Which food on which ship do you remember most??

[Hlitner]

24 minutes ago, clo said:

"Black" isn't necessary the best but glad you enjoyed it.

I know and I have had some much better eggs that were gray :).  But although some have posted about Sterling I am not convinced because their online stuff does just not look the part.  The Thomas Keller connection would make lots of sense since he is the consultant chef to Seabourn.  But it seems that Keller gets his caviar from Regiis Ova (another California caviar outfit).   I have also had some decent Osteva Golden and the stuff on Seabourn is not close...but still quite decent.  But Even DW, who is not a fan of caviar enjoys the eggs on Seabourn.   It is hard to argue with the price.  Do you have any idea what is served on the other luxury lines?

 

We will soon be back aboard another Seabourn ship and I will see if I can get any reliable info from the crew.  

 

Hank

[Hlitner]

4 minutes ago, clo said:

Those were actually Oceania's. But I make them with canned and they're great.

Now you really have my interest.  With a little luck we will be on the Marina in December and we will get a chance to judge those slugs for ourselves :).

 

Hank

[clo]

8 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Now you really have my interest.  With a little luck we will be on the Marina in December and we will get a chance to judge those slugs for ourselves :).

 

Hank

I swear you'll love them. I had them twice <)

[CGTNORMANDIE]

8 hours ago, clo said:

Unopened it's good 4 to 6 weeks. Opened Bob and I can easily eat two ounces 🙂

Exactly…so 4 ounces will feed 4 people.  No sense of buying just two ounces?  Now finding 2 other friends who are also appreciative is a challenge.  Then you need the accoutrements…toast or blinis, chopped egg and onion and, of course, a chilled bottle of Moët!  Makes a great starter to a light dinner.

[clo]

3 hours ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

Exactly…so 4 ounces will feed 4 people.  No sense of buying just two ounces?  Now finding 2 other friends who are also appreciative is a challenge.  Then you need the accoutrements…toast or blinis, chopped egg and onion and, of course, a chilled bottle of Moët!  Makes a great starter to a light dinner.

Trying to remember. I know that once we added roasted Champagne grapes and perhaps some sliced avocado. Oh, and some capers. Don't use the egg.  A drop of lemon juice. And honestly occasionally just a tiny spoonful of the caviar STRAIGHT 🙂

[kd1irk]

Majestic Princess in the Harmony Specialty Dining room had the best Hot Sour soup I've ever had.

I kept thinking about it the entire cruise.

[Dolcevita Diva]

The most memorable food I’ve ever eaten on a cruise was a lobster dish many, many years ago - but memorable for a different reason.  Before the cruise, I’d been having some painful digestive issues and was waiting on a diagnosis from my doctor. In the meantime, I was scrupulously avoiding any type of oil, cream sauce, etc.  I lost weight on that cruise!  
 

Alas, our waiter simply did not understand why I insisted on no butter with the lobster and had the chef baste it with butter (but didn’t tell me) - and I spent the night curled up in pain in my cabin. Two weeks after we returned, my gallbladder was removed. 

[BklynBoy8]

10 hours ago, Dolcevita Diva said:

The most memorable food I’ve ever eaten on a cruise was a lobster dish many, many years ago - but memorable for a different reason.  Before the cruise, I’d been having some painful digestive issues and was waiting on a diagnosis from my doctor. In the meantime, I was scrupulously avoiding any type of oil, cream sauce, etc.  I lost weight on that cruise!  
 

Alas, our waiter simply did not understand why I insisted on no butter with the lobster and had the chef baste it with butter (but didn’t tell me) - and I spent the night curled up in pain in my cabin. Two weeks after we returned, my gallbladder was removed. 

My sympathy with the condition and unfortunately maybe too early removing your GB.

 

I am also a gastric patient and know what you mean about watching selections which on board..You want to enjoy your cruise but still watch your selections.

 

If I am right, as a passenger and customer, dishes should be fashioned to your liking and diet requests.

 

Some ships may prep the dish at your order time or need to have you make a request at the meal prior to have the dish ready to be presented to you at dining time.

 

We always look over the menu at the entrance of the restaurant before being seated so we have prior view and not make rash decision at tableside.

 

Wishing you better health..... 

[Dolcevita Diva]

3 hours ago, BklynBoy8 said:

My sympathy with the condition and unfortunately maybe too early removing your GB.

 

I am also a gastric patient and know what you mean about watching selections which on board..You want to enjoy your cruise but still watch your selections.

 

If I am right, as a passenger and customer, dishes should be fashioned to your liking and diet requests.

 

Some ships may prep the dish at your order time or need to have you make a request at the meal prior to have the dish ready to be presented to you at dining time.

 

We always look over the menu at the entrance of the restaurant before being seated so we have prior view and not make rash decision at tableside.

 

Wishing you better health..... 

Thanks - I am fine, this was many, many years ago - but remains my most memorable dish for sure.  The problem was, the server simply didn't understand/believe that I truly could not eat anything like that (this was before food sensitivities and allergies were as commonly known as they are now); he just thought I was trying to "watch my figure."       Anyone in restaurants or hospitality knows better now!

[shipgeeks]

Reading all of these has brought back a lot of good memories, either directly or indirectly!  Here are a couple of meals that stand out for me:

On QM2, we and two friends decided to have dinner - a set tasting menu - in the Kings Court pop-up instead of MDR one night, in order to attend a show.   When we arrived, we learned that all the courses contained some type of shellfish, to which I have an allergy.  Without any hesitation, the chef created a suitable dish for me for every course.  All were delicious.

On MSC Seaside two years ago, our (Indian) waiter noticed that I regularly ordered vegetarian dishes, including some which were Indian.  He asked if we'd like a curry meal one night.  We would.  So he had two curries, with sides, brought to us by the AHW.  Delicious.  We learned that they were straight from the crew dining room.

And, along the lines of ambience and sense of occasion, I can attest to the joy of dining at the Captain's Table.  I can't remember a single dish, but each of these dinners holds a special place in my heart.

 

 

[CGTNORMANDIE]

18 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

Reading all of these has brought back a lot of good memories, either directly or indirectly!  Here are a couple of meals that stand out for me:

On QM2, we and two friends decided to have dinner - a set tasting menu - in the Kings Court pop-up instead of MDR one night, in order to attend a show.   When we arrived, we learned that all the courses contained some type of shellfish, to which I have an allergy.  Without any hesitation, the chef created a suitable dish for me for every course.  All were delicious.

On MSC Seaside two years ago, our (Indian) waiter noticed that I regularly ordered vegetarian dishes, including some which were Indian.  He asked if we'd like a curry meal one night.  We would.  So he had two curries, with sides, brought to us by the AHW.  Delicious.  We learned that they were straight from the crew dining room.

And, along the lines of ambience and sense of occasion, I can attest to the joy of dining at the Captain's Table.  I can't remember a single dish, but each of these dinners holds a special place in my heart.

 

 

Your mention of the Captain’s Table brings back many good memories for me.  Dining with the Captain and officers was always a treat.  On Royal Caribbean we would meet at the Champagne Bar for cocktails then on to The MDR where the Captain had a special head table reserved 24/7.  There were always at least 4 courses with really great wines and conversations with interesting people.  There would be a special menu signed by the Captain and a group photo presented in a special folder for that occasion.  

[rkacruiser]

28 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

And, along the lines of ambience and sense of occasion, I can attest to the joy of dining at the Captain's Table.

 

2 minutes ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

Your mention of the Captain’s Table brings back many good memories for me.  Dining with the Captain and officers was always a treat.  On Royal Caribbean we would meet at the Champagne Bar for cocktails then on to The MDR where the Captain had a special head table reserved 24/7.  There were always at least 4 courses with really great wines and conversations with interesting people.  There would be a special menu signed by the Captain and a group photo presented in a special folder for that occasion.  

 

The closest that I have gotten to the Captain's Table for dinner was an invitation to dine with the Chief Engineer during one cruise and with the Doctor on another.  The Chief Engineer was an engaging host; the Doctor was uncomfortable with his "duty".  

 

During Mariner Society lunches, I have been invited to have lunch with the Captain a couple of times.  Once, it was was a really great experience with very convivial and experienced guests and a very guest oriented Master.  The next time, even though there was a place card at my position on the table, someone else had taken my seat.  The DR Manager was very apologetic, but, nothing was done to remove the interloper.  Which was for the best, I know.  I was seated with some other guests with a view of "my table" and had a nice lunch, but my wine glass was not kept as well filled as those at the Captain's table.  

[rkacruiser]

Probably two dumb memories, but they never go away when I think about this topic.

 

First cruise, Rotterdam V, an 11 day Caribbean itinerary from New York leaving at 8:00 P. M. on a very warm, humid late July night.  My traveling companion and I stayed out on deck until we were past the Verrazzano Bridge and noted that we needed to get to the Lido Restaurant for dinner before it closed.  (Too late for dinner in the MDR.)  I got a glass of Iced Tea along with whatever else I had.  That was the best glass of Iced Tea that I have drunk!  

 

The first dinner on Royal Viking Sky after sailing from New York on a trans-Atlantic and North Cape Cruise:  I ordered the Steak that was on the evening's menu.  It was the best steak I have ever eaten.  During the cruise, I sometimes would order the same item, it was always very good, but, not the very, very, very good of that first steak!  

 

Why the difference?  This cruise had been in the planning stages for many years and only came to fruition because of the cooperation of my employer and my colleagues being willing to adjust "normal work schedules" for me.  The fulfilling of the long anticipation for this cruise maybe added "a secret ingredient" to that evening's dinner that has never been duplicated for me.  

[CGTNORMANDIE]

3 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

 

The closest that I have gotten to the Captain's Table for dinner was an invitation to dine with the Chief Engineer during one cruise and with the Doctor on another.  The Chief Engineer was an engaging host; the Doctor was uncomfortable with his "duty".  

 

During Mariner Society lunches, I have been invited to have lunch with the Captain a couple of times.  Once, it was was a really great experience with very convivial and experienced guests and a very guest oriented Master.  The next time, even though there was a place card at my position on the table, someone else had taken my seat.  The DR Manager was very apologetic, but, nothing was done to remove the interloper.  Which was for the best, I know.  I was seated with some other guests with a view of "my table" and had a nice lunch, but my wine glass was not kept as well filled as those at the Captain's table.  

RK, you are too kind.  I would have gone up to the interloper and politely but firmly kicked him out of my seat.  “Excuse me sir but is your name RKA??  No??  Ohh dear that seat has been reserved for RKA as you can see the name on the place card?  Hey…that’s me!  I’m so sorry but you’ll have to sit elsewhere.”   

[shipgeeks]

10 hours ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

RK, you are too kind.  I would have gone up to the interloper and politely but firmly kicked him out of my seat.  “Excuse me sir but is your name RKA??  No??  Ohh dear that seat has been reserved for RKA as you can see the name on the place card?  Hey…that’s me!  I’m so sorry but you’ll have to sit elsewhere.”   

I agree, except that the DR manager should have handled it.  

[rkacruiser]

21 hours ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

RK, you are too kind.  I would have gone up to the interloper and politely but firmly kicked him out of my seat.  “Excuse me sir but is your name RKA??  No??  Ohh dear that seat has been reserved for RKA as you can see the name on the place card?  Hey…that’s me!  I’m so sorry but you’ll have to sit elsewhere.”   

 

That's not me.  Most of the time.

 

10 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

I agree, except that the DR manager should have handled it.  

 

That was how I felt at the time.  

[CGTNORMANDIE]

57 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

That's not me.  Most of the time.

 

Like I said…you are too kind.  How many times have we seen rude behavior onboard.  I have had a few encounters with rude and pushy people.  I usually handle them with dignity and aplomb but sometimes my patience wears thin.  

[BklynBoy8]

14 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

I agree, except that the DR manager should have handled it.  

I know when we dined with the Captain of the QM2, our invitation directed us to present ourselves to the DR Mgr. From the desk we were escort to the large tapestry on the wall which the Captains Table was below which holds 10 chairs. We were placed by the DR Mgr at the assigned chairs. No problem and a delightful and enjoyable dinner. Each course an assigned bottle of wine. After dinner drink was also compliments. 

[rkacruiser]

16 hours ago, BklynBoy8 said:

I know when we dined with the Captain of the QM2, our invitation directed us to present ourselves to the DR Mgr.

 

Attending Mariner Society luncheons when I was invited to dine with an Officer, there would be a reception for the most loyal HAL cruisers that were aboard.  Sometimes, but not always, when it was time for us to go to the dining room, we would be escorted by the DR Manager and/or a few Stewards.  We would bypass those Mariners waiting for the doors to open and be seated before them.  Very pleasant and civil.  The time I lost my seat was when it was a "free for all" to get to the dining room.  Different ship's personnel do things differently.  Just an example of the inconsistency of the cruise experience that I have come to expect on a HAL cruise.  (Didn't used to be that way when Kirk Lanterman and Stein Kruse were the CEOs of the company.)  

[BklynBoy8]

31 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Attending Mariner Society luncheons when I was invited to dine with an Officer, there would be a reception for the most loyal HAL cruisers that were aboard.  Sometimes, but not always, when it was time for us to go to the dining room, we would be escorted by the DR Manager and/or a few Stewards.  We would bypass those Mariners waiting for the doors to open and be seated before them.  Very pleasant and civil.  The time I lost my seat was when it was a "free for all" to get to the dining room.  Different ship's personnel do things differently.  Just an example of the inconsistency of the cruise experience that I have come to expect on a HAL cruise.  (Didn't used to be that way when Kirk Lanterman and Stein Kruse were the CEOs of the company.)  

Rka,

The dinner we attended on the QM2 I may have mentioned was with the CEO then of the Cunard Line (Carol Marlow) on board. It was the QM2's first time docking at the renewed Crown Bay Pier Center in St Thomas VI. We didn't know it was a big deal sailing at many ports. At the CBP, we were welcomed with a Tropical Dancers and Orchestra. But the dinner was an experience to remember. Each person was placed and escorted to the seat for protocol reasons. A delightful group of passengers that looked like they would not sit at the wrong location. So with luck you had this intruder dining there. I hope he acted proper during the rest of the dinner.

Edited November 16, 2021 by BklynBoy8

[shipgeeks]

Our invitations to dinner with the Captain, or in one case the Hotel Director, were somewhat similar to the above.  We were instructed to meet in a certain lounge ("Private Party" noted at the entrance), where drinks were served, and introductions and conversations took place.  We were then escorted to the table, where we were each seated by one of the many head waiters, at the places noted by our names on place cards.  Usually we were seated with our spouses, but one time we were separated.

Funny story.  On Regal Empress we met as instructed.  The Captain came over and spoke with us.  After a while we tried to release him to chat with other guests, but he didn't take the hint.  Dinner was announced.  We strolled there as a group.  Along the way, DH and Captain both said "Excuse me" and ducked into the men's room.  Social Hostess and I slowed our pace, then paused.  We waited.  And waited.  SH said "He does like to talk about ships".  When they eventually came out, they were still deep in conversation, which continued all the way to the table.

That was an excellent evening.

[rkacruiser]

23 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

Usually we were seated with our spouses, but one time we were separated.

 

What few occasions where I have dined where there were place cards, most had couples separated.  Always, there was a lady on the Officer's right and left.  (Maybe  today, if the Officer was a woman, there would be a gentleman on her right and left?)  

[rkacruiser]

At the Mariner's Society luncheon on the Prinsendam, my traveling companion and I were invited to sit at Table #....  OK, we arrived at the table, not knowing why, although I suspected that it would be with an Officer.  We sat together and the Head Waiter directed others to leave a seat vacant.  That seat was next to mine.  Shortly, the Culinary Operations Manager joined.  Being interested in food/wine, as others at the table mostly were, it was a very interesting and informative luncheon.  The gentleman was very willing to converse and answer our questions.  Not sure how much of his lunch he was able to eat, though.  

[lenquixote66]

On 12/7/2020 at 5:51 PM, CGTNORMANDIE said:

Perhaps it was the pizza on MSC, or the lobster on Oceania, or the burger at Guy’s Burger on Carnival or that special dessert on HAL.  Let’s hear all about it!

Sorrento’s pizza on every RCI ship.I equate it to pizza at a BJ’s.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

39 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

Sorrento’s pizza on every RCI ship.I equate it to pizza at a BJ’s.

Most of the major cruise lines have not learned how to make a good pizza dough or a good pizza sauce.  A good dough should be made with the right ingredients and aged at least 2 days.  Sorrento’s is just blahhh.