Transformed

     Yesterday I mentioned the myriad of dining options aboard the ship during my cruise down Alaska's inland passage.  The Pinnacle Grill is the most upscale of all the venues and charges a modest supplement for the privilege of dining in the restaurant.  But for one night, May 22, it was transformed to an even higher level of culinary excellence, a sort of Denali of dining, if you will.

     Modeling their menu and atmosphere the space becomes that of "Le Cirque" on East 58th Street in New York City.  Created in 1974 by Tuscan born Sirio Maccioni, Le Cirque is an established landmark in the Big Apple and offers an unparalleled dining experience.  The name is French for "circus" and that is precisely the theme of the main dining room.  At the New York restaurant a 4 course tasting menu is priced at $135, and that is if you can get a reservation.



     The shipboard Le Cirque is not nearly as expensive nor quite as elegant either for that matter. But there was a serious attempt to create an impressive menu and an atmosphere of elegance.  We were even treated to an amuse bouche prior to our Lobster salad. It was a delightful dollop of pate nestled on gooseberry preserves.



     Keeping with the theme the butternut squash soup was garnished with huckleberries and poured from steaming pots into the bowl at the table.  Then at table side my entree of Chateaubriand was hand carved by the madame d'maison and plated with horseradish flan and sweet and sour beets.

     

     The dessert souffle was absolutely decadent, redolent with deep, dark, warm chocolate and caressed with vanilla bean ice cream.

     

     And just when I thought the meal had reached it's conclusion I was surprised by the delivery to the table of a birthday cake to commemorate the day of my birth, so many years ago!