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    Home » Recipes » Seafood Appetizers

    Wine and Dine with Viking Cruises : Mussels au Pineau Recipe #MyVikingStory

    Published: Oct 21, 2018 · Modified: Aug 19, 2021 by Chef Dennis Littley

    122 shares
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    5 from 8 votes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Traveling with Viking Cruises had always been a dream for me and after taking my second Viking River Cruise I’ve been seeing my travel dreams turn into reality. Life is good….sigh

    This Post has been sponsored by Viking Cruises. All opinions, text and images are my own.

    Viking Forsetti on the River in Bordeaux France

    Traveling with Viking Cruises is like traveling with your own private staff. Including chefs and staff worthy of any Five-Star restaurant. And while they wow you at each meal, the personal attention they give each and every passenger makes your stay on board relaxed and enjoyable.

    And like your grandmother they feed you constantly, making sure your belly and your wine glass is always full.

    What Can You Expect to Eat on board Viking Cruises?

    Mussels au Pineau in a white bowl

    One of the first dishes I was served on board the Viking Forsetti was this amazing bowl of mussels. The flavor of the mussels left me questioning how they were prepared and as luck would have it the Regional Chef  Magalie Kaufling kindly supplied the recipe and a bottle of Pineau au Charentes wine so I could make them at home. Don’t worry if you can’t find that wine, you can substitute your favorite white wine.

    You’ll find the recipe at the bottom of this post and trust me when I say these will be the best mussels you’ve ever had!

    What Type of Appetizers and Salads are served on Viking Cruises

    eggplant and mozzarella salad on a white plate with herb dressing

    And salads are anything but ordinary. This eggplant mozzarella involtini with an olive oil and lemon vinaigrette was a perfect balance of flavors.

    crab and avocado salad with grapefruit on a white plate

    How about a lump crabmeat and avocado salad? Add grapefruit sections and a citrus emulsion and you’re in heaven!

    What Type of Entrees can I choose from on a Viking Cruise?

    Every night in the main dining room you have a choice of three entrees. On my Bordeaux Chateaux and Rivers cruise each night we had a regional menu created by the chef.

    sliced duck breast on a bed of potatoes with a fig sauce on a white plate

    Duck is all the rage in the states but it’s been the star on French Menus for centuries. This Duck Breast was served with a fig sauce on a bed of crushed potatoes. And it was magnificent!

    serving of eggplant moussaka on a white plate with cherry tomato halves around the eggplant

    I had to order this Greek Eggplant Moussaka Timbale as soon as I saw it being served.

    rosemary and honey glazed lamb with a demi glace on a white plate

    I’ve had a lot of lamb on my travels and this Rosemary and Honey Glazed Rack and Fillet of Lamb was one of the best I’ve ever tasted.

    seared dorado with skin on served on a bed of fregola

    In France seafood is plentiful and one of the favored fish is the Dorado. Here it’s served pan-seared with a Seafood Fregola Sarda. If you’ve never heard of Fregola, don’t feel bad. It’s a unique toasted pasta from the Sardinia region of Italy and it is OMG delicious!

    coq au vin with a wine sauce served on a white plate

    And of course, there was Coq au Vin a true French Classic. Click on this link for my version of Coq au Vin.

    apple crumble pie with a caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream on a white plate

    I love apples and this Apple Crumble Pie with a caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream was the perfect end to my meal.

    floating island in a vanilla sauce on a white plate

    Have you ever heard of a Floating Island? If you haven’t, make sure to remember that name because it is one of the most unique and delicious desserts you’ll ever have. French Meringue served with Creme Anglaise and Pistachios is a true culinary experience.

    slice of a Basque Cake on a white plate with berries

    The desserts onboard Viking Cruises are delightfully crafted and call upon all of the European favorites for inspiration. This Gâteau Basque from Nothern France is filled with a light pastry cream was a celebration of flavors.

    What do they Serve for Lunch?

    seared Flounder with a lemon slcie on a bed of vegetables on a white plate

    It’s not just about delicious amazing dinners, lunch can be as simple as you like or another amazing culinary experience.

    This Seared Flounder with served with a leek and onion confit and tapenade.

    smoked salmon quesadilla with grill marks and a salad on a white plate

    I loved this creative dish so much I copied it and shared it on my blog. Smoked Salmon Quesadilla with cipollini onion, cucumber and cherry tomato relish.

    Are there any special Dining Events?

    staff of the Viking Longship Forsetti

    The pièce de résistance of the trip was dining at the Chateau Kirwan.

    kitchen staff of Viking Forsetti at the Chateau Kirwan

    We were treated to a sumptuous meal at the chateau and the staff of our Viking Longship Forsetti came along to prepare and serve our dinner to make sure we were treated in the style we had become accustomed to.

    cook holding a tray of mugs of French Onion Soup as they come out of the oven

    As usual, the staff of the Forsetti excelled and our dinner was perfect.

    french onion soup served in a mug on a white plate

    We started with a fun take on the classic French Onion Soup.

    waldorf salad served on a white plate

    Followed by a Waldorf Salad with celeriac, apples, walnuts and grapes with a warm smoked salmon.

    filet mignon of veal with vegetables on a white plate

    Our entre was a Filet Mignon of Veal with truffled jus, potato gratin and steamed vegetables.

    molten chocolate lava cake with ice cream on a long white plate

    For dessert, we enjoyed a molten chocolate lava cake with a red wine reduction and ice cream.

    Viking Cruises Regional Executive Chef Magalie Kaufling with Chef Dennis

    It was an amazingly delicious dinner and I even got to spend some time in the kitchen with Viking Cruises Regional Executive Chef Magalie Kaufling.

    So if you were ever worried about eating on a Viking Cruise, fear not. Viking Cruises are truly culinary journeys!

    If you enjoyed this post you may like my other cruise posts:

    • Visit Northern Burgundy on a Luxury Barge Cruise
    • My First Viking River Cruise – The Danube Waltz
    • My Culinary Experience with Viking River Cruise
    • What you need to know for your Disney Cruise

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

    Mussels served in a white bowl sprinkled with chopped shallots
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    5 from 8 votes

    Mussels au Pineau des Charentes Wine

    Dining on a Viking Cruise is an exceptional experience.  I’m happy to share a recipe for the best mussels I ever tasted thanks to my friend Chef Magalie Kaufling, Viking Regional Executive Chef.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Appetiser
    Cuisine: French
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 374kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    • 2 lb mussels in the shell
    • 3 ounces white wine
    • 1 tsp garlic chopped
    • 2 sprigs parsley
    • 4 sprigs thyme
    • 1 leaf bay leaf
    • 1 tbsp onions chopped
    • 1 tbsp shallots chopped
    • 1 tbsp butter
    • ½ tsp flour
    • 1 egg yolk
    • 1 ounce creme fraiche
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In a Sautuesse put the mussels with the onions, garlic, thyme, parsley, laurel and white wine till all are open.
    • Once open, strained the mussels and keep the juice.
    • In a saucepan, saute the shallots with butter till golden brown.
    • Sprinkle with flour, add some salt and pepper and add the juice of the mussels. Mix well.
    • In a bowl, mix the creme fraiche with the eggs and the Pineau des Charentes.
    • Add this mix to the sauce and cover the mussels with it.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 374kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 197mg | Sodium: 725mg | Potassium: 770mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1065IU | Vitamin C: 23.4mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 9.8mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!
     

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    About Chef Dennis

    Picture of Chef Dennis

    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Jeanine

      October 23, 2018 at 9:37 pm

      Wow a boat cruise would be fun. Looks like some delicious eats too! Sounds great!

      Reply
    2. Kita Bryant

      October 23, 2018 at 3:41 pm

      5 stars
      Viking Cruises really has an amazing buffet option! This food is really delicious and I would love to try it!

      Reply
    3. Farrah Less

      October 23, 2018 at 11:31 am

      Wine and fresh seafood in a very relaxing scenery what else I could ask for? This pace reminds me of the Monterrey Bay in California .

      Reply
    4. Kathy

      October 23, 2018 at 10:04 am

      All of these look like interesting dishes. They’re laid out so beautifully too. I’ve never actually tried mussels before, but that sure looks good.

      Reply
    5. 1stopmom

      October 23, 2018 at 8:09 am

      5 stars
      I have never been on a cruise before but I hope to go on one someday soon. The food looks absolutely delicious! I love duck!

      Reply
    6. Chubskulit Rose

      October 23, 2018 at 7:14 am

      The smoked salmon quesadilla would be my pick, it sounds delicious. I will be checking the recipe you posted, thanks.

      Reply
    7. scarlet

      October 22, 2018 at 9:37 pm

      5 stars
      Its so nice to know a bit of your recipe ., in the cruise they are have a great service to offer .

      Reply
    8. Melissa Chapman

      October 22, 2018 at 10:52 am

      The meals on that cruise looked so amazing. It is great to go away and not have to think about anything and get served like that. I love seafood so I will try and find the mussels.

      Reply
    9. Pam

      October 22, 2018 at 9:27 am

      That does look delicious! I haven’t been on a cruise yet, but I’d like to take one on Viking just for the food!

      Reply
    10. Amber Myers

      October 22, 2018 at 8:20 am

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh, I’d be all about this food. I don’t like mussels, but I’d want to try the rest of this. I need to get on a cruise one day.

      Reply
    11. Jeanette

      October 22, 2018 at 8:11 am

      I have heard nothing but good things about Viking cruises! This food looks outstanding and I hope that some point in the future I will be able to go on one of these. I would love it.

      Reply
    12. Karen

      October 22, 2018 at 8:09 am

      5 stars
      That looks like such an amazing experience! I love everything about this, from the cruise to the amazing dish. Fantastic!

      Reply
    13. candy

      October 22, 2018 at 8:04 am

      We enjoy our seafood and would expect to be served only the best from an establishment such as this. Nice you were able to go behind the scene and get some candid shots.

      Reply
    14. Alli Smith

      October 22, 2018 at 6:47 am

      5 stars
      I’m a seafood lover and my mouth is watering while looking at all of the amazing seafood dishes. All of the food looks delicious and those desserts sound scrumptious. I want to take a Viking cruise!

      Reply
    15. Terri Steffes

      October 22, 2018 at 6:08 am

      5 stars
      I have been dying to do a Vikings cruise. Right now it is out of my price range. Hopefully one day…

      Reply
    16. robin rue

      October 22, 2018 at 5:44 am

      It sounds like you ate really well on your boat cruise. While I don’t eat seafood, my dad love mussels!

      Reply

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    My name is Dennis Littley or "Chef Dennis" as I'm known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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