Inaugural Wonder (April) Hawaii Cruise - Specialty Menus

[SanDiegoSteph]

So several folks have asked about the specialty menus we had onboard the Inaugural Hawaii cruise, so I thought I would post them here for you...

First up, California Menu served on the evening of the 2nd Sea Day

 

[njdisneylovr]

Ohhh, I wish they had this menu on the Fantasy...then again, I'd be asking for double entree's and app's!

 

[Shell54]

Looking forward to seeing more of the menus..thanks for posting

 

[luvslikepi]

Thanks for posting these - I'd love to know what you ate and what you thought of it too.

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

Thanks for posting these - I'd love to know what you ate and what you thought of it too.

This is going to be a little tough, but I'll do my best. I'm not much of a foodie (food is a requirement to live not something which I really think about) however my hubby LOVES food (and he is still skinny as a rail...grrrr

Okay, let's see what I can remember:

I didn't have an appetizer, but my DH had the polenta with wild mushrooms which he thought was okay, but dry. Now, this has to be taken with a grain of salt though as he likes his food "drowned" in sauce.

I had the Roasted Pumpkin Soup and while the pumpkin flavor was good, the crab was pretty much non-existent and I thought it a little bland. Of course, I like my food pretty spicy!

For the Main Course, my DH had the Grilled Tenderloin and he thought it FABULOUS - well prepared and cooked perfectly.

I am a pescatarian (seafood only), but I don't really like bass so I had the Portobello Mushroom Ravioli. I too was wonderful and it is a shame that it is kind of "dismissed" to the bottom of the Vegetarian menu. I think even all you carnivores out there would enjoy it!

For dessert we both had the California's Sweet Temptations so that we could try a "bite" of everything. The brulee was good, the cheescake was quite good and the flourless chocolate cake was forgettable (which was a disappointment as I'm a crazy chocolate fan!)

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

Next up, Hilo Night (E Komo Mai) Menu served on the evening we pulled into Hilo. We shared with our head server and on our comment cards that having these special meals on port nights was not a great idea since the dining rooms were virtually empty for first dining in Hilo, Maui and Oahu and virtually empty even for late dining in Maui and Oahu since all aboard time for those nights was not until 10:30pm.

It will be interesting to see if they move the menus to the sea days for October...

Sorry, I forgot to photograph the dessert menu, but I got this one from another DISers trip report

Since I was so late to dinner (arrived at 6:30), I didn't get an appetizer. BUT, I heard from other folks that the Ono Crispy Shrimp with Spicy Popcorn was AMAZING - so much so that they asked for a plate of it each night after!!

For a Main Course, I had the "Waikiki Beach" Pan-seared Scallops" which I thought were tender and full of flavor - a definite thumbs-up!

My DH had the "Honey Glazed Salmon" and enjoyed it. He said it was moist and flavorful.

One of our tablemates LOVES creme brulee and asked for it every evening and somehow our amazing servers found it almost every night for her even when it wasn't on the menu - so wonderful!

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

Next up, Kahului Night (Ho'olaule'a) Menu served on the evening we pulled into Maui. Unfortunately we didn't get to parktake of this menu as we participated in a luau in Lahaina and didn't make it back to the ship until 10pm this evening.

Sorry, I couldn't get the dessert menu again as I had to beg to get a copy to photograph then next morning!

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

Next up, Honolulu Night (Makahiki) Menu served on the evening we pulled into Oahu. We were practically the only folks in the dining room this evening since all aboard was 10:30pm

Sorry, I fogot to photograph the dessert menu again - I guess I was enjoying my dinner cocktail too much!

I decided I really wanted an "all appetizer" dinner this evening so I ordered the "Maui Island Sunrise," "Conch Fritters," and "Sweet Potato Quiche"

They were all very good, but if I had to rank them I'd say the Quiche was the best as it was the most flavorful. The Maui Island Sunrise was probably 2nd as the chunks of shrimp and lobster were large and tender. The Conch Fritters would be third probably because they weren't as spicy as I like them.

I also had the Chilled Pineapple Soup. It was good and refreshing - not as good as the Chilled Strawberry Soup that they often have at the buffet, but the coconut and liquor flavors were apparent and refreshing.

My DH had the "Molakai Style" Seafood Fettuccine as he is a big curry fan. He said it was just average. My DMIL/DFIL both had the Baked Pacific Snapper and LOVED it!! This is the only meal I remember my ILs having as they practically liked their plates that night.

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

Next up was Nawiliwili (Mai'e'ai) Night Menu served on the evening we pulled into Kauai. Although everybody was back on board for this evening's meal since all aboard was 5:30, I somehow failed to take any photos at all!!

Hopefully someone else has a copy of this menu and can post here when they have a chance...

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

Next up, Master Chef Menu was served on the 3rd sea day on the way back (May 10th). Along with the regular specialty menus: Let the Magic Begin; Golden Mickys; etc. and the Show Menus, this was a new specialty menu to ensure we never had a repeated menu - part of what makes me LOVE DCL!

I had the "Citrico's Shrimp" and it was flavorful and fresh - very good. My DH had the "Baked Gruyere Cheese Souffle" which he thought was just okay (again he thought it too dry); however, I thought it was creamy and wonderful...I LOVE cheese though.

For my Main Course, I had the "Scallop and Asparagus Linguine." It was just okay - scallops were tender, but the sauce was bland. Someone at the next table ordered the same though and thought it SO bad he sent it back and got the Pheasant which he said was excellent.

My DH had the "Tenderloin and Lobster Medallions" and said it was prepared perfectly and he thoroughly enjoyed it.

Again I failed to photograph the dessert menu so I guess all of those will have to be surprises for all of you October sailors!!

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

Whoops - I guess there was one more special menu that I missed photographing (grrr). The Aloha Menu was served on the 1st day at sea after we left the islands (May 8th)

Again, hopefully another April/May passenger will have it to post later.

Thanks!

 

[aan1701]

If I may just make one correction. The Taste of California menu was served on night 2. Golden mickeys was durring the second week and was formal night number 2 as Taste of California was formal night 1. They have done the Master Cheif menu as well before. I have had it on at least half of my cruises. Also the crispy shrimp were amazing and we did get it every night for the rest of the cruise. It was soooooooooo good.