Amusing QF catering

[Anna]

Sitting in 4D on a breakfast-time flight yesterday, I was surprised to hear the J passengers being offered "water or strawberry daiquiris?" Then I put my brain in gear and realised the flight attendant was saying "water or strawbrynapplejuice?"

Returning at dinner time, my meal was labelled "Beef rissole and mashed potato". In the small print on the foil lid - "Contains fish."

 

[albatross710]

Returning at dinner time, my meal was labelled "Beef rissole and mashed potato". In the small print on the foil lid - "Contains fish."

I always like to read the small print on the tin foil and compare that to what is inside. Always entertaining.

But seriously, I am grateful for the meals that QF serve as I usually find myself flying at the end of the day and didn't have time to eat after work. The complimentary drinks are also appreciated.

 

[2muchplastic]

......Returning at dinner time, my meal was labelled "Beef rissole and mashed potato". In the small print on the foil lid - "Contains fish."

I was returning at dinner time (ish...thanks to SYD being closed for an hour due to storms it was 1.5 hours late) yesterday too, and I read the lid of my dish "Beef rissole and mashed potato". I would dispute that, as what was actually inside was a piece of inedible shoe leather and some watery white slop. I would have been quite happy if mine had contained fish!
Yesterday was the first time that I have been massively unimpressed with QF catering:evil:

 

[Sprucegoose]

I was returning at dinner time (ish...thanks to SYD being closed for an hour due to storms it was 1.5 hours late) yesterday too, and I read the lid of my dish "Beef rissole and mashed potato". I would dispute that, as what was actually inside was a piece of inedible shoe leather and some watery white slop. I would have been quite happy if mine had contained fish!
Yesterday was the first time that I have been massively unimpressed with QF catering:evil:

Agree it was absolutely rubbish - the rissoles. Dear oh dear QF.

 

[anat0l]

I was returning at dinner time (ish...thanks to SYD being closed for an hour due to storms it was 1.5 hours late) yesterday too, and I read the lid of my dish "Beef rissole and mashed potato". I would dispute that, as what was actually inside was a piece of inedible shoe leather and some watery white slop. I would have been quite happy if mine had contained fish!
Yesterday was the first time that I have been massively unimpressed with QF catering:evil:

Agree it was absolutely rubbish - the rissoles. Dear oh dear QF.

What a shame.

The last time I had such a dish (beef rissoles), it was extremely tasty. In fact, I'd argue one of the best meals on the domestic network. Certainly didn't taste like to sole of an old boot, and the mashed potato was of good texture and not alike to some sort of gruel.

 

[thewinchester]

I'm happy to say I've never had a terrible meal on QF ever. Sure, I've never seen a meal of comparable quality since a MEL-CBR in 94" which was not-quite-a-full english breakfast, but they've always been quite reasonable taste wise.

The only one which stands out was on a PER-SIN midday flight at the end of September, where the polenta in the Beef dish (Rich braised Beef in red wine and rosemary, served with beans and polenta) just wasn't right. It was like they wanted a mash potato consistency, but was too thin and as a consequence sloppy.

I shouldn't be able to put my fingers on the exact name of the dish, but that's what happens when you collect airline ephemera. I have to admit to at least two large plastic crates in my storage room containing lanyards of airlines and airports of the world, and a small collection of those $5 plastic planes in various liveries which light up and make engine sounds when you press the nose cone.

One crate alone has whole collection of Ansett items including safety cards, cycling jerseys, pins, boarding cards, luggage tags... and of course an envelope of golden wing lounge guest passes.

Excuse me, back on topic now

 

[Anna]

I was on a 90 minute QF flight at 6.30pm recently. We were served a "refreshment" (not dinner). The "refreshment" was a cheese plate. On the tray there was also the standard plastic pack of cheese and biscuits.

Cheese plate with extra cheese, anyone? Someone failed the "varying the menu" option at catering school, apparently.

 

[harvyk]

I'm happy to say I've never had a terrible meal on QF ever. Sure, I've never seen a meal of comparable quality since a MEL-CBR in 94" which was not-quite-a-full english breakfast, but they've always been quite reasonable taste wise.

I'd wish they would go back to the old days of decent flight catering for CBR-MEL routes. These days about the only hot thing that is served in Y on that route is a warm bread roll with breakfast, if your lucky. (More oftan than not, they simply hand over a small muffin in place of the bread roll)

 

[anat0l]

I'd wish they would go back to the old days of decent flight catering for CBR-MEL routes. These days about the only hot thing that is served in Y on that route is a warm bread roll with breakfast, if your lucky. (More oftan than not, they simply hand over a small muffin in place of the bread roll)

Last time I flew CBR-SYD it was the second flight of the morning and we were offered a cookie! Not too surprisingly, I declined.

In that case, anything warm would have been more appropriate.

 

[harvyk]

I think they used to deliver the meals pre-cooked and pre-warmed to the plane and then serve them out mid flight. If they want to be called a full service airline they really should be offering a full service. What this country needs is a second proper full service airline to compete with QF (I'm thinking Ansett Mark 3) and we'll soon see the in-flight services go up even on the short legs.

 

[JohnK]

The last time I had such a dish (beef rissoles), it was extremely tasty. In fact, I'd argue one of the best meals on the domestic network. Certainly didn't taste like to sole of an old boot, and the mashed potato was of good texture and not alike to some sort of gruel.

I cannot remember ever having a bad meal on QF domestic. In fact most times the meal is actually quite nice.

I think Qantas international catering is not doing so well and they really need to look at improving the menu, increasing serving sizes (especially on ultra long haul flights) and adequate meal choices. Surely someone knows that for breakfast more pasengers request eggs instead of muesli so you load 90% eggs and 10% muesli, not a 50%-50% split.

 

[Flashback]

What Reggie said! Flying to BME yesterday we had the choice of said sandwich, or a chicken pot pie. This was on mainline QF too, not QFLink. Will be interesting to see what I'm offered on my flight back to PER today, which is in fact QFLink (if I make it back from Derby ).

 

[Evan]

The JFK BA (+QF/CX) Flounge serves bacon rolls in the morning !!
Just had to add that because i love them so much

Generally if i was offered on QF the rissoles i would grab it they used to be really good.

 

[Flashback]

The JFK BA (+QF/CX) Flounge serves bacon rolls in the morning !!
Just had to add that because i love them so much

Generally if i was offered on QF the rissoles i would grab it they used to be really good.

Welcome back Evan, haven't seen you around in a while

The BA T3 Galleries (J) lounge at LHR had some bacon rolls there when I first arrived also.

 

[anat0l]

Welcome back Evan, haven't seen you around in a while

The BA T3 Galleries (J) lounge at LHR had some bacon rolls there when I first arrived also.

Aaah...what British lounge would be proper without some bacon butties for breakfast?

The Refectory in BA T5 Galleries F had a full English breakfast selection from the buffet when I was there; bacon butties were possible but it was DIY (i.e. split your own bread rolls / get your own toast, add your own bacon + sauce).

 

[JohnK]

Generally if i was offered on QF the rissoles i would grab it they used to be really good.

And they are still really good. I don't think too much has changed since I last had the rissoles 2-3 weeks ago....

 

[Evan]

Welcome back Evan, haven't seen you around in a while

The BA T3 Galleries (J) lounge at LHR had some bacon rolls there when I first arrived also.

Keeping a low profile recently And traveling a bit. In the last month or so ad until 3rd Jan i have doneor will do SIN-HKT-SIN-DPS-SIN-HKG-LHR-IST-LHR-MCT-LHR-SIN-MNL-SIN-LHR-SFO-MIA-BOS-DFW-JFK-HKG-ICN-SIN-MEL-SYD-SIN
Different airlines and a few stops in there but it all means a busy boy.

That and making sure my girlfriend is happy means less net time.

Now to figure out how to make OWE / Partner gold next year while on a limited budget and not doing meaning less sectors with the girlfriend with me.
We have a trip to NYC mid year and i hope to get 2 35k mile oneworld business awards... i will be ringing tomorrow to check availability... fingers crossed !

In all those flight i really enjoy the CX food (although odd services times on the JFK-HKG 16 hour monster flight) and the AA food i unhealthy but tastes good for domestic food.

 

[Ms Lucy]

What's on the current lunch menu for QF Y class MELBNE? The usual sandwiches? (Don't mind the sandwiches, actually)

 

[drewbles]

There was a surprisingly decent hot breakfast on PER-ADL this morning, scrambled eggs, potato cake, sausage and baked beans. Also with a nice yoghurt and one of those small muffins (not so good), juice, coffee and tea. Then a white choc and macadamia nut cookie with bottle of water handed out around 60 minutes prior to landing. Very pleasant!

 

[thewinchester]

There was a surprisingly decent hot breakfast on PER-ADL this morning, scrambled eggs, potato cake, sausage and baked beans. Also with a nice yoghurt and one of those small muffins (not so good), juice, coffee and tea. Then a white choc and macadamia nut cookie with bottle of water handed out around 60 minutes prior to landing. Very pleasant!

Any idea who's factory the muffin came out of? I generally get muffins on flights in the east coast and they've always been of a good quality. Maybe different supplier out of PER who needs a kick in the pants?