Heaps of seafood at Hilton festival

At the entrance to the Pool Terrace we photographed mermaid Tiffany reclining on the waves, resting her back against driftwood. Inside the restaurant we noted the stairs have gone leaving much more room for the buffet tables.

I photographed Mermaid Nissa, seated by the rock pool in a Little Mermaid pose before turning attention to the serious business of the evening — the food.

I scarcely knew where to start . . . with an appetizer of mussels cooked in white wine, or a small crepe with mixed seafood, or a fish cake? Or should I begin with potato salad with baby shrimp or rice noodle salad with seafood or grilled vegetable salad with grilled fish?

Passing by the sweet and sour fish chinese style, the leek and potato cream soup with seafood (with thoughts of returning to sample these later) I decided to start with the array of chilled seafood. I had a helping of an oyster on the half-shell here, a seafood terrine there, half a dozen shrimps, some mussels, a little mixed green salad with a delicate, delicious burgundy and shallot dressing and some rye bread.

When I’d done justice to that I approached the pirogue to help myself to smooth and scrumptious lobster florentine, and melt-in-the-mouth black sea bass with basquaise sauce, rice, steamed baby carrots, broccoli florets and snow peas. I could have had flounder over steamed cabbage or lemon sole normandy style or... or...(I’d need a whole page to list all the dishes on the seafood menu), but settled for Yellow Tail Snapper, fried while I waited.

I drank a cool, refreshing white wine to complement the fish. And then . . . decisions, decisions ...what should I have for dessert? Discretion advised only fresh fruit salad with an extra helping of strawberries but I couldn’t resist pineapple puff tart, the berries in wine jelly, or the cake in the centre of the photograph of my dessert plate that I failed to identify — but enjoyed every last crumb. I sternly resisted the temptation to dip my strawberries or any marshmallows in the chocolate fountain, or sample any other of the mouth-watering treats laid out on the dessert table.

Good coffee completed my meal. If fish is the dish for you, plus live music and mermaids, hurry to the Hilton because this treat in seafood is due to end next Friday.