Having our "Share" of Curtis Stone.

Having read mixed reviews before we left, but positive reviews whilst on board, a group of ten of us decided to share a meal at “Share”.

Deciding to leave the menu choices up to Mark, waiter extraordinaire, he presented us with an array of culinary delights.

The first choice to make when dining at “Share”, is to share or not to share.  Once that is done you need to choose if you want to go with the $39 fixed price or the “a la carte” pay as you go option.

Mark chose pay as you go for us, and basically, for every dish he picked we received three portions to Share between us.

First course was from the Charcuterie & Cheese menu.  We enjoyed thinly sliced Jamon, Salami and Sopressa.  We enjoyed tasty, Bethmale, La Gruta, Pantaleo and Shaft Blue cheeses.  All of these coming with a fruit and nut accompaniment.

Next was “From the Garden”, shrimp on a small brioche with a lemon gel and turnip garnish.  Dressed tomato wedges on of a bed of soft cheese with the texture of a labneh or bocconcini cheese.  A Romaine salad of sliced cucumber, lettuce olives and feta, drizzled with just enough oil to keep it fresh.

Food was brought out at a steady pace and we never felt rushed at all.   This meant that each course was presented and savoured in our own time.

Our main meal “From the Oven“ was a very tender and juicy piece of roast chicken, served with a charred onion slaw and a slab of bacon. Cooked just as they like it in the States, crisp but chewy and pleasant to eat; it sounds like a contradiction in terms, but you couldn’t help going back for just one more chunk.  Turbot (fish for those as ignorant as me) with a cheese and spinach crust.

 Sides were Potato Gratins served with a truffle cream (you always have me at truffle), Wild Mushrooms served with Pine nuts, and for the life of me, I just can’t put the words Mac & Cheese and a la carte in the same sentence. Mac & Cheese is Mac & Cheese, but with the right cheese, it was very nice….

By now, we are thinking we couldn’t eat any more, but you know, no matter what, you can always find that little spot for dessert. When they place that bread and butter pudding in front of you, then pour a toffee sauce over the top from a great height, you are scrambling for your plate and spoon so that you can grab that first helping…   yes, that little tart with lemon butter and little bit meringue was nice, but I was back for any leftover pudding.

We started with the Princess 50^th Anniversary Prosecco and finished with the Princess Limoncello, and a wonderful serenade of “you’re just too good to be true” from Mark.

Thanks to Mark’s perfect suggestions our a la carte menu cost us $55 per couple.

TIP:  it was suggested to us by Ricky, our regular table waiter, that we could eat dinner in the dining room then adjourn to Share to share dessert……. Ha … at $4.50 I want my own!!

And so it is “Sea La Vie” from the beautiful Sun Princess.