To say I used to be blown away by the standard of elements, culinary abilities, and meals decisions on my Windstar cruise could be placing it flippantly. I can sometimes handle not including to my waistline on most cruises, however this was not the case on the Star Legend. From custom-made breakfasts to James Beard Basis-guided dinner menu gadgets and well-trained kitchen employees, I handled my style buds to a sensory overload on this trip. Listed below are the very best issues I ate on my Windstar cruise, both that simply tasted unbelievable, have been atypical from most cruises, or wowed me in some trend.
Be aware: I used to be hosted by Windstar on a familiarization journey to jot down this and different posts. Opinions and opinions are solely mine.
1. Rooster Liver Pâté
I’m a giant fan of pâté, and the appetizer portion with multi-grain crackers was an actual murals. The pâté itself, comprised of floor meats, herbs, spices, and both wine or brandy, was easy, full-flavored, and was stuffed with umami (the essence of deliciousness for this gal). The pickled onions have been a superb accompaniment.
Many cruisers weren’t acquainted with the spreadable delight and have been hooked after making an attempt it. A number of of us thought this was the very best dish on the weeklong Windstar cruise.
2. Iberico Ham And Croquettes
Cuadro 44 is likely one of the Star Legend specialty eating rooms. The standout for me on this Spanish-themed eatery was the arsenal of tapas from which you’ll order as a lot as you need. My husband and I selected the sausages, croquettes, and mouth-watering Ibérico ham slices.
I’m no stranger to one of many finest-cured meats on the planet, Ibérico ham, which is an actual delicacy. The salty, cured leg of pork from Portugal or Spain is a medley of taste — you received’t know what hit you.
Enjoyable Truth: The principle distinction between the uncommon Jamón Ibérico and Serrano ham is the kinds of pigs it comes from, and the remainder is the costly price ticket. The Ibérico ham pigs are solely fed pure meals and may roam throughout their lifespan.
3. Watermelon Tomato Feta Salad
A shocking reality about me is that I just like the salad and soup higher than some other programs. When a salad mixture of a few of my favourite elements confirmed up on the menu, I used to be very excited however interested in how they might work collectively.
Fortunately, Windstar had some well-trained cooks writing the menus for our cruise, so my tomato, watermelon, feta cheese, and crimson onion salad with a candy, tangy dressing was unbelievable. That is one refreshing dish, and each the watermelon and tomatoes have been in season and meaty.
4. Triple Chocolate Dessert
Considered one of Windstar’s specialty eating places is Candles (included at no further value), which is the principle breakfast and lunch spot, solely jazzed up for dinner with white tablecloths, a romantic vibe, and naturally, candles.
Whereas my entire meal was sensational, the dessert actually stood out. I had the triple chocolate bar with a torched meringue topping served a scoop of flavored ice cream. Oh my goodness, this was one super-rich however super-pleasing portion. It was the very best dessert of my journey, however there have been a couple of shut runner-ups.
5. Pasta Bolognese
Having eaten Mario Batali’s pasta Bolognese, which is tough to beat, I are inclined to shrink back from dishes I is perhaps disillusioned in. To not fear: The pastas on Windstar cruises are all sensational. The pasta bolognese is one satisfying dinner, from the al dente pasta to the superbly made sauces and simply the correct quantity of herbs and cheeses topping them.
6. Moussaka
At lunch at some point, I had already ordered a made-to-order pasta dish after I occurred upon the three sizzling meals to the left of the motion station. There stood a beautiful skillet of moussaka, a fragile eggplant dish with a candy, aromatic floor meat combination.
I really like this Mediterranean dish and was so blissful when the attendant urged me to have some along with my pasta. I ought to be ashamed to say that I ate them each, however that moussaka was adequate to lick the plate clear.
7. Steak Or Beef In Any Type
As a blogger, I’m an professional at taking photos of menus and meals gadgets to reference the issues I do, eat, see, and so on. Nonetheless, I used to be an epic failure at taking photos of my nightly menus, so all I’ve to go by are my pictures and recollections. So I’m lumping all of my unbelievable beef dishes into one entry as a result of it doesn’t matter what reduce of steak they have been, every was delectable with each chunk.
The herb-crusted, probably tenderloin, was a stand-out. It got here with steamed carrots and asparagus spears. A full-bodied sauce offered a mattress for the steak to put on and paired completely with the tender meat slices. I critically needed to ask for seconds of this dinner.
The second beef dish was thinly sliced and served with a peppercorn gravy sauce, wealthy and full of excellent taste. A tacky potato dish took this meal to the following degree, and the broccoli made me really feel prefer it was a bit wholesome. Once more, it took every part I had to not ask for seconds of this dish. Windstar’s predominant eating room has very good cuts of beef, and they’re completely cooked each time.
8. Goat Cheese Soufflé
In over 50 cruises, I’ve had a goat cheese soufflé on in all probability a dozen different ships. It’s an appetizer I all the time stay up for, and the one on the Star Legend was equally as spectacular. The wealthy, heat, pungent cheese in a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth type is a starter that makes you’re feeling such as you’ve sinned within the worst manner doable, however your style buds are so blissful that they instantly discuss you down from that pedestal. The soufflé is classy, for lack of higher descriptive phrases.
9. Selfmade Biscotti
The Star Legend’s Yacht Membership Cafe is a espresso bar of types with a couple of tasty treats all through the day. I seemed ahead to the afternoons with a little bit plate of goodies from my favourite espresso barista. As soon as I bit into the house-made granola, which truthfully seemed like a chunk of candied bacon, I may inform from the style that it was good and wholesome, most certainly ready with honey. The crispy crunch and candy raisins elevated this little nugget into one thing I seemed ahead to every day.
The chocolate pot de crème sitting on the desk (see the image) was distinctive, too. In the event you see considered one of these within the show case, seize it; they received’t final lengthy.
10. Soufflé Of The Day
Some individuals get excited a few soup or sandwich of the day, however seeing the soufflé on the Star Legend dinner menus known as for a celebration. In the event you’ve by no means ready a soufflé, you might not perceive the work that goes into making these unbelievable little sweets, however I’ve – and I walked on eggshells the entire time they have been baking.
I ate a soufflé on most days of the cruise, because the flavors (like Grand Marinier and chocolate) have been all the time so engaging. I felt like I hit the jackpot with this each day dessert choice.
11. Pâté Sandwich
As I discussed above, the pâté was unbelievable, so why ought to it not shock me that they made a “French” sandwich, out there within the Yacht Membership Cafe, with pâté because the starring ingredient. I inquired what made it a French sandwich and devoured one down as quickly as Ragam, my server, offered me an outline.
12. Pistachio Pasta
One other pasta dish that simply would possibly curl your toes is the pistachio pasta. What a intelligent dish; why have I by no means seen this on a menu earlier than? The pesto could have been ready with one thing aside from basil, however no matter it was labored properly with the lighter-than-air recent cheese shreds and crunchy pistachios. Belief me on this one; it was 10/10 scrumptious.
13. Mushroom Pastry Appetizer
I used to be shocked to see so many gadgets on the menu with mushrooms. After all, I really like them and suppose I ordered each considered one of them, however mushrooms have to be a well-liked merchandise across the Caribbean. One or two dishes featured mushrooms on the menu every night time, and I used to be all the time very impressed with the vegetarian creations.
The one pictured right here was my favourite. It was a light-weight puff pastry with a mushroom cream sauce ladled over it. The peppers garnish helped offset the richness of the mushroom gravy, which I may have eaten day by day. What a genius recipe!
14. Chocolate Mousse
Windstar has an actual manner with chocolate, and the milk chocolate mousse on a cookie crust with mango and probably crystallized ginger was so good it ought to have been unlawful. With desserts like this, I can confidently say that in all of my cruises, Windstar is the dessert grasp of the seas.
For extra on Windstar and cruises normally, be sure you take a look at these articles:
