Fine dining

PenguinOfDeath

meritaten wrote: »

I used tripadvisor to warn people about a diabolical dining experience my family had. so at least it can tell you places to avoid! (it wasn't a fancy 'cheffy' place but a chain pub where you at least expect a certain standard of food and service). I don't go for poncy food either - don't like paying £50+ for food that's so messed around with you cant taste the original ingredients and served with stuff you cant eat on the plate - just to make it look pretty. if it goes on the plate it SHOULD be edible.

For me, the standard of food and service I expect from a chain pub is a poor one! That not to say I never eat in one and sometimes can be pleasantly surprised, but II would only go for 'filler food' and not a treat meal.

Also I've never been served anything on a 'fancy' plate that wasn't edible, although I'm not a massive fan of presentation for presentation's sake.

purpleivy

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I particularly dislike cruises, and formal dinners / fine dining experiences, to me the food is not that great (I'd rather eat judiciously from the buffet). But the real reason I hate cruises is because of the disgusting excess and wastage, combined with the laziness of the guests.

Imagine cruising the Med and coming across starving asylum seekers on makeshift vessels. That might just concentrate people's minds.

That's a gross generalisation. I am about to go on my second cruise. Did one with hub 2 years ago. The food was excellent and varied. In the restaurant, portions were extremely modest, they need to be if they are putting on a 5 course dinner. We usually had two courses. I didn't put on a pound and didn't send food back at all. Everything I took from the buffet (the few times we went there) was consumed. Food may be available all times of the day and night, but it doesn't mean to say that everyone is there at every opportunity.

This next cruise is with my dd who has ME, I think it will be the perfect holiday for her. As for the laziness of the guests, what criteria are you judging them by?

As the OP said, we are all different, thank heavens for that. It would be terrible if everyone was as judgemental as you!

Andypandyboy

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I particularly dislike cruises, and formal dinners / fine dining experiences, to me the food is not that great (I'd rather eat judiciously from the buffet). But the real reason I hate cruises is because of the disgusting excess and wastage, combined with the laziness of the guests.

Imagine cruising the Med and coming across starving asylum seekers on makeshift vessels. That might just concentrate people's minds.

I think there is wastage on cruises, but no more so than supermarkets or shops in general. On cruises the food not eaten by guests goes down to the crew so little is actually wasted.

Are those on a cruise any more lazy than those who holiday at a beach resort and lie on the beach for two weeks straight?

When we cruise we are up and off the ship on port days to see what is there, we walk, we buy local goods.

As for asylum seekers, yes, their plight is tragic, but is it any more tragic than the plight of the street children in any city in the world that tourists visit; Mumbai, Rio etc? Should cruisers feel any greater guilt than any other tourist coming face to face with others who have less?

Goldiegirl

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I particularly dislike cruises, and formal dinners / fine dining experiences, to me the food is not that great (I'd rather eat judiciously from the buffet). But the real reason I hate cruises is because of the disgusting excess and wastage, combined with the laziness of the guests.

Imagine cruising the Med and coming across starving asylum seekers on makeshift vessels. That might just concentrate people's minds.

How many cruises have you been on recently.

Most passengers manage to eat normal sized meals and don't gorge themselves until they are sick. Indeed, for breakfast and lunch I eat exclusively at the buffet, and make sure I eat healthily, especially as I have a dietary requirement.

The dinners are advertised as five course, but many people settle for three, and the plates aren't piled high.

I find it particularly insulting to be labeled 'lazy'. Cruises are a time for me to be active. On sea days, it's very easy to walk for several miles on the prom deck, and I never use the lifts, so I get a lot of exercise walking up and down the stairs. On port days, it's a great opportunity for lots of walking in a new location.

Of course, there are people who eat and drink to excess ..... But people do that in every location not just on a cruise.

The people that go on cruises know that they are very lucky and priveledged to do that sort of holiday.

It would be upsetting to find a boatload of asylum seekers - it's so sad that people are so desperate to leave their homes, that they take such terrible risks. Obviously, the captain would take part in a rescue - and the passengers would fully support this action.

lessonlearned

Many years ago, I think 1975, I went on a cruise which visited Cyprus just after a war between Cyprus and Turkey.

We were the last ship in those waters that season.

On the way out I befriended a young Cypriot woman who was returning home after her husband had sent her to Venice to safety during the hostilities. She was too seasick to look after her three children, so my aunt and I got stuck in looking after her and the children. The little boy was a bit shy but the twin girls were fascinated by me and followed me around everywhere, much to the amusement of the other passengers. I had a great time playing with the children, whilst my aunt nursed their mum.

On the way back we called in at Cyprus again because, unknown to us at the time, our ship had been commandeered to take wounded soldiers back to the UK to be fitted with prosthetic limbs.

The Captain gave me a message that our new friend and her husband were waiting at the docks for us. They took us to their home in Nicosia where there was a huge family party for their "new English Friends"

When we got back on the ship we realised that there were now soldiers on board.

None of the passengers on the cruise minded in the slightest and we all just socialised with each other. A good time was had by all.

I shall be going on a cruise in a few weeks. 33 days around the Caribbean. I am a recent widow, having spent 9 long years caring for my sick husband. I also lost my mother this year. - two deaths within 7 months is a lot to deal with.

I am exhausted - physically, mentally and emotionally. It has been 10 years since I had a holiday.

I have chosen a cruise because as a new singleton I am a little nervous about holidaying alone, a cruise offers me the chance to see a bit of the world in safety and comfort.

I have to say that I too resent the implication that I am lazy, greedy, selfish. If a cruise doesn't appeal fair enough, but is it really necessary to be so scathing and judgemental.

Yes I will take the opportunity to laze by the pool and spend a few days resting and soaking up the sun. I think ive earned the rest.

But I will also swim, use the gym, go to the cinema, see the shows, join in the fun, go sightseeing when we hit land and just make the most of every day.

Without wishing to labour the point it's been a rough few years. I have sacrificed my health and vitality caring for my husband and my mum.

I'm now hoping that a cruise will be just what the doctor would have ordered.

candygirl

Pollycat wrote: »

It puts me off too.
I also got the email from Tripadvisor and took a look.
I recognised some of the restaurants/chefs from Masterchef or Saturday Kitchen (Sat Baines, Simon Rogan (L'Enclume) and of course Michel Roux).

Too much touching food for my liking - and the amount of salt they seem to chuck in :eek: I'm absolutely sure I'd find it far too salty for my palate.

And the idea of putting garnish on wth a pair of tweezers.....

But that's just my opinion (and that of the OP) - everybody doesn't have to agree.

We stay near L'enclume a few times a year, and laugh our heads off at the people who brag about eating there:rotfl: My parents, and family have tried it as a present one year, and didn't rate it at all:)

Pollycat

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I particularly dislike cruises, and formal dinners / fine dining experiences, to me the food is not that great (I'd rather eat judiciously from the buffet). But the real reason I hate cruises is because of the disgusting excess and wastage, combined with the laziness of the guests.

Although I've agreed with you about 'fine dining', I think all-inclusive resorts are possibly worse for excess and wastage.

We were recently on holiday (not AI) and did a tour which took you to a restaurant where it was all-you-can-eat buffet.
I don't know what it is but places like that seem to encourage people to pile their plates high with stuff that doesn't go together.
The number of plates with more food left on them than we had actually started with was disgusting.

VfM4meplse

maman wrote: »

In that case, I'm puzzled why you would find a supermarket sandwich value for money.

I'm often away on business, and would rather source a cold meal (sandwich / fruit) from a M&S Simply Food than waste money in hotel or external restaurants.

As for the comments about cruises and laziness, anyone who has been on a cruise with lots of Americans and Northern Europeans will attest to the amount of obesity witnessed on such jaunts, coupled with sedentary "activity" and excessive alcohol consumption. It's completely unnecessary.

missyrichards

Eating very fancy food doesn't appeal to me at all. I'm vegan so I assume most posh places wouldn't have a vegan meal or they would charge me even more for a specially made dish.:D

If people want to eat at these places it's their choice though, it doesn't bother me. Some people like to eat at an elegant restaurant whereas I am happy with a bag of chips from the chip shop or an Indian takeaway at home.:cool:

Goldiegirl

lessonlearned wrote: »

Many years ago, I think 1975, I went on a cruise which visited Cyprus just after a war between Cyprus and Turkey.

We were the last ship in those waters that season.

On the way out I befriended a young Cypriot woman who was returning home after her husband had sent her to Venice to safety during the hostilities. She was too seasick to look after her three children, so my aunt and I got stuck in looking after her and the children. The little boy was a bit shy but the twin girls were fascinated by me and followed me around everywhere, much to the amusement of the other passengers. I had a great time playing with the children, whilst my aunt nursed their mum.

On the way back we called in at Cyprus again because, unknown to us at the time, our ship had been commandeered to take wounded soldiers back to the UK to be fitted with prosthetic limbs.

The Captain gave me a message that our new friend and her husband were waiting at the docks for us. They took us to their home in Nicosia where there was a huge family party for their "new English Friends"

When we got back on the ship we realised that there were now soldiers on board.

None of the passengers on the cruise minded in the slightest and we all just socialised with each other. A good time was had by all.

Your post highlights so many points.


The opportunity to meet people from different countries.


Just after the Greek/Turkish war not many holiday makers would have thought to go to Cyprus. Cruise ships calling would have been a huge boost to the local economy


The onboard camaraderie - there's a real sense that everyone is in it together, from the senior officers to the passengers to the crew, and anybody else who happens to be onboard. I've never experienced that anywhere else.


You find that people that travel are very open minded

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I particularly dislike cruises, and formal dinners / fine dining experiences, to me the food is not that great .

I think you've highlighted a few common misconceptions about cruises. There's only a couple of formal evenings a week these days, the rest are smart casual nights.


The food in the main dining rooms is not fine dining. It's mass market catering, although done to a very good standard

candygirl wrote: »

We stay near L'enclume a few times a year, and laugh our heads off at the people who brag about eating there

Are you sure they are bragging? Perhaps they are just talking about an experience that was very special too them ?