Meals on Board

We ate as a family every night in the Elation dining room. Mom & Dad requested two tables right next to each other so we were seated in a corner of the room which was just perfect for us. Each night we rotated seats. It was fun to switch up the tables. I think it caught our waiters off guard at first but they caught on quickly took great care of us. I feel badly that we didn't get pictures of them so we could show them off too.

The first night we arrived to find signs on the table stating that we would be receiving a free bottle of wine. After explaining that we really did not drink alcohol (not even a touch) - it helped once we said that we were Mormons - we were able to trade the wine for soda credits! Hooray for "FREE" Diet Coke (or Sprite)!

See how much fun everyone is having?

I don't know if Granddad was purposely hiding behind his menu or if he was really that fascinated with all the choices on the menu.

We had a lot of choices and many of us took advantage of the opportunity to order two or three appetizers or salads and some of us even ordered two entrees.

Clockwise from the top - the Mexican Buffet (Rob & I were sound asleep by then but some of the PARTY ANIMALS in the family managed to stay up for the midnight buffets), the infamous Chocolate Melting Cake, Flan (a special Gluten Free dessert that wasn't on the menu), the Dessert Buffet, Watermelon Arugula Salad, Mango (Rob said it looked pretty but he didn't really think it tasted that good) and last but not least Chocolate Mousse (another GF dessert that I would have LOVED to eat)

Steak and Baked Potato (this was on the menu every night), a Smoked Salmon appetizer with "Caviar" (the tomato gelatin was very rich and Rob said the salmon egg was not as good as he'd expected so he only rated this as so-so), Crab Cake, Fried Shrimp (This was VERY good!), Stuffed Mushrooms, Smoked Duck (My Favorite appetizer all week; well it actually tied with the Strawberry Bisque!), Lobster and Shrimp

At the beginning of dinner Monday night several people explained the need for gluten free meals and Natasha, (the assistant Maitre 'd?) personally took care of meeting the special requirements of Linda, Jim, Brian & Karin. It was so fun to watch Karin eat well after so many years of not eating, and to watch everyone else enjoy their meals.

The GF bread came out the second night and Brian was skeptical because he thought it looked rubbery but Linda and Karin raved about it so much that he ended up trying it. Linda got the recipe to see if she could recreate it at home. Karin and Brian are making those faces because they are so delighted with the meals they are eating.

Good Job Carnival! Your food was beautiful and tasty!