Lounge food

[whiteshark]

Melbourne International Qantas Business had the following slop hot option available to its highly valued customers: Lamb Stew, Ohh please qantas catering you can do better than this, it looks and tasted horrible, had to leave the lounge to get something to eat. Lamb stew is disgusting and there was no other hot food option.

 

[Deleted member]

"The " lamb stew is disgusting or Lamb stew in general is disgusting?
I for one love a lamb stew, that said, it's hardly summer fare. More of a winter warmer for me.

 

[marki]

No your right ..... Not the best presentation looks more like prison food or Gulag broth

 

[beast_man]

I don't mean to be picky, but this isn't QANTAS Catering.

All food and beverage services in all QANTAS Lounges (both domestic and international) is provided by ACCOR (Sofitel for International, Pullman for Domestic).

 

[PineappleSkip]

Pic reminds me of inflight PK. Cart arrived with dishes like that on top, curries mostly. No idea what they served in Y
That said I too love lamb stew - in winter. Presentation leaves a bit to be desired though, surfeit of gravy from the bottom of the vat?
Cheers skip

 

[Quickstatus]

After all that flying and earning the right to get into a lounge many would feel compelled they have to sit and eat in the lounge in order to extract value from their status endeavours.

That's why for many Best fare of day instead of frequent flyer type flying is the way to go

 

[Quickstatus]

I don't mean to be picky, but this isn't QANTAS Catering.

All food and beverage services in all QANTAS Lounges (both domestic and international) is provided by ACCOR (Sofitel for International, Pullman for Domestic).

But run according to a budget that arises from QF-Sofitel negotiations.

 

[beast_man]

Yes and no.

Obviously there are budgets that come into play, however in the F lounges QF is charged a 'per head' fee. In all the other lounges, QF pay a flat rate per month irrespective of the number of guests and it is up to Accor to decide on the menu. Rockpool Catering have some input in these lounges, whereas in the F lounge they have total creative control.

At any rate, I think you missed my point. The OP criticised Qantas Catering for this hot mess, when in fact the criticism should have been directed to Sofitel. Qantas Catering do in-flight only and not the lounges.

Ultimately, QF have responsibility for a bad meal in flight or in lounge - they have appointed the relevant caterer(s) to each of these business units.

 

[Quickstatus]

No and Yes. OP was right to direct this at Qantas. Qantas lounge, Qantas customer, Qantas rules and entry conditions. Contract is between QF customer and QF not the subcontractor. Ultimately QF responsible.

I quite like lamb curry.

What's missing in the larger AFF forum is a comparison between lounge food and airline terminal food

Is Sofitel /Accor name displayed at the entrance to the lounge.

 

[Deleted member]

It probably needed to be in a pie dish topped with mash or pastry.

 

[beast_man]

OP was right to direct this at Qantas. Qantas lounge, Qantas customer, Qantas rules and entry conditions. Contract is between QF customer and QF not the subcontractor.

Perhaps if you re-read my post you will see that is exactly what I said - that ultimately QF is responsible.

And you might want to re-read the original post as well whilst you're at it - the OP directed at Qantas Catering, not direct at QF.

 

[mannej]

Don't get JohnK started on the curry type of dishes that appear in these lounges fairly regularly

Whilst it may not be an appropriate summer feed, stew isn't my idea of disgusting but I get the point.

 

[boomy]

Dinner catering in Dom J lounges (east coast) has been disappointing for some time now.
Since island dining was discontinued the slop type dishes are way too common. Not much to eat anymore besides salad and cheese.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I hate to be a snob but I must admit I find menu items such as "lamb stew" a bit disappointing too.
Partly because it's not a recognised dish and the name offers no real guidance as to the ingredients or flavour.
A named curry on the other hand is still pretty much a stew but it has (or should have) a distinctive flavour and some consistency in both flavour and ingredients.
Mind you one of my pet hates is when caterers serve a named dish but play with the ingredients.
Such as mushrooms or carrot in bolognaise sauce. No, just no!

 

[JohnK]

Lamb stew is delicious. I love cooking it too.

Don't get JohnK started on the curry type of dishes that appear in these lounges fairly regularly

Whilst it may not be an appropriate summer feed, stew isn't my idea of disgusting but I get the point.

You had to get me started!

I prefer not to have curry and I encounter it almost weekly. Some curry dish on board BNE-SYD last week and had the cold risone instead. But I did have some Thai green chicken curry yesterday in BNE. The chicken was really nice.

 

[seanpodge]

Lamb stew is a perfectly valid meal to offer. That said, even the best lamb stew is going to struggle in the looks department.

 

[njba]

serve a named dish but play with the ingredients.
Such as mushrooms or carrot in bolognaise sauce. No, just no!

Carrot (as part of a soffrito) is a part of many a traditional bolognese recipe, surely.

 

[Quickstatus]

Lounge food can sometimes be unappetising. Why not take the escalator downstairs and visit the several non-lounge, non status friendly food options. You can wear your open toe footwear too!.

I like Hinata among others. Sometimes even Maccas can feel like home.....:shock:

 

[whiteshark]

Thanks didn't know that, i thought someone in the catering function of Qantas would have had some input into what Qantas serves under its brand. Maybe they should get involved more.

I don't mean to be picky, but this isn't QANTAS Catering.

All food and beverage services in all QANTAS Lounges (both domestic and international) is provided by ACCOR (Sofitel for International, Pullman for Domestic).

 

[JohnK]

Such as mushrooms or carrot in bolognaise sauce. No, just no!

I started putting mushrooms into my bolognaise sauce when I was 16 or 17 years old. Tasted great.

Still put mushrooms into my bolognaise sauce 35 years later and it still tastes great.