Kmom NEEDS LOTS OF HELP PLEASE - Pre-Planning Pre-Review Preview Mardi Gras August 7, 2021 - Join me if you dare

[KmomChicago]

23 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Then we'd need to start a roll call (I'll wait for someone to tackle that task) . 🙂

 

Twelve staff (healthcare provider).

 

Tom

 

Thank you for being essential workers during this challenging time!

[KmomChicago]

I showed the Monkey and Sloth Hangout to the teenager and it seems we have a winner so more to come on that.

[KmomChicago]

Just an update - it seems the private cabana rentals at Mahogany Bay beach (exclusive to Carnival guests) are sold out on the shore excursion pages now. 

 

We personally wouldn't choose this option but they are popular and I can understand the draw. I expect this August 7 sailing to be primarily your highly experienced cruise passengers and cruise groups who know what they like and probably have been to Mahogany Bay before, or at least other private cruise port beaches. 

 

Carnival does offer an excursion at this port that includes sloths but I cannot tell whether they bring you to the same place we will be visiting on our privately booked excursion to Daniel Johnson's sanctuary. In any case, this excursion is also sold out.  

 

I will put this same post over on the roll call for our sailing as well.

[KmomChicago]

Looking at SeaDay Brunch menu today . . . it's been updated since our last Carnival cruise. My husband will get the filet and eggs (our favorite Carnival cruise food hack) but I am looking real hard at this - anyone have any feedback for me?  It fits a lot of what I love, more-or-less paleo/Whole30 compliant, veggie-heavy, non-inflammatory, satisfying flavors I enjoy, and something that would be too much work for me to bother with at home. 

 

[KmomChicago]

Folks, looking at various specialty menus, I am seeing a lot of situations where I would prefer to make my meal out of the starters and sides and completely skip the entrees. For example, Chibang!

 

 

I don't even know if I like yucca. But when else am I gonna find out?  I have read a review of Jiji's saying the broccoli is yumster and I assume / hope the same for this one. Same recipe perhaps?

[KmomChicago]

Same app/side potential at Cucina del Capitano:

 

 

 

Edited July 10, 2021 by KmomChicago

[KmomChicago]

And for breakfast in the MDR - we usually don't do this at all (because, BlueIguana and Lido buffet) but I can see we are missing out. Look at these less traditional, but very interesting options. Gotta love the avocado toast, and welcome to the 2020's, Carnival. But I am interested in that lentil and rice crepe as well. Just because I want to see how they did it and if it's tasty or not.  And breakfast bowls with plenty of veg and some notable whole food ingredients. 

 

I should mention, hubby is somewhat adventurous in his eating but always wants plenty of meat in every meal. (As it happens, I'm making steak and eggs for us this morning in the spirit of Sea Day brunch.) Our 15 year old will try darn near anything with any ingredients from anywhere in the world. For the two of us, I would say the only thing we really dislike is hot-spicy. We love herbs and unique spice flavors as long as they are mild on the heat ratio.

 

I am not anything-arian at the moment. I am trying to do a fairly strict Whole30 right now to get ready for the cruise - reset my digestive system and get to feeling more physically well and comfortable. Onboard I will eat anything I want while still trying to be mindful about how things will make me feel later. Too much dairy, grain, and added sugar definitely throw me off so I just need to consider balance with veggies and proteins.

 

Edited July 10, 2021 by KmomChicago

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

3 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

And for breakfast in the MDR - we usually don't do this at all (because, BlueIguana and Lido buffet) but I can see we are missing out. Look at these less traditional, but very interesting options. Gotta love the avocado toast, and welcome to the 2020's, Carnival. But I am interested in that lentil and rice crepe as well. Just because I want to see how they did it and if it's tasty or not.  And breakfast bowls with plenty of veg and some notable whole food ingredients. 

 

I should mention, hubby is somewhat adventurous in his eating but always wants plenty of meat in every meal.  Our 15 year old will try darn near anything with any ingredients from anywhere in the world. For the two of us, I would say the only thing we really dislike is hot-spicy. We love herbs and unique spice flavors as long as they are mild on the heat ratio.

 

 

Breakfast is generally the only time we venture into the MDR. 

 

My go to is always Eggs Benedict (with the sauce on the side in order to help ensure I don't have hard poached eggs due to sitting under a heat lamp).

 

Now, however - I'll probably give the avocado toast a try... maybe Benedict style! 😁

 

Tom

[KmomChicago]

11 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

My go to is always Eggs Benedict (with the sauce on the side in order to help ensure I don't have hard poached eggs due to sitting under a heat lamp).

 

Now, however - I'll probably give the avocado toast a try... maybe Benedict style! 😁

 

Tom

 

Looks like all you need to add is the Hollandaise on the side as per your usual MO to go pretty-much Benedict on this.  And Eggs B has been a huge favorite for me as well - I've had it in the buffets with the over-cooked poached egg issue after they sit just a few minutes. Still yummy but an English muffin is a waste of my grain allocation at this point. If I have bread it's gonna be more interesting than that, more nutty or herby or something.

Edited July 10, 2021 by KmomChicago

[tallyho8]

4 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

Looking at SeaDay Brunch menu today . . . it's been updated since our last Carnival cruise. My husband will get the filet and eggs (our favorite Carnival cruise food hack) but I am looking real hard at this - anyone have any feedback for me?  It fits a lot of what I love, more-or-less paleo/Whole30 compliant, veggie-heavy, non-inflammatory, satisfying flavors I enjoy, and something that would be too much work for me to bother with at home. 

 

The only thing I dislike about it is it will definitely be farm raised Atlantic salmon which does not compare with wild caught sockeye salmon.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 minutes ago, tallyho8 said:

The only thing I dislike about it is it will definitely be farm raised Atlantic salmon which does not compare with wild caught sockeye salmon.

 

Yep - for the most part (when feasible) I'm a wild caught, grass raised/finished, pastured, organic consumer.

 

Then sometimes I'll get a drive thru burger 🍔🤣

 

Tom

[TrqoisWtrs]

On 6/24/2021 at 5:37 PM, KmomChicago said:

Back to the Steakhouse. What is the deal with Wagyu Beef? 

 

I ordered it once and that was enough.  Totally not impressed.  Disappointed really.  Should have stuck with my filet mignon.  Obviously tho, everyone's opinion is different lol.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

1 hour ago, cruisin*tigger said:

I ordered it once and that was enough.  Totally not impressed.  Disappointed really.  Should have stuck with my filet mignon.  Obviously tho, everyone's opinion is different lol.

 

Same here... and I could never determine what cut it actually was!

 

I had an (Japanese) Kobe Ribeye at Prime in Bellagio several years ago. The casino was picking up the tab, otherwise I would not have paid the ($200+) for the steak. It was truly the fattiest steak I've ever had (and I usually enjoy fat)! I would not order it again - no matter who was paying!

 

Tom

[KmomChicago]

3 hours ago, cruisin*tigger said:

I ordered it once and that was enough.  Totally not impressed.  Disappointed really.  Should have stuck with my filet mignon.  Obviously tho, everyone's opinion is different lol.

 

2 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Same here... and I could never determine what cut it actually was!

 

I had an (Japanese) Kobe Ribeye at Prime in Bellagio several years ago. The casino was picking up the tab, otherwise I would not have paid the ($200+) for the steak. It was truly the fattiest steak I've ever had (and I usually enjoy fat)! I would not order it again - no matter who was paying!

 

Tom

Okay then. Wagyu is out of contention. Plus someone earlier pointed out it’s just second rate Australia wagyu and not Japanese anyway, which doesn’t sound all that impressive either.

[kwokpot]

On 7/10/2021 at 8:00 AM, KmomChicago said:

And for breakfast in the MDR - we usually don't do this at all (because, BlueIguana and Lido buffet) but I can see we are missing out. Look at these less traditional, but very interesting options. Gotta love the avocado toast, and welcome to the 2020's, Carnival. But I am interested in that lentil and rice crepe as well. Just because I want to see how they did it and if it's tasty or not.  And breakfast bowls with plenty of veg and some notable whole food ingredients. 

 

I should mention, hubby is somewhat adventurous in his eating but always wants plenty of meat in every meal. (As it happens, I'm making steak and eggs for us this morning in the spirit of Sea Day brunch.) Our 15 year old will try darn near anything with any ingredients from anywhere in the world. For the two of us, I would say the only thing we really dislike is hot-spicy. We love herbs and unique spice flavors as long as they are mild on the heat ratio.

 

I am not anything-arian at the moment. I am trying to do a fairly strict Whole30 right now to get ready for the cruise - reset my digestive system and get to feeling more physically well and comfortable. Onboard I will eat anything I want while still trying to be mindful about how things will make me feel later. Too much dairy, grain, and added sugar definitely throw me off so I just need to consider balance with veggies and proteins.

 

I order the Breakfast bowl all the time and I enjoy it, although there's always substitutions from the listed items. Usually the raspberries are not included and either there's another fruit or no fruit at all which then you miss the sweet component. You didn't list it but there's also a yogurt parfait that's good but sometimes the ratio of yogurt and the sweet component is off.  I don't eat the yogurt that they serve in the individual containers because it's not Greek yogurt and it's not particularly good.

 

On port days my favorite breakfast item is the Broken Egg sandwich.

 

[KmomChicago]

26 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

I order the Breakfast bowl all the time and I enjoy it, although there's always substitutions from the listed items. Usually the raspberries are not included and either there's another fruit or no fruit at all which then you miss the sweet component. You didn't list it but there's also a yogurt parfait that's good but sometimes the ratio of yogurt and the sweet component is off.  I don't eat the yogurt that they serve in the individual containers because it's not Greek yogurt and it's not particularly good.

 

On port days my favorite breakfast item is the Broken Egg sandwich.

 

 

Thank you kwokpot.  We do Sea Day brunch every cruise but I don't think we ever have done it on a port day. Looks like fruit juices are included, no extra cost? I'm not sure that's the case at brunch. 

[kwokpot]

5 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

 

Thank you kwokpot.  We do Sea Day brunch every cruise but I don't think we ever have done it on a port day. Looks like fruit juices are included, no extra cost? I'm not sure that's the case at brunch. 

Fruit juices ARE NOT included

[KmomChicago]

4 hours ago, cruisin*tigger said:

I ordered it once and that was enough.  Totally not impressed.  Disappointed really.  Should have stuck with my filet mignon.  Obviously tho, everyone's opinion is different lol.

 

One advantage of the filet, for me, is actually the mignon part, i.e. the small size.  Steak is incredibly delicious and I love rib-eye, and Tom recommended it, and I am sure it's divine.  But it's going to be too much food. There is no rib-eye mignon. And I cannot mentally waste beef - sorry, folks, I just personally can't. If my husband says he'll eat my extra then I'll get it. 

 

Otherwise I have to admit I am considering the Dover Sole for my entree, after most likely, the bone marrow and tartare appetizer.  It seems ludicrous to get fish at the, you know, STEAK house that you paid extra for. Though I dig me some well prepared sole, that's a fact. Back in the day, there use to be filet of sole almondine (or amondine?) which was a tasty dish. If it's really great, I do very much enjoy fish and it's less heavy. 

 

WHO CAN TELL ME IF IT's WORTH 38 dollars?

[kwokpot]

Just now, kwokpot said:

Fruit juices ARE NOT included

Also wanted to add that the juice in the buffet is NOT real orange juice but orange beverage, so not 100% juice.

[KmomChicago]

7 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Also wanted to add that the juice in the buffet is NOT real orange juice but orange beverage, so not 100% juice.

 

Yeah I love that stuff in the buffet though. I realize it's some kind of amped up Kool-aid or Tang or something but. . . YUMMMM>

 

[Joe817]

2 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

 

Yeah I love that stuff in the buffet though. I realize it's some kind of amped up Kool-aid or Tang or something but. . . YUMMMM>

 

I love tang! If it's good enough for the Astronauts, it's good enough for me!  

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

15 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

...

 

WHO CAN TELL ME IF IT's WORTH 38 dollars?

 

That's a tricky question, but ... I'll probably order it when we're in the steakhouse! Having said that, we're in Rudi's for 3 nights... I need to check out that menu again! It's difficult determining which calories to take on!!

 

Tom

[KmomChicago]

I have to add here, for the record, after watching ParoDeeJay post quick reviews of their MDR dinners on Horizon last week, with pictures of the plates, I feel a little less than intrigued.  I was planning to have at least a couple of dinners in the main dining room, because I am traveling with my dad and stepmom who like it just fine (as well as husband and offspring who do NOT, but that's fine, they don't have to). 

 

But with all the other options and with feeling a bit "meh" about what I am seeing, we'll see.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

1 minute ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

That's a tricky question, but ... I'll probably order it when we're in the steakhouse! Having said that, we're in Rudi's for 3 nights... I need to check out that menu again! It's difficult determining which calories to take on!!

 

Tom

 

ok --- just checked out Rudi's (Dover Sole). It comes with BRUSSELS SPROUTS (gag me with a spoon, lol).

 

Tom

[KmomChicago]

13 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

ok --- just checked out Rudi's (Dover Sole). It comes with BRUSSELS SPROUTS (gag me with a spoon, lol).

 

Tom

I love Brussels Sprouts and especially the modern charred delicious way they usually do it restaurants wise. But I am still on the fence about Rudi’s. I guess we’ll do it. I need to look at it too!