Nieuw Amsterdam Question

[suechaz]

Hi...Can anyone explain to me about the Pinnacle Grill and Le Cirque Night? Are the menus completely different? If you went, how did you rate your experience? Any input is appreciated.

[m steve]

is served one night each cruise in the Pinnacle and is different from their standard menu and a bit more expensive.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The Pinnacle Menu is different than Le Cirque.

The Pinnacle Menu is the same each night.

We love the Pinnacle and eat there quite a bit.

Pinnacle Menu - $25 per person

The Beginning:
French Onion Soup King Louis XV - beef broth with aged cognac & caramelized onions, baked with gruyere croutons
Spicy Chicken Coconut Soup - fragrant coconut milk & lemon grass
Lobster Bisque - crème fraiche & aged sherry
Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail - brandy horseradish cocktail sauce
Vine Ripened Beefsteak Tomato Salad - sliced purple onion, balsamic vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing
Baby Arugula Salad - tossed with sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and a warm bacon dressing topped with smoked bacon & chopped egg
Caesar Salad - crisp romaine tossed with very own Caesar dressing, grated parmesan cheese, garlic croutons and anchovies, prepared tableside
Dungeness Crab Cakes - spiral shaved cucumber & sweet chili-mustard sauce
Pinnacle Ocean Platter - carpaccio of lightly smoked salmon, accompanied with hot smoked salmon, sea scallops and wasabi cream



The Grill:
Filet Mignon, New York Strip Steak, Bone-In Rib Eye Steak, Porterhouse - served with our own hand crafted sauces: sun-dried tomato; Master Chef's green peppercorn bearnaise; horseradish mustard; hollandaise; maitre d' garlic butter

Colorado Lamb Chops - spiced apple chutney & fresh mint jelly

Grilled Veal Chop - marinated overnight in a savory blend of rosemary, garlic & pepper vinegar with scallions

Chicken Breast - stuffed with spinach & garlic herb cheese & served with lemon garlic beurre blanc sauce

Filet Steak Diane - pan-seared medallions of beef tenderloins & enriched with mushrooms & cognac

Filet Mignon Burger - a half-pound of freshly ground beef, fin herbs & truffle-infused


Sea Food:
Broiled King Salmon - troll caught (for sustainability) in Alaskan waters, quick seared & broiled, served with your choice of lemon garlic herb splash or sesame-soy kalbi

Broiled or Poached Lobster Tail - on a bed of wilted spinach & arugula, mustard seed & "mangochurri" pesto sauce or melted butter

Cedar Planked Black Cod with Shrimp Scampi - roasted garlic & cilantro butter

Pinnacle Signature Skewers:

Beef Delight - beef tenderloin marinated with parsley, onion, thyme, rosemary & marjoram

Tantalizing Lamb - lamb loins marinated with herbs, garlic, cumin, honey, coriandor & red chilies, served with yogurt sauce

Chicken & Turkey Temptation - with onion confit & tomato coulis

Delectable Seafood - shrimps & swordfish, seasoned with lemon, paprika, garlic, mustard, cayenne & dill

Vegetarian Zen - array of mixed vegetables seasoned with herbs de provence


Side Dishes:
Creamed Spinach, Sautéed Button Mushrooms, Sautéed Onions, Asparagus, Scalloped, Whipped, Jumbo Baked or Shoestring Potatoes and/or Basmati Rice

The Finale:
Not-So-Classic Baked Alaska, Warm Grand Marnier Chocolate Volcano Cake, Velvet Soufflé – Chocolate or Vanilla, Creamy Homemade Raspberry Cheesecake, Chocolate And Raisin Bread Pudding, Pinnacle Crème Brulee, Fresh Seasonal Fruits and Berries, Premium Ice Cream or Sorbets and/or the Assortment of International Cheeses.

[Mary Ellen]

There can be more than one Le Cirque dinners on longer cruises. Our last HAL cruise had them two nights. Both that and the regular Pinnacle Grill can be pre-booked on the HAL site. We've found the Le Cirque menu much more limited and not to our tastes, so for us not worth the money.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Since I typed this up a while ago -- the beef is now available for 1. And the cod is supposed to be replaced by Sea Bass.

The first Le Cirque on the Nieuw Amsterdam was on Dec 2, 2010.

And it was excellent!!

The special place settings and decorations had not arrived but the food and service by the Pinnacle staff was great.

The meal was $39 per person and you could buy for $20 per person a special wine offering which was 3 glasses selected for the special dinner.

Each person was first served an Amuse (just like the regular Pinnacle offers). It was Pate Foi Gras -- goose liver mousse with rhubarb chutney -- very good.

The appetizer was Lobster Salad "Le Cirque" -- poached lobster with haricot and citrus (I will post at a later time the recipe foe this)

Soup - Sweet Corn Soup -- prepared table side. On the bottom of the soup bowl were ground corn fritters, wood ear mushrooms and some whole kernals of corn. The corn soup -- nice and thick and very tasty with a hint of basil -- was served from a tureen.

There were 3 choices for the main menu:
Wild Halibut with leek fondue, Rocca Di Fransinello sauce -- DH had this - very flaky and tasty.
Rack of Lamb - goat cheese panisse, artichokes and arugula -- I had this -- excellent -- very tasty and meaty lamb chops -- got 2 big double ones.
Cote de Boeuf - (aged prime rib steak) - horseradish flan, sweet and sour baby beets for two. Can't comment on this.

Side Dishes:
Seasonal vegetables -- DH had them -- a mixture broccoli, summer squash, cauliflower, bamboo shoots, zuccini in a truffle oil -- excellent.
Pommes Dauphine -- I had them -- mashed potatoes made into tiny puffs and quickly fried -- good -- hot and crunchy.

Desserts:
Chocolate Souffle -- we passed on this as we had already had a couple of chocolate souffles in the Pinnacle.
Creme Brulee Le Cirque -- we both had it and loved it -- recipe will be posted at a later time.
Assortment of Sorbets - again we did not try them - so - no comment.



As I mentioned we chose to try the $20 per person selected wine paring.

When we sat down we were each served a glass of sparkling wine.

For the appetizer and soup we were each served a glass of Ruffino Pinot Grigio, Italy - juicy white peaches and citrus with a flinty-minerality (glass $8; bottle $39)

For the entree we were served Villa Florita Barbera D'Asti Superiore, Italy - persistent and intense, yet warm and harmonic (glass $10; bottle $54)

If you didn't want to go with that offering you could order anything from the list below -- all prices are for the bottle.

White Wine

Michel Redde Pouilly Fime, France - highly expressive nose and a mouth-smaking finish - $59

Cloudy Bat Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand - herbaceous flavors with hints of citrus fruits - $78

Marques de Caceres, Spain - delicious flavors of pears and apples - $29

Laboure-Roi Pouilly Fuisse, France - collage of white fruits flavors, lively floral undertones - $54

Franciscan Chardonnay, California - lively and lengthy on the palate with a great body - $47

Conundrum, California - peach, apricot, green melon and pear - $39

Red Wine

Meridian Pinot Noir, Italy - bing cherry with hints of strawberry, roses and violets - $37

Chateau Ste Michelle, Canon Ridge Merlot, Washington - a medium to full bodied rich, berry flavored long finish wine - $69

Perrin Reserve Cotes Du Rhone, France - full bodied, rich fruit with peppery finish - $39

Beringer Founders Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, California - bursts with cassis, black fruit and sweet brown spice - $39

Arboleda Carmenerem Chile - dark berries with plum, dark cherries and violets - $49

Castello Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino, Italy - soft and velvety with licorice, spices and cherry notes - $108

[suechaz]

Thanks for the info, especially to Krazy Kruizers. You are amazing! As this is our first HAL cruise, any other input you want to throw our way would be super.












Y\

[Krazy Kruizers]

On the Nieuw Amsterdam I definitely would try the Tamarind -- we also ate there quite a few times.

Tamarind Dinner - $15 per person

When you sit down at the table, a couple of servers will come to the table -- one will pour Jasmine tea while the other one gives you a HOT towel to cleanse your hands. Then you are given your menu. There are already 4 small sauce bowls on the table -- there is a soy sauce; a sweet-sour sauce; a garlic-chili pepper sauce; and a Japanese horseradish sauce (very hot). You are brought a basket of Shrimp Crackers.

SOUP:
Yin-Yang Scallop Consomme’ - tender sea scallops & julienne cut squash in a ginger infused shellfish broth sprinkled with minced scallions

Jewels of the Sea - delicate shrimp filled won ton with sliced baby bok choy in a fragrant lemongrass & sesame broth

Chicken Pho with Wild Lime & Rice Stick noodles - shredded chicken & rice noodles in a coconut milk broth flavored with lime leaf, cilantro, galangal, mint, bean sprouts & Serrano chilies



Appetizers:

Trail of Spices Satay Sampler - Malaysian-spiced lamb, Chinese pork, Thai -spiced beef, Indonesian-spiced chicken & Vietnamese-spiced shrimp served with Asian pickled vegetables & 2 traditional dipping sauces

Shrimp Tempura Indochina - sweet, fresh shrimp dipped in a light batter & fried and served with a tart-and-sweet green papaya salad & garlic chili sauce

Shanghai Ribs - five-spiced rubbed baby-back pork ribs, served over a Chinese pickled cabbage salad with a Tamarind chutney

Streetside Pot Stckers - succulent lobster, pork and chicken dumplimngs, shallow-fried till crispy on the bottom and served with a vinegar-soy ponzu dipping sauce

Spring Roll Delights - a trio of spring rolls: crispy duck, vegetable and a rice paper wrapped lobster roll, served with plum and sweet chili sauces

Thai Beef Salad - rare-seared beef, tossed with scallions, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers -- presented on salad greens and sprinkled with fresh mint, chilies and a lime-leaf dressing

Green Papaya Salad - freshly shredded raw vegetables and spinach, tomato, water chestnuts and papaya tossed with lime juice & palm sugar

Sushi & Sashimi Menu

YOUR CHOICE OF 6 ITEMS AS AN APPETIZER OR 12 AS AN ENTRÉE

Sashimi - tuna, salmon, snapper. Octopus

Nigiri Sushi - tuna, salmon, snapper, Octopus

Sushi Rolls:
Rainbow (reversed California roll topped with an assortment of fish)

California - crab and avocado

Salmon Tsutsumi - salmon, avocado, cream cheese

Tuna Tsutsumi - vegetable roll topped with tuna slices

Yozo - snapper, masago, asparagus, Japanese mayonnaise

Yoshi - tempura snapper, avocado, scallion, Japanese mayonnaise

Wraps - Indonesian vegetable, seafood, lettuce, chicken



Entrees:

Water:

Hoisin-Lime Glazed Sea Bass - Golden pan-seared fish crowned with crisp wok-seared Asian greens

Asia-Pacific Hot Pot - A one-pot surprise consisting of shrimp, scallops, Manila clams, rock fish, crab legs, squid, scallions, shallots, garlic, lemon grass and coriander leaves all braised in a flavorful stock

Baked Snapper in Rice Paper - Snapper marinated in a sake and citrus liquor, then golden baked and served atop ginger and garlic steamed Asian greens


Wood:

Wasabi & Soy Crusted Beef Tenderloin Steak - Served on an oak wood cedar plank and complimented with tempura-style onion rings and vegetables

Scallops & Prawns with Garlic, Ginger and Chili - steamed to perfection and presented in a bamboo basket and drizzled with a light soy sauce

Cantonese Duck & Hainan Rice - roasted, served on a bed chicken borth infused rice and garnished with flakes of fresh chili and cilantro


Fire:

Shrimp Szechuan with Thai Basil - Shrimp sauteed with chili peppers, Asian spices, straw mushrooms, sweet bell peppers and scallions glazed in a light chili sauce

Penang Red Curry Coconut Chicken - A mild spicy dish consisting of chicken cubes braised with Chinese pea pods, eggplant, green zucchini, red pimiento, opal basil, lemon grass and lime juice - presented in a bath of red curry and coconut milk

Vietnamese-Style Lamb with Mint - Thinly sliced lamb loin quickly sautéed with bell peppers, shiitake mushrooms, fresh spinach leaves, minced garlic and scallions


Earth:

Five-spice Seitan & Tempeh - quickly seared with thinly sliced red bell pepper, enoki mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, scallions, garlic, ginger and soy sauce - served with lime wedges

Sesame Udon Noodles - flat Japanese wheat noodles, stir-fried with tofu, scallions, vegetables, sesame oil and chilies, and sprinkled with toasted peanuts and sesame oil

Sweet and Sour Vegetable Tempura - asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, green beans, and carrots dipped in a light batter and fried - garnished with fruits and served with Tamarind glaze

On The Side:

Steamed seasonal garden vegetables with red miso garlic sauce

Steamed Jasmine rice OR Brown rice

Stir-fried cucumber, snow peas, mushrooms, scallions and chili with sesame seeds

Bok Choy with oyster sauce

Sake-braised oyster and ****ake mushrooms



Desserts:

Tamarind Chocolate - a bittersweet chocolate shell filled with a rich Tamarind & chili flavored chocolate and ginger mousse served with a red raspberry and black raspberry compote

Mango Cloud - a light egg white souffle served with a mango sorbet

Tempura Ice Cream - coconut & Javanese coffee with infused lemon grass sauce anglaise

Chocolate Almond Fortune Cookie -- an almond baked tuile with a surprise filling of chocolate panache -- served with a scoop of coconut ice cream

Ginger Banana Bread Pudding - with tempura bananas and caramel sauce

Trio of Sorbets - passion fruit basil, lychee green tea and cube with shaved fruit juices

[Krazy Kruizers]

The Tamarind Lunch is free -- can only make reservations once on the ship.

It is a set menu -- only get to choose dessert:


Hot and Sour Soup

Asian Herb Szechuan Sesame Salad

Steamed Classic Dumplings:
Chicken
Asian Pork
Steam Vegetable
Spinach and Mushroom
Shrimp 'Shu Mat'

From the Wok:
Vegetable Spring Roll
Spicy Crab Sushi Nugget
Shrimp Won Ton Sticks
Shrimp Spring Roll
Spicy Crab Rangoon

Holland America Line Culinary Fusion Sauces:
Bora Bora BBQ - tomato, ginger, aged vinegar, soy sauce
Mirin Pesto - sweet wine, soy, fresh basil, garlic, lemon grass
Coco Churri - coconut, cilantro, chili, lime
Shoyu Sabi - classic flavors of soy and wasabi

Choice of One Dessert:
Mango Sirbet
Coconut Ice Cream
Egg Tart
Green Tea Tiramisu

[Krazy Kruizers]

Pinnacle Lunch Menu

Menu - $10 per person - can only make reservations once on board.

Starters:
1)Grilled Prawn Bruschetta with a primavera salsa - aged asiago cheese and balsamic fusion
2)Mediterranean antipasto plate - pesto virgin olive oil
3)Scallops creme brulee - caramelized parmesean wafer
4)Northwest five onion soup - tomato shallot soubise
5)Chilled carrot and ginger soup - creme faiche and fried sage
6)Chiffanade of greens and tomato tower salad - Italian vinaigritte

Entrees:
1)Pacific rim beef salad - mesclun leaves, mangoes and lotus fruit
2)Alaskan halibut fillet sandwich - sour dough bread, cilantro relish and cucumber potato salad
3)Crab and shrimp cake - exotic fruit chutney, lime Thai curry sauce and orange rice with pine nuts
4)The Pinnacle burger - apple smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and bistro style shoestring potatoes. This dish can be served with a low carb bun and without the potatoes.
5)Sterling silver beef tenderloin with Oregon blue cheese crust - grilled asparagus and scalloped potatoes
6)Penne with grilled chicken breast, lemon basil sauce, sun dried tomatoes and arugula
7)Vegetarian couscous - grilled vegetables and fried mint leaves and harissa

Desserts:
1)Fresh strawberries with raspberry sorbet - sugar dough gaufrette
2)Chocolate brownie decadence - an explosion of chocolate
3)Orange and lime panna cotta
4)Ice creams and sorbets - ask for the day's selections
5)Fruit plate

[Krazy Kruizers]

Canaletto Menu - free -- Open only for dinner -- can only make reservations once on the ship



ANTIPASTI e ZUPE:
Our chef’s selection of antipasti, cucumber and olives

Insalata Canaletto – Seasonal greens and tomato, cucumber and olives

Minestrone – A flavorful tomato broth consisting of white beans, pasta shells, fresh vegetables and thyme

Zuppe Di Pesce – Assorted seafood simmered with vegetables, tomatoes, flat parsley and saffron

PASTA, CARNE, PESCE e POLLO
Penne Alla Vodka – A deliciously light combination of our Pomodoro sauce, cream and vodka

Linguini Frutti Di Mare – Linguini pasta and clams, mussels, shrimps and scallops tossed in garlic, onions and cherry tomatoes

Baked Meat Lasagna Pomodoro – Baked with meat and tomato sauce and gratinated with four cheese sauce.

Veal Milanese – Breaded veal scaloppini with porcini mushrooms, spaghetti and vegetables

Chicken Marsala

Cod Putanesca – Marinated in lemon, oregano and olive oil, quickly sautéed and coated with a flavorful herbed tomato concassee with kalamata olives, capers and chopped parsley, served with grilled cheese polenta and balsamic glace

Spaghetti with Meatballs – The classic way to eat spaghetti; home made meatballs braised in a tomato and meat sauce served over olive oil tossed spaghetti

DOLCI
Trio of Tiramisu – Italy’s most famous dessert: presented in three flavored variations, espresso, lemon and Amaretto

Limoncello Crème – Refreshing crème topped with Tuscan lemon liqueur

Mille-Feuille of Madagascar Chocolate – With walnut praline and ice-cream

Gelato – A refreshing and full-flavored selection: strawberry, mango, vanilla and lemon (different Gelato on the Nieuw Amsterdam - strawberry, pistachio, vanilla bean, Gianduia)


Suggested Cocktails:

Limoncello Cocktails -- $6.50
Limoncello Martini (Vodka & Limoncello)
Limoncello Cosmopolitan (Vodka, cranberry juice & Limoncello)
Limoncello Bellini (Peach Nector, sparkling wine & Limoncello)
Venetia (Liomoncello & Vodka & tonic water)
Limoncello Sunrise (limoncello & orange juice & granadine)
Limoncello Drop (Limoncello & Vodka & Midori)
Limoncello Cooler (Limoncello & cranberry juice

Wines listed below can be bought by the bottle ($22) or by the glass ($5) -- THESE PRICES AND CHOICES MAY CHANGE AT ANY TIME!!

Pinot Grigio Dalle Venezie IGT
Muller Thurgan Trentino DOC
Salentto Rose IGT
Primitivo Puglia IGY
Pinot Noir Pavia IGT
Nero D'Avola Merlot di Sicilia IGT
Montepulcian D'Abruzzo DOC

[Globaliser]

This is a great collection of the menus - thanks, Krazy Kruizers!

[Sea42]

Thank you for all of the wonderful menus, KrazyKruizers!
Can you tell me if the Pinnacle is usually open for lunch on the turnaround day for a Collectors Cruise? We will be on the N.A. in January.
Thanks!
Carol

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for all of the wonderful menus, KrazyKruizers!
Can you tell me if the Pinnacle is usually open for lunch on the turnaround day for a Collectors Cruise? We will be on the N.A. in January.
Thanks!
Carol

Sorry -- the Pinnacle is never open on turn-around day. Many of those workers have to help with the wheel chairs and various other duties.

Just the main dining room, Lido and Terrace Grill will be open.

Even the Tamarind is closed for lunch on that day.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This is a great collection of the menus - thanks, Krazy Kruizers!

You are welcome.

[woody14h]

Has anyone ever tried the "Cedar Planked Black Cod with Shrimp Scampi - roasted garlic & cilantro butter"? Every time I ordered it, I was told it wasn't good or they were out. Beginning to wonder if it exists.
I'll try again next month on the NA.

[Sea42]

Sorry -- the Pinnacle is never open on turn-around day. Many of those workers have to help with the wheel chairs and various other duties.

Just the main dining room, Lido and Terrace Grill will be open.

Even the Tamarind is closed for lunch on that day.
Will we be able to eat in the MDR for lunch on turn around day? This will be our first cruise on HAL and I thought that might be reserved for those who have a certain number of cruises?

[jtl513]

Will we be able to eat in the MDR for lunch on turn around day? This will be our first cruise on HAL and I thought that might be reserved for those who have a certain number of cruises?On some smaller ships with a large number of Mariners, they may limit the embarkation/turn-around lunch to 3* or 4* Mariners. On the N.A. at the mid-point of a Collector's cruise you should be able to eat there since you are 1* at that point.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Will we be able to eat in the MDR for lunch on turn around day? This will be our first cruise on HAL and I thought that might be reserved for those who have a certain number of cruises?

Unless there is a special large group -- like TA"s on for a special lunch -- yes -- you can eat in the main dining room.

[Sea42]

Thank you both for the information. That sounds like a nice option for that day.

[tangerinebunny]

When the MDR is limited to special groups on sailing day, are the rest of the returning Mariners warned before we board?

[sail7seas]

HAL is a very philantropic company and there are times they have charitable luncheons in the MDR. You probably would not know that unless you came to the MDR door.

[tangerinebunny]

How can they promise on their website that members of the Mariners' Society receive:

Welcome Back Embarkation Lunch in the dining room (from 12:00pm to 1:30pm) as well as a complimentary Mariner Champagne Brunch

And then not do it?

And is the answer perhaps, 'well they do!' lol