Russia 2019 (26) RIVER - Dinner on the River

It was fun to finally have dinner on the river as we floated past the ever-changing scenery. Tables were set with a different dinnerware pattern, more elegant for evening.

The first evening Mike crashed while I dined on sliced veggie salad, cod with fava beans/peas/basil sauce, and one of my all-time favorite desserts of creme brûlée. It was a different texture than I'm used to--not as creamy and a little more eggy--but heavenly. I shared a table with two cutsie friend gals from Los Angelos. They had cruised before on Viking, so gave me the low-down and answered some of my questions. For my first meal on board, I was impressed. 

Daily menus offered many alternatives. You could order from whatever area you wished, mix-or-match, get more than one helping, or order one of each item on the menu. There were absolutely no restrictions.

On the left side was a set menu--the same every night. The only difference was that ice cream and sorbet flavors changed. I think the second night they offered pistachio (made with real pistachios, not almonds). That is one of my very fave flavors and we don't often have it at home. So each night I asked if they had it and most nights they did. Some nights I even asked for a double helping. Yum!

The right side of the menu changed each night. At the top were regional Russian choices. There was always an appetizer or soup, entree, and dessert, including known favorites and some new that we had never heard of. Examples are: plemeni (meat dumpling appetizer), Stolichny salad (traditional vegetable and meat salad), borscht (beef broth, beets, carrots, sour cream), kotlety po pojarski (breaded chicken and pork cutlets with paprika sauce), and Pavlova (meringue disk with raspberries and whipped cream on top).

The bottom half of the page offered varied classics and international dishes from Thailand, Italy, France, the U.S. and elsewhere.

Complimentary alcoholic beverages that came with lunch and dinner were a choice of white or red Russian-made wine (see bottom of top menu above) or beer, again no limit.

I'm not big on oaky chards, but I tried it one night and it was not my preference. But the cab was wonderful and I enjoyed at least two glasses every night.

Two nights the complimentary wine offered was Spanish. It was good, but I was glad to get back to the bold Russian red. Here is our wine server, Gemma. She was a delight. Regarding cocktails or additional wine choices, you could order whatever, but there was a charge (unless you had paid for the Silver Beverage Package). Prices were reasonable.

Here's some food shots. Prosciutto and melon appetizer.

Soups were interesting combos and delish. A different one every night. Here's the borscht with sour cream. Sour cream is used like catchup in Russia, a condiment for everything.

Creamy carrot with croutons and ginger.

Here's a salmon en croute creation.

Blinis.

Desserts were the absolute best though. Each one a lovely work of art and pleasing to the palate.

This is pavlova named for the Russian prima ballerina Anna Pavlova. It is meringue with raspberries and whipped cream.

So here's where we introduce our best boat buddies, Donna and Jim. There were no assigned tables for meals, so you sat where there were open seats and visited with whoever you joined or whoever joined you. On maybe Day 3 we happened to sit with D&J. We connected immediately and ate many lunches and dinners together after that. "Our" table was at the very front of the ship with water views on three sides.

We had loads in common. They had relatives near us in Michigan and we had relatives near them in Ohio. Donna and I both belong to a women's group, and enjoy miniatures, red wine, more. She was so funny, making up for my seriousness. Mike and Jim hit it off, too. They would both be winners in a Trivial Pursuit tournament, having knowledge of just about everything. Conversation never wained.

By the end of the cruise it was as if we had known each other for many years. The experience just would not have been as much fun without their friendship. Soon we all plan to meet for dinner at the Pearl in the North Short District of Columbus, Ohio. Can't wait to see them again. We just love this fabulous couple and wish we lived closer to continue making happy memories.

Back to eating. The last day of the cruise our servers Gemma, Dasha, and Ron gave us a gift of eight dinner menus from the cruise, attached together with a sweet note and a little red wood bead bracelet. Here are a few menus, in case your mouth is not watering yet.