garigoun Posted February 8, 2010 #1 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Near the end of each cruise/crossing (Oh Damn, be it known to all here present that all journeys on ships shall heretofore be referred to, by me, as 'trips' I'm fed up with this cruise/crossing malarky). To resume, near the end of each trip there is a parade of the chefs. Am I alone in feeling a slight tinge of embarrassment when this happens. I do wonder how the participants actually feel about it. Now before approbrium is heaped like coals of fire upon my thinning grey-haired head let me pre-empt the incoming by stating that I am absolutely not implying that those who labour unseen for our gastrnomic pleasure are undeserving of our applause nor are you to infer that I in anyway begrudge them their moment in the light, and it would be downright churlish not to join in. It's just that I think that having to put on a clean pinny and toque and stand along the stairs grinning into the blizzard of flash bulbs every 6/7 days would get old very very quickly. And judging from the alarcrity with which they leave they are probably thinking 'Lets get out of here, the work is piling up below and we want to get finished and have a smoke and a pint). Of course I could stay out of the dining room on that night but I like eating in the restaurant and it's only a little pecadillo of mine. Does this custom, I wonder, take place on other lines? Am I just an old curmudgeon? (Rhetorical, rhetorical). Gari Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper of the Yard Posted February 8, 2010 #2 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Near the end of each cruise/crossing (Oh Damn, be it known to all here present that all journeys on ships shall heretofore be referred to, by me, as 'trips' I'm fed up with this cruise/crossing malarky). To resume, near the end of each trip there is a parade of the chefs. Am I alone in feeling a slight tinge of embarrassment when this happens. No I do wonder how the participants actually feel about it. Now before approbrium is heaped like coals of fire upon my thinning grey-haired head let me pre-empt the incoming by stating that I am absolutely not implying that those who labour unseen for our gastrnomic pleasure are undeserving of our applause nor are you to infer that I in anyway begrudge them their moment in the light, and it would be downright churlish not to join in. It's just that I think that having to put on a clean pinny and toque and stand along the stairs grinning into the blizzard of flash bulbs every 6/7 days would get old very very quickly. And judging from the alarcrity with which they leave they are probably thinking 'Lets get out of here, the work is piling up below and we want to get finished and have a smoke and a pint). Agreed Of course I could stay out of the dining room on that night but I like eating in the restaurant and it's only a little pecadillo of mine.Does this custom, I wonder, take place on other lines? No idea - but imagine worse is to be found elsewhere Am I just an old curmudgeon? (Rhetorical, rhetorical). Aren't we all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real PM Posted February 8, 2010 #3 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Near the end of each cruise/crossing (Oh Damn, be it known to all here present that all journeys on ships shall heretofore be referred to, by me, as 'trips' I'm fed up with this cruise/crossing malarky).To resume, near the end of each trip there is a parade of the chefs. Am I alone in feeling a slight tinge of embarrassment when this happens. I do wonder how the participants actually feel about it. Now before approbrium is heaped like coals of fire upon my thinning grey-haired head let me pre-empt the incoming by stating that I am absolutely not implying that those who labour unseen for our gastrnomic pleasure are undeserving of our applause nor are you to infer that I in anyway begrudge them their moment in the light, and it would be downright churlish not to join in. It's just that I think that having to put on a clean pinny and toque and stand along the stairs grinning into the blizzard of flash bulbs every 6/7 days would get old very very quickly. And judging from the alarcrity with which they leave they are probably thinking 'Lets get out of here, the work is piling up below and we want to get finished and have a smoke and a pint). Of course I could stay out of the dining room on that night but I like eating in the restaurant and it's only a little pecadillo of mine. Does this custom, I wonder, take place on other lines? Am I just an old curmudgeon? (Rhetorical, rhetorical). Gari Oh yes, Gari, but this time on the RCI you will be delighted that all the dining room staff is included with the chefs and they all, every one of them, march very merrily round and round and round the dining room. Enjoy! :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruachan Posted February 8, 2010 #4 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Oh yes, Gari, but this time on the RCI you will be delighted that all the dining room staff is included with the chefs and they all, every one of them, march very merrily round and round and round the dining room. Enjoy! :cool: He's gonna lurrrrv that! :eek: J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruachan Posted February 8, 2010 #5 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Near the end of each cruise/crossing (Oh Damn, be it known to all here present that all journeys on ships shall heretofore be referred to, by me, as 'trips' I'm fed up with this cruise/crossing malarky).To resume, near the end of each trip there is a parade of the chefs. Am I alone in feeling a slight tinge of embarrassment when this happens. I do wonder how the participants actually feel about it. Now before approbrium is heaped like coals of fire upon my thinning grey-haired head let me pre-empt the incoming by stating that I am absolutely not implying that those who labour unseen for our gastrnomic pleasure are undeserving of our applause nor are you to infer that I in anyway begrudge them their moment in the light, and it would be downright churlish not to join in. It's just that I think that having to put on a clean pinny and toque and stand along the stairs grinning into the blizzard of flash bulbs every 6/7 days would get old very very quickly. And judging from the alarcrity with which they leave they are probably thinking 'Lets get out of here, the work is piling up below and we want to get finished and have a smoke and a pint). Of course I could stay out of the dining room on that night but I like eating in the restaurant and it's only a little pecadillo of mine. Does this custom, I wonder, take place on other lines? Am I just an old curmudgeon? (Rhetorical, rhetorical). Gari Yes. Definitely. I think... Ummmm... what was the question again? J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capnpugwash Posted February 8, 2010 #6 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Whilst I hesitate to agree with anyone I find myself leaning, but that is another story best left for my wife with her pipe and slippers. I think that the parade had more relevence when they were parading the Bombe Alasque, which of course now has been banned by those two mental midgets Elf and Safety. I also get embarassed a bit, by the waiters giving me the menus from the previous evenings. First time I thought "How nice", and then the glister wears off. It is a necessary evil perhaps, like white tuxedo jackets, they do get so upset when you say "bring me a gin and tonic please, there's a good chap". I am laughing now just thinking about it. in Fiddler on the Roof, Topol sang about Tradition and perhaps sadly we are stuck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMac1953 Posted February 8, 2010 #7 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Thankfully, Cunard don't do it in the QG or I'd be up and away. Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real PM Posted February 8, 2010 #8 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Thankfully, Cunard don't do it in the QG or I'd be up and away. Stewart Oh my, Stewart, you don't know what you are missing. Such fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garigoun Posted February 8, 2010 Author #9 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Whilst I hesitate to agree with anyone I find myself leaning, but that is another story best left for my wife with her pipe and slippers. I think that the parade had more relevence when they were parading the Bombe Alasque, which of course now has been banned by those two mental midgets Elf and Safety. I also get embarassed a bit, by the waiters giving me the menus from the previous evenings. First time I thought "How nice", and then the glister wears off. It is a necessary evil perhaps, like white tuxedo jackets, they do get so upset when you say "bring me a gin and tonic please, there's a good chap". I am laughing now just thinking about it. in Fiddler on the Roof, Topol sang about Tradition and perhaps sadly we are stuck with it. OH yes, I'd forgotten about the menus. I've never quite understood why anyone would actually want them, but then I don't understand a lot of things about cruisin', the appeal of the ID card for example but some people just love these things. But the menus, the first time we got them they came in a spiffy glossy cover and were a decent example of a good restaurant menu worth collecting I suppose for those of a collecting bent. Now they are a collection of photocopied A4's and look what they are, scruffy. I have tried, just once, to say 'No Thankyou' but the waiter looked so hurt I've never done it since. The irritating thing is that one has to make a trip to one's cabin to dump the damn stuf in the rosy or hoik them around all night like some demented Pentecostal Pamphleteer. And consider, on a 10 day trip on QM2 there will be, as each menu consists of two pages,(I think) 20 sheets of A4. Suppose the ship is full and supposing that for every two people there will be one set of menus. This gives an approximate figure of say 1400 menus = 1400 x 20 = 28000 sheets of A4. Factor in the cost both financial and to the environment of the toner cartridges, power, manhours, etc. Repeat this for the number of voyages per year -- well you do the math, and all for something which in, I would suspect 99% of cases, ends up in landfill. I don't know if all cruise ships do this daft thing but if they do, well dear lord what a criminal waste. If I've made a mistake and there only 10 pages per menu then just halve it but even so ........ I would be perfectly happy if they did away with both of these 'Traditions' With the money saved they could serve a free Martini on boarding. Now that's what I call a tradition worth starting. Gari Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruachan Posted February 8, 2010 #10 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Thankfully, Cunard don't do it in the QG or I'd be up and away. Stewart In your beautiful balloon? :):) J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruachan Posted February 8, 2010 #11 Share Posted February 8, 2010 OH yes, I'd forgotten about the menus. I've never quite understood why anyone would actually want them I really appreciate the copies of the menus. I bring them to work when I get back and read them to my colleagues. They really love me at my work. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord of the seas Posted February 8, 2010 #12 Share Posted February 8, 2010 I really appreciate the copies of the menus. I bring them to work when I get back and read them to my colleagues. They really love me at my work. J You've lost your job really but leave home every morning at the same time. The park must be cold,this time of year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real PM Posted February 8, 2010 #13 Share Posted February 8, 2010 I really appreciate the copies of the menus. I bring them to work when I get back and read them to my colleagues. They really love me at my work. J I like the ones that come with recipes. But for some reason, I always end up with enough to feed a--uh--a--uh cruise ship.:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thranite Posted February 8, 2010 #14 Share Posted February 8, 2010 I always end up with enough to feed a--uh--a--uh cruise ship.:eek: ..or a hollow mountain? ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruachan Posted February 8, 2010 #15 Share Posted February 8, 2010 ..or a hollow mountain? ;) It works for me - hollow mountains r us! Is this still Gari's Chef's Parade thread by the way? Things seem to be drifiting a little J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thranite Posted February 8, 2010 #16 Share Posted February 8, 2010 It works for me - hollow mountains r us! Is this still Gari's Chef's Parade thread by the way? Things seem to be drifiting a little J Who is Gari's chef? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper of the Yard Posted February 8, 2010 #17 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Is this still Gari's Chef's Parade thread by the way? Things seem to be drifiting a little... Talking of which, we appear to have some snow... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thranite Posted February 8, 2010 #18 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Talking of which, we appear to have some snow... It's probably from the Baked Alaska. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruachan Posted February 8, 2010 #19 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Who is Gari's chef? :confused: I don't know - he didn't tell us. But I imagine that the kitchens of Goun Towers would have a pretty substantial catering department. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruachan Posted February 8, 2010 #20 Share Posted February 8, 2010 It's probably from the Baked Alaska. :) Could have been a Tunnock's Snowball - is he anywhere near Uddingston? J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper of the Yard Posted February 8, 2010 #21 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Could have been a Tunnock's Snowball - is he anywhere near Uddingston? J Ooooh - I love those! Now you've made me hungry... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterSt Posted February 8, 2010 #22 Share Posted February 8, 2010 OH yes, I'd forgotten about the menus. I've never quite understood why anyone would actually want them, but then I don't understand a lot of things about cruisin', the appeal of the ID card for example but some people just love these things. I very much liked having the menus. In fact I asked the waiter before the last day if he could provide them. I have kept them with the rest of the paperwork relating to my last trip. If people do not want their menus then could I suggest that they tell the waiter at the beginning of the trip so that no offence is caused on the last evening by refusing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real PM Posted February 8, 2010 #23 Share Posted February 8, 2010 I very much liked having the menus. In fact I asked the waiter before the last day if he could provide them. I have kept them with the rest of the paperwork relating to my last trip. If people do not want their menus then could I suggest that they tell the waiter at the beginning of the trip so that no offence is caused on the last evening by refusing them. Oh no never refuse anything for nothing. Would you like my old recipes? I throw nothing away. I even think I have a recipe for the infamous Tunnock's Snowball--serves 2403, plus an extra just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimsgirl Posted February 9, 2010 #24 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Back to question, in the "good old days" when one travelled by original liners to get from A to B , ( when " posh" meant port out starboard home ) there was no parade of kitchen staff or waiters. I never collect menus, and cringe with embarrassment on the last night with the parades, and the staff hinting they want you to give them "stars" as well as the "no choce who receives" tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterSt Posted February 9, 2010 #25 Share Posted February 9, 2010 There is no evidence that the word "POSH" originated from "port out starboard home". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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