Best Peking Duck Salad at Sea

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Cantonese Classics from Chef Richard Chen 

Harmony

Harmony is a specialty restaurant created in partnership with the former chef of Wing Lei – the first Chinese restaurant in North America awarded a Michelin star – Harmony, features Chef Richard Chen’s interpretation of classic Cantonese dishes. Chef Chen’s innovative plates demonstrate impeccable technique with a masterful balance of ingredients and flavors.

Princess Cruises' specialty restaurants always deliver an extraordinary experience. They are among the best at sea – or anywhere. Majestic Princess introduces Harmony to the fleet. We put this on our must-do list so that we could report about this culinary experience.

Our cruise package included one complimentary specialty dining for two up to $29 value each.  Since Harmony's cover charge was within those limits, that was a second reason for choosing it.

Tip: Always listen to wait staff's advice regarding menu selection


We'll Have the Peking Duck Salad

At dinner, a couple nights before we went to Harmony, we asked our Head Waiter how the food was at Harmony and if he had any recommendations.  You have to order the Peking Duck Salad.  We also spoke to our Waiter and told him we wouldn't be there because we were going to Harmony for dinner.  He too gave us an unsolicited recommendation for Peking Duck Salad.   When we arrived for dinner at Harmony, our Waiter explained the menu and offered his recommendations ... you guessed it.  So, we did order that for our starter.  It was amazing !!  We later learned that was the chef's specialty dish.

Our main entrees were Stir Fried Shrimp, sugar peas, and mushrooms and the Harmony Lightly Crisped Chicken, water chestnut, ginger and soy glaze.  The main meal was complimented with Egg White  Fried Rice, scallops and Cantonese Chow Mein. assorted vegetables.  Dessert was Red Bean Crème Brûlée.

We thoroughly enjoyed dining at Harmony.  The service was great, the food was fantastic, and the view out the window added to the ambiance.  It is well worth the cover charge if you like Cantonese food.  The waiter didn't steer us wrong with his recommendations, which he tailored to our tastes.

Additional photos can be found on our Australia & New Zealand Shutterfly page


Harmony

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Taste of Vietnam

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Cu Chi Tunnels

If you are looking for a tour Off The Beaten Path, Cu Chi Tunnels & Countryside shore excursion is for you. Unless you were in Vietnam during the war, we doubt you could begin to imagine what this tunnel system was like. It was incredible to see how the tunnels were constructed and how this underground world was so instrumental during the war.

Our Gateway to Ho Chi Minh post details our visit to Cu Chi Tunnels, as well as the other sights featured on that shore excursion.   Since it was an all day tour, it included lunch. 

Ad Ben Nay Restaurant

After a short drive from the tunnels we arrived at Ad Ben Nay Restaurant for lunch. It is as an open air restaurant located along the banks along a stream. It was quite a lovely setting with gentle breezes blowing through as we enjoyed our meal.

There was a set menu served family style. It consisted of grilled chicken (which was brought just as we were leaving), spring rolls, fried Basa filet fish with tomato sauce, braised pork in clay pot, seafood hot pot with noodles, steamed rice, and flan for dessert.   The meal included one beverage so everyone at our table opted for Saigon beer.

We walked around the grounds a bit and then boarded our motor-coach for the long trip back to Phu My.  Once again we made our way through the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh city.  

Some passengers wanted to stop for shopping, but since everyone didn't want to stop, we stuck to the schedule, making a brief bathroom stop and returned to the pier right on schedule. There were a few vendors selling souvenirs at the pier for those interested.

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Ho Chi Minh
Cu Chi Tunnels
Saigon Lunch

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Avalon Grill Lunch

Strasbourg Mid-Day

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After completing our complimentary morning tour of Strasbourg, we returned to Avalon Artistry II for lunch.  We had signed up for the Grill Lunch the night before.

Due to the seating capacity on the Sky Deck, it was necessary to limit the number of passengers that can have the lunch on a given day.   In order to allow all passengers to experience this special lunch, it was requested that only passengers who had not already had the grill lunch sign up. 

Don't Miss The Grill Lunch

Each night our Cruise Director held a briefing where he'd go over the excursions for the next day, special meals, and entertainment.   If you didn't attend the briefing, you could miss out on opportunities to sign up for things like this.

The food was great - there's nothing like freshly prepared food over a grill.   Who would have thought you could enjoy a lunch like this on a river cruise?

 
Leave Room for Ice Cream

After everyone had been served the main course, the staff brought out the ice cream.   Today they served vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio ice cream.   We couldn't decide, so we had all three.  The pistachio was our favorite.

Just as in the dining room, you could have complimentary soft drinks (Coke products) with your meal.  The tables were set with water pitchers as well.   If you wanted something from the bar, they also had beer specials for purchase.


 
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Strasbourg - Grill Lunch

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Dining at Sea Part 3

Enjoy a Quick Meal

Comfort Food

Old Favorites

Our series began with a look at your first meals onboard the ship.  That typically is at the ship's buffet.  Later in the week, while soaking up some rays on deck, or in between shore excursions, you'll find yourself wanting a quick meal without having to go to a dining room and possibly not even to the buffet.  Fear not, the cruise lines have you covered.

Burgers & Pizza

On the majority of ships, you'll find one of more locations near the pool where you'll be able to grab a quick meal.  Typically you'll find made to order items like burgers, hotdogs, chicken, and pizza.  On some ships, like the Allure of the Seas, you'll find some upscale fast food places on the promenade or elsewhere on the ship for your dining pleasures.  You can get your favorite shake and burger from Johnny Rockets on Allure of the Seas for example.   There may be cover charges (which are extra gratuities) in some dining venues.

Comfort Foods

In the mood for some comfort food like mac 'n cheese, chicken pot pie, fish 'n chips?  You may find those on the buffet or there may be another dining venue,such as O'Sheehans Bar & Grill on several Norwegian Cruise Line ships, which serves a selection of items to satisfy your cravings.

There are many choices onboard each ship to satisfy lunch, dinner, afternoon or evening snacks.   Consult the daily paper for details about what options you have.

Moderno Churrascaria

Norwegian Epic Moderno Churrascaria

Tableside Carving on Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Epic dining has a wide array of tastes to satisfy the most serious foodies' palate.  There are 20 dining options, each offering a unique atmosphere so you can have upscale and elegant one night, laid-back and casual the next.

Green Means Go ... Your Plate will Fill up Fast

Norwegian Epic's Churrascaria

A churrascaria is a Brazilian steakhouse.
Churrasco is the cooking style, which translates roughly from the Portuguese for 'barbecue'.

Save Room for Picanha

Passadores (meat waiters) come to your table with knives and a skewer, on which are speared various kinds of meat, be it beef, pork, filet mignon, lamb, chicken, sausage, fish, or any other sort of local cut of meat. A common cut of beef top sirloin cap is known as Picanha.   This prized cut of   sirloin is know for it's rich flavor.

Moderno's Meat Selections

Advice: Pace Yourself

If you've never been to a Churrascaria before, you could quickly find too much food on your plate.    In Moderno, just like in other traditional Churrascarias, there is a sumptuous salad bar which is typically where you start.    

Your table setting will include knife, fork, spoon, and two important items unique to a Brazilian steakhouse:   tongs to grab the meat selections and a card with red on one side and green on the other.    Turn your card to green and you'll be swarmed by servers displaying various cuts of meat.   Chose as many as you like to fill your plate.

Red = Stop

Tip #1:   Don't fill up on the salad, there's too much other food to savor coming up next.  You will be tempted because there are many of the great selections.
 
Tip #2:  Take a break and savor your meal.   The waiters aren't going to chase you out of the restaurant.   You want to enjoy your meal, and experience all the different meat selections.  

Tip #3: Communicate your likes and dislikes to your servers.   When the passadores bring a meat selection, they will usually have more than one meat doneness.  If you like your meats a particular way, let them know and they'll be happy to bring your choice to you. 

Tip #4: Leave room for dessert.   We couldn't decide what to have, so we chose them all.

Moderno Churrascaria is the best kept secret on Norwegian Epic.   It is well worth the extra service charge.   A restaurant like this on land would cost you around $50 or more per person not including beverages or dessert.

More Pictures on our FB Fan Page: Moderno Churrascaria Album