Offending the Cook :o

[monicakm]

I'm not the type to complain and when I do have to, I'm very sure to do it in the most gentle way possible. Once, in the traditional dining room aboard the Grand, I had an occassion where I asked for a different plate of food when what I ordered was (to me) not edible so I politely asked the waiter if I could order something else. Not that it was "bad", it just didn't agree with my taste buds AT ALL. Not sure I would call that a "mistake" on my part but had I known the reaction of the cook, I don't think I would have asked! <lol> A few minutes after the waiter left, he came back with the cook...an incredulous cook! He couldn't believe someone didn't "his" signature pasta dish. He questioned me about what was it exactly I didn't like. This has been 10 years ago but I think I remember that he made it again, just for me (tableside). ANYway, I'd like not to repeat that scene. So my question is, is this typical of cruise cooks if you ask for something else because you didn't care for a dish?

[pablo222]

So my question is, is this typical of cruise cooks if you ask for something else because you didn't care for a dish?

 

No, not typical.

 

Usually your waiter will notice very quickly if you don't seem

to be eating something, and offer to change it for you.

 

Waiter wants YOU to be happy, and doesn't care about the chef.

Edited January 12, 2015 by pablo222

[Colo Cruiser]

I think it would be highly improper/improbable for a cook to enter the dining room these days and confornt a passenger.

[-Lew-]

Your experience is not typical at all and quite out of line IMHO. We have had occasion to ask for a replacement meal and have never been subject to anything other than the most courteous response.

 

Lew

[kendon]

We saw this for the first time on the last cruise. We had anytime and sat next to a couple who whined the entire time. He complained about his meal, so the maitre'd came over to "help solve" the problem. Minutes later the chef came to the table and asked the diner several questions. The chef was not arrogant at all...just very upset that the passenger wasn't satisfied and was trying to find out why. The chef was a real gentleman. LONG story short....the diner tried to get a free bottle of wine out of them for it and they wouldn't budge. We couldn't finish our dinner fast enough and avoided them the rest of the cruise!

[fishywood]

If sending a dish back results in a judgmental visit from the Executive Chef or Maitre d' the best way to mollify them is to request the most extravagant off-menu item you can think of for the next night's dinner.

[Working 2 Cruise]

If sending a dish back results in a judgmental visit from the Executive Chef or Maitre d' the best way to mollify them is to request the most extravagant off-menu item you can think of for the next night's dinner.

 

Now that really solve things!:rolleyes::eek:

[shredie]

I think it would be highly improper/improbable for a cook to enter the dining room these days and confornt a passenger.

 

I've never seen behaviour like you describe.

[Loonbeam]

I've never seen confrontational. I while ago I did see something similar during TD (on another line), when someone kept sending stuff back. Chef came out very politely and working with the passenger figured out that apparently some spice they used left a very bad aftertaste for him. So he got dishes without for the remainder of the cruise.

[geoherb]

The only time I couldn't eat an entree was on the Star Princess in 2003. I decided I don't like pheasant.

 

A couple of weeks ago on the Caribbean Princess, I did not like the shrimp and pancetta bisque in the Crown Grill. (I think there may be some tarragon in it, which I don't like.) The waiter offered to bring me another dish to eat in its place after he noticed I wasn't eating it. I told him I'd be OK since there was plenty of food still to come.

[jagsfan]

The chef must have been in a bad mood to come out and confront a passenger. Usually they're too swamped to even bother. We did have one come out once, though, after our whole table raved about something. Don't even remember which cruise line. He was very appreciative of our appreciation, and we got a couple of bottles of wine gratis the next night.

I almost always order something to try, and if I don't like it, order something else. Normally, the waiters are really eager for you to enjoy your meal.

Anybody can have an off night, though. Read Cruise Confidential by Brian David Bruns to get what his experiences were as a waiter on a cruise ship. The dining room staff lives through chaos and horror on a regular basis.

[weedpindle]

On the CB, the omelet I ordered in the Horizon Court was given to someone else. When I inquired about said omelet, the order taker apologized. I got something elas, then sat at my table. The Chef came over, and begged me to tell him what he could do for me as he was really upset that they messed up. No big deal for me, but he was super sorry.

[Colo Cruiser]

I've never seen behaviour like you describe.

 

The OP described it not me. :eek:

 

Where is the almighty BM when you need em. :rolleyes:

Edited January 12, 2015 by Colo Cruiser

[TKS]

In a specialty restaurant one night the chef made the rounds of the table, and my dinner was fine, but the chef said it was a shame we hadn't been able to taste one of his specialties from the main dining room that night. After his description I said it sounded wonderful, and I would have loved to taste it. He thanked us and left. About 10 minutes later the chef came back with a plate of his specialty from the MDR for us all to taste. It was wonderful!

 

Now that's a man who is proud of his work and a real asset to the cruise line that employs him. What a joy to see someone so dedicated to his job, and talk about feeling pampered!?!

[Homosassa]

Once on another cruise line, there was a linguine with red clam sauce starter.

 

We all grew up on such fare and all of us (6) ordered the starter.

 

I was the first to dig in and, to my horror, the clam was spoiled with a mushy texture and rancid taste. As is instinctive when something rancid is eaten, I, without thinking, spit it out.

 

I tentatively tried a second clam - also spoiled.

 

At this point, everyone else who had been watching me, gingerly tried a clam from their dish. Same reaction; bad clams.

 

We called the waiter over and asked for the plates to be removed and for the chef to be tipped off that the clams were bad.

 

Next thing we know, the chef is storming over to our table and screaming at us that we knew nothing about clams and that they were perfectly fine.

 

The joke was on him as my husband had discovered his work credentials and badge in his inside jacket pocket when he sat down (forgot to take them out when packing) and he promptly pulled them out, identified himself and his authority (in change of shellfish sanitation and shipping on the federal level), and asked the chef to provide him with the certified shellfish shippers tag that was required to be on his clam supply. He also informed the chef that the clams were definitely bad and a potential health hazard and suggested he remove all orders that were out in the dining room and take the item off the menu for the night.

 

My husband was supplied with the information he needed, the clams were indeed removed from the dining room, and the head hotel manager had a meeting with him the next day to show him the corrective measures taken to avoid further fish problems on the ship. (My husband did file a report and forwarded a copy to local the Interstate Sanitation Specialist for follow up at the next inspection).

[TracieABD]

On the final night of the cruise, I "hit the wall". I just could not eat another heavy meal. When my waitstaff saw that I was picking around the food, she asked what was wrong, and I told her the food is delicious that I just could not eat another heavy meal. She went back to the kitchen and brought me a nice (plain) salad, a bowl of consumme, and the watermelon and feta dish. I was so grateful that she just "got it". That is excellent service.:)

[Cruisin' Chick]

I've never seen the chef inside the dining room. But the head waiter often prepares a pasta dish for the diners. On our last cruise, the head waiter was making a big deal about his pasta, but somehow never got any to us. Not a big deal, we had plenty to eat and when we were done, we left. He must have skipped us by mistake because he didn't mention it to us the next night.

[monicakm]

Thanks for all your comments and stories. I was pleasantly surprised. When I saw 15 replies in that short of time, I thought "oh no this can't be good, I've been raked over the coals" LOL. I know chefs can be temperamental. I get a bit pouty if my family doesn't like something I've cooked for them. Can you imagine cooking for 3000 people, 3 meals a day?

The chef did come to our table one other time to prepare food. It was a dish that the entire table raved over! When he found out about it, he prepared more for everyone :)

[Host Jazzbeau]

If you want to see a chef melt down, ask for ketchup in a French restaurant!

[cr8tiv1]

So my question is, is this typical of cruise cooks if you ask for something else because you didn't care for a dish?

 

I have found the staff in the MDR to be very accommodating. On the night that the head waiters prepare the pasta dish, I politely decline because it is too spicy for me. On occasions, the head waiter would ask me why I wouldn't try his dish. I told him...the next batch was dished out for me before he added the hot stuff.

 

On long cruises, I always request a low/no sodium diet. The chefs and all involved have bent over backwards to make sure I get what I want (within reason).

 

Homosassa, I loved your story. Thank you for sharing. I am sure that is more of an abnormality than common place.

[lolane1]

I'm not the type to complain and when I do have to, I'm very sure to do it in the most gentle way possible. Once, in the traditional dining room aboard the Grand, I had an occassion where I asked for a different plate of food when what I ordered was (to me) not edible so I politely asked the waiter if I could order something else. Not that it was "bad", it just didn't agree with my taste buds AT ALL. Not sure I would call that a "mistake" on my part but had I known the reaction of the cook, I don't think I would have asked! <lol> A few minutes after the waiter left, he came back with the cook...an incredulous cook! He couldn't believe someone didn't "his" signature pasta dish. He questioned me about what was it exactly I didn't like. This has been 10 years ago but I think I remember that he made it again, just for me (tableside). ANYway, I'd like not to repeat that scene. So my question is, is this typical of cruise cooks if you ask for something else because you didn't care for a dish?

 

OMG, from the recesses of my memory:

 

On one cruise (can't tell you the line) someone (important staff) in the dining room, (I want to say the Maitre 'D but that may not be true) came over and offered to cook me his special pasta dish. He did so near the front of the dining room where I could see. Obviously this was a service he did for others but not sure how he selected people. Maybe you had to ask. It was actually delicious. Sorry your experience was contrary. Considering the circumstances, I think you might have been better off fibbing. (LOL no dog to feed under the table!)

[USNUZULOOSE]

I don't have a tendency to send a meal back unless it is really bad, but would it be improper to send it back if the noodles in the dish are over cooked? I really like them al dente. Some dishes the noodles have seemed to cook to long. I hate wasting food.

[cruznliz]

I've never had "bad" food on a cruise, but my pet peeve is room temperature or cold food. I rarely send anything back because I'm too shy, but it truly annoys me. I've noticed some ships are worse than others. :rolleyes:

[Kmkub]

I hate wasting food.

 

That's one of my biggest pet peeves. I have to turn a blind eye on in the buffet or I'd fall apart... :p

 

I rarely send things back, but if it's too cold (room temp is too cold for most things,) than I will. Don't be shy! They won't bite - promise.

[CanuckCurlers]

We were on a family cruise with my SIL who is strictly Vegan. They bent over backwards to make dishes to suit her. She would peruse the next night's menu and choose what she thought could be adapted to her. Although there is often a Veg. option they almost always had cheese so often they would make her a dish completely different. It got that the rest of us wanted some of her dishes because they were delicious and freshly cooked. They would even bring her ingredient packaging so she was sure it was Vegan.