I have just returned from a magnificent holiday! Funnyman and I cruised on the ‘Diamond Princess’, a beautiful ship that sailed in the East over Christmas, docking in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. If any of you know what cruise holidays are like, you know about those endless buffets where everything under the sun is presented three times a day in a large dining room. In addition, there are food stations scattered throughout the ship where burgers, tacos, hot dogs and pizzas are there for the taking: freshly made to order – and all included in the cost of the cruise. Its a food lover’s dream and its pretty good quality.
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Many people completely lose their shit with buffet-type dining. They must try everything and return two or three times for more of their favourite bits. I am one of those people. I have a severe case of FOMO. However, having stuck to keto now for almost 2 years, there was zero temptation for me to indulge in any carbs, so it was a breeze. (However, I would be lying if I said I still cared about monitoring protein intake because I went back for more garlic prawns several times!) It was a little trickier docking in foodie hot spots like Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, but you would be pleased to know that there is so much more to Eastern cuisine than rice, noodles and dim sum.
I took snapshots of what we ate on board the ship as well as when we docked and spent the day on land. I wanted to share with you how we managed it. If you are ever in a similar situation where there is so much temptation: I want this post to encourage you to make the BEST decision you can with the choices you have before you. And, as I mention in my cookbook coming out this summer, focus on what you can eat and not on what you can’t. That mindset is so important when you are in situations like travelling or eating out.
I aptly titled this article low carb – and not keto because I couldn’t keep track of every single thing that went into the preparation of my food, so I couldn’t avoid processed (inflammatory) food which is the core of keto (apart from the important low carb, high fat element). I certainly wasn’t going to interrogate the chef whether he stir-fried my prawns in vegetable oil (he probably did) or whether there was soy sauce in some of the saucier dishes (there probably was). But we did the best we could and I think we did damn well. We indulged in red wine and dry sparkling wine (alcohol is probably the biggest culprit this time of year), but daily training in the ship’s gym ensured we stayed on track. With all the energy we experience living fat-adapted, its hard NOT to want to train often.
Yokohama, Japan
We found a cute little restaurant hidden off the main streets and they lured us in with an unbelievable special offer. They handed us a giant menu (pictures only!) and we could select as many little ‘tapas-type’ dishes as we wanted for a single table price. This set the tone for the holiday as it suits the way Funnyman and I eat when we are abroad. We select several dishes from the menu and enjoy them sharing-style. This ensures we both get to taste a variety of food.
Stir-fried Squid with Vegetables (we dodged the carrots)
Chili Prawns (I suspected sugar in the sauce, so we didn’t mop the sauce up)
Crispy Spiced Chicken Wings
Stir-fried Prawns with Vegetables (we dodged the corn and carrots)
Stir-fried Pork with Courgettes and Spring Onions
Stir-fried Greens with Garlic
Osaka, Japan
We docked in Osaka on Christmas Day and Funnyman and I headed out with only one goal: kobe beef. After a ‘starter’ of prawns and scallops, we died and went to heaven as we feasted on kobe beef. And when we were done with it – we ordered another one!
Garlic Prawns & Scallops (we skipped the Lotus Root)
Kobe Beef: This is why we love KETO!
Keelung, Taiwan
I used to be very adventurous when I was younger. I remember eating rotis from a shirtless man on the side of the road in Penang, Malaysia on our honeymoon 11+ years go. It didn’t concern me one bit that he was sweating all over my food as he filled-and-rolled them with something I cannot recall. (And yes, I literally saw the sweat fly onto my food. I still ate it… it was delicious – and to be fair I was a few Bintangs down!) As a more … um… mature person now, I tend to stick to restaurants that at least feature on TripAdvisor (not that I ever read reviews, reviews are useless to me), but it must have decent toilet facilities. In Keelung a few days into our cruise, we stumbled on a stunning restaurant that got a special mention in the 2019 Michelin Guide. I am not a snob at all, but that was a big, fat YES from me, thank you Funnyman. The food was excellent and deserved of its Michelin mention. However, when it came to toilet-time, the hostess informed me that the loos were in a different building altogether. She handed me a tiny tissue as I started my walk of shame. I guess I do still have a little adventure in me…
Crispy Chicken garnished with Fried Garlic
Stir-fried Greens with Garlic
Hong Kong – Day 1
We disembarked the ship in Hong Kong and spent two nights (including New Year’s Eve) in a lovely hotel walking distance from Temple Street. It is an exhilarating city, the people are lovely and we happily ate our way through it…
LUNCH
Crispy Chicken and Pork with a very subtle 5-spice flavour. We dodged most of the peanuts, but they were lush!
Stir-fried Greens with Garlic (we ordered these every time we saw them on the menu)
DINNER
Spicy Duck (we dodged the edamame beans)
Jumbo Prawns with Chilies and Tea Leaves
Stir-fried Cabbage in Garlic
Grilled Hot Peppers with Chili Oil (one of our favourites)
DAY 2 – LATE LUNCH
Crispy Spiced Pork
Crispy, Succulent Chicken
Stir-fried Greens with Garlic
THE CRUISE
These are some of the snapshots of my plate when we were at sea and enjoying the buffet spread.
Lamb, Grilled Tomatoes, Flaked Salmon and Broccoli with Butter
Lamb, Garlic Prawns, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli with Butter
Cured Duck (we dodged the sweet sauce garnish)
Vegetables, Prosciutto, Steak, Prawns
Chicken and Ham Salad with Parmesan and Sprouts
Roast Beef with Artichokes Salad
Bun-less Cheese Burger: Two patties, please
Some days I just wanted a cup or two of beautiful, full-flavoured Beef Consomme
Breakfast at the airport before we flew back home to London. Bun-less Burger with Raclette Cheese and Salad. Double patty, please.
I hope this post has helped you! I have never had a sweet tooth, so walking past the 10-metre dessert spread was no problem at all for me. Funnyman on the other hand came prepared and enjoyed some 85% chocolate in our cabin at night before the ship rocked our satisfied bellies to sleep.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
