Wining & dining on the Lindblad National Geographic Sea Lion, Alaska

I was amazed by what great food came out of the (very small) galley on the Sea Lion – the best huevos rancheros I’ve ever had, delicious desserts, and beautifully prepared, wild Alaskan fish.

And after a day among the glaciers, floating among ice chunks in what our expedition leader called “the world’s largest martini”, how could I resist a martini made with Alaskan gin?

Breakfast

Every morning started with a buffet breakfast, always with a different special dish, like eggs benedict with smoked salmon or blueberry-filled crêpes. And of course, there were also the basics like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and bacon – all you need to fuel up for a busy day.

There’s also an espresso machine on board (pod-based), so that you can have a macchiato to start the day – or, as I preferred, for an afternoon treat out on deck.

Lunch

Either a buffet or family-style table service, for efficiency’s sake – I was always ravenous after our morning activities, and excited to see what was on offer. My favorite was the chili (I put mine on a baked potato along with all the toppings), though chowder ran a close second. And every lunch ended with a plate of warm cookies.

Happy hour

The crew did a fabulous job putting together a fun variety of happy hours – one day, we had a Pacific Northwest wine tasting, where I discovered that I really like Badger Mountain organic Chardonnay from Washington state.

Another highlight was the spread of Alaskan snacks, everything from reindeer sausage to smoked black cod. I was especially intrigued by the kelp pickles and kelp marmalade – both really good! For those with a sweet tooth, there was also plenty of Alaska-made chocolate (my favorite, naturally).

Dinner

Menus were posted after breakfast each morning, so that the kitchen could get an idea of interest in the different dishes. Perhaps not surprisingly, the fish was perpetually popular – but there was always a meat option (steak, lamb, pork chops) and a vegetarian entree.

The halibut on our first day was some of the best fish I can remember having – so pristine and tender, served with a pine nut gremolata. Other evenings, I had black cod, salmon, crabcakes, and even more halibut.

The marquee meal of the trip was a Dungeness crab feast, with platters of crab steamed and served with lemon. Straight from the ocean, they were simply perfect. Of course, there was Alaskan beer to accompany the crab!

Just in case we hadn’t eaten enough by now (ha!), there was also a fabulous dessert every night. I particularly enjoyed the chocolate desserts – a tart so rich I could barely finish it, and a similarly over the top pot de creme – but the fruit cobblers also deserve special mention.

Good thing we did so much hiking!