Select dining with P&O - is it worth the extra?
I though that I would write about the pick of the pack, rather than drone on about extensive menus, I wanted to pick out one thing which each of the food heroes was responsible for ..... that I absolutely loved!
Eric Lanlard - The afternoon tea in the Epicurean was wonderful, such a variety of flavours, really it’s a good idea not to plan on eating ANYTHING else all day. Amongst the brie choux bun, the obligatory scones, and the chocolate teardrop, my favourite item was the lollipop: Aesthetically the shimmery lilac balls, dotted on the white chocolate outside but beneath was a passion fruit flavoured sponge.
Atul - Dinner at Sindhu was good, we had a lovely side booth, so could watch the everything, and see what other people ordered. Dinner was good, as we had hoped, but where many indian restaurants fail, in my opinion, is at dessert. Not so in Sindhu, the gently spiced chocolate fondue had the perfect melting in the middle centre
Marco - Is responsible for the menus in the main dining rooms. One of the dishes I loved was the simple perfectly cooked asparagus, with a soft poached egg and Hollandaise sauce but on the formal night, the half lobster was the star of the menu. It looked perfect but the moist lobster, cheesy sauce and creamy mash, definitely had a comfort food feel to it…. Fingers crossed it’s still on the menu in August!
Olly - He has blended his own wines for Britannia, will be supplying his own beer and has chosen some stunning wines to suit all budgets. The location of the Glass House on the top floor if the atrium is perfect for a drink at any time of the day, relax, people watch and admire the Starburst. For me the most memorable drink has to be the Wiston Estate sparkling wine… it’s British… really! Previously I would have happily considered English wines perfectly only suitable for smashing on a ship’s hull, and not necessarily for drinking! I am now converted to the soft colour and bubbles of this lovely fizz, perfect to toast your cruise holiday.
James - It is a little tougher, as he didn’t cook my dinner, bake me a cake or choose my wine: In fact I had to cook it myself! In the Cookery Club, with the guidance of Rob and Lizzie, I made a croissant and butter pudding. It’s one of his signature dishes, which, if the story is to be believed, dates back to Anthony Worrell Thomson over ordering croissants and asking his pastry chef, James, to create a dish to use them up. It’s everything you’d expect from James Martin, sweet, buttery, creamy and luscious – definitely one to make at home!
Charlie Cheese Turnbull - He doesn’t get all the photo opportunities of the other 5 but is very much part of the food hero team: He and Eric have teamed up in the Market Café to provide a lovely light bite, in the ground floor of the atrium. A quick stop here, and you can select a plate of Charlie’s cheese selection, charcuterie and maybe one of Eric’s tempting patisserie gems. Of course the staff will happily suggest a glass of wine to wash it all down. From your table in the corner of the atrium, you can watch the world go by.
What will I go back for first? Clearly I will need a glass of the sparkling Wiston Estate whilst pondering my options, but I will certainly book a table in the calm green and cream setting of the Epicurean for dinner and really hope that the chateaubriand and crepe suzette is as good as it sounds.
So are the select dining options worth the money, well I didn’t regret a single penny! Don’t miss out on these great food and wine experiences.
One top tip – don’t book the Cookery Club for the same day as afternoon tea in the Epicurean… on formal night!
