“the Big One”! World Cruise on Sojourn

[lincslady]

Was it good?  Looks like it - but my problem would be I am allergic to some seafoods, including clams.  Was there an alternative - quite a few people are allergic to seafood - otherwise, it meant dining elsewhere.

[frantic36]

7 hours ago, lincslady said:

otherwise, it meant dining elsewhere.

As far as I am aware when they have a Thomas Keller evening in the Colonnade you can only have the main course on the menu be it chicken, prime rib, clams etc so dining elsewhere is the only choice. There is no buffet available on that night.

[fdnycruiser]

My wife would love it, but I don’t eat fish. I guess it would be separate dining that night. My loss 

[shark b8]

10 hours ago, lincslady said:

Was it good?

 

It was good…..although I much prefer the menu in the TK Grill.  Mrs Sharkbait loves this stuff, and bouillabaisse and the like, so…there we were.  Yeah, his nights at the Colonnade are just the one slate of stuff on the menu card - clambake night, the bbq rib night, and the fried chicken night (has there been a prime rib night, frantic36?  Don’t remember it but maybe I just….don’t remember it).  There were also corn and potatoes in the serving platter, but not a whole lot.  Lobster works for me, I’ll eat clams but with no particular enthusiasm.  Better in chowder.  🍲

Edited February 19, 2023 by shark b8

[Covepointcruiser]

The main restaurant is still open on Keller nights.   If you are allergic to shellfish that would be your safe choice.

[skybluewaters]

I understand that the Keller meals in the Colonnade are served family style, but if we prefer a table for two, will they serve one of those seafood platters just for the two of us?

[shark b8]

3 minutes ago, skybluewaters said:

I understand that the Keller meals in the Colonnade are served family style, but if we prefer a table for two, will they serve one of those seafood platters just for the two of us?

 

Yes.  Absolutely.

[shark b8]

I think that years ago “family style” could sometimes mean large, long “picnic-table” seating where everybody’s together.  But in this case, they just mean the phrase to indicate dishes being served on one main platter, and then each diner individually plates what he wants.

Edited February 20, 2023 by shark b8

[lincslady]

I see Sojourn is on the way to/already in New Caledonia.  I remember when we docked there right across from the ship was a building with 'Casino' emblazoned on it.  Some passengers were looking forward to playing  bit of roulette; I did point out that Casino is a French supermarket chain.

 

We then had a lovely beach day on the Isle des Pins; don't know if that happens with Seabourn.

[shark b8]

7 hours ago, Covepointcruiser said:

The main restaurant is still open on Keller nights.  

 

Yep.  Also Earth & Ocean, of course.  I don’t think I mentioned a week or two ago - this was a slow-cooked lamb shank on polenta & gravy we had there.  Deee-lish.

 

[lincslady]

Yes, I know that the restaurant is open as well.  It is just a shame when one of you loves shellfish, and the other would but is allergic - means solo dining!

[shark b8]

2 hours ago, lincslady said:

“I see Sojourn is on the way to/already in New Caledonia…..[snip]….We then had a lovely beach day….”

 

We arrive tomorrow morning.  Interesting timing.

 

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/02/19/asia/new-caledonia-noumea-shark-attack-intl-hnk/index.html

 

[galeforce9]

12 minutes ago, shark b8 said:

 

We arrive tomorrow morning.  Interesting timing.

 

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/02/19/asia/new-caledonia-noumea-shark-attack-intl-hnk/index.html

 

I heard it’s the third attack in three weeks there. 

[shark b8]

So, Japanese at the Colonnade tonight.  The second I sat down, I realized I had to go back to the room and fetch our (my) favorite chopsticks.  We have a modest international collection going, these are from Nairobi….well, I think they’re cute.   🥢 🙄

 

 

 

[shark b8]

Fresh (raw) fish has to be an interesting onboard challenge, it seems to me.  Procurement, storage, presentation over time.  The hamachi was ok, the tuna was better, and the salmon was remarkably good.  (eternal thanks to my 80’s sushi guru Charlotte, a young woman I worked with years ago, for making me see the light, re sushi.  Long story)

 

[shark b8]

1 minute ago, shark b8 said:

the salmon was remarkably good.

 

Reminds me of bears, sort of our spirit animal.  Took this on our Alaska cruise last July.  As regards salmon….bears “get it.”    

 

[cadburysmom]

52 minutes ago, shark b8 said:

Fresh (raw) fish has to be an interesting onboard challenge, it seems to me.  Procurement, storage, presentation over time.  The hamachi was ok, the tuna was better, and the salmon was remarkably good.  (eternal thanks to my 80’s sushi guru Charlotte, a young woman I worked with years ago, for making me see the light, re sushi.  Long story)

 

 

I do love my sushi...salmon in particular...no wonder I love bears

 

And great way of putting it... "seeing the light".   

Yep, must admit a bit off putting at first but once you take that plunge, there's no going back.  

 

[highplanesdrifters]

17 hours ago, fdnycruiser said:

My wife would love it, but I don’t eat fish. I guess it would be separate dining that night. My loss 

You might have a conversation with the Maitre D at the Colonnade to see if it would be possible for your wife to order something from the room service menu. It would come from a different kitchen so there might be a slight time delay.

[shark b8]

19 hours ago, cadburysmom said:

I do love my sushi...salmon in particular...no wonder I love bears

And great way of putting it... "seeing the light".   

Yep, must admit a bit off putting at first but once you take that plunge, there's no going back.  

 

 

Decades ago my friend/co-worker Charlotte finally (after months of my bitching and moaning about it) dragged me, kicking and screaming, into a trendy sushi restaurant, stuck a piece of hamachi sushi in my mouth, and…..well, The Clouds Parted, The Sun Shone Down, and All Was Revealed.   I only regret I spent the first 35 years of my life in willful denial.

 

So, back to the ship - today’s Colonnade lunch was “Mardi Gras”.   I don‘t remember seeing that before, Creole-ish stuff, jambalaya, etc.   Nothing legendary I don’t think, but pleasant and a nice change of pace.  Sausage/chicken gumbo was pretty good.

[shark b8]

The welcoming committee on the Lifou, New Caledonia dock was a sea turtle. 

 

 

[shark b8]

A nice general tour of Lifou Island - botanical garden, view of the Cliffs of Jokin.

 

 

 

[lincslady]

I remember the botanical gardens, they were lovely.  Partly helped by  having an excellent guide.

[shark b8]

uh oh.  Hope it wasn’t me.  

 

[shark b8]

I know this one wasn’t me. 

 

[shark b8]