'desert' in Canaletto. Personally, I thought it never fit in there. Not sure if it's still being done (it wasn't on Statendam + Volendam this year)

[sail7seas]

You certainly can ask but in all our cruises, I have never seen anyone walking around with cotton candy or seated anywhere but in Canaletto with a dish of it. Please don't get your hopes up as it isn't likely they serve it to go. What if other children saw it? They, too, would want some, I imagine. It's a very small area of Lido with just a few stewards serving and it would be hard to accomodate if lots were requesting that.

[sail7seas]

The cotton candy machine started appearing as part of the, then new, pool party sometime in 2009. Next thing you know it was handed out as 'desert' in Canaletto. Personally, I thought it never fit in there. Not sure if it's still being done (it wasn't on Statendam + Volendam this year)


We saw it on the beautiful and elegant ms Maasdam in June, John. :)

Thank you for saying you never thought it 'fit'........ I agree. I call that circus food and I see no connection to Italian dining and cotton candy. Though if folks are enjoying, no harm no foul. :D

[Kay240]

We have had dinner at Canaletto on several ships. The first one did not serve cotton candy, but the second one did, much to DH's delight.:D Now he asks for it all the time and has suggested that is made available to everyone. We sailed on the Maasdam both before and after their refit; we expected the cotton candy to be part of the changes, but were told they had no space for it.:(

[Krazy Kruizers]

I'll have a child with me. Maybe they will give us some cotton candy to go. That way we won't take a table from someone wanting to eat dinner.
Marcia

You certainly can ask but in all our cruises, I have never seen anyone walking around with cotton candy or seated anywhere but in Canaletto with a dish of it. Please don't get your hopes up as it isn't likely they serve it to go. What if other children saw it? They, too, would want some, I imagine. It's a very small area of Lido with just a few stewards serving and it would be hard to accomodate if lots were requesting that.



I agree with sail.

Please do not ask for it as special treat for your child if you are not going to dine there.

It does not come on a stick like at the fairs, etc. -- ours came on a plate.

Can you imagine if they hand out one plate to one child -- then other children see it -- and they ask for plates of cotton candy -- plates left all over the ship. And the staff really do not have the time to make special plates to go -- takes away their time preping dinners for the regular Canaletto diners.

[HamOp]

We had it on the Veendam in Aug. As others said, it came on a plate and it's green. We got a real kick out of it.

Come to think of it, if HAL is trying to go for the "younger" demographic why not make it a regular thing in the Lido? It's fun, it's cheap, and it's oh so good for you. Well maybe not that last part, but it is fun.

I think the kids of the family would love it, and the adults too.

Heck, when smoking is banned completely, this could be the new thing to gripe about!

http://tdpowers.com/Veendam/cottoncandy.jpg

[sail7seas]

Ours was bubblegum pink. :)

[dobiemom]

We had it on the Veendam in Aug. As others said, it came on a plate and it's green. We got a real kick out of it.
Ours was bubblegum pink. :)

On the Oosterdam last November, GF's was yellow.

[78232]

Oh well, I guess I'll give up on this idea. I didn't know it was served on a plate. I assumed it was served on the traditional paper stick.
I think it would be a fun thing on the lido for everyone to enjoy like the ice cream cones.
Marcia

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

It doesn't look appetizing to me and I agree with others it is definitely out of place in an Italian venue.

[RuthC]

How do you eat it?

I haven't had cotton candy since I was a kid---admitedly a very, very long time ago. When I did eat it, it came on the paper stick, as noted. I stuck my face in it, and got a mouthful. Afterwards, my face was a sticky mess. I was a kid! What did I care! :D
But as an adult, I don't want to stick my face in a plate of it.

Do you twirl it on a fork, kind of like spaghetti? What is the "adult" way to eat this delicacy?

[sail7seas]

We didn't touch it. We found it very unappealing and if I'm going to eat sugar, it's going to be a carefully chosen luscious dessert.

We saw those who did eat it use their hands. They were pulling small bits of it off the plate. Another 'turn off' to me. :(

[RuthC]

We saw those who did eat it use their hands. They were pulling small bits of it off the plate. Another 'turn off' to me. :(
Yeah, that's a "ewwww" to the adult in me.

[BumperII]

We didn't touch it. We found it very unappealing and if I'm going to eat sugar, it's going to be a carefully chosen luscious dessert.

We saw those who did eat it use their hands. They were pulling small bits of it off the plate. Another 'turn off' to me. :(

I'm with you. We love the Caneletto, but if I'm going to have something sweet, the three flavors of Tiramasu are the way I want it. They gave us the snow white cotton candy on the Amsterdam. We tasted it and left it. The Tiramasu glasses were licked clean.:D

[RuthC]

They gave us the snow white cotton candy on the Amsterdam. We tasted it and left it.
And that's my question---
Exactly what did you do to get a taste of it? How did you eat it?

[sail7seas]

I'm with you. We love the Caneletto, but if I'm going to have something sweet, the three flavors of Tiramasu are the way I want it. They gave us the snow white cotton candy on the Amsterdam. We tasted it and left it. The Tiramasu glasses were licked clean.:D


Now you're talking..... :)

Tiramisu..... Yes!

[sail7seas]

It's just that we all enjoy and relax in our own way. What is a treat to you is not to someone else.

Don't we all get to choose our 'splurges'? :D

[spacepotatoes]

The restaurant has limited seating and it is common for folks to be disappointed to not be able to get a reservation if they wait too long. If it's a quiet night and you walked by and asked, perhaps they would say fine but it really would not be a good idea IMO to book a reservation and then only order dessert. Someone who wanted to enjoy dinner there could possibly turned away due to no table available. If it were me that took that table but didn't intend to have dinner, I'd feel awful to know someone else was disappointed.

Last minute though, if you pass by and see empty tables...... sure. Go ahead and ask.


The Canaletto on some ships is not a very large restaurant.

Now -- I don't go by there all the time -- but many times when we have gone by there -- it has been very busy -- thus I doubt it if you only wanted to stop in for a starter or dessert that they would accomonodate you.

Thanks for explaining. I didn't realize how limited the seating was in Canaletto! Good to know, and we'll adjust our plans accordingly.

[Hobbsey]

Given the nature of this confection and the fact(?) that it is best enjoyed when eaten by hand the LIDO seems the better place for.

I am much more apt to go for something more creamy and flavorful.

[Cruz'n Couple]

A year ago it was offered when we dined in the Canaletto on the Ryndam (and I tried it, because at the age of 68 I had never had it as a child--my Mother wouldn't allow us to have it). This past May on the Volendam we dined in the Canaletto twice, and it was never offered, and I truly don't remember anyone having it after dinner!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We hadn't had cotton candy since we were kids.

We enjoyed it on the Amsterdam. Don't know if we would eat it every time we went to the Canaletto.

Ours was WHITE -- no color.

[Oceanwench]

The number of wet blankets tossed at fairly benign posts never ceases to amaze me. :rolleyes:

[Oceanwench]

Interesting ...

The Four Seasons in NYC has been serving cotton candy since the 1970s ...

http://bites.today.com/_news/2011/05/19/6676395-haute-cotton-candy-meets-fine-dining

[vbmom87]

In the past I read that the Canaletto served cotton candy at the end of the meal. If this is correct, is it possible to ask for cotton candy without eating the entire meal at the Canaletto. I love the candy but not Italian food.
Marcia

Check out the menu, and maybe you will find something on the menu that you like. On our cruise they also had two specials each night, one being vegetarian. My last dinner at the Canaletto they had a wonderful pasta dish with fresh spinach, sundried tomatoes and feta cheese. YOu never know, you might find something that appeals to you.

If you can't find anything that you like, my suggestion would be to go just before closing time. Then ask if you could be seated and just have dessert. It surely isn't going to hurt to ask. If they can't accomodate you, then so be it. You will never know unless you ask. We actually found the Canaletto to be very deserted on most nights, even formal nights. We thought more people who didn't want to dress up on formal night would head to the Canaletto, but that was not the case at all.

Another thought is to call room service and ask for some. I have no idea if they would accomodate you, but again, it doesn't hurt to ask. It is not on the room service menu, but I have read posts where people said you could ask for items not on the room service menu. You may or may not be able to get them, but again, it never hurts to ask. Good luck!!! Come back and let us know if you ever were able to get your cotton candy.

[peaches from georgia]

Cotton candy seemed strange to me served in a restaurant and, being totally bored this afternoon with it raining all day, I looked up online- cotton candy/Italian restaurants. Lo and behold it is a traditional sweet served in Italian restaurants.

So Canaletto is correct serving it and following good Italian tradition.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Cotton candy seemed strange to me served in a restaurant and, being totally bored this afternoon with it raining all day, I looked up online- cotton candy/Italian restaurants. Lo and behold it is a traditional sweet served in Italian restaurants.

So Canaletto is correct serving it and following good Italian tradition.

Thanks for the information.

Looks as though we missed out on a lot of Cotton Candy on our many tours of Italy.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I haven't had cotton candy since I was a child going to the Woodstock Fair over Labor Day weekend in beautiful northeastern Connecticut where I grew up. That was one of the most fun events in my life, bar none, so pink gooey cotton candy on a stick (better description elongated paper cone) brings back lots of warm memories.

However, put it on a plate and you lose me ... sorry:o. The picture someone posted of it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen! LOL. There are a lot more scrumptious desserts in an Italian restaurant I would enjoy before choosing cotton candy, but that's just me!!!

It's nothing more than sticky spun sugar that sticks to your face and your fingers and melts on contact with your tongue. It cannot and should not be eaten with a fork!

But kids love it and kids should have it now and then. They're kids. So why not stop by and just ask nicely if your daughter can have some. All they can say is no:).

[Okie1946]

On the Oosterdam last November, GF's was yellow.
We had it on the Veendam in Aug. As others said, it came on a plate and it's green. We got a real kick out of it.

Come to think of it, if HAL is trying to go for the "younger" demographic why not make it a regular thing in the Lido? It's fun, it's cheap, and it's oh so good for you. Well maybe not that last part, but it is fun.

I think the kids of the family would love it, and the adults too.

Heck, when smoking is banned completely, this could be the new thing to gripe about!

http://tdpowers.com/Veendam/cottoncandy.jpg
[/quote]


KrazyKruiser - got white
sails7seas - got bubblegum pink
HamOp - got green

That's 4 different colors -

No consistancy -

Personally - I used to love cotton candy as a kid, but now so much sugar hurts my teeth. I still like the idea that some of our child hood can still be remembered with such an innocent treat.:)

Previous Cruises:
Alaska - Westerdam - September 2009
Alaska- Rotterdam - September 2010
Mexican Riveria - Oosterdam - April 2011

Future Cruises – in planning stage:
2012 - Alaska - 14 day cruise
2013 - Eastern Med - 28 day (includes cruising Black Sea)

[Bearnaise]

"Most would assume that cotton candy came into existence in the late nineteenth century, but that's not correct. Cotton candy was actually a popular trend in Italy that began in the 1400's." -- http://www.cottoncandy.net/history.html

[dobiemom]

How do you eat it?

I haven't had cotton candy since I was a kid---admitedly a very, very long time ago. When I did eat it, it came on the paper stick, as noted. I stuck my face in it, and got a mouthful. Afterwards, my face was a sticky mess. I was a kid! What did I care! :D
But as an adult, I don't want to stick my face in a plate of it.

Do you twirl it on a fork, kind of like spaghetti? What is the "adult" way to eat this delicacy?
Good question. I’ve always eaten cotton candy (on a stick) by pulling small bits off with my fingers; I didn’t want my face to get all sticky and it was easy to wash you hands after.

But at a restaurant? On a plate? How do you eat it? If you eat it with your hands, how are you to get that stickiness off? Do they give you a warm washcloth like in airplanes?

I like cotton candy but I have NO idea how I would eat it in the Canaletto. :confused:

[Coolcruise02]

It was PINK on the Veendam and I thought it was a fun way to end the meal!

I also had some one evening when I did NOT eat at Canaletto. I was walking thru the buffet one evening and stopped to check out the desserts and the machine is at the end of the dessert counter. There were some bowls of it setting out and I asked the guy making it if anyone was allowed to have one and he said "YES".

[KBEANS]

Actually that was the best cotton candy I ever had. It was not very sweet which was great! Guess what? Who cares if people used their fingers to eat it, it's a laid back restaurant and it was fun! Loosen up. They have hand sanitizers and wash bins nearby. Make a reservation for the restaurant, you won't be let down. Food was great! Finger lickin' good as a matter of fact! LOL

[Coolcruise02]

"Most would assume that cotton candy came into existence in the late nineteenth century, but that's not correct. Cotton candy was actually a popular trend in Italy that began in the 1400's." -- http://www.cottoncandy.net/history.html

Very interesting! :)

[DizzyDallasDi]

We saw those who did eat it use their hands. They were pulling small bits of it off the plate. Another 'turn off' to me. :(

Yeah, that's a "ewwww" to the adult in me.

The proper way to eat cotton candy is with your fingers. The same goes with fried chicken, corn on the cob, chips and dip, tacos, pizza, sandwiches, etc., etc., etc. :D

[kyriecat]

On Zuiderdam we got pink cotton candy about the size of a softball - much smaller than HamOp's great green gob. We left it on the table while we ate our desserts and had drinks. It gradually kept getting smaller until it was about the size of a tennis ball. By then I figured why not - I haven't had cotton candy in years so I ate it. I used my fingers to pick it up. :p

On our cruise, Canaletto was very popular. We tried several times to get reservations before we were successful. I'm not sure if that is true for all cruises. It might be hard to get a table by just walking up.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The proper way to eat cotton candy is with your fingers. The same goes with fried chicken, corn on the cob, chips and dip, tacos, pizza, sandwiches, etc., etc., etc. :D

I agree -- we ate our cotton candy with our fingers as well -- just like we do for corn on the cob, potato chips, etc.

[peaches from georgia]

Does anyone object to eating the 'good nuts' or goldfish with their fingers while having a cocktail? You'd only be pulling off a little cotton candy with thumb and forefinger and wouldn't even be touching any other part of the cc, unlike a bowl of nuts.

[RuthC]

Does anyone object to eating the 'good nuts' or goldfish with their fingers while having a cocktail?
When I'm eating the munchies in the lounge I'm never touching the serving portion that others will touch, too. I pour some from the serving dish onto a napkin, then pick them up to eat.
The same can't be guaranteed when pulling cotton candy from the serving portion.

Anyway, it seems I've gotten the answer to my question: people eat it with their hands.

[vbmom87]

On Zuiderdam we got pink cotton candy about the size of a softball -

On our cruise, Canaletto was very popular. We tried several times to get reservations before we were successful. I'm not sure if that is true for all cruises. It might be hard to get a table by just walking up.

On our cruise the Canaletto was not that popular. I was surprised, but it worked out well for us. One night it was after nine, so our only other option would have been room service. I was expecting to be turned away, but once again there were available tables. In fact each time we ate the Maître de would encourage us to come back the next night as if he was working hard to drum up business. Sounds like my cruise was the exception.

We never had the cotton candy. The first night we ate there it was not offered to us. The second night we noticed it at another table (much larger than a softball). When we ordered dessert that night we said we did not want the cotton candy.

[510picker]

My wife loved the cotton candy in the Canaletto, but she's a sugar freak! I'm also glad she doesn't read Cruise Critic because I would be in trouble :)

http://www.pbase.com/510picker/image/118811120/medium.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/510picker/image/118811123/medium.jpg

[Beyondthe7Seas]

YUM! I had no idea they had cotton candy, thanks for the tip!

[2ptu/000]

I believe the cotton candy is served after dinner and before dessert as a palate cleanser like sorbet.

[vbmom87]

Funny how a thread on cotton candy is up to 49 posts. :eek:

[Gunther1]

Which knife and fork does one use to cut the cotton candy ?

[sapper1]

Which knife and fork does one use to cut the cotton candy ?
Just pull off a piece and pop it into your mouth. It gives you a chance to be a kid again. I think that is part of the fun. I used to wait for the carnival to come around every year because it meant cotton candy. I had not had it in years until HAL started serving it. It is sinful, bad for your teeth and it is hard to eat in a mannerly fashion----but it is soooo good.:p

[Krazy Kruizers]

I believe the cotton candy is served after dinner and before dessert as a palate cleanser like sorbet.

That was when ours was seerved.

I like the idea that it is a palate cleanser before I have my dessert.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We also ate ours with our fingers.

[knitlady037]

When we were on the Noordam, the ice cream server fell in love with my granddaughter and asked us to stop by each evening to see him. He said he was home sick and she reminded him of his nieces. He had a big bowl of cotton candy for her every night that she took up to club HAL and shared with the other children. She still talks about the cotton candy man.