A Christmas Ship Comes Sailing In (A Cam and Luke TR) Completed 2/18 About This Page:

[roaminggnome]

The cooking class looked like a BLAST.

[Alaskan Mom]

I'd love to learn how to do that beautiful plate art. My plate would look like yours, lots of chocolate!

[B.M.]

Looks like a fun cooking class!

[islandgirl]

What a fun excursion! Yet another reason why I'm beginning to consider a cruise! ...."take a cooking class" is on my bucket list! (while on this subject: is there anywhere in WDW to take a cooking class?)

[xwewhisper]

I've always wanted to try those cooking class type excursions, and yours looks like so much fun I might just finally go for it this year!

[KMB733]

That looked like a really fun excursion! Everything looked delicious

[taylan1]

Your excursion looked like so much fun! I am with you as mine would be covered in chocolate as well! LOL! I hope you find your recipes some day.

[Cam22]

Originally Posted by mcneal

What a fun excursion. If you ever get back to Cozumel, I recommend the Kaokao factory tour. It is not thru the cruise lines but really cool. It is a small chocolate factory located deep in the town of Cozumel. We got to grind our beans and make our own chocolate. Super nice people and very informative.

A chocolate factory tour does sound fun.

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

What a great time you're having on the excursion! Looks so fun!

I was so happy with this port adventure.

Originally Posted by roaminggnome

The cooking class looked like a BLAST.

It was because Chef Luis was entertaining as well as instructional.

[Cam22]

Originally Posted by Alaskan Mom

I'd love to learn how to do that beautiful plate art. My plate would look like yours, lots of chocolate!

I am a bit of a chocaholic.

Originally Posted by B.M.

Looks like a fun cooking class!

Fun was the key element to this workshop.

Originally Posted by islandgirl

What a fun excursion! Yet another reason why I'm beginning to consider a cruise! ...."take a cooking class" is on my bucket list! (while on this subject: is there anywhere in WDW to take a cooking class?)

Good question! I don't know if there is one, but I'd be interested in trying one at WDW.

[Cam22]

Originally Posted by xwewhisper

I've always wanted to try those cooking class type excursions, and yours looks like so much fun I might just finally go for it this year!

This particular one had delicious food (even after I made it all myself), a fun chef whose instructions were easy to follow, and then the time we got at the resort afterwards.

Originally Posted by KMB733

That looked like a really fun excursion! Everything looked delicious

And I've only mentioned the first course of three that we made.

Originally Posted by taylan1

Your excursion looked like so much fun! I am with you as mine would be covered in chocolate as well! LOL! I hope you find your recipes some day.

I checked a few more spots where they have been, but still no luck.

[Cam22]

More Cooking

Day 8, Part 2: Thursday, December 11, 2014

On to the second dish, still working in reverse order so that everything would be ready when it was time for us to dine. So our next dish was the entrée/main course of grouper with veggies. I was a little apprehensive about this dish as I don’t eat much seafood, but I did find it fun to prepare. Angel and Moises had already diced up all the veggies for us, so all we had to do was salt and pepper the grouper to our taste, and then add tamarind and chili powder sauce. The grouper was then sautéed in butter with the veggies (onion, red and green bell peppers, zucchini, carrot, and tomato).





Once the grouper was browned, we each placed ours into a foil package and poured the veggies and sauce over the top. The foil package was sealed and taken to be baked before we dined.





The final dish prepared was the appetizer. First, we were given a tortilla ball that we lightly pressed so it remained thick, and then using our fingers shaped into a bowl. I was so afraid I was going to press mine so flat I wouldn’t be able to make a bowl. But I got it just right on the first press, according to Chef Luis. Next, we sautéed some devil-style shrimp using tomato and chipotle sauce. When the shrimp was a nice shade of orange, we placed these into our tortilla bowls, topping the shrimp with lettuce, heavy cream, crumbled cheese, and non-spice chili powder. Chef Luis mentioned we could also replace the shrimp with chicken or even cubed potatoes. My finished shrimp appetizer even looks pretty on the plate.





















Luke went heavy on the sauce with the appetizer like I went heavy on the chocolate with the dessert.



My shrimp



Luke's shrimp



Once we had finished creating our appetizers, we carried our own plates to the dining area upstairs. Then the ultimate test – would we approve of our own cooking? Not only did my dishes taste delicious, but the presentation of the appetizer and entrée made them quite appealing. The dessert wasn’t ugly either. Our meal was well paced, too, with Angel bringing our entrees out moments after the appetizers were eaten. Our grouper had been baking in the foil since we had finished them, approximately 30 minutes earlier. Our chefs had added a rice pyramid and carrot flowers to our plates. As I’ve said I was a little apprehensive to try this dish. It’s very different from my favorite fish dish, fried catfish. In the end I had no need to worry as I consumed every bite along with all of the rice. Yeah, me!



Now the results of our labors.



Finally, we could partake of our desserts, and yet again, I ate a delicious success. Chef Luis had done a marvelous job of coaching all of us. His discourse was clearly understandable throughout the workshop. And his humor made us all feel comfortable with him and each other. I also appreciated his review of how we were doing at every step. While we ate, we learned a little of Chef Luis’ back story. He began the Mexican Cuisine Workshop six years ago, and worked hard to promote it as a cruise excursion, building it up to the point that every workshop was filled to capacity. Then a wealthy Texan who participated in the workshop invited Luis and his family to move to Texas and be the chef in a restaurant the Texan was establishing. This was a wonderful opportunity for him, and so he and his family moved a little over a year ago. They loved the US, and the restaurant was doing quite well, but unfortunately, Luis’ visa never came through, resulting in his family’s return to Mexico. Playa Mia was enthused that he was returning and immediately re-employed him because the chef who had replaced him had driven off several cruise lines. Luis was excited that he had been able to restore several cruise contracts in the short time he had been back.

With no more food to sample, we were free to wander the park to use the pools, slides, and beach. Luke and I changed into our swimwear. By the way, the changing rooms/restrooms were clean and well maintained with an attendant on duty at all times. Once we were appropriately attired for water and beach fun, Luke tried out both water slide.













Yes, that is Luke!

Then we headed to the beach, finding two lounge chairs and settling in to relax. Both of us at different times waded into the ocean. At one point I had dozed off when I heard screaming coming from the water. I looked up to see a pelican landing among a group of kids. They were initially scared but then quite curious about their new swimming buddy.

































Here is the crazy pelican.















Chef Luis' pink building to match the staff's uniforms.



These are the restrooms/changing rooms along with lockers.















About 15 minutes before our scheduled shuttle pick up time, we returned to the changing rooms to put on our street clothes. We were to our assigned spot about five minutes early, but neither of the other two couples were anywhere to be seen. We were supposed to leave at 3:45, but at 3:50 one of the staff went in search of the other two couples. One couple was actually already speed walking in our direction. It was another five minutes before the staffer returned with the final couple. We had missed our shuttle, so we were loaded on a very comfy bus for the journey back to the terminal. This was actually a step up from the van that had brought us here. The bus actually dropped us off at a mall, which has to be walked through and then up a level in order to cross the street below via a pedestrian bridge. There was lots of hawking of goods all along the way. Since we weren’t interested in shopping, we just kept moving.

If it isn’t already obvious, this was my favorite Port Adventure of the entire cruise. , Chef Luis!

NEXT: Arrrgh! Pirates Take over the Magic!

[lfredsbo]

What a great port activity! And the beach/swimming even sounds great! Except for that pesky pelican I would have been among those screaming!

Your food looks delicious!

[cubfancolleen]

Can't believe the other couples were so late in getting back, but I guess no harm in the end.
Your meal looked delicious; nicely done!!

[Pris]

That sounds like a really fun excursion. How much free time did you have after your cooking class?

[Coop]

This gives me an idea for our trip. I'm still debating on excursions and this looks like fun. Except the food would be lost on me - I don't like seafood, shrimp or anything spicy. But I like margaritas while cooking! And chocolate!