Full Name: Cinnamon Pumpkin, Squash, Yam and Cheddar Pot Pie
Origin: Back to Truffles on one of the last nights of the cruise for a vegetarian surprise that not only tickled the tastebuds, but aside from one stray pepper / tomato / otherwise unidentified red veggie, also managed to do nothing less than reinvigorate my passion for the pumpkin flavor!  Pretty impressive for the fine chefs of the Carnival Legend, if I do say so myself!
The Nitty Gritty: Despite being listed as a vegetarian entree when I, myself, am very distinctly not vegetarian, I couldn’t help but order this for dinner out of sheer curiosity … and also because I didn’t notice the “vegetarian” footnote until after I’d already placed my order.  Nonetheless, I was quite pleasantly surprised when our waiter, Elvis, placed this delectable offering in front of me – sadly, my photography skills don’t really do this one justice because it’s plating looked pretty nice.  Granted, we never were able to figure out what the “cheese wedge thingys” were, let alone those clear, little orbs for garnish (leave a comment if you know!), however nonetheless the pie itself was simply divine…
Oh, Do Go On!: It’s probably important to note from the name that the contents were sort of a blend of pumpkin, squash, and yams, but then again, pumpkin and squash are kind of in the same family anyways and really, who doesn’t love a good yam?!  The final mixture had a great flavor with just a hint of spice, and the bites that also included a piece of the flaky crust were particularly delicious.  And as hinted above, there was one slightly less than pleasant finding, and frankly other than it being red, I’m not entirely sure what it even was, but by the time I unearthed it I was already halfway through so I simply tossed it to the side and kept going full speed ahead!
Bon Voyage: Overall, I’ve got to tip my hat to Carnival for these pumpkin offerings because not only did they catch me completely off guard when they appeared on the menu, but aside from the pie who should not be named, the other two offerings from Truffles were both quite enjoyable.  Sure, it being fall and whatnot, I wouldn’t have minded coming across maybe a pumpkin cheesecake or even just a regular pumpkin pie on one of the dessert buffets, but still, if there’s one thing we’ve all learned here over the years, when it comes to pumpkin, sometimes we just have to take whatever we can find…

Preface: Although it didn’t even dawn on me that I might encounter a bit of pumpkin-based deliciousness when I stepped onto the Carnival Legend recently for a 7-day cruise through the Caribbean, I was pleasantly surprised when the greatest vegetable on Earth made appearances not once, but during several meals throughout the week!  “So how did they stack up?” you ask?  Well…

Origin: This first of three pumpkin treats was served as an appetizer in Truffles, the ship’s main dining room on our second day.
Fancy Flavor: As you might be able to discern from the name and china patterns, Truffles is a rather upscale eating establishment – the kind where the waiter actually places your napkin on your lap for you if you neglect to do so yourself, in fact!  And while I can’t say that yours truly wasn’t just a bit out of his element in such a high-class joint, please rest assured that both the food and the waitstaff certainly did their best to make a casual guy like me feel right at home!
On with the ACTUAL Flavor!: Well, compared to this little ditty that I experimented with earlier this spring, Carnival’s version of this pumpkin-y appetizer was the exact opposite in all the right ways – the consistency of soup as opposed to pie, a pleasant but not overpowering amount of kick, and most of all, a quantity that actually qualified it as the appetizer instead of the entree.  Overall, a great and unexpected way to start the trip!

Spanish-to-English Translation: Pumpkin Soup with Ginger
Where?: natural/organic section of my local Publix
Whim?: Yeah, pretty much.  Obviously I don’t really expect to find much pumpkin-y goodness on the shelves this time of year and I actually almost passed over this one, too.
Actual Reaction: Not what I was expecting…
Elaboration: Ever wonder what it would be like to liquefy a pumpkin pie and serve it beside a sandwich?!  Well, that’s pretty much what this sporadic lunchtime attempted treat tasted like … which is too bad because it sounded and actually smelled pretty good.  Great fragrance, but quite heavy and a bit strong … at least for this particular meal.
Caveat: For what it’s worth, I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel on this soup just yet because part of me thinks that the atmosphere and setting itself may have played a factor in its demise.  Think about it: pumpkin pie and its likeness are generally considered comfort foods to help us through the cold and unrelenting winters … and even here in Florida, there’s still a definite difference in temperatures between then and now!  Plus, me thinks that the grilled ham and cheese sandwich that it was accompanying wasn’t exactly doing it any favors, either.
Verdict On-Hold: Fortunately, Nueva Cocina Sopa De Calabaza con Jengibre (try saying that three times fast!) came in a packet big enough for many servings, so I’ve tucked the remainder safely away and I’ll do my best to revisit this intriguing pumpkin option later on this fall when the weather is a bit more crisp and blustery, if you know what I mean…