Buffet-style dining may be going out of style with discerning gourmands, but one thing remains certain—choice. And that's a key appeal of dining onboard a cruise ship, where guests are spoiled for choice with an array of cuisines ranging from casual to fancy to choose from.
Yet, how does one sample everything a cruise ship has to offer, without going overboard and going into a food coma?
Yet, how does one sample everything a cruise ship has to offer, without going overboard and going into a food coma?
Enter Nilo Palma, executive chef of luxury cruise operator Princess Cruises. The veteran chef has been in the cruise line industry since 1993, and is well-versed in planning menus across the various restaurants on a ship.
He notes that it is important to space out diners' meals and keep the high-protein options for the middle part of the cruise. "Don’t give them too much protein or high-energy food on the first few days, or they will feel tired much more fast as the food is too heavy," he says.
He notes that it is important to space out diners' meals and keep the high-protein options for the middle part of the cruise. "Don’t give them too much protein or high-energy food on the first few days, or they will feel tired much more fast as the food is too heavy," he says.
It's also imperative to have some light options on hand, such as clear noodle broths or dried fruits and nuts to snack on. Here, he shares more tips on how to enjoy the various spreads onboard a cruise ship without ending up too full, too early on.
Breakfast of Champions
It might be tempting to reach for strips of crispy bacon or pile your plate with juicy sausages—Palma advises against filling your stomach with such greasy food in the morning. "If you feel too full, you won't be able to enjoy the rest of the meals later on,” he notes. “It's still early, so relax and take it slow.”
Instead, he suggests putting together a light yogurt parfait topped with muesli and dried fruits or nuts for a protein-packed breakfast. On Sapphire Princess, there's even the complimentary option of having this delivered to your room for a healthy breakfast-in-bed.
Lunch with a Crunch
For lunch, Palma is careful to make sure the menu doesn't overlap with what is being served for dinner. For example, he shares that the kitchen should not serve beef courses for both meals, back-to-back. Lunch is when he recommends filling up on greens to give an energy boost for the day, and dressing it in olive oil, rich in healthy fats.
It might be tempting to reach for strips of crispy bacon or pile your plate with juicy sausages—Palma advises against filling your stomach with such greasy food in the morning. "If you feel too full, you won't be able to enjoy the rest of the meals later on,” he notes. “It's still early, so relax and take it slow.”
Instead, he suggests putting together a light yogurt parfait topped with muesli and dried fruits or nuts for a protein-packed breakfast. On Sapphire Princess, there's even the complimentary option of having this delivered to your room for a healthy breakfast-in-bed.
Lunch with a Crunch
For lunch, Palma is careful to make sure the menu doesn't overlap with what is being served for dinner. For example, he shares that the kitchen should not serve beef courses for both meals, back-to-back. Lunch is when he recommends filling up on greens to give an energy boost for the day, and dressing it in olive oil, rich in healthy fats.
Not into leafy greens? That’s okay, too—lunch is also the best time to indulge in deep-fried items for those craving a bit of crunch.
"Lunch is when I'll have some fried food, like fish and chips with a glass of cold beer," says Palma with a chuckle. To assuage any guilt, he shares how certain ships under Princess Cruises use a state-of-the-art heat wave oven that creates the same texture of fried food, sans the oil. Fish, for example, is wrapped in filo pastry dough and put inside the oven until the shell crisps up and the fish remains tender and juicy.
If the weather feels too warm for fried food, Palma’s lunch pick is a simple panini sandwich dressed with fresh mozzarella and plump tomatoes, a treat he enjoys at the International Café on Sapphire Princess.
"Lunch is when I'll have some fried food, like fish and chips with a glass of cold beer," says Palma with a chuckle. To assuage any guilt, he shares how certain ships under Princess Cruises use a state-of-the-art heat wave oven that creates the same texture of fried food, sans the oil. Fish, for example, is wrapped in filo pastry dough and put inside the oven until the shell crisps up and the fish remains tender and juicy.
If the weather feels too warm for fried food, Palma’s lunch pick is a simple panini sandwich dressed with fresh mozzarella and plump tomatoes, a treat he enjoys at the International Café on Sapphire Princess.
Teatime Munchies
You've had your lunch and enjoyed a dip in one of the five pools—it's not quite dinner time but your stomach is hungry for a snack. This is when Palma recommends filling up on something like noodle soup or a light afternoon teacakes and pastries served canapé-style. "For noodles, you can ask for egg-less, or buckwheat or gluten-free wheat noodles so it is not too heavy,” he adds. “If you are craving something to eat and just want to fill your stomach but not too much, have a nice hot broth, like a wonton soup, in between meals to tide over the hunger pangs.”
You've had your lunch and enjoyed a dip in one of the five pools—it's not quite dinner time but your stomach is hungry for a snack. This is when Palma recommends filling up on something like noodle soup or a light afternoon teacakes and pastries served canapé-style. "For noodles, you can ask for egg-less, or buckwheat or gluten-free wheat noodles so it is not too heavy,” he adds. “If you are craving something to eat and just want to fill your stomach but not too much, have a nice hot broth, like a wonton soup, in between meals to tide over the hunger pangs.”
Personally, Palma takes teatime as a chance to snack on nachos with guacamole, and perhaps a cup of coffee or tea. "I like to find a quiet spot, and I'll have some chicken strips on fajitas or some lovely nachos with a bit of minced beef. It's a snack that always hits the spot," he shares.
Meat For Dinner
Dinner is when people are ready to sit back and indulge in heavier meals, such as a steak with a side of roasted potatoes. Palma reveals a secret that it is, in fact, possible to try every dish on the vast menu. “Head into the main dining room and ask for a little bit of everything—the chef will know how to change a dish from a regular portion, to a smaller sampler portion,” he states. “And he will also be more creative in plating, so you can perhaps enjoy a spring roll, some nice pâté, and a salad before you have a sampler platter of meats."
Meat For Dinner
Dinner is when people are ready to sit back and indulge in heavier meals, such as a steak with a side of roasted potatoes. Palma reveals a secret that it is, in fact, possible to try every dish on the vast menu. “Head into the main dining room and ask for a little bit of everything—the chef will know how to change a dish from a regular portion, to a smaller sampler portion,” he states. “And he will also be more creative in plating, so you can perhaps enjoy a spring roll, some nice pâté, and a salad before you have a sampler platter of meats."
A Post-Supper Stroll
After dinner, take a walk around the deck and stretch out the legs. And before you retire to bed, Palma always enjoys some fresh fruits and a nice cup of hot tea. "Fresh fruits help you digest the food better at night and balance out your stomach acid so you don't feel bloated before you sleep," he says. Indeed, a great way to end the night so you can arise for another day of feasting.
This article originally appeared on the MICHELIN Guide Singapore website.
After dinner, take a walk around the deck and stretch out the legs. And before you retire to bed, Palma always enjoys some fresh fruits and a nice cup of hot tea. "Fresh fruits help you digest the food better at night and balance out your stomach acid so you don't feel bloated before you sleep," he says. Indeed, a great way to end the night so you can arise for another day of feasting.
This article originally appeared on the MICHELIN Guide Singapore website.
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