Review: Chef's Table Coral Princess May 25, 2017 with photos

Hi everyone. Ever wondered about the Chef's table? I certainly did before our cruise last month. For those who love food, here's my review. It will have to be in a few parts due to photo download.

I read a few trip reports that talked about the Chef's table and I knew this was something I wanted to do. I called the dine line as soon as we boarded the ship to put our name on the list. I was told they would get back to us. Some sailings they do the Chef's table 2 nights. Evidently, there were only 4 couples signed up. So they only did the Chef's table one night. This was the day we were in port at Ketchikan. By the the 25th there was a waiting list. They only took 12 passengers and the cost was $95 with wine and $75 without. We were called and we also received a letter saying we had been excepted for Chef's table.

We met at La Patisserie on deck 5 at 6:45. We were all fitted with our Chef's jackets.

After everyone checked in, we were escorted through the Bordeaux dining room and into the kitchen. We got confused stares from the other diners. Yep, were gonna cook your food! [emoji16]

Once in the kitchen, we met Executive Chef, Guido Jendrytzko. A very handsome fellow!

He talked to us about the ins & outs of the kitchen on a cruise ship. He told us all the food was loaded in Vancouver. So enough for 2000 passenger & crew for 2 weeks. We were on the SB voyage from Whittier to Vancouver. The kitchen was equipped with 2 escalators that went up to the Providence dining room on deck 6. We stopped in the meat prep area. Chef said all the meat comes on the ship frozen and is thawed in stages.

We were led through a maze of stainless to arrive to this awesome display of dyed turnip roses and an ice sculpture bear eating a salmon! Wow!

Champagne for everyone! My husband loves Gin & there was a G & T waiting on him. The Maitre D' Hotel, Carlos Da Rosa, talked to us about the Champagne and the wines. I had done his wine tasting the previous day.

Here is a copy of the menu.

Continued....

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The Hors d'oeuvres were all served in the kitchen. First up was the Halibut Mojito.

I loved the carvings. The Halibut Mojito was the only items I really didn't like. It reminded me of sea weed! Next up was the Fried Crab legs. You can see the escalators in the first photo.

The crab leg was awesome. Next was the sea scallop with bacon.

Everything is good with bacon! Next was the escargot. I had eaten escargot 2 different ways the night before. A couple of the guests would not try it and one young lady told me she didn't eat seafood!

Our next item was the caviar. I think a few passed on this one also. I was so full already or I would have eaten the leftovers!

Continued to the dining room.

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Im enjoying your lovely photos. This looks like an outstanding dining experience:)

Enjoying the review and photos!

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We took off our jackets and headed to the dining room where a special table was set up for us. We were posed for a group photo which were given at the end of the evening. I'm seated on the far right.

The second course was the Gnocchi with cheese sauce. It was delicious! I knew better not to eat it all.

The third course was the Pink Champagne Sorbet. The presentation was amazing. The sorbet was enclosed in a blue ice dome. They made the dome using a balloon.

Fourth course was the tenderloin & lobster thermidor.

Very good but needed a to go box!

Firth course was the poached pear, and the walnut brioche.

Oh my, my stomach is not big enough. I tasted the brioche & it was really good.

Contined dessert

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Thanks for the detailed (continuing, I'm sure) report, Hndwaters. Your pictures are outstanding. The hors d'oervres all looked and sounded outstanding. I'm drooling. I know it wasn't your favorite, but can you explain more about the Halibut Mojito? Was it ceviche-like?

That fifth course (poached pear) also has me drooling. I'll bet that was wonderful with the dessert wine.

I'm looking forward to reading more.

Oooooooh! That all looks really yummy! Very nice photos.

Looks Fabulous!

Wow. This one looks like it might beat my favorite CT so far (on the Island, with Chef Remo) II honestly do think Island and Coral seem to do the best CTs

Incredible!! :D:D:D

All the desserts on the Coral were awesome. This one was wonderful!

They also served biscotti & amaretti.

I think we finished up eating around 10 or so. I drank my share of wine. As soon as my glass was empty it was refilled. The service was impeccable. Everyone was so nice & by the end of the evening you have 10 new friends. Departing, each couple was given a Princess cookbook signed by the Chef and Maitre D' and our photo was inside.

This was an amazing experience and I will do it again on my next Princess Cruise. Was it the best food I've ever eaten? No, but it was one of the best overall dining experiences. I'll leave you with a couple more food pics from our week aboard.

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If anyone is interested and you have not seen it, I did a trip review with pictures. Here is the link if you haven't seen it.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2506371

Thanks for the detailed (continuing, I'm sure) report, Hndwaters. Your pictures are outstanding. The hors d'oervres all looked and sounded outstanding. I'm drooling. I know it wasn't your favorite, but can you explain more about the Halibut Mojito? Was it ceviche-like?

 

That fifth course (poached pear) also has me drooling. I'll bet that was wonderful with the dessert wine.

 

I'm looking forward to reading more.

The Halibut Mojito was more like a ceviche. I wish I could remember what he said was in it but after I tasted it, I was thinking "what else are they going to serve that I'm not going to like" There were 2 types of moose consistency items with some mint and some other green vegetation I was not sure of! I know that doesn't help much. The pear course was pretty good. I'm not a fan of dessert wine. It was pretty sweet. I really liked all the food and wine pairings except for the halibut.

You're making me hungry. I've done a few of the CT's, but on on the Regal and Royal a few times. The food is always amazing. My favorite part is when I don;t know what I am eating, as I am perfectly fine with it, because I always feel like I've died and gone to heaven.

The Halibut Mojito was more like a ceviche. I wish I could remember what he said was in it but after I tasted it, I was thinking "what else are they going to serve that I'm not going to like" There were 2 types of moose consistency items with some mint and some other green vegetation I was not sure of! I know that doesn't help much. The pear course was pretty good. I'm not a fan of dessert wine. It was pretty sweet. I really liked all the food and wine pairings except for the halibut.

Thanks, Sally.

Great review of the CT and loved your pictures. We have done this dinner 3 times, Island, Emerald and Crown, all three were wonderful!

This looks fantastic - we hope to get selected on our cruise next week! Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for posting, we are going on a 10 day in July and this is the #1 thing I want to do. Now I can't wait to get on board and reserve a spot hopefully.

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Thanks for the review!! We are doing a 14 day Alaskan August 26 on Grand Princess. This is our first time sailing on Princess and to Alaska!! I would really like to do this as a surprise for my in-laws. So do you just call as soon as you board?

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The Hors d'oeuvres were all served in the kitchen. First up was the Halibut Mojito.

 

 

I loved the carvings. The Halibut Mojito was the only items I really didn't like. It reminded me of sea weed! Next up was the Fried Crab legs. You can see the escalators in the first photo.

 

 

 

The crab leg was awesome. Next was the sea scallop with bacon.

 

 

Everything is good with bacon! Next was the escargot. I had eaten escargot 2 different ways the night before. A couple of the guests would not try it and one young lady told me she didn't eat seafood!

 

 

Our next item was the caviar. I think a few passed on this one also. I was so full already or I would have eaten the leftovers!

 

 

Continued to the dining room.

 

 

 

 

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Short rant... why oh why do picky eaters choose to do this! You are not a foodie if you won't even try it. (Serious allergies excepts of course... no one wants their meal interrupted by a medivac call.)

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Thanks for the report.

Thanks for the review!! We are doing a 14 day Alaskan August 26 on Grand Princess. This is our first time sailing on Princess and to Alaska!! I would really like to do this as a surprise for my in-laws. So do you just call as soon as you board?

 

 

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Yes, call the DINE line, I think it is on the phone. Just tell them to put your name on the list. I guess if they have 12 sign up right away they will do a second night.

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Yes, call the DINE line, I think it is on the phone. Just tell them to put your name on the list. I guess if they have 12 sign up right away they will do a second night.

 

 

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Thanks!!

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Short rant... why oh why do picky eaters choose to do this! You are not a foodie if you won't even try it. (Serious allergies excepts of course... no one wants their meal interrupted by a medivac call.)

 

The one lady was with her husband and parents-in-law. She was the one that did not eat seafood. I don't think she was allergic either. I think they may have asked about food allergies. Can't see spending $95 dollars for someone that is picky!

 

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Do you have to call from your room or can you call from any phone on the ship as soon as you get on?

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