a return engagement

Last night we returned to Bridge Street Bistro for a second try - again lovely setting - here is the tail end of the sunset we watched as we went over the Cortez Bridge to AMI.

you can see the railing in the above shot- our table was located on the third floor right at the railing overlooking the Gulf of Mexico- below a little different angle cuts out the railing and I think better shows the people at the beach who are watching the tail end of the sunset (which have been fabulous the last week or so!)

there was a cool breeze but I had remembered to wear a sweater- the night before it was cooler but the garden where we sat at the Blue Marlin (also located on Bridge Street) was without any breeze and very comfortable.  - below the garden lights at Blue Marlin.

here is the food from last night's dinner-  which actually ended up pairing well with the 2000 St Innocent Seven Springs Pinot Noir we brought.  Lobster fritters to start, followed by a Bistro Salad (we split these items)

Then I had the Scallops Oscar and Phil the seafood risotto - sorry about the photo - the lighting was strange and I didn't fill in the flash (should have) like I did for Phil's risotto dish... I very much liked the flavor of my dish but to my taste the scallops were slightly overcooked- although a very generous portion not a single one had a center that was just slightly translucent - every one was cooked all the way through :-(

On the other hand Phil loved his risotto and declared it perfect, he had ordered it without the mussels (maybe thinking we would be eating TONS of mussels in just six weeks when we get to Brussels)

so although I have had two less than stellar meals here I think I just need to refine my ordering - everything is made to your order so I am sure next time I can ask for the scallops to be cooked to "the temperature of my liking" as our friend Rainey always says!

Overall I still have a preference for the Blue Marlin but the Bridge Street Bistro has hand;s down best view! Both places are worthy of trying- and if you do go to the Bistro then be specific about how you wish to have your food prepared and I am sure you will be happy with the meal- not to mention the spectacular view!

Tonight our (likely) last time at Waterfront and tomorrow Michael's on East... this week (to ten days) is the final restaurant week because once we get to the last five days for Phil's stay we will be in full swing with the Sarasota Film Festival (SFF) - so lots more to come!

farewell, adieu, goodbye Adrienne

the bulk of the group went off to a chateau (same as last time - so I skipped it) and I did some packing and reading- tonight we have the farewell dinner-

but first- a gift from the end of lunch- a small recipe book from Cyrille - we had been asking for his recipes - especially the salads!

as we ready ourselves to leave, things get drawn to a close- our page in the guest book shows up - and we get a chance to write our goodbyes to the staff and sing the praises of the fabulous cruise...

here is a photo of our wonderful friend Captain Anna- as beautiful inside as out!

the table is a masterpiece - each place setting holds a napkin in a rose shape with a real rose inside (for the ladies) or a shirtfront with bow tie (for the men)- there are ribbon wrapped scrolls and a large envelope for each couple (or single as the case may be)-

later when we sit down for dinner we find that the envelope contains the wine and cheese lists for the week as well as the labels for each of the wines we drank- - - and in the ribbon wrapped roll we find the menus for each night (which you have been seeing all along)

then on to dinner!

tonight a special treat- Chris introduces the cheese course-

he mentions that it is a favorite (speaking with perfectly french accented English) - why is it a favorite?Because it smells like the pilot (and his roommate) Stephane's feet....  then the crew comes out and sings a song they made up about "dirty old cheese, stinky old cheese!"  Marie has a microphone for the band (her rhubarb from the lock keeper's garden) and Cyrille has a kazoo to accompany Stephane on the guitar as the ladies and Chris sing back up! too too too funny... we roared applause for the performance!

  then the actual cheese course- then the dessert -

after dinner we retired to the salon for some singing to Chuck and Stephane's guitar playing- Stephane had located another guitar on a boat docked in the same location that evening and arranged for Chuck to have it for the night's entertainment!

we sang along to a number of songs and slowly people drifted off to their cabins- we have an early morning tomorrow as the little bus leaves at 8:30 -breakfast at 7:30- sadly no more 9 AM pain au chocolat and croissants....

the next morning we all hug the staff and slobber all over them about how fabulous they are and the trip has been- Cyrille drives the bus and Stephane comes along with Anna and Chris, because he will be the one who takes the group back to Paris.  The group and Stephane all get on the train and then Cyrille and Chris and Anna meet us on our train platform to say final goodbyes as we head off to Lyon on the TGV...

I could go on and on - and really I have but this is simply A PERFECT TRIP... a week being coddled in every way by warm welcoming friendly crew members - having lots of fun and eating and drinking amazing food and wine.... it is just the BEST!!!

so good that we are planning to corral Steve and Suzanne (our brother and sister in law) into doing this for their 20th anniversary in 2016- and trying to convince Larry to join us... I know it is a great plan! and it will give us the excuse we need to return - this time in two years rather than nine!!!!

our last day on the Adrienne

we enjoy a leisurely day- on the canals in the morning - with biking and walking - and I spend some time up on top with Stephane piloting the barge through a couple of locks- but even more scary - under some bridges!

 

Today's cruise four locks but many bridges!

this gives you the sense of how LONG our Adrienne is- as she goes under a low bridge (everybody down!)

even with ducking- my back scraped under one of the bridges - Stephane's job is not easy - and he must be ever vigilant - especially in the locks-

occasionally on this canal we have traffic in the other direction- some are more bold than others in the passing by -

 

the next sequence shows the Adrienne entering the lock -

 

here is the whole sequence in one -

some little friends along the way-

but all the work is over for the morning - and we are called to lunch- (sniff! sob! our last lunch on board)

Teresa busy as ever with napkin folding- this might be the best one yet!

I think they think we are growing tired of cheese because we only have one today - or maybe they are trying to get us back to something that is half way to normal eating before they push us off the boat tomorrow and back to our pre- Adrienne lifestyles - LOL - of course we foil them because Phil and I are off to the food capital of France - the city of Lyon!