Best First Class Food?

[TheRealTMA]

QFThe worst meal I've ever had on an aircraft was the completely nuked grey kind of meat Qantas F DXB-LHR called "prime steak". Wost of all I, after having bad steaks on QF F before, I very specifically asked them NOT TO OVERCOOK it. The (english) male FA who served it said they HAD TO follow health guidelines and cook it so 18 minutes. Then when I said it was terrible, he argued with me! Sheesh. When I suggested to him to not argue with me (and passengers especially in F) about the worst steak I've ever seen, he said "I'm not arguing with you, I'm just giving you my opinion.".

One of the newer meat substitutes could never be as bad as this streak.


Compare that with a couple of meals from EK F...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What's missing with QF (and it's not just their steaks) is the sauce! But I also feel QF lacks innovation? The tagine (chicken or vegetable) with cous cous and preserved lemon (or olives) seems to have been around for like 10 years. Many other dishes seem to be repeats. I get it that customers may appreciate familiarity, but there's also a case for coming up with some new stuff occasionally.

 

[SOPOOR]

QFThe worst meal I've ever had on an aircraft was the completely nuked grey kind of meat Qantas F DXB-LHR called "prime steak". Wost of all I, after having bad steaks on QF F before, I very specifically asked them NOT TO OVERCOOK it. The (english) male FA who served it said they HAD TO follow health guidelines and cook it so 18 minutes. Then when I said it was terrible, he argued with me! Sheesh. When I suggested to him to not argue with me (and passengers especially in F) about the worst steak I've ever seen, he said "I'm not arguing with you, I'm just giving you my opinion.".

One of the newer meat substitutes could never be as bad as this streak.
View attachment 129493

Compare that with a couple of meals from EK F...

View attachment 129494 View attachment 129495

that would make me super angry, really angry

 

[GoldCanyon340]

What's missing with QF (and it's not just their steaks) is the sauce! But I also feel QF lacks innovation? The tagine (chicken or vegetable) with cous cous and preserved lemon (or olives) seems to have been around for like 10 years. Many other dishes seem to be repeats. I get it that customers may appreciate familiarity, but there's also a case for coming up with some new stuff occasionally.

Please, just please, can QF retire the steak sandwich? I don't care if the salt and pepper squid in the lounge is retained as I've never had it and there's many other choices. But the steak sandwich has had twenty years of spotlight and it's time for it to go.

 

[boomy]

TBH serving overcooked steaks and other meats is an issue in many airlines. I was served some of the worst steaks on QF, TG, SQ and EK.
On the other hand EY and TK have chefs onboard who proactively asks the desired cooking way and Japanese airlines simply don’t know how to serve a bad steak

 

[blackcat20]

Please, just please, can QF retire the steak sandwich? I don't care if the salt and pepper squid in the lounge is retained as I've never had it and there's many other choices. But the steak sandwich has had twenty years of spotlight and it's time for it to go.

I like the steak sanga. They tried to get rid of it and there was so much outrage they bought it back.

 

[rock86]

Not at all. EK have wines that reward the F experience. Qantas F wines are rubbish. I drink better at home. Last EK flight had these. Expensive and very drinkable. Not to mention Henassay Paradis, Dom P2 etc, JW blue,etc?

The Margaux is close to A$1000 a bottle and highly regarded.

View attachment 129443 View attachment 129444 View attachment 129445 View attachment 129446

EK F spirits include

Spirits Chivas Regal Royal Salute 21 year old Scotch whisky

Launched to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, this rare and aged whisky is blended to be gentle and harmonious ​

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch whisky

This rich and smoky whisky is hand-picked, just one from 10,000 casks​

The Dalmore King Alexander III single malt Scotch whisky

A robust and formidable whisky, this unique six-cask finish showcases the result of extended maturation in an artful combination of woods​

Woodford Reserve bourbon whiskey

This smooth small-batch super premium bourbon is handcrafted in the heart of Kentucky​

Hennessy Paradis

Refined, elegant and unique, Paradis is an extremely rare blend of over 100 eaux-de-vies, and a graceful and precious premium cognac ​

Tesseron Cognac Lot 29 XO Exception

This unique blend of legendary Grande Champagne cognacs has been lovingly aged for at least three generations ​

Bacardi Superior rum

The original silver rum has been one of the world’s most popular spirits for decades​

Belvedere vodka

Belvedere is quadruple distilled using only the finest Polish Dankowskie rye​

Sipsmith gin

Bold, complex and aromatic, this super small-batch, artisanal gin has a dry and fresh finish​

So forget the Scotch, drink this..
View attachment 129487
View attachment 129490

Or a nice red if you prefer.

View attachment 129489

More info here - First Class dining | Dining | The Emirates Experience | Emirates

QFThe worst meal I've ever had on an aircraft was the completely nuked grey kind of meat Qantas F DXB-LHR called "prime steak". Wost of all I, after having bad steaks on QF F before, I very specifically asked them NOT TO OVERCOOK it. The (english) male FA who served it said they HAD TO follow health guidelines and cook it so 18 minutes. Then when I said it was terrible, he argued with me! Sheesh. When I suggested to him to not argue with me (and passengers especially in F) about the worst steak I've ever seen, he said "I'm not arguing with you, I'm just giving you my opinion.".

One of the newer meat substitutes could never be as bad as this streak.
View attachment 129493

Compare that with a couple of meals from EK F...

View attachment 129494 View attachment 129495

Those posts are getting me even more excited in flying EK F next year @TheRealTMA (even counting the days until they become available to book!!)

 

[drron]

Well the steak sandwich just shows we all have different tastes.I had read all the accounts of how good it was so I did order one on my first QF F sector.Underwhelmed.Thought it might have been a one off so tried it again.Even more underwhelming.

 

[SOPOOR]

EK F spirits include

Spirits Chivas Regal Royal Salute 21 year old Scotch whisky

Launched to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, this rare and aged whisky is blended to be gentle and harmonious ​

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch whisky

This rich and smoky whisky is hand-picked, just one from 10,000 casks​

The Dalmore King Alexander III single malt Scotch whisky

A robust and formidable whisky, this unique six-cask finish showcases the result of extended maturation in an artful combination of woods​

Woodford Reserve bourbon whiskey

This smooth small-batch super premium bourbon is handcrafted in the heart of Kentucky​

Hennessy Paradis

Refined, elegant and unique, Paradis is an extremely rare blend of over 100 eaux-de-vies, and a graceful and precious premium cognac ​

Tesseron Cognac Lot 29 XO Exception

This unique blend of legendary Grande Champagne cognacs has been lovingly aged for at least three generations ​

Bacardi Superior rum

The original silver rum has been one of the world’s most popular spirits for decades​

Belvedere vodka

Belvedere is quadruple distilled using only the finest Polish Dankowskie rye​

Sipsmith gin

Bold, complex and aromatic, this super small-batch, artisanal gin has a dry and fresh finish​

So forget the Scotch, drink this..
View attachment 129487
View attachment 129490

Or a nice red if you prefer.

View attachment 129489

More info here - First Class dining | Dining | The Emirates Experience | Emirates

I see a lot of photos of the wines and spriits with teh whole bottle, and some staff encouaring customers to finis the entire bottle,

I wonder if you could be super cheeky and take home the remainder of the bottle

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I like the steak sanga. They tried to get rid of it and there was so much outrage they bought it back.

No doubt the airline wanted to get rid of it because, well, a single piece of protein costs money you know! (As opposed to the shredded meat stir fries and cubes of meat they can get away with in business and economy.)

Well the steak sandwich just shows we all have different tastes.I had read all the accounts of how good it was so I did order one on my first QF F sector.Underwhelmed.Thought it might have been a one off so tried it again.Even more underwhelming.

I'm entirely with you on this one. Same impressions here.

 

[juddles]

........


So forget the Scotch, drink this..
View attachment 129487

Enough to get comfortably numb?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Enough to get comfortably numb?

Many times. The Scottish FA on DXB-GLA was filling up my glass evertime I took a sip! Just as well therevas a limo to take us the Edinburgh or I doubt if I would have made it.

It’s become a ritual now. Comfortably Numb on the audio repeat with a glass or two of Paradis (after dinner).

 

[TheRealTMA]

Well the steak sandwich just shows we all have different tastes.I had read all the accounts of how good it was so I did order one on my first QF F sector.Underwhelmed.Thought it might have been a one off so tried it again.Even more underwhelming.

That’s just normal response to QF F, DrRon.

 

[potm]

Please do tell how we can fly return in First to Thailand for ~AUD650/person?

Depending on how much points cost you, when United points could get you SYD-BKK for 40k in F one way, you could get close.

When United had a 25% transfer bonus you could convert 180k Amex points > 90k SPG > 270k Marriott > 162k United points and 7 nights accomodation. So 180k Amex points would get you 2 return F tickets from SYD-BKK plus 7 nights accomodation in one of the excellent Marriott properties in Bangkok. You may have even had gold status with SPG through your Amex and got lounge access and maybe a nice room upgrade. Unfortunately United has devalued that route now

How much does 180k Amex points cost you? Maybe one sign up and a couple of referrals and some normal spending.

 

[SOPOOR]

Depending on how much points cost you, when United points could get you SYD-BKK for 40k in F one way, you could get close.

When United had a 25% transfer bonus you could convert 180k Amex points > 90k SPG > 270k Marriott > 162k United points and 7 nights accomodation. So 180k Amex points would get you 2 return F tickets from SYD-BKK plus 7 nights accomodation in one of the excellent Marriott properties in Bangkok. You may have even had gold status with SPG through your Amex and got lounge access and maybe a nice room upgrade. Unfortunately United has devalued that route now

How much does 180k Amex points cost you? Maybe one sign up and a couple of referrals and some normal spending.

Damn. I didn't understand all that converting but that's helluva lot cheap

I'm just using 300k points for sq F return to Europe

 

[JohnK]

How much does 180k Amex points cost you? Maybe one sign up and a couple of referrals and some normal spending.

Some cannot churn at all. Debt and too many credit cards already does that to you. So 180,000 points takes a few years to earn and now there are 3 of us travelling.

P.S. I did the same transfer as you but don't remember getting 162,000 Mileage Plus miles. Wife travelling First next week and daughter and I sluuming it in business. Wife thinks she's travelling economy with me in business as she didn't want to believe me when I gave her the good news.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Many times. The Scottish FA on DXB-GLA was filling up my glass evertime I took a sip! Just as well therevas a limo to take us the Edinburgh or I doubt if I would have made it.

It’s become a ritual now. Comfortably Numb on the audio repeat with a glass or two of Paradis (after dinner).

A glass of the Paradis certainly does go down well after lunch/dinner. The EK website states I'll be getting the Margaux and Dom P2 on my next flight into London so fingers crossed stocks are available.

As for the steak sandwich, of course I appreciate it's a favourite but let's mix it up a bit. Was also going to say it's not really an F meal but then none of the items on the QF2 supper menus I've had recently has been either.

 

[Atleastonce]

TBH serving overcooked steaks and other meats is an issue in many airlines. I was served some of the worst steaks on QF, TG, SQ and EK.
On the other hand EY and TK have chefs onboard who proactively asks the desired cooking way and Japanese airlines simply don’t know how to serve a bad steak

Agree. The best on board steak I have ever had was on Etihad J.

 

[itsBella]

12. American Airlines from Best First-Class Airline Food Slideshow

Here is what I found out all over the internet.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

12. American Airlines from Best First-Class Airline Food Slideshow

Here is what I found out all over the internet.

OMG what planet were they on??!! There's no way Lufthansa is known for its wines in F (in fact it's a bit of a running joke to the opposite). TG F is worse than economy for it's hot courses. CX F hasn't been anything to write home about for a few years now (although Asian dishes are significantly better than the Western options). And Virgin Atlantic doesn't even offer F!