TWO GRAND SUPPERS

 The hot topic across the USA is March Madness, also known as the Big Dance

• Each of the men's and women's bracket features 63 games.  Men start today and women tomorrow.
• No favorite in the men's side, but South Carolina women will almost surely prevail.  Watch to see what Florida Gulf Coast does.  In the past five years, 19 of 20 final four berths went to seeds 1 and 2.

• 
  The player to watch is Caitlin Clark of Iowa.  She makes 3-point shots from near the half court line.
• If you want a long-shot for men's, pick San Diego State, Creighton, Tennessee or Providence.  Princeton always surprises.

• 
  Your chances of getting all 63 games right is 9.2 quintillion to one.  No one has ever been officially recorded to succeed since the beginning of time.

• 
  Which beer should you drink?  Click on this.  Hawaii has no chance against LSU, but The Athletic says try 337 blueberry blond lager of Adopted Dog Brewing from Lafayette.  The brewery just opened, so this would be a first for anyone.

I've had a wide variety of great meals in my travels.  Certainly Noma with Chef Rene, Robuchon's, in both Tokyo and Las Vegas, and being personally served by Jiro at his sushi bar in the Ginza.  However, perhaps the best two suppers I've ever had on back-to-back nights is in The Restaurant of the Seabourn Odyssey.

Two nights ago, we were pampered by the staff, having arranged ahead of time ordered sashimi, caviar and Asian Duck, where we indicated in the past there was no wasabi.  Of course, we also ordered a few dishes that were on the menu that night.  To start, hamachi and yellow-fin tuna sashimi...WITH WASABI.

Then:

The wines were nothing special.

However, last night was dinner featuring four bottles that would have cost us from $90 to $315.  First the $190/bottle Perrier Jouët Belle Epoque Champagne with Ahi Poke and Caviar.

The poke was almost edible.  I guess I'm more in tune with what is made in Hawaii.  

Next a $90 Louis Latour Meursault 2016 White Burgundy, with Poblano Pepper and Sweet Corn Soup, Sweet Flan and Truffle Oil.  Heavenly.  Next dish was a scallops preparation.  This was Yaemi's first performance as Chief Sommelier.

Next the $315 Tenuta San Guido Sassaicaia 2018 from Tuscany for the Chateaubriand with veggies, horseradish mash potatoes and red wine jus.

Finally, the $100/small bottle of Chateau Suduiraut 1er Grand Cru Classe 2015 Sauternes with Sky High Italian Meringue pie.

Yes, those two suppers were grand and special.  We also had the pleasure to learn a lot from Hillary, a lexicologist, and John, history professor, of Canberra about Australia.  This was a three-hour dinner.  And the night was not over, for on to the discotheque with Nikki and The Band.

At the end of the day.

5,000 steps don't look like much for the entire day, but consider that we were in rough seas.  It was a challenge to walk the hallways, shower and disco.  However, we're both doing well with no sea sickness symptoms.

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