The Wake - Crispy Polenta?

[Cloud9 Bob]

Been to The Wake many times but never ordered this. Am I missing something special? How was it?

[Cloud9 Bob]

I predict this thread is going to be about as popular as a screen door on a submarine! 😝

[neverendingcruising]

I've had it, I don't remember it being remarkable or bad either. Sailing in a couple of weeks, if I get an opportunity and remember I will report back. 

[Wildcatllamas]

14 hours ago, Cloud9 Bob said:

I predict this thread is going to be about as popular as a screen door on a submarine! 😝

It could be one of those foods that no one knows what it is and won't try it. On my cruise the end of this month I thought I would try it since I will be eating 3 times there.

 

It's kind of like the eel on the Test Kitchen menu - that one is a hard no, but a lot of folks in Britain really like it.

[Gretchendz]

I will try it when I sail in a couple of weeks and bring you a full, documented report because it sounds good 🙂

[babalooo]

Isn't that an item at The Dock House?

[Cloud9 Bob]

On 9/6/2024 at 10:45 AM, Gretchendz said:

I will try it when I sail in a couple of weeks and bring you a full, documented report because it sounds good 🙂

I'll be looking forward to your review. It actually sounds good to me, also. The reason I haven't tried it by now is my history with it. I was born and raised in New York to Italians and we never made it. When visiting restaurants there, it was usally a side dish with some tomato sauce drizzled on it. Not very exciting and certainly not entree quality. VV seems to have elevated it and added the crispy factor to it. I'm anxious to try it now. I was going to rename this thread Polenta Gate...but it seems to have gained some momentum, LOL!

[Cloud9 Bob]

33 minutes ago, babalooo said:

Isn't that an item at The Dock House?

 

You are correct, they have a goat cheese polenta. The crispy one though, is definitely from The Wake.

[cmvikinger]

10 hours ago, Cloud9 Bob said:

VV seems to have elevated it and added the crispy factor to it.

 

I don't think he 'invented' it, but Jamie Oliver (UK chef - behind Jamie's Italian) had Crispy Polenta Chips (in the British 'fries but bigger than fries' way, not the sort of chips British people call "crisps") on his menu 13+ years ago.

 

VV definitely aren't responsible for elevating it.

[Cloud9 Bob]

15 minutes ago, cmvikinger said:

VV definitely aren't responsible for elevating it.

 

All I was saying is that it’s an elevated version of what I knew growing up as a very plain side dish. The crispy factor is a nice plus. Actually, VV is responsible for elevating it, because that’s exactly what they did in their venue, but I’d agree they’re not the first to do so.

[cmvikinger]

5 minutes ago, Cloud9 Bob said:

 

All I was saying is that it’s an elevated version of what I knew growing up as a very plain side dish. The crispy factor is a nice plus. Actually, VV is responsible for elevating it, because that’s exactly what they did in their venue, but I’d agree they’re not the first to do so.

 

If it is anything like the crispy polenta I had at Jamie's Italian (and it should be, I can't see much room for variation in taste)... it is worth trying.

 

I did once cross a border to have it. I enjoy the dish.

Edited September 8 by cmvikinger

[Gretchendz]

@Cloud9 Bob I failed you. We were on a quick Fire and Sunsets and I let my companion make the dinner reseravtions. No Wake. No polenta.

[Cloud9 Bob]

I am polenta-less???

 

I will survive...I live to cruise another day...mid October actually. Then I will see what this polenta business is all about, and (in a twist of fate) report to you instead! 🥣 🤣

[neverendingcruising]

We had it last week and it was not memorable, quite bland in fact. I likely wouldn't get jt again. The polenta at the Dock is considerably better. 

[Cloud9 Bob]

I’m going to try it next month l, but in addition to another entree. I think it will make a better side dish.