Celebrity Cruises Cooking Classes: Fun on the Millennium
DISCLOSURE: Stylish Cruising contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, as well as affiliate programs with other companies. If you make a purchase using one of these links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. To learn more, please see our Privacy Policy.
- The course has two or three sessions held in the mornings on sea days.
- Sessions last for about sixty minutes.
- The course is taught by a chef or chefs from the ship’s specialty restaurants.
- You will be participating and eating.
- The cost is only $59 per person.
Session One
On the first day of the cooking class, Day Five of our cruise, we entered the restaurant and took seats at the tables, meeting the other participants who numbered ten, including us.
Soon, we were escorted back to the kitchen, where we all scrubbed our hands in preparation for hands-on training.
We soon learned that Session One was about preparing lobster ramen, which was appropriate considering we were sailing on our way to Japan.
Ingredients included lobster, ramen noodles, a pre-prepared lobster base, and ingredients for a bouillon to add to the base to create lobster stock that included ginger, leeks, garlic, carrots, thyme, cilantro, star anise, Pernod, brandy, white wine, and more.
The class was divided into three groups. One sauteed the lobster in sesame oil, one boiled the ramen noodles, and the third made the bouillon.
Once the ramen noodles were cooked, they were mixed with oil to reduce sticking, and then divided into ten serving bowls. Six chunks of lobster were placed on top of the ramen in each bowl.
The bouillon was strained and added to the lobster base to create a stock, then spooned over the lobster and ramen noodles.
Before we knew it, we were shooed off to the restaurant while the waitstaff delivered our final dishes to the table.
The dish’s taste was more complex than it looked, rich and quite yummy. I don’t eat seafood, so my dish didn’t include lobster. I had no idea until later that the stock was lobster stock, but it didn’t keep me from enjoying the dish. Luckily, I’m not allergic, it’s just a food preference, so all was good. If I were allergic, I would have notified the chef.
The ramen was delicious and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Session Two
On the second and final day of our cooking course on Day 15 of our cruise, we were given chef hats, which we all donned with a few giggles. Today was pasta day, and we were excited.
The kitchen was set up with the ingredients we would need to make pasta carbonara, or more specifically, strozzapreti carbonara, based on the pasta we would be using.
The chef showed us the flour, eggs, and durum wheat flour used to make the pasta, and then added them to the pasta machine. I was a little disappointed that we weren’t making pasta by hand, so I’ll have to wait for another class to have that experience.
Within moments, pieces of strozzapreti pasta were extruded from the machine onto a tray.
The pasta was then placed in boiling water. I was surprised, thinking that pasta needed to be dried before cooking, but it didn’t.
While the pasta boiled, four class members stepped up to make the sauce from pancetta, garlic oil, garlic, shallots, white wine, cream, peas, an egg yolk, cracked pepper, and parmesan cheese.
When the pasta was ready, it was added to the sauce in the saute pans and tossed, then plated with more parmesan added.
After the dishes were plated, we were excused from the kitchen and assembled in the dining room to eat the results of our labors…a beautiful bowl of strozzapreti carbonara.
The dish was amazing, hearty and tasty, exactly what I would expect from Tuscan Grille.
This time, we were given our aprons at the end of the class.
On the aprons was a tag that explained that Celebrity Cruises had partnered with the nonprofit organization Cooks Who Feed for these courses. Purchasing these handmade aprons provides ten meals for those suffering from food insecurity.
Yet another good reason to take the course: it helps feed the world.
How to Sign Up for Celebrity Cruises Cooking Classes
From what we’ve seen, Celebrity has offered these cooking classes on the Apex, Solstice, and Millennium, although they may offer them on all their ships.
If you’re interested in participating, check for the cooking classes in the daily newsletter, Celebrity Today, once you’re onboard. If you don’t see them listed, ask the activities director or perhaps the maître d’ at one of the specialty restaurants, and they will point you in the right direction to sign up.
Final Thoughts on Celebrity Cruises Cooking Classes
Although the classes we took on the Apex were more involved and varied, this class on the Millennium was just as fun. We can’t wait to participate in another because the classes give you a greater appreciation of the food you eat onboard, after seeing the work and expertise that goes into each dish.
Bon appétit, and happy cruising!
LET’S BE SOCIAL: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Planning to book a cruise? We have some tips for you.
