There is very little that surprises us or knocks our socks off anymore. Especially now that we can order just about anything on our tablets or phones while lounging in our pj’s sipping wine! Well, here is something that will blow your inner foodie away, and the only catch is that you have to be on a Carnival Cruise to experience it! #winwin
This very well guarded secret is called The Chef’s Table! It’s plain, simple, but powerful at the same time. It’s often hidden amongst the free offerings and other bells and whistles on the cruise ship during embarkation. It’s understated, and you probably blinked and missed it.
I’m here to tell you to book it right now because it’s worth every.single.cent.
Curious? Then picture it, Carnival Cruise Line. You signed up for this culinary experience on the advice of a friend or blog. At first you are a little hesitant because the price tag is a hefty $95 per person. Then you think to yourself “Money’s no object, I’m on vacation, and I deserve this”! Plus you don’t want anyone to think that you are a punk, and you can’t handle and afford elegance.
You board the ship, and your personalized invitation awaits you in your cabin. You start looking forward to it because it’s another great opportunity to make everyone at home green with envy, and you’ll look like a very well traveled cruise snob. You carry on with the rest of your cruise, which is great too, until THE day arrives.
You make it to the secret meeting location a few minutes early with your completed questionnaire regarding allergies and other such mundane issues. You are greeted by your hostess for the evening who hands you a glass of champagne with the promise of your fill of wine to come. Suddenly, on their own, your pinkie and your nose turn slightly up to the sky as you sip your bubbly, mingle, and wait for the rest of the guests to arrive. You have a small smirk that says “Eat your heart out Lido Deck Diners, you don’t know what you are missing!”
After a short while, the Chef comes from the back, introduces himself, and accompanies everyone into the inner sanctum. The Holy Grail of the Cruise Ship. The Galley…….Ahhhhhhh…. You hear the Angels singing and playing those golden harps in your head! Wow, your first thought is that it’s sparkling clean back here. Your next thought is that it’s incredibly loud and warm, but it’s all good because only the elite guests get to experience this! You.have.arrived.
You are gathered around a big shiny table where you are given a little “preview” of the evening to come. You get a few exquisite appetizers here that are made right in front of you and are special for this occasion. They aren’t getting these in the Main Dining Room. Ever. You chit chat and make small talk with your neighbors as you all enjoy this deliciousness that was surely sent down from the heavens above just for you. While this is going on, so is the wine. There is red, white, and assorted (boring) water in case you are not partaking in the heavenly nectar.
Now that you’ve loosed up a little, you are taken on a short tour of the galley. You get tidbits of information on food ordering, how much a ship has to stockpile and use for your cruise, how many steaks, lobster, shrimp, and beer had to be ordered for you etc. Right about the time that you are missing that wonderful wine, they lead you back to the cozy dining area that is dedicated only to The Chef’s Table.
You drink, and You know things. On your table are placeholders and small menus so that you have a record of what you experienced, because you will surely be surprised at some of the things that you ate, liked, and loved!
Every course is a carefully choreographed dance of delicacies. It’s a symphony for your soul. You silently thank God that you wore your stretchy pants and sensible shoes because you are already testing the limits of that polyester/spandex blend. Wine continues to flow, and with each glass and course, you sink deeper and deeper into euphoria. This.Is.Bliss.
Just in the nick of time, there’s another break. This time you are led to a little area in the galley where there is a Warm Chocolate Melting Cake display and mixing demonstration. Someone volunteers to mix it, and everyone cheers them on while taking pictures along the way. When this diversion has concluded, you are brought back to your table to partake of more ecstasy.
After a few more courses and more wine, the ship’s Magician comes and gives you a very entertaining, short show. Everyone claps, unbuckles anything that they can legally unbuckle, and gets ready for the finale. Dessert.
There are 2 desserts included and the combinations are very weird, but miraculously, they work. They give your taste buds the party that they’ve been missing for forever.
Everyone is gathered up shortly after for free group pictures to commemorate the evening. Then, sadly and with the glisten of a tear forming in the corner of your eye, you must bid the Chef and Host/Hostess adieu. You are led back through the Dining Room where the regular common people are eating their regular common dinner, and you exit as quickly as you entered. Almost as if it was all a dream. You look back to see if you could possibly sneak back there the next night and act like you belong, but alas, they have already locked and sealed the secret door, which also disappears into the wall as if it never existed.
You make it back to your cabin elated that it happened and sad that it’s over. You wonder how you will pick up the pieces and eat with the common regular people in the common regular dining room the rest of the cruise. However, there is a silver lining. You already have your next Carnival Cruise booked, and you can come back to The Chef’s Table then! Woohoo! Your very soul rejoices, and you vow to tell everyone that will listen about this amazing dining experience known simply as The Chef’s Table.
Soul on the Seas! 