Cruise Notes... groannnnn.

Preface:
I am sure that I will have detractors for this post, but it's my blog and my opinion... So thbbbbb'. Oh yeah I whine a lot in this post so be warned.

It's the last day at sea, and I am stiff and sore from the wall mounted bunk bed, missing my own bed, kitchen and shower. This is my second cruise and I have come to the conclusion that cruising is not for me. The drinks are over priced, the food is marginal and the accommodations are spartan. And to top it all off I have an itchy sunburn...

Cozumel and Playa del Carmen are crawling with vendors selling every sort of trinket, knickknack and tchotchke. Mostly items that serve no purpose, other than to remind people of where they have been. In two ports of call I only found 3 items that interested me. A shirt that I could most likely have acquired for less in Miami, a traditional grinding stone that weighed 60 lbs and a set of 4 terra cotta mugs, for which I probably paid way too much. I wanted the grinding stone but was unwilling to schlep it back to the ship, plus is was pricey. The shirt turned out to be a little small, but it will languish in my closet until I can shed a few pounds or foist it off as a thoughtful birthday gift. The mugs I really dig.

The one excursion I was willing to pay for, (Beginners Scuba)was canceled the morning of, for some un-named reason. So I still have not had my first experience with a regulator, air tank or decompression chamber.

Now since this is a food centric blog, I guess I should touch on the food at least briefly. In 13 possible sit down meals and numerous snack times, only a few items stood out a pretty good... There was the pizza counter that had the usual suspects, and something call "de Cherve", which as you might suspect from the name was made with goats milk cheese along with sautéed mushrooms, and mozzarella. It was a "white" pizza sans red sauce. The crust was pre-made but not terrible. It was the freshest food on the boat, since the counter is open 24 hours.

One of the other items that was quite tasty was the Caesar dressing. Not something you would think would stand out on a cruise ship, amongst all the "halt cuisine" (food that makes you stop eating after the first bite) but it turns out when you make it fresh, with real anchovies, it's a thing of beauty.

Last but not least was the small dish of Escargot, served in the dinning room this evening. It was very flavorful without any chewy factor at all, very tender. I didn't get a picture because I didn't even think to take the camera to the dinning room.

Update:

Most of that was written while underway in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. I am home now with my post vacation sinus infection. I am happy to be here and am ready to get back into the kitchen.

Next major projects from Charcuterie will be bacon and pancetta. I am all about the pork belly.

Cheers

Chris