June 27 – July 4, 2024
#######FOOD
Ask anyone what they love the most about cruising — whether on rivers or open oceans — and FOOD will be on that list. Great food, variety, and venues are all three present on the AmaDolce. I was able to try many different foods and wines (after all, it is a cruise in the Bordeaux area!), and I found all of them to be very good. That’s not surprising since this is an AmaWaterways ship. But it is smaller than other ships in the fleet, as well as other lines, so to have such amazing food on this ship is an absolute delight that you can expect AND anticipate.
There are three dining venues onboard:
> The Lounge
> The Restaurant
> The Chef’s Table
To the left is the menu, and above is the image, of the Welcome Lunch that was graciously served to us in the Lounge as we were able to board by 11:30 even though our cabins were not going to be available for us until about 3 in the afternoon. The Green Salad was definitely a welcomed item (pardon the pun) as there had not been many greens or other vegetables during the days in Bordeaux prior to the cruise. The dressing was light, but nice. Sometimes there is too much dressing on the salad, making the items swim in it. The Cream Soup was indeed creamy, and tasty, and the pasta was just the right portion. The Parmesan Cheese added the right amount of tang to the dish. And, of course, beer and wine are complimentary with lunch and dinner on every AmaWaterways cruise. Since we are in Bordeaux, it’s easy to guess what type of wines we had — Bordeaux, naturally. Other wines are always available, but why turn down complimentary glasses of Bordeaux wine?
The Lounge is the typical gathering place on most river cruises. It might be called something else — such as The Bar, The Gathering Place, or even The Watering Hole — but it still functions as a lounge (and a bar). Light, late breakfasts were available each morning as well as a Bistro Lunch in the afternoon. Talks from the Cruise Manager, plus evening entertainment, were held there along with the Sip and Sail Cocktail Hour each evening from 6 to 7. There was the drink of the day along with a list of other complimentary cocktails. Of course, a selection of wines was always available, and even if you wanted a specialty drink, it came with a reasonable price tag. [Disclosure – my bar bill for the 7 days was under $100]. The staff in The Lounge were fantastic; more about them in another post.
As with most cruises, The Restaurant is the primary dining venue, and AmaWaterways does not disappoint you here. There is a variety of seating options — tables for two, for four, for six, and more; some booths. While Dinner is served between certain hours, you do not have to arrive promptly at 7 PM, for example. And seating is at your own choice. I had plenty of choices as the ship was only half capacity.A full ship will see more tables filled, and more people sharing tables — but sharing tables is also a great way to meet new people, and perhaps even a few new friends! I met a couple from London while on a cruise over a dozen years ago. We then traveled together several times, and we still keep in touch.
One of my favorite experiences from the previous AmaWaterways cruise was the appetizers at lunch in the Restaurant. The server brings a small wooden tray that usually holds four small dishes, two small and two large.There have been times when, after looking at the menu, I just asked for more appetizers. I love to eat, but I am more “into flavors” than full meals. So when I see some appetizers that I think are really delicious, I will focus on them. In the case of the image on the right, I didn’t have to ask for more “Herbed Snails,” as they called them. The waiter saw that I had eaten three of them, and she promptly brought me another dish.
Below are a few of the dinner menus (no, beef wasn’t always the main dish):
Dining at The Chef’s Table is quite the delightful experience. I already told you that I am more into flavors than main meals, so I always enjoy the offerings at The Chef’s Table. It is an intimate setting aft on the third deck with seating for 24 guests along with ample windows for river cruise viewing. The chef is visible as he (I’ve only seen male chefs doing it; hopefully, there will be a top female chef cooking someday soon) cooks your items if you are not too busy enjoying what has already been prepared for you.While it is a Specialty Dining restaurant (which typically comes with an additional charge on many other cruise lines), each guest is entitled to dine there once each cruise on a complimentary basis — and you should! The seven-course evening was wonderful, and it was at a casual pace — not too fast, and not too slow. Naturally the recommended wine pairings were perfect. But then, everything about the evening was perfect.
- Here are more posts [in progress] about “The Taste of Bordeaux” cruise on AmaDolce:
- “Taste of Bordeaux” River Cruise — Intro
- “Taste of Bordeaux” River Cruise — Food
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