I went on my first
cruise at age 40, which many people used to consider young for cruising. Not so
much any more. Cruises come in many varieties, to fit budgets, tastes, and age
groups. After that first cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean, “Cradles of Civilization”
on the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Dream,
my husband and I were hooked.
If you ask fifty people
what they consider the best thing about a cruise, you’ll get at least fifty
answers…unpacking only once in the cabin of your floating hotel, waking up in a
new exotic port each day, the leisure, the pampering, the shows, the shore
excursions…and of course the cuisine.
Cruise lines employ
top-notch chefs who create exotic gourmet meals, from fresh ingredients,
catering to every palate and need: vegan, diabetic, low sodium, gluten free…and
the sky’s the limit if you want to indulge to your heart’s desire and gain that
average two-pounds-a-day on your cruise. But why should anyone only be able to
indulge in these delectable delights if cruising the seas? Those of us who love
to cook and enjoy gourmet cuisine should be able to create meals from cruises
of the past in our own kitchens.
I searched for seven
menus of a diversity of cruise lines, from the luxurious Cunard Line, famed for
its opulent ocean liners, to a small but highly exclusive line of yachts that
offer the most personalized cruise experience. I found recipes for each item on
the seven menus, from appetizers to entrées to desserts, cocktails and
pre-dinner aperitifs. I devoted a chapter to each day of the ‘fantasy cruise’
introducing each ship and explaining where it is located, with information
about each cruise line and its chefs. The main focus is on the dinner menu
followed by recipes for recreating every delectable morsel. The result is AROUND
THE WORLD IN 80 MEALS, THE BEST OF CRUISE SHIP CUISINE.
Wanting to appeal to the
casual cruise passenger as well as gourmet cooks, I included a chapter about
the history of cruising, and wrapped it up with extras, helpful hints, and
cruise contact info. I’ve tried many of the recipes and am happy to say they
turned out very well. AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 MEALS is available from
Amazon
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