Who here likes Baked Alaska?

[APH]

I think it's about time we all had a passionate debate about...Baked Alaska.

I'm personally a fan of it - great fun (not to mention tasty), but many people I've talked to don't seem so fond of it - It's probably more for first time cruisers.

Any thoughts? Yay or Nay for the Baked Alaska?

[PeabodyNVL]

I like the pomp and circumstance of the baked Alaska parade. But, as far as the actual dessert...if they would use vanilla ice cream, I might eat it. I don't like strawberry or many other flavors and that is why I normally don't eat it.

Pea

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[Cruisinforever]

Well, I fell in love last May with Princess' ice creams (all with fancy-schmancy names, of course!) for dessert. I found that they were delicious, yet not too filling. I had to have the New York Cheesecake twice, but I mostly had the flavored ice creams for dessert.

I've had the Baked Alaska, but I have to admit that it isn't my favorite.

Gee, I've never had a debate over Baked Alaska before.... this is a first! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

JJ
Caribbean Princess 5/1/04
Star Princess 5/24/03
Sun Princess 6/12/00
Carnival Fantasy 1/18/98

[caribbean2000]

Bring it ON!!! The whole thing! Leave it here on my desk! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[jhannah]

No! MY desk! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

'Vegas Jim

[MaryPoppinz]

I can take it or leave it, but I do agree that Princess makes really good ice cream. I never eat it at home, but I always try it on the ship. Marzipan, pumpkin, Zabaglione, Cinnamon....yum!

"I'm gonna book myself on that Princess Cruise."
-- Fox Mulder, X-Files 'Three Words'

[ahracer]

Good topic...I've always wondered what the big deal was about Baked Alaska. Ice Cream with merinque on top just doesn't get me excited. There are so many other great desserts on the menu.

Scott

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[daWoods]

Is that a trick question???

Island Princess Feb. 2004
Grand Princess Feb. 2002
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[cjh]

Love it, love it, love it!!!!!!!!!

Star Princess 7/03

[ocean.queen]

Hate it, hate it, hate it !!!!!!

[Druke I]

Never have liked it - and think the "parade" is schmaltzy!

Bah Humbug.

Michael

[caribbean2000]

ahracer -yes there are. Have those too! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[cruznliz]

I always enjoy a good parade. Anything with loud, hand-clapping music is fun for me! (I'm easily pleased). And marching desserts!! What else could one want?? http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif But I agree with Peabody, forget the strawberry ice cream. On our last cruise though, Sun Princess in January, the Baked Alaska didn't have strawberry! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif It only had vanilla and chocolate!! Best I've ever had! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Now if all the ships made it that way, I'd be very, very, very happy! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

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[Desertbelle]

Not a fan of Baked Alaska, and not exactly a fan of waiter parades either. I could take them or leave them.

Bring on the Creme Brulee http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Now that's a dessert worthy of a parade!! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Margie

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[gcsmith]

Never had it on Princess (always do PC). Had it on RCCL, wasn't impressed. The waiter parade was something I'd like to see once in my life . . .

Had Baked Alaska at one of Emeril Lagasse's restaurants in New Oreleans. That was truly an amazing desert. All vanilla, excellent sauce. One order was enough for four people. I think I'm spoiled for baked alaska for the rest of my life, nothing will measure up.

Greg

[Cruisinforever]

I just happened to remember that last year on the Star Princess to Alaska, there was no parade on the Baked Alaska night. I think it is because I was in the PC dining room. They may very well have had the Baked Alaska parade during the Traditional dining times.

So, if you really have your heart set on the parade, and you have PC dining.... forget it. I do have the Baked Alaska parade from my Alaskan cruise on the Sun Princess in 2000 on DVD..... it's just a memory now... http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

JJ
Caribbean Princess 5/1/04
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Carnival Fantasy 1/18/98

[CaptData]

I love the parade. I like it as well but I'm diabetic so I have to plan throught the day for this one treat. A small slice will be nice, thank you.

Hopfully a Hawiian Cruise

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[NitaBcruising]

The parade's okay, and the dessert is barely okay. I'd prefer to choose my ice cream flavor for the evening!

Nita

[AlainBob]

If a picture is worth a 1000 words, well, look at this one... Click on the link in my signature and go to our 2004 cruise album; look at picture #243.

... in other words, I LOVE IT !!!

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[heyjude27]

Hope it doesn't rain on the parade -- but I don't like Princess' Baked Alaska at all.
J

[derf5585]

Baked Alaska Recipe
from
http://www.freerecipe.org/Dessert/Baked_Goods/Holiday/BakedAlask_iajh.htm

Tradition recommends that the baked Alaska is flambé with alcohol right before serving.
from
http://www.meilleurduchef.com/cgi/mdc/l/en/recettes/gateau/omelette_norvegienne_ill.html

Baked Alaska & Variations
from
http://www.recipecottage.com/desserts-frozen/baked-alaska04.html

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NOT UPDATED again 25 Feb www.geocities.com/fsbsdel (http://www.geocities.com/fsbsdel)

[derf5585]

and how to conceal personal weapons in a Baked Alaska.
from
http://www.chat-page.com/ship/1/archive_00.html

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NOT UPDATED again 25 Feb www.geocities.com/fsbsdel (http://www.geocities.com/fsbsdel)

[mpdahmer]

I don't totally remember the baked alaska but I do remember the parade. My favorite Princess dessert was the always available chocolate (whatever it was) peice of heaven with a Princess symbol in chocolate on the top. Looked through our old menus but couldn't find the name but truly loved it and ordered one along with whatever the other dessert of the day was.

Anyone remember what the name is or if it is still available?

Mark D.

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[cindersue]

I'll take the "Princess dream" chocolate dessert over the Baked Alaska any day http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif.It reminds me of kid's birthday party food..But I do enjoy the parade! Cindy
P.S. Mark D. I think you are talking about the same dessert...I'm pretty sure it's the Princess Dream...a chocolate square with the chocolate Princess symbol on top...By Far their Best Dessert in my opinion...But somewhere on the board someone was saying that they changed it and it isn't as tasty...I sure hope not http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif
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[CruiseFever]

JMHO but here goes:

This is a great question and one I've thought about from time to time. Regardless of if we find it tasty or not there's an underlying culture issue that begs our attention.

I think its time as an elegant dessert has come and gone. Maybe.

Years ago, when Neopolitan ice cream was amazing, Baked Alaska stood for elegance and "the good life" and elicited much the same "wow" factor as flaming Cherries Jubilee, a mink stole, a pearl necklace, or hard to find delicacies like Godiva Chocolates, Beluga Caviar or Campari, then considered an elegant apertif'.

Then the world shrunk.

Chef's from all over the world were drawn into our living rooms on the coat tails of Graham Kerr, the galloping gourmet, through the rapid expansion of modern media. Delicacies from far off lands were brought to us quickly with the advent of next-day air shipping. We became educated with more and more of us attending college and, presumably, knowing more.

Maybe we grew beyond Baked Alaska?

Maybe that's why even though there are many other desserts with more exotic ingredients requiring greater skill to produce that we like Baked Alaska.

Perhaps it's simple elegance is just what we need.

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
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[PRINCESS MAR]

We also were in the PC dining room, and my daughter was dissapointed to think she might miss the Baked Alaska. On "Baked Alaska night" our waiter was good enough to bring her a slice.

My personal favorite is the souffle - any and all!

Happy sailing
Mary Jo

[pg.]

I hate the parade. I feel sorry for the waiters having to do that week in and week out.

The dessert is gross, I love ice cream but not with egg whites on it!

[KenAndJulie]

I love baked alaska but was disappointed with the one on Princess. I am no culinary expert, but the last time I got a baked alaska, over here, it had a sponge base with raspberry jam on it then loads of vanilla ice cream topped with a 'baked' meringue (i.e. nice and crispy on the outside yet marshmallowy and chewy on the inside - not the 'flame-gun' blasted variety ... is that what is called an italian meringue???)

Geez all this talk has made me hungry so I am going to book the restaurant that serves the above baked alaska for dinner tonight.

My favourite on Princess was the Raspberry brulee - now that was delicious.

Ken

[argosy]

So...with PC, there is no "parade"...right?

I have always gone traditional, and our 5/22 cruise will be PC. I think the parade is kinda funny, and you get to see all the other waitstaff that you don't normally see, but I can't say I will be grossly disappointed.

As for the dessert itself, I can't eat dairy anyhow. BUT...if I could, I seriously doubt I would be impressed by it. Ice cream with meringue on it. Big whoop. The presentation is what makes Baked Alaska an event. In that way, it's kind of like a fortune cookie. Everyone loves to get them so they can read their fortune, but no one eats the cookie. (Except ME).

[APH]

Wow everyone, great response...I guess Baked Alaska is a really important topic!

Personally, some of my favourite 'showpiece' (a.k.a earn your tips) desserts are the flambes: cherries jubilee and banana flambe...mind you the souffles aren't that bad either...or the sorbets..or the ice creams...

The Baked Alaska parade all depends on your waiter and assistant: On the Golden in July, they made it quite clear that they didn't enjoy the performance and didn't make any effort to please the passengers at all. On the Dawn in 2002, there were several waiters really up for it - dancing on tables, singing along to the music, waving napkins, dancing with other passengers...at the end of the day, how you enjoy the parade depends on if your waiter does!

[JacquieP]

I like Baked Alaska, and as long as it isn't dropped on the floor during the parade, bring it on!

[geoherb]

I think the baked Alaska parade is a good tradition for first-time cruisers. Princess, however, doesn't really do it right. The waiters don't seem to be enjoying it like the ones on RCI did.

As for the dessert itself, it's not my favorite. I usually find something better on the menu--like ordering the Loveboat Dream with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

[mpdahmer]

Thanks Cindersue I believe that is it (Princess dream) and Geoherb also called it the Loveboat Dream, either way if Princess would let me I would parade around the entire dining room with one if I could have a plateful every night.

By far the best dessert I have had onboard...

I hope that they haven't changed it but I will find out in 4 nights from now...it's so close I can almost taste it!!!

Mark D.

4/10/04 Caribbean Princess
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[Elequieu]

On the Sky Princess in Australia they served the Baked Alaska with hot fudge sauce. Now THAT made it OK.

[teedee]

I've yet to take my first Princess cruise (scheduled for next March on Coral Princess) but I do LOVE Baked Alaska, it's my very favorite dessert. I could care less about the parade though, just bring me the dessert!

Terri

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[cactusrose]

I love it. I don't eat ice cream very often so this gives me an excuss to indulge.

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[kbt2]

I too like Baked Alaska...but definitely like the parade more.

Kim
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