Best "Book the Cook", "Chef on-call" choice?

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VAG newbie

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I got a few first class journey coming up this year (JL, SQ, TG). Many of the airlines nowadays offer pre-order meal service. So I got a really big first world problem now. What should I order?

Both SQ and TG I've read, almost everyone all recommend lobster thermidor. While I really love lobster, having it on all my trips can get boring. So I wonder other than lobster thermidor, what others do you recommend?

At the moment, for TG, the scallop provencale looks delicious. Also I am tempted with the angus beef on SQ. Any suggestions?
 
You might want to check here VAG - http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ok-cook-suggestions-departure-city-65670.html - this thread was started only like 2 weeks ago.

Got bounced back from that thread. They don't want to talk about anything other than SQ.

this thread is for SQ book the cook. FWIW i vote to keep it as such.

So perhaps for SQ "Book the Cook", we can continue to discuss over there. But I would appreciate any advice on TG's "Chef on Call".
 
I don't pre-order anything. Why not wait until the menu is delivered on the day and have something to do for five minutes to read the menu and decide what you want?
 
Lobster is hard to pass up, but I can understand it might get boring.

For me, I'm not sure about TG, but SQ BTC looks really boring apart from the lobster (and maybe something like noodle soup or nasi goreng for breakfast, or chicken rice for the second meal). I have had SQ's Berkshire pork main via a la carte on board before and wasn't impressed one bit; not sure I'd have more faith if it was BTC ordered. And I'm never very confident with steak on board a plane; there's been limited times that I've been impressed by a piece of beef on board. I like to order lamb where it is available, but I'm not really attracted to SQ BTC's Indian style lamb shank.

For Japanese routes, if they have something like Kyo Kaiseki and you like Japanese food, it might be worth preordering that.

The on board choices are usually OK enough that you won't be forced to make a difficult choice, if you get my drift (notwithstanding undercatering an option or your order being taken too late).

If you are flying TG F, unless it's changed, they usually have four main dishes: two Western, one Chinese and one Thai. One of the Western choices is usually seafood.

Keep in mind the length of flight, timing and the regions between which you are travelling. All of these (maybe less so the first factor) will influence the menu choices on the on board menu.

If you are flying TG J, someone said that the catering quality has headed south a touch. You may want to preorder one here.
 
I've tried a few things on the TG pre-order menu but eventually the lobster remains the most memorable dish. It's served in a few variations, depends on the departure city so no problem having one for dinner and a different style for breakfast.
Haven't checked JL yet, do they offer F pre-order service menu ex SYD?
 
I've tried a few things on the TG pre-order menu but eventually the lobster remains the most memorable dish. It's served in a few variations, depends on the departure city so no problem having one for dinner and a different style for breakfast.
Haven't checked JL yet, do they offer F pre-order service menu ex SYD?

At the end of this page: JAL International Flights - JAL KITCHEN GALLERY (Welcome! JAL New Sky) you can enter in your route and class of service and they'll show you the menu.
 
Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

It shows the in-flight menu, not pre-order.
Nevertheless, it looks great!

I'm not aware of pre-order for JAL. (I would however contact JAL if you are particularly keen on the japanese meal.)

i guess more generally the question is whether it's really necessary to pre-order (often 'just for the sake of it') when there's a perfectly good menu on the plane? just about everything on any book the cook service is available better, and fresher, on the ground.
 
I'm not aware of pre-order for JAL. (I would however contact JAL if you are particularly keen on the japanese meal.)

Good tip, will make sure to do that.
Did you try the Western meal? I'm traveling with the missus and we thought maybe ordering one Japanese and one Western. The reason I ask is because I was disappointed before by Western meals on Asian carriers, I wonder if JAL do it better.

i guess more generally the question is whether it's really necessary to pre-order (often 'just for the sake of it') when there's a perfectly good menu on the plane? just about everything on any book the cook service is available better, and fresher, on the ground.

IMO it depends on the airline and your preference of food. For example, I like the lobster on TG more then any other dish offered in their in-flight menu. Also, the Korean meal onboard OZ F is too similar to their J meal so next time I will depart from ICN will definitely pre-order.
On the other hand, when flying QF I prefer to choose from the in-flight menu.
 
Good tip, will make sure to do that.
Did you try the Western meal? I'm traveling with the missus and we thought maybe ordering one Japanese and one Western. The reason I ask is because I was disappointed before by Western meals on Asian carriers, I wonder if JAL do it better.



IMO it depends on the airline and your preference of food. For example, I like the lobster on TG more then any other dish offered in their in-flight menu. Also, the Korean meal onboard OZ F is too similar to their J meal so next time I will depart from ICN will definitely pre-order.
On the other hand, when flying QF I prefer to choose from the in-flight menu.

Ah yes... the Asiana Royal Dynasty Descended-from-Heaven Banquet (or something) :)

I don't like the heavy emphasis on seafood/fish in Japanese meals, so I only eat the western option. I've found it to be perfectly acceptable. But I agree on the whole, most Asian carriers (with the exception of OZ's steaks!) don't do western as well as they could.
 
Good tip, will make sure to do that.
Did you try the Western meal? I'm traveling with the missus and we thought maybe ordering one Japanese and one Western. The reason I ask is because I was disappointed before by Western meals on Asian carriers, I wonder if JAL do it better.

Japanese western food is world standard. Not sure about how JAL does it, but if the chef is from a renowned restaurant in Japan, it should be really good, athough Caucasian tongues and Asian tongues are a bit different. Something that is nice to Asian may not be good for Caucasian. I personally want to try it too, but at the same time, if I fly JAL, I should really try Japanese choice. Decision decision......

Also I think it depends on where the catering is made. For ex-SYD flight, it would be catered in here, so Western option might be better?


IMO it depends on the airline and your preference of food. For example, I like the lobster on TG more then any other dish offered in their in-flight menu. Also, the Korean meal onboard OZ F is too similar to their J meal so next time I will depart from ICN will definitely pre-order.
On the other hand, when flying QF I prefer to choose from the in-flight menu.

Also there is a possibility your preference might run out. Who knows, even Etihad first class run out of food.
 
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Japanese western food is world standard. Not sure about how JAL does it, but if the chef is from a renowned restaurant in Japan, it should be really good...

I agree, and was my reason for putting Japanese carriers in a slightly different league. (Although that doesn't always necessarily translate to a plane.)

As for top chefs... everyone seems to have them... 'panels', 'conclaves', even 'congresses' of chefs! I'm sure they have the best intentions! I've had some fairly forgettable western food out of western countries :( (Although catering ex China is quite possibly the most disappointing... no matter which cuisine.)
 
Japanese western food is world standard. Not sure about how JAL does it, but if the chef is from a renowned restaurant in Japan, it should be really good, athough Caucasian tongues and Asian tongues are a bit different. Something that is nice to Asian may not be good for Caucasian. I personally want to try it too, but at the same time, if I fly JAL, I should really try Japanese choice. Decision decision......

Also I think it depends on where the catering is made. For ex-SYD flight, it would be catered in here, so Western option might be better?

You can try the Western option on the way there and the Japanese on the way back, or vv...

Also there is a possibility your preference might run out. Who knows, even Etihad first class run out of food.

With "personal" chef onboard, I doubt it ;)
 
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