Chef Craig Collier is a James Beard Award nomated chef for Best Chef: Southeast and Uptown Yolk is one of his restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina.



Uptown Yolk is a "Southern Brunch & Dinner Restaurant" that "blends elevated classics with imaginative new dishes in an environment that's as sophisticated as it is modern."



I ordered the Benny Yolko: Two eggs poached and Canadian bacon on English muffins with hollandaise sauce with sides of mac & cheese and TN Fries, which are seasoned, diced potatoes. I also added dipping sauces: Hot Honey, Sorghum Mustard & Black Garlic.



Everything was done well. The eggs benedict had all the right notes and served a classic the right way. The sauces were able to add that special local flare.



The TN Fries were well seasoned and very lightly crisp on the outside. I'm glad I got the dipping sauces because I alternated between all of them to give each bite a bit more kick.



Grade: A

The R.M.S. (Royal Mail Ship) Queen Mary was built in Clydebank, Scotland, and upon her maiden voyage in May of 1936 was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. In the glory days, the crème of high society considered her the most civilized way to cross the North Atlantic Ocean.



After three years carrying passengers and mail between Southampton and New York, the Queen Mary was "drafted" into service in March 1940 as a troop ship in the early days of World War II. She was nicknamed "The Grey Ghost" because her entire hull and superstructure from bow to stern was painted grey to act as a camouflage and defense mechanism to avoid German U-boats and surface raiders.



In July 1943, the Queen Mary set the world's record for carrying more human beings ever transported on an ocean voyage, a staggering 16,683 souls! The heroic vessel continued her service as a troopship and a war bride and baby transport vessel until 1946. During her war service, Winston Churchill was a frequent passenger. It was aboard the Queen Mary plans for the D-Day invasion were discussed.



The Queen Mary served the Allied cause and played a significant role in virtually every major campaign by carrying some 810,730 military personnel across nearly 700,000 miles of ocean. The Queen Mary resumed peacetime passenger service in 1947 and along with her sister ship, the Queen Elizabeth, served another 20 years weaving a tapestry of goodwill and understanding between the old and new worlds.



However, in the early 1960's all passenger liners began to lose money. Jet air travel was becoming the primary mode of transatlantic transportation, so the Cunara Line put the Queen Mary up for sale. The highest bid came from the City of Long Beach, California at $3.45 million.



She set sail on her Last Great Cruise, a 39-day voyage, on October 31, 1967 and arrived in Long Beach on December 9, 1967. Because she is eight feet too wide and 19 feet too long to fit through the Panama Canal, she had to sail down the coast of South America and around Cape Horn in order to get here.



Over the next few years she was transformed into a floating hotel, convention center, and tourist attraction. The Queen Mary reopened to the public in 1971. In 1993 the ship was placed on the National Register of Historic Places under the designation "With Historic Significance." She has now been visited by nearly 50,000,000 people since embarking upon her present role.



Wrapped in the elegant grandeur of the Grand Salon - the former first-class dining salon - and featuring live entertainment, Royal Sunday Brunch exudes a refined and sophisticated charm, setting it apart from the ordinary. With champagne, live music, and a tantalizing signature menu, the Royal Sunday Brunch buffet has become a Long Beach tradition.



There are more than 50 dishes on this buffet, and I was excited to get to try a little bit of everything that I wanted. It is certainly an experience, and possibly the most decadent brunch I've ever had.


Breakfast Station



Eggs Benedict Vol e Vont



Bacon + Sausage Links + Chicken Apple Sausage

Scrambled Eggs

Roasted Breakfast Potatoes Lyonnaise



Corned Beef Hash



Pancakes + Waffles + Blintzes

Chef Prepared Omelets + Cage Free Eggs to Order



Morning Danish + Muffins + Croissants

Sliced Fruits + Berries


Ocean Bounty



Snow + Stone Crab Claws + King Crab Legs



Shrimp Cocktail + Ceviche Vera Cruz



Oysters on the Half Shell



Smoked Salmon



Poached Salmon Serpentine



Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna

Shrimp Louie


Far East Station



Korean BBQ Ribs



Sweet & Sour Chicken

Dim Sum

BBQ Pork Bun Bao

Vegetable + Curry Samosa

Tempura Shrimp

Vegetarian Egg Roll



Selection of Sushi

Soy Sauce + Wasabi

Pickled Ginger + Sambal Olek

Carving Station



Smoked Brisket

Carved Prime Rib of Beef

Carved Honey Roasted Turkey



Rice Pilaf + Roasted Garlic Whipped Potatoes

Maple Bourbon Brussel Sprouts

Market Salad


Regions of Italy

Chianti Braised Short Ribs + Gremolata



Tortellini Carbonara



Rigatoni Bolognese

Caesar Salad + Caprese Salad

Antipasto Grilled Veggies

Roasted Pee Wee

Rustic Bread + EVOO + Aged Balsamic

Caesar Salad + Tomato Caprese

Domestic + Imported Cheeses


Taste of Mexico



Carne Asada + Carnitas Street Tacos

Queso Fundido + Corn Tortilla Chips

Assorted Salsas

Ceviche



Chile Relleno



Iceberg Wedge Salad


Patisserie



Petite Fours

Caramel Flan

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Chocolate Mousse

Petite Crème Brûlée

Selection of Mini French Pastries

Crepe Suzette

Chocolate Bread Pudding

Mignardise

Potbelly is a sandwich chain based in the Chicago area.



"From the comforting, melty cheese of a toasted sandwich made with love, to classic photos of Jimi Hendrix shredding a guitar solo at Woodstock, Potbelly is just a fun place to be. We're a first-class dive. A place to take a break from it all. Sure we make the best toasted sandwiches in all the galaxies (sorry aliens, but it's true). But we serve them up with a smile. That's easy when you love what you do: Making people really happy with craveable food, from our toasty sandwiches, soups, salads, fresh-baked cookies and hand-scooped milkshakes," reads the website.



I got some Zappos VooDoo chips, which are kettle-cooked potato chips with sweet, spicy, and smoky barbecue notes. I ordered A Wreck, with Genoa Salami, Roast Beef, Smoked Ham, Turkey Breast, Swiss, Hot Peppers, Lettuce, Onions, Tomato, Horseradish Aioli, Artichoke Hearts. This sandwich was solid, though I wish the bread was softer and less crackly.



Grade: B

My first cruise ever was on the Carnival Magic, where I tried every dining option that I could.

My second cruise, on Carnival Radiance, featured many of the same restaurants.

They both have Guy's Burger Joint, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, Pizzeria Del Capitano, BlueIguana Cantina, Seafood Shack, Pasta Bella at Cucina del Capitano, plus the Lido options: buffet, omelet station, continental breakfast, late risers buffet, deli, late night snacks, swirls soft serve and Main Dining Room options: Breakfast, SeaDay Brunch, Dinner, tea time, etc.

However, there are some new spots on the Radiance that I didn't have on the Magic. So, exploring those were my top priority! Here are the new-to-me finds:


Big Chicken
This is Shaq's signature restaurant on the ship. They serve both breakfast & lunch. For breakfast, the hot honey biscuit very small, but enjoyed the sriracha honey sauce. For lunch, I had the Aerostotle, which had muenster cheese, crispy fried onions, bacon, sweet & smoky memphis bbq sauce with chicken strips. Quite tasty!



JavaBlue Cafe
This coffee shop, for some reason, flies under the radar. It isn't listed under food and drinks, but I'm glad I stumbled upon it. Because I got a white chocolate caramel frappe with candy straw and a guava donut.
Bonsai Sushi
I had the Salmon Tiradito (blue cheese cream, dash infused citrus tea), California Roll (with tobiko mayo), Tempura Roll (with fried shrimp, tenka, yuzu mayo and bonsai sushi sauce) and Yuzu Custard. I really enjoyed the tempura roll.

Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse
My previous cruise had a steakhouse, but it was under a different name - Prime - and had different offerings. During this cruise, they also offered a special Valentine's Day lunch, which I didn't get to check out. AND a Steakhouse brunch, which I DID. "Turn your special holiday in the direction of delicious - experience an unforgettably delectable evening at Fahrenheit 555. Our menu features mouthwatering premium cuts of beef cooked to your exact specifications, as well as a fantastic selection of seafood, entrées, gourmet appetisers and an extensive wine list. The elegant-yet-modern atmosphere pairs remarkably well with - and perhaps even enhances - the culinary creations of our gourmet chefs." "A memorable culinary experience awaits at Fahrenheit 555, Carnival Radiance’s classic American steakhouse. Combining a delicious steakhouse menu with Carnival’s own unique style, Fahrenheit 555 provides our guests with an unforgettable evening of dining in intimate and elegant surroundings. First, let’s talk steak. Our mouth-watering options include a juicy Cowboy Steak, Filet Mignon and New York Strip, each aged 21 days to our exact specifications. Because variety is the spice of life, Fahrenheit 555 also offers a tempting selection of seafood entrees, as well as gourmet appetizers, soups and salads." "Our signature wine list is designed to provide the perfect complement to any meal and has been hand-selected by our Sommelier. No meal, especially during a Carnival cruise, is complete without dessert and our menu includes a tantalizing array of special treats to please any palate – an unforgettable conclusion to an unforgettable meal." Bread Slider amuse bouche Risotto with crab, mushroom and brown butter Filet mignon with garlic, mushrooms, carrot, broccoli and mashed potato Ice cream & sorbet Same restaurant, but a whole new meal: STEAKHOUSE BRUNCH.
I was not aware that the steakhouse offering brunch, but when I saw it on my app, I immediately booked it. I loved the pizza turnover; the shakshuka was OK.
Cucina Del Capitano This Italian restaurant features many of the same dishes across the board, but they also like to incorporate the individual ship's captain into the menu. On the Radiance, they feature Stefano Bonica, who must have been the captain at one point, but not on my current cruise. Maybe my current captain, Giuseppe, is new. I struggled a little to find it, because the map says it's on Level 10, but the entrances there were both closed. So, I had to go down to Level 9 and take the steps up from the Lido Market Place. The meal begins with bread topped with parmesan, roasted garlic and butter. It is lovely, but I didn't want to get filled up on that. My appetizer was the "Il Capitano's Signature Arancini" with arborio rice and salsa rossa. From Sicily, authentic rice balls, finished with ricotta salata and served on marinara sauce." These were GOOD. I had to stop myself from eating all of them so I didn't get filled up. But the perfect rice texture and lots of stringy cheese inside and *yum*. (Side note: I saved these off to the side to keep for later because they were THAT tasty, but the server totally forgot to give me my to-go box. Oh well!) My main entree is the captain's "Pesce Spada E Melanzane." "Stefano Bonica, Captain of the Carnival Radiance, is proud to share his favorite dish since childhood. His mother, who used to run small restaruant in Filicudi, an island of Sicility, would often make it for him. Pasta Paccheri is cooked al dente and tossed with eggplant, capers, cherry tomatoes, swordfish, white wine annd finnished with torn basil leaves and lemon rind." The pasta was silky smooth, the sauce was the perfect balance of sweet and acidic, and I loved the pop of brininess from the capers. But, I also learned I do not like swordfish. It's too fishy tasting - in a not good way. I maneuvered the large chunks to the side of my plate and enjoyed the rest. I ordered a side of fingerling potatoes, which were nice, but I definitely wanted a sauce to go along with them. Dessert was the Agrumi | Torta Al Miele E Polenta | Sorbetto Di Limone - hand-ground polenta cake with cirtrus cream served with lemon sorbet. I was so stuffed by this time, but I had to try it. It was like a really sweet cornbread (which I love anyway) and the tang of lemon. Not my typical dessert, but so good.





And, just for funnsies, here's the lunch I had at Pasta Bella. Not nearly as earth-shattering as the one I had on Magic.


Lido Market Place
The Lido Market Place often has some of the same items that appear in the Main Dining Room. Here are some of the bites I was able to try that were new to me. Vegetable Wellington & Crawfish Strudel
Keftedes Arni Colcannon Moussaka
Blue Iguana
The arepas were new to me, and they were GOOD
ALL THINGS WINGS
On one particular day, the Blue Iguana offered wings; they weren't bad. Nice for something different.