Monday, May 12, 2014

May 12th at sea Chefs Table

Monday May 12th - at sea - Chef's table and opera!
Chef Eric and Maitre D Carlos
Raw Ahi Tuna Salad
Pate de foi gras with Balsamic reduction
Monday is our first of four at sea days. Breakfast in the Panorama Buffet, which, for those who have experienced cruise life, will appreciate, is lavish ...... Anything your heart desires .. from fresh fruit, to every possible kind of pastry or breads, cold meats and cheese and cooked foods of endless variety. The weather is warming as we head north and today marks the first of 4 solid days at sea... not everyone's cup of tea, but we are looking forward to the forced relaxation. We got some laundry done, attended a lecture about the next port , Cotonou and another lecture about endangered wildlife from a very well prepared presenter. We'll catch her lectures as they are informative and well presented. The highlight of the day is that we had booked to attend the 'Chef's Table' for dinner. Once again we got gussied up. This is a premium, not cheap, dinner prepared especially for a dozen paying guest by the chef himself and served by the Maitre D'. What an extravagance and what an affair. Four successive Hors d'eovres served in the galley, with fabulous champagne served by chef and maitre d' we had Ahi tuna served in a martini glass, lobster tail (prepared with a reduction of Bacardi and coke), goose liver pate with a balsamic reduction , and a light pastry with Gouda and semi-dried cherry tomato. 
Mini-Quiche country style
Lobster Panko
NEXT!!
The main dinner was served in the steak house and was truly a gastronomic affair... asparagus risotto with langoustine and lobster claw, raspberry sorbet with peppercorns and grey goose vodka, and  then the main course... veal chop, chateaubriand and a jumbo scampi, followed by dessert of a white chocolate  mousse pyramid with raspberry coulis inside and berries infused with a white liqueur... all courses served with wine pairings... decadent to the ultimate degree. We then headed to the evening show to see British Soprano, Annette Wardell. We were dubious at first, but were literally blown away by her performance... It is 2 years today since we lost our dear friend Dave, and we we both had a hard time holding back the tears when she sang Danny Boy and Time To Say goodbye... We listened to some live music at the bar and toasted with an Irish Whiskey before heading to our cabin to phone our friend Diane.

Langoustine with risotto
The menu

Strawberry/black pepper ice
Getting ready for the main course
Veal/filet/prawn trio
Pinenut caramel torte
Drambui parfait
Treats with coffee



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