Category — Cruise Cuisine

By Erica Kritt, Social Media Coordinator, The Cruise Web, Inc.

The Norwegian Breakaway is quite a ship, and there are  28 dining venues to choose from, so I was delighted when one of our cruise consultants made a dinner reservation for a few of us at Le Bistro on our last night on the ship. I have to say, living in the suburbs, it’s not often you find a french restaurant, so it was exciting to get to experience the food from a country famous for its beautiful landscapes and decadent cuisine.

Le Bistro is one of Norwegian’s signature specialty restaurants appearing on all of their ships except for Pride of America, which has her own french cuisine restaurant called Jefferson’s Bistro. Not only was the food delicious, the restaurant evoked a Parisian bistro. On the Breakaway, the entrance to Le Bistro looks and feels like a cobblestone street and there is “outdoor” seating where you can get a great view of 678 Ocean Place, the heart of the ship. Inside the restaurant the lights are low, making for a wonderfully intimate atmosphere. The plush seats and clean white tablecloths evoke a simple elegance. [Read more →]

By Austin Gambino, Marketing Assistant, The Cruise Web, Inc.

When I realized I was lucky enough to be attending the two-day preview cruise of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway, I knew my first priority was going to be Ocean Blue, Geoffrey Zakarian’s newest restaurant.

For those of you who live under a rock, Geoffrey Zakarian is a Food Network Star and restaurateur, boasting culinary establishments in the likes of Atlantic City (The Water Club), New York City (The Lambs Club), and now on the Norwegian Breakaway. He even mentioned at the Norwegian Breakaway christening that he trained the kitchen staff himself.

It was well-known that it would be difficult to secure reservations at Ocean Blue, so my friend and I arrived at the port at 10:50 a.m. (boarding didn’t begin until 11:00 a.m.), and immediately headed for the Guest Services desk. We were met with disappointment, as the fine dining establishment was already booked for both days. Determined to be a part of the Zakarian experience, we showed up Friday night in our finest garb and proceeded to convince Fiorella, the lovely hostess, to seat us outside for an early supper. [Read more →]

By Rosalind Smith, Director of Business Development, The Cruise Web, Inc.

To go along with our theme of contemporary cruising, I picked a casual and fun dish that you can eat with your hands and is sure to make you smile. I tried these fish tacos on a Celebrity cruise from Vancouver to San Diego and they really do represent California – they are bright, crisp and fresh. It’s like sunshine on a plate. Since that cruise, I’ve made this recipe three times, and each time I switch it up a bit to try new things. I like to stay on the spicier side of life, so I added a bit more garlic and jalapeno. However, with any recipe I recommend making it as  it’s intended first, then playing around on your second go round.

To me the key to this recipe is the bright vibrant colors. Use fresh ingredients to get those stunning reds, yellows and greens. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

[Note: We've updated the recipe with a rich chocolate sauce to pour over the cake!]

What could be more sinfully delicious than a rich chocolate cake that oozes with warm melted chocolate? This chocolate cake is a favorite with many chocolate lovers because it includes both the seductive melted chocolate and the airy and light taste of the cake. Here is Oceania Cruises’ take on the treat, the Bittersweet Chocolate Fondant Cake. This recipe serves about six people. Remember, to experience the true decadence of this treat you should be dining in one of the beautifully adorned restaurants aboard Oceania Cruises. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

The Super Bowl calls for a big spread of delicious foods that satisfy everyone from the cheerleader to the middle linebacker. For many people this means pizza, chicken wings and seven-layer dip, but if you are looking for a meal with real grit that will surely fill you up, check out these two options inspired by the port cities that are home to this year’s formidable teams.

This year’s AFC  Champions come from Baltimore, a city with its very own special charm. In Maryland there is one food that rises above them all – the blue crab. And in Baltimore you’ll find restaurants and families with closely guarded crab cake recipes at almost every turn. Baltimore is also known for Domino Sugar, Berger Cookies, National Bohemian beer, pit beef sandwiches and lake trout.

The NFC Champions are the San Francisco 49ers, another city by the bay. Seafood is an important part of their diet as well and it was here that cioppino, a seafood stew, originated.  The city’s two most prominent food products have to be sourdough bread and Ghirardelli chocolate, both with roots to the California Gold Rush.  Sourdough was nearly the only bread being made during the times of the gold rush, and so it caught on. The 49ers’ mascot is even named Sourdough Sam.  Ghirardelli himself moved to San Francisco to take advantage of all the people moving there for the gold rush. He started by opening a general store and soon started making his smooth and sweet chocolate treat.

To take advantage of these great flavors, we’ve developed a meal for game day that is sure to please. These recipes are courtesy of Oceania Cruises, which takes culinary influences from all over the world to provide spectacular dining experiences for their guests. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Pumpkin flavored food and drinks are all the rage this month. From pumpkin soy lattes to pumpkin pie flavored bread sticks, now is the time to get your fill of this orange fruit in all its glory. And don’t worry about missing out on the pumpkin goodness while at sea, because  cruise lines’ chefs and bartenders come prepared with pumpkins, nutmeg and cinnamon to ensure you get the taste of fall, even if you’re sailing in the southern hemisphere, where it’s spring.

Celebrity Cruises has their own take on the classic Pumpkin Pie. Follow this recipe for Pumpkin Pie with Vanilla Chantilly  featured in Celebrity’s own cookbook, Excite the Senses, to add some flair to your next fall meal. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

If I said the word marshmallow, would images of cookouts, barbeques and childhood pop into mind?  Well, what if I told you marshmallows are sophisticated culinary wonders that are served on fine china and combined with decadent sauces on board Oceania’s luxurious ships that feature the food of French Chef Jacques Pepin.

Don’t laugh, because it’s true.

Oceania has found a way to make marshmallows gourmet and we’ve got the recipe for you. So the next time you are thinking about what you will serve at your  sophisticated dinner party or even at your upcoming holiday dinner, think of marshmallows. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Before candy bars, before ice cream, before almost every kind of sweet treat known to man there was – and still is – honey. The sticky golden sweet substance has been found in clay jars dating back 5,000 years ago, it is mentioned in the Bible, and it seems that a depiction of people gathering honey from trees is painted on cave walls dating back 8,000 years ago.

Many cultures and religions feature honey prominently in their food and traditions because honey is made all over the world, not just in one area. Here is a roundup of special honey dishes or customs you can encounter all over the world.  Whether you cruise to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean or even Australia, you are bound to find honey dishes and different uses for this beloved ingredient. [Read more →]

Contributing Author, Sunita Bhuyan

Our contributor Sunita lives in the U.K. and has never been to New York City, but that doesn’t mean she can’t have a New York experience in her own home. One of these days we’ll get her on a cruise to New York, but for now read on to discover her recipe for New York cheesecake.  [Read more →]

Contributing Author, Wendy Hammond

If you have ever cruised to Hawaii, or the Caribbean or even South America, you know that pineapple is a key ingredient in the cuisine of those regions. So we at The Cruise Web invite you to remember your last cruise, or prepare for your next cruise, with a pineapple dish. Read on to find food blogger Wendy Hammond’s tips for preparing the perfect tropical pineapple dish. [Read more →]