Qsine

Sushi Lollipops, Chitinis, Crunchy Munchies…what are we talking about here? Would you believe that they’re items off the menu of “Qsine”, the restaurant brainchild of Jacques Van Staden, Vice President of Culinary Operations at Celebrity Cruise Line? “Qsine” will make its exciting debut on the Celebrity Eclipse, which is scheduled to set sail this month.

The menu at "Qsine" consists of familiar dishes and comfort food artfully and whimsically presented. So unusual is the presentation that Van Staden worked with manufacturers for several years in designing the serving dishes and stands he would use. So lets backtrack to those sushi lollipops. They’re created with soy sauce centers, and wasabi served not in the traditional ball, but as a mousse. Pickled ginger pops up in a radish salad, rather than as a condiment on the side. Chitinis are Chinese savories served in a martini glass and crunchy munchies are an assortment French fries, potato croquets, sweet potato fries etc. served in paper cones along with complimentary condiments. Painter’s mignon is filet mignon served on a painter’s palette with a variety of sauces representing the paints. And if you order the Black Angus tacos, (rectangular in shape), they’re accompanied with a mortar, pestle and the ingredients to make your own guacamole! I could go on and on, but better to leave you with some element of surprise when you visit the restaurant yourself!

Expect the unexpected at "Qsine". The menu is presented with disregard to the typical course offerings of appetizers, entrees and desserts. Instead it reads like a continuous script and the selections are prepared and intended for sharing. And speaking of the actual menu, that’s not conventional either. The main menu will be a large, backlit square filled with phrases designed to engage guests in the "Qsine" experience. The dessert menu is in the form of a “magic cube” that needs to be unfolded to reveal the offerings (but don’t worry, you can request a printed menu if this seems too intricate). Choosing wine is a totally interactive experience in which you are handed a modified Apple iPod Touch that allows you to view pairing options, watch related videos, test your knowledge against their wine quiz, and of course, order your wine!
Quirky, playful, unpredictable…out of the sea of sameness emerges "Qsine". It will be open nightly on the Celebrity Eclipse from 6pm to 11pm. There is no age restriction and the cover charge is $30pp. I recommend reservations, as this will probably be a “not to be missed” dining hot spot!