DrKoob

Ahhhh! Cruising and food. Two of my favorite topics rolled into one. And speaking of one word, I have the only one you need to know--Celebrity. We have cruised with three different lines and then tried Celebrity and we will never go back. And the food is one of the biggest reasons. And not necessarily the food in the main dining room. X (that's what those of us who are Celebrity fanatics call the line because of the huge X on the side of all the ships--dates from their early Greek beginnings) has speciality restaurants on board their Millennium class ships. And OH MY GOD, they are special. We sailed a 14 night Panama Canal cruise on X's Infinity (now sailing out of Vancouver to Alaska) last November and ate in the dining room most nights but our two nights in the United States (all are named after famous ocean liners of the past) were wonderful. Let me relate a typical dinner we had the first night we ate there. We started with a tomato and goat cheese souffle accompanied by prosseco. It was wonderful. The perfect way to start a fantastic meal. The second course is what most of us would consider the entree. I had a rack of lamb in puff pastry carved at the table. My bride had steak diane prepared at the table. Following the wonderful entree, there is a cheese course. A fantastically knowledgeable waiter rolls a cart to your table with around 20 different types of cheese. Any you can have a sample of as many of them as you want. Lastly dessert. One of my favorites was on the menu, Grand Marnier souffle. A true delight. All of this for a $30 service charge per person. $30! And the best service you have ever had. Basically one waiter per person. Seriously, when came back to eat there again later in the week, we went with a party of 8. When the entrees were brought to the table they came on plates covered with silver domes (I know there is a name for those, I just don't know what it is) we were surrounded by four waiters and a all the domes were reviewed at once. Again at the end of the meal all four waiters appeared and surrounded us and removed our plates at the same time. So, outstanding service, wonderful food and all that for only $30 plus the cost of wine/drinks. And the wine list was pretty good as well. All of this and one of the finest martini bars anywhere. And the food in the main dining room wasn't too bad either. Stick with appetizers, entrees and soups. Skip the salads and the desserts. They could be better. And spend the $30 as often as you can. And here's the best news. You can go to Alaska from Vancouver on either Summit or Infinity, both have speciality restaurants. Enjoy!

Much thanks to all who recommended this wonderful Tuscan place. We went last night and the food and service were fantastic! Started with two of their signature cocktails, the Lemoncello/rosemary lemon drop and their version of the traditional manhattan to accompany some of the best polenta I have ever had. Smothered in what looked like chantrels and a wonderful sauce. Came highly recommended by our waiter (who we think was David). He was the kind of FOH staff I love. Made great recommendations all evening, was very knowledgeable about all the food and wine. For our entree I tried the wild boar done in the mustard/gorgonzola sauce. Totally different from the last wild boar I had in a restaurant in Firenze itself but equally good. My bride had the veal scaloppine and also loved it. David recommended a superb Tuscan wine to go along with my boar and he was right on the button. Only problem is, we aren't sure what it was called. Can't wait to go back and find out. We finished up with their berry panna cotta and a glass of their house made limoncello. WOW! Thank you again for a wonderful recommendation. We will be going back and telling friends.

Thanks for great reviews and pics. We have been talking about trying Crow. Will do it for sure now. You have to eat a whole meal at Lola. It is to die for. Try the goat tangine if it is on the menu when you are there. We love the place. It is our current fave. Also, if you haven't been to Dahlia for a meal, try that as well. We have never had a bad meal there. Lastly, if you want to try a new hotel next time, much like the one you stayed at on Queen Anne, give Inn at the Market a shot. A great little boutique hotel and everything is much more walkable. And they have tempurpedic beds (wonnnnnderfulllll!) Jim in Redmond

Try Catarina's Trattoria in Jacksonville. Italian food to die for and the service was spectacular. They even opened a bottle of Amarone and sold it to us by the glass. NO ONE has ever done that anywhere before. Also want to second the motion on Chateaulin in Ashland. Food was fantastic. The perfect place for a pre-theater meal. Jim in Redmond, WA

We love Trattoria Guisseppe. Haven't eaten there in two years but don't be afraid of what it looks like from the outside. It is a storefront in a little strip mall but the food and atmosphere inside are wonderful. Their Osso Bucco is as good as my Sicilian grandmothers. And if they have the calmari steak is on the menu--get it! Jim in Redmond, WA