Dawn Princess 5-1-08 Chef's Table...

[ccrain]

We immediately called the “dine line” when we arrived on board and were told that our name was on the list. An envelope arrived on the day of the chef’s table with our invitation on the 5th day of the cruise.

 

There were two Chef’s tables on this cruise and we were participating in the second one. We met with our fellow diners (8 of them) at the Patisserie on Deck 5.

 

From there we were escorted through the traditional dining room to the galley on deck 6. Some service was still going on, but for the most part, it was pretty empty. There we were served:

 

Champagne – All you could guzzle!

 

Salmon Ceviche with Lime and Celery – Very delicate, very tasty, a bit to salmony for me and probably needed a bit more acid, but very good none the less.

 

Carpaccio of Venison with Forrest Herb Crust – Never had raw venison before, a little strong in flavor but very good as well.

 

Buckwheat Blinis with Caviar and Cream Fraiche – A real taste treat. Caviar that did not taste like caviar, but the combination was extremely flavorful.

 

Pizette with Goat’s Cheese and Ricotta – A little mini goat cheese pizza! Can’t go wrong with that.

 

These hors devours were being served while we chatted with the Maître de Luigi, one of his head waiters Billy, the Executive Chef Thomas and one of his sous chefs. The champagne flowed, the pictures flashed and we chatted.

 

After about 20 minutes we went down to the Deck 5 dining room and were seated at our gorgeously decorated table with crisp white and black linens and extremely shiny silverware.

 

Appetizers were served with a white wine, and I can’t for the life of me remember what it was, but it was pretty good.

 

Butter Fried Polenta Cake with Dolce Latte Gorgonzola – This was very good. The polenta was laced with vegetables.

 

Strawberry and Cracked Pepper Sorbet (Topped with a shot of Grey Goose Vodka) – This was absolutely delicious. The pepper, the strawberry and the Vodka just went fantastic with each other.

 

The main course was served with a red wine – all you could drink.

 

Oven Roasted Veal Shank – Finished and flambéed by the table with a choice of five different sauces (Au jus, Pesto, Béarnaise, Spicy Pepper and Truffle) with steam vegetables and a creamy Mousse line Potato. This was a fantastic main course. The truffle sauce was our favorite.

 

A dessert wine followed with:

 

Baked Camembert with Pine Nuts, Port Wine Reduction and Honey Walnut Bread – This was an excellent pairing with the sweet dessert wine. A real taste treat.

 

Iced Amaretto Parfait with Vanilla and Apple Compote and Brandy Snap Tuile (Topped with a drizzle of Amaretto Liqueur) – This was a real special dessert, great contrasts in flavor, texture and sweetness levels.

 

Coffee or Tea with Thomas’s Homemade Amoretti Biscotti

 

While coffee and tea were being served, Chef Thomas sat down with us and we chatted for at least 30 minutes. Pictures with the chef were taken and an autographed cookbook was provided.

 

It was an incredibly enjoyable, entertaining, delicious and worth every penny event.

[Alessandrina]

Thank you for your review. Sounds wonderful!

[want2cruiseagain]

We had anytime dining and requested certain table - both times - we were given another table because Chef's Table was use with our table. This was very disappointing.

[tvaud]

Your review is the first I've read that had something other than the variety of meats flambeed on skewers served for the main course. It's nice to know that they can make something else. We are dying to try this option. I just hope we can get a spot.

Were you interviewed prior to the dinner as to your preferences or allergies?

[mpbmark]

I was able to arrange the Chef's Table for the night before. Brought my group of 7 as one was a little sick (maybe too much Tequila in Cabo the day before). Same menu and extraordinary service. Billy was not there but he was our head waiter and helped arrange for our attendance. Our regular waiter, Jose, and his asst., Valeryia, came by to chat. Great experience and worth every penny.

 

By the way, in addition to the bottomless wine glass (champagne, white, red and dessert), we also received the cookbook, a couple of pictures and a rose for the ladies that remained alive and beautiful for the remainder of the trip.

[Coral]

Thanks for posting the menu. I am actually glad to say that the menu doesn't appeal to me and that I will be saving $75 on my next cruise.

 

You are much more daring than I am - I am not sure I could eat raw venison. I am not a fan of cooked venison but can't imagine it raw.

 

Glad you enjoyed the experience!

[ccrain]

Your review is the first I've read that had something other than the variety of meats flambeed on skewers served for the main course. It's nice to know that they can make something else. We are dying to try this option. I just hope we can get a spot.

Were you interviewed prior to the dinner as to your preferences or allergies?

 

I did mention at the time of the reservation that Judy was allergic to mayo and it was noted, but there was no interview similar to what I've heard of on other ships.

[dforeigner]

Thank you for taking time to write a review.

[Travelrd]

http://www.webmarin.com

[jbpinkie]

Thanks for the detailed review!!

[MacThespian]

Is this available on every Princess ship? (We booked our first Princess cruise for August 2009, and this sounds really interesting.) Any details on how to book, etc., would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Simru12]

Is this available on every Princess ship? (We booked our first Princess cruise for August 2009, and this sounds really interesting.) Any details on how to book, etc., would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

I have my vacation planner at Princess doing periodic checks on this, then he calls me with updates. Right now it is available on the Caribbean, Crown, Dawn, Emerald, Golden and Sea. It was supposed to debut on the Grand last Friday, but I haven't heard from anyone about that yet.

 

I have a thread started about the schedule, and I update the list as I find out.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=743915

 

Hope this helps

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the review. :)

[TorontoTL]

OK so I'm working late today and had a second to look at CC. Of course I would read your review of your delicious meal when I'm hungry and tired. now I really want to go home! That sound divine, I need to book another cruise so I can do the Chef's Table.

[MacThespian]

I have my vacation planner at Princess doing periodic checks on this, then he calls me with updates. Right now it is available on the Caribbean, Crown, Dawn, Emerald, Golden and Sea. It was supposed to debut on the Grand last Friday, but I haven't heard from anyone about that yet.

 

I have a thread started about the schedule, and I update the list as I find out.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=743915

 

Hope this helps

 

It's perfect! Thanks---and thanks for starting the other thread.

[Cruisin Sal]

Charles,

Thanks for posting the menu. A lot of it didn't appeal to me! We are on the Dawn on 5/17. I will think of Judy as I order my vegetarian Pizza with everything on it.

Sally

[ccrain]

Charles,

Thanks for posting the menu. A lot of it didn't appeal to me! We are on the Dawn on 5/17. I will think of Judy as I order my vegetarian Pizza with everything on it.

Sally

 

Yes we did make it to the Pizza place and yes, Judy did order a vegetarian Pizza with Pepperoni, and yep, the waiter said it would make it a Non-veggie pizza, but apparently they get a lot of requests like that.

 

It was good. Not as good as I remember from way back, but not half bad either.

[Julia’s Journey’s]

Thanks for the review:)

[Julia’s Journey’s]

Thanks for posting the menu. I am actually glad to say that the menu doesn't appeal to me and that I will be saving $75 on my next cruise.

 

You are much more daring than I am - I am not sure I could eat raw venison. I am not a fan of cooked venison but can't imagine it raw.

 

Glad you enjoyed the experience!

 

Same here, half the items I wouldn't eat and we don't drink wine either.

It does seem like a fun popular thing to do though.:D