Murano

As suite passengers we were invited to a complimentary dinner at Murano on the first night of the cruise (usually there is a $35/person fee for this smaller, fancier restaurant).  We couldn't have had a better kick off to our cruise experience!

This is probably a good place to explain that I made myself official food-o-grapher of this trip, so there are a lot of pictures of meals.  Feel free to skip them if you think this is boring...but I thought my foodie friends would be interested. 

There was an amuse bouche - hummus, pita and an aromatized oil. 

I couldn't resist this goat cheese souffle for starters.  It came with a parmesan cream and a tomato-y and pesto-y sauce, and that crazy puff pastry crown. 

Ron tried sweetbreads, having just discussed them with his Dad before we left. 

This salad was incredible.  Heirloom tomatoes, apples and then that amazing homemade buffalo mozzarella with an olive tapenade.  I can't say enough good things about that cheese. 

Ron tried the mushroom cappuccino which came with mushroom ice cream.  I tried both, and they were delicious.  The mushroom ice cream was both sweet and savory.

I had the surf and turf - filet mignon and a lobster tail.  The waiter took the lobster out of its shell tableside.  Earlier, across the restaurant from us something was being flambe'ed tableside that made about a 6 foot flame.  Lots of interesting things to watch in this restaurant.  Those potatoes are about 90% butter I believe.

Ron just had the surf. 

When they asked us to order dessert at the beginning of the meal because they were that complicated, I thought it was for show.  Then this came out.  And I was soooooo glad they had enough time to make it all.  Loose memory indicates those were: mint sorbet (carmel corn on top), raspberry and creme, chocolate mousse, strawberry poached in wine, apple cake and something kind of custardy.  They were all winners, but that strawberry one was the most interesting. 

 

This was all finished off with a tray of petit fours.  We also could have had a cheese course (there was a cart they brought to the table), but that's less than ideal for Ron and believe me, we were plenty full. 

All in all, this was an awesome meal.  I'm so glad they invited us down, because I might have been reluctant to try it, but I'm so glad we got that experience.  If you are cruising I would recommend the specialty restaurant for any special event, or when you want a quieter atmosphere than the main dining room.