Let's talk about food!

[Damikaan]

All the threads on covid testing are important, but I need some fun posts to help me pass time before I leave next week on my first post covid cruise. I would love to hear what foods people love in the main dining room. Any pictures are appreciated, especially of items on the current menus.

[tallnthensome]

Here are a couple of mine from the Panorama from August.

[davy jones]

No pictures, but the filet in the MDR last night was pretty good.  

 

This sound unusual, but the lentil, pumpkin, and chorizo soup was my rare find of the week.  I actually asked for second bowl.   Chocolate melting cake is always popular.

[crewsweeper]

Soups are always the best way to go if in the MDR.  Creme Brulee and Grand Marnier souffle are top desserts.  The grilled sea bass or whatever white fish they're disguising as sea bass is usually good.

 

[IrritatedEllipses]

Just now, crewsweeper said:

Soups are always the best way to go if in the MDR.  Creme Brulee and Grand Marnier souffle are top desserts.  The grilled sea bass or whatever white fish they're disguising as sea bass is usually good.

 

 

Barrimundi (technically seabass, but not what most people would expect) was... Pretty bad. I don't really complain that much about food on the ship, but I was a bit disappointed for my partner who selected that.

 

Every "rare find" was amazing for us, especially the rabbit pastry puff. The gator beignets were improperly named, but freaking amazing. We also enjoyed every lighter desert they offered. 

[crewsweeper]

16 minutes ago, IrritatedEllipses said:

 

Barrimundi (technically seabass, but not what most people would expect) was... Pretty bad. I don't really complain that much about food on the ship, but I was a bit disappointed for my partner who selected that.

 

Every "rare find" was amazing for us, especially the rabbit pastry puff. The gator beignets were improperly named, but freaking amazing. We also enjoyed every lighter desert they offered. 

Sad to hear the barrimundi wasn't up to par. 

[Virga]

On the Sunrise, we thought the barrimundi was decent - not as good as a person might hope, but better than I've had any number of other places.  

 

We've come to enjoy ordering several appetizers and splitting a single entree each night.  The soups and rare finds are almost always big wins!

[IrritatedEllipses]

23 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

Sad to hear the barrimundi wasn't up to par. 

 

It was right on par for a really good white fish, but not the meaty/soft/buttery seabass I'm used to. I really even hesitated mentioning it. If I hadn't read the name I would have called it the best tilapia I've ever had.

 

EDIT: I shouldn't have said "pretty bad" in my original post, I should have been more descriptive. Sorry about that. 

Edited October 23, 2021 by IrritatedEllipses

[Computer Nerd]

4 hours ago, Damikaan said:

All the threads on covid testing are important, but I need some fun posts to help me pass time before I leave next week on my first post covid cruise. I would love to hear what foods people love in the main dining room. Any pictures are appreciated, especially of items on the current menus.

I didn't like the fact that the 4 shrimp that used to come with the lobster in the MDR are no longer there. Food in the MDR was very bland most every night. Guy's, Blue Iguana, and Pizza Pirate on the other hand were fantastic.

[Damikaan]

That is disappointing about the shrimp. Hopefully they will still give you 2 lobster tails if you ask for it.

 

[Computer Nerd]

1 hour ago, Damikaan said:

That is disappointing about the shrimp. Hopefully they will still give you 2 lobster tails if you ask for it.

 

I asked and they did. On the same plate so they didn't have to go back to get another plate.

[Pellaz]

2 hours ago, Computer Nerd said:

I asked and they did. On the same plate so they didn't have to go back to get another plate.

 

They EXPECT you to order more than one, since they're not all that big, and plan for it.  

It's been 9 years since we were told this, but at that time the fleetwide record for lobster tails at one sitting was....23.  😮    

This is not a challenge, however.  🙂  

[AK2CA]

I echo previous comments about the soup.  I'm just off the Miracle and the mushroom soup was good.  Also, the braised short ribs were surprisingly pretty good.  What I didn't enjoy was the standard chicken breast on the menu.  Unlike the roasted chicken offered one night, the standard chicken breast to me was more like a compressed chicken breast and had an odd texture.

[Sweetiepie3]

We got off the Dream in early October.  The beef tenderloin and braised short ribs were very good.  Everything else was about average but still good.  We were disappointed in the reduced dessert selections but since I’m not a big dessert eater, it was ok.

[davy jones]

On 10/23/2021 at 3:15 PM, Computer Nerd said:

 Guy's, Blue Iguana, and Pizza Pirate on the other hand were fantastic.

Carnival is excellent at casual/comfort food throughout the day.  In addition to the above, there are a number of good items at the and the soft ice cream.  On larger and newer ships, you can add BBQ, pasta, and now Shaq's chicken.  

 

We also found the quality of the fruit and salad bar items to be pretty good.

[davy jones]

On the minus side, we found the breads on the Pride to be subpar.  We are used to a variety of very good breads and rolls on cruises, but they just were not very good.  At lunch, I like to sometimes make a simple but tasty sandwich from a nice crusty bread/roll and carved meat.  The meat was there, but there was not a good bread to put it on.

[Computer Nerd]

6 hours ago, davy jones said:

On the minus side, we found the breads on the Pride to be subpar.  We are used to a variety of very good breads and rolls on cruises, but they just were not very good.  At lunch, I like to sometimes make a simple but tasty sandwich from a nice crusty bread/roll and carved meat.  The meat was there, but there was not a good bread to put it on.

We thought the breads were pretty good in the MDR but it was like pulling teeth to get any butter.

[lennythenose]

17 minutes ago, Computer Nerd said:

We thought the breads were pretty good in the MDR but it was like pulling teeth to get any butter.

Interesting. On the Dream 2 weeks ago they brought out a butter for everyone at the table before they even brought the bread. If you wanted one of the other selections in addition to butter you had to ask but it came quickly.  As the week went on they started just brining the ones our table asked for most often. 

[abby1257]

On 10/23/2021 at 12:39 PM, IrritatedEllipses said:

 

Barrimundi (technically seabass, but not what most people would expect) was... Pretty bad. I don't really complain that much about food on the ship, but I was a bit disappointed for my partner who selected that.

 

Every "rare find" was amazing for us, especially the rabbit pastry puff. The gator beignets were improperly named, but freaking amazing. We also enjoyed every lighter desert they offered. 

I know one shouldn't be negative about what someone might like to eat...but "rabbit pastry puff"...NOPE....CAN'T DO IT......

[doxiegal]

I just got off the Horizon on Sunday. I thought the MDR food was pretty mediocre. Comparable to something similar to " Perkins" or " Applebees" 

 

The best entrees were chicken. My tablemates ordered beef and it was almost always overdone, even by being ordered medium rare, and it was stringy......The lobster was horrible, very fishy and not cooked, completely inedible...

 

I'm not complaining, as I got this cruise for basically free with Casino rates. ut had I paid full fare, I would have been disappointed. This was our first time on a Carnival ship in 4 years. But the last time I was on Carnival, I remember the food tasting much better..... The Chocolate chip cookies in the buffet area each night, and the deli sandwiches were the best things I ate all week

[jsglow]

39 minutes ago, doxiegal said:

I just got off the Horizon on Sunday. I thought the MDR food was pretty mediocre. Comparable to something similar to " Perkins" or " Applebees" 

 

The best entrees were chicken. My tablemates ordered beef and it was almost always overdone, even by being ordered medium rare, and it was stringy......The lobster was horrible, very fishy and not cooked, completely inedible...

 

I'm not complaining, as I got this cruise for basically free with Casino rates. ut had I paid full fare, I would have been disappointed. This was our first time on a Carnival ship in 4 years. But the last time I was on Carnival, I remember the food tasting much better..... The Chocolate chip cookies in the buffet area each night, and the deli sandwiches were the best things I ate all week

You're just spoiled by Elias Inn!!! 😊

[dezertcruzer]

1 hour ago, abby1257 said:

I know one shouldn't be negative about what someone might like to eat...but "rabbit pastry puff"...NOPE....CAN'T DO IT......

Is it just the idea of eating rabbit that is off-putting to you?  My first husband and I raised rabbits for meat and made our newlywed budget stretch with good tasting protein.  Give it a try.  It might surprise you and I hope to hear that you enjoyed it!

[doxiegal]

4 hours ago, jsglow said:

You're just spoiled by Elias Inn!!! 😊

You might be correct !!

[pengu1n]

7 hours ago, abby1257 said:

I know one shouldn't be negative about what someone might like to eat...but "rabbit pastry puff"...NOPE....CAN'T DO IT......

If they called it "rabbit pot pie" I think I'd be fine, but the 'puff' part makes me think it's made of fluffy little tails . . .

[IrritatedEllipses]

11 hours ago, pengu1n said:

If they called it "rabbit pot pie" I think I'd be fine, but the 'puff' part makes me think it's made of fluffy little tails . . .

 

You mean delicious fluffy little tails.