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Travel Weekly
an hour ago
- Travel Weekly
Dispatch, Riverside Debussy: An indulgent, fine-dining experience
Onboard the Riverside Debussy, you might pass by a nondescript door without second notice. The only thing that might make you pause is the sign outside: "Vintage Room." What lies behind the door is an intimate and private dining experience for up to 10 people. The experience, which Riverside Luxury Cruises promotes as Michelin quality, can only be arranged once guests are onboard for $320 a person. The first course: focaccia topped with tuna, foie gras and caviar. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman My guest and I were invited to dine in the Vintage Room while on our Romantic Rhine cruise, where we indulged in an eight-course meal and wine pairings, along with five other passengers. The exclusive dining experience was orchestrated by executive chef Simeon Petkov and sous chef Timea Magony, while the accompanying wines were selected by sommelier Branko Lazic. The experience was a delight, with the chef's creativity shining through. Petkov said the preparation for a Vintage Room dinner takes two days. The labor of love and attention to detail was apparent. Braised ox cheek with celeriac, vanilla and beets. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman We started our evening with a glass of Tattinger Nocturne, a champagne made from 40% Chardonnay and 60 % Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes from 35 vineyards. Our first course was the perfect, decadent starter: a crispy slice of focaccia topped with tuna, buttery foie gras and caviar. The decadence didn't stop after that. The Summer Awakening dessert. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman We enjoyed dish after dish, brought out by a team of attentive servers: lobster tail with pea foam, pineapple salsa and saffron cream; braised ox cheek (a dish Petkov had highlighted during our interview as one he was particularly proud of) with celeriac, vanilla and beets; a lime cucumber mint sorbet made with gin and topped with popping sugar and champagne; a venison filet with charred vegetables, truffle potato foam and dark chocolate jus; a goat cheese tart with truffle honey, red onion jam and fig; a dessert called Summer Awakening, made with a citrusy custard and sorbet; and petit fours to finish the meal. The venison was my favorite bite of the entire meal, and maybe my favorite of the entire trip. The meat's flavor wasn't gamey and was cooked to a perfect medium rare. Venison filet with charred vegetables, truffle potato foam and dark chocolate jus -- the best bite of the meal. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman Our wines paired perfectly with our dishes: Brundlmayer Gruner Vietliner; Robert Mondavi Chardonnay; Gaja Sito Moresco (a blend of Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and my favorite drink of the night); Mas La Plana from Bodegas Torres; and Royal Tokaji Furmint, a dessert wine. As we enjoyed our pairings, Petkov walked us through each dish, discussing his approach to the creative menu, while Lazic ornately described the wines' notes and the vineyards that produced the grapes. After hours of indulging and enjoying every bite, the magical evening was over, leaving a lasting impression.
Travel Weekly
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Dispatch, Riverside's Romantic Rhine: A 'silent' musical experience
RUDESHEIM AM RHEIN, Germany — I'll admit it: I wasn't sure what I signed up for when I first stepped into Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. That doubt quickly faded once I realized what a special experience awaited me inside this impressive collection of antique and rare instruments. The unusual museum, which opened in 1969, today is housed in the Bromserhof, a knight's residence from the 1400s. This historic building holds 350 self-playing instruments. My musical ability is limited to pressing play on my Spotify playlists, but even I found myself captivated by the history of these objects, which showcase decades of work by the late Siegfried Wendel who worked to collect, repair and preserve this chapter of history. What really drew me into this excursion on Riverside Luxury Cruises' Romantic Rhine itinerary was when our guide shared that an antique Budapest fairground organ with an impressive facade had been discovered in a barn, broken down and in poor shape. The museum painstakingly restored the Gebruder Bruder self-playing organ. To give you an idea of the value, Sotheby's sold a Gebruder Bruder creation for $402,500 through Wendel, the founder of the musical mecca sitting near the small but bustling Rudesheim town square. The museum's collection features instruments dating back 300 years, from intricately designed and delicate music boxes to a cabinet of self-playing violins that was once coined the eighth wonder of the world. The violin cabinet is a labor of love, requiring each instrument to be restrung weekly. The guides let a lucky few to play the instruments. I got to press the button on a vintage musical box that dispensed cigarettes, while my guest manually played "Happy Birthday" on a Bechstein-Welte self-playing piano before its self-playing nature kicked in. The musical assortment also includes rolls of paper and wood and records that were used to play music, including on a gramophone, which requires a sharp new needle with every listen. Riverside Luxury Cruises' signature event for its Romantic Rhine sailing featured a silent film at Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet in Rudesheim am Rhine, Germany. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman A soundtrack for a laugh track After observing the collection of these antique pieces, we stepped inside the theater to enjoy a glass of Champagne while watching a silent film for Riverside Luxury Cruises' signature event on our Rhine itinerary. The 1929 slapstick film "Big Business," starring Laurel and Hardy as two Christmas tree salesmen attempting to sell their evergreens to residents in sunny California. Their business venture devolves into vandalism, with their outbursts brought to life by the music cabinet's silent film organ. Somehow, I found myself captivated by the ridiculous on-screen crimes, which were underscored and emphasized by the accompanying music. I didn't feel the urge to check my phone once, which is a departure from my typical scrolling habits while watching a movie back home. It was a special privilege to watch this film, representing such an important part of entertainment history, as it was originally meant to be seen — and heard!
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘Mystery boat tour' - how I made friends and explored cities, castles and gardens on my first river cruise
I said ahoy in April as I set sail on the Debussy, a Riverside Luxury Cruises ship, where I was wined and dined for four nights.
