And Loving It…

Seasoned travel and food writers sometimes tend to disparage cruise line food and meals, usually comparing them to being barely better than hotel convention and buffet food, a take that I vehemently disagree with. Believe me, I’ve had enough rubber chicken dinner meals and awful buffets to know the difference. I think these snobs don’t realize how hard it is to pull off over 2,000 meals a night. And the previous cruises I’ve been on have offered a nice variety of entrees in the main dining room that are way above hotel convention food.  

And besides all cruise ships offer specialized restaurants now that offer fine dining meals that compare with any top restaurant for an extra fee that is really worth it. The web gal and I are departing for a two week cruise on Holland America’s Volendam ship leaving Ft Lauderdale, sailing up the east coast, then down the St. Lawrence River and ending the voyage in Montreal. 

And you better believe we’ll be hitting Volendam’s specialty restaurants, beginning with their Pinnacle Grill restaurant that specializes in steak, that are featured in all of Holland America ships. We’ll have our steak knives out for their rib eye. Next up will be Volendam’s specialty Italian restaurant, Canaletto, with the web gal no doubt leaning towards their Mussel, Scallop and Calamari Trenette, while I’ll be happy to dive into their special Ossobuco with grilled asparagus. 

After a day of touring one of the port stops we’re looking forward to dining at Volendam’s Tamarind restaurant that specializes in Chinese/Japanese cuisine, with the web gal no doubt being in love with their Wok Seared Shrimp and Lobster, while I’ll be happy to order their Mongolian Barbeque Lamb Chops combined with baby bok choy, toasted sesame seeds, marin and plum sauce.

After a couple of days at sea, our first port stop is Newport, Rhode Island. I’m hoping the web gal won’t be too bored at the International Tennis Hall of Fame Museum since I’m a bit of a tennis buff. But I know she’ll love the Boat House, a fab seafood restaurant in nearby Tiverton, with spectacular ocean front views with floor to ceiling windows and nice high backed wicker chairs and the cooking of Executive Chef Marissa Lo.

Next day will be an all day stop in Boston, where we hope to tour the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All those ancient relics bore me to tears but the web gal loves them, so I’ll be happy taking in some Monet paintings and she can go back to the Pharaoh times. Lunch will be at Ma Maison a nice, white cloth table restaurant helmed by French chef Jacky Robert. And finally, a lifelong wish will be fulfilled by taking a stroll over to the Boston Garden. Hopefully, my Bruins will still be in the playoffs, but if not, it will still be cool to get a pic of that statue of my childhood hero Bobby Orr flying thru the air after scoring that Cup winning goal in 1970.

Don’t have a lot of time in Portland, Maine but hope to take in its Museum of Art and hit Duck Fat for its hand cut Belgian frites and Prime Rib French Dip sandwich. On to Canada and our first stop is the harbor town of Halifax where The Bicycle Thief restaurant with its grilled seafood and pastas is calling our names for lunch on the waterfront. Next stop is Sydney, Nova Scotia and Governor’s Pub & Eatery looks like a great place to sit on its patio and have some fine pub grub and beer.

Next stop is Prince Edward Island’s capital, Charlottetown, where Sims Corner Steakhouse & Oyster Bar is calling me to order their broiled oysters with grilled asparagus, buttered lobster and bearnaise sauce. Yum! And then we have a couple days sailing down river until we pull into one of North America’s most romantic cities, Québec City. A must visit is the historic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac hotel, which has many stylish restaurants and a wine bar to choose from. And the web gal loves her sweets, so we are visiting the Chocolaterie de l’Île d’Orléans a chocolate store that uses only the finest Belgian chocolate.

And after two days of walking the cobble stone streets of Québec City, it will be our final night on the Volendam as we pull into Montréal at 7 am which will give us just enough time to load up on Schwartz’s fantastic deli smoked meat sandwiches for our train trip to Toronto. Can’t wait to bon voyage and will give the details upon returning. Enchanté !!!