Qantas Business Class meals & menus

[Quickstatus]

Can someone explain why this is called a "Farmers Plate". And what farmer would call this a farmers plate?

 

[anat0l]

Can someone explain why this is called a "Farmers Plate". And what farmer would call this a farmers plate?

View attachment 348721

Yeah well I was told it was a charcuterie plate. Go figure.

Poor ploughman's lunch may be more appropriate?

 

[RooFlyer]

Poor ploughman's lunch may be more appropriate?

I'm guessing that's what they meant, but hey, near enough?

I was told it was a charcuterie plate

That would go with the usual pretentious labels on Qantas' international menus.

 

[anat0l]

That would go with the usual pretentious labels on Qantas' international menus.

Honest told, it fits the definition, albeit just.

I remember receiving one of those on BA once - had a piece of prosciutto and one of bresola and that was it, apart from the other non-meat items. So, eh...apart from the fact most people can't pronounce, spell or know what is charcuterie.

 

[RooFlyer]

apart from the fact most people can't pronounce, spell or know what is charcuterie.

... goes to a comment I made way up-thread. On any given QFi menu, there's usually a Neil Perry pretentious term or two I don't understand. Any reference to xx_XX-style beef I'll not have the faintest idea - is it spicy? Garlicky? Salty? No worries, I'm a pleb, so, I ask the FA. They almost never have any idea either. Pick up the menu and read back "Says it's xx_X-style beef. I guess that's what it is" was one response.

From a couple of menus above.
Salmorigio
Fioretto
Macau style ....
Korean style ....

Now, I don't mind being ignorant about the finer side of dining, but I expect that someone will be able to tell me what the hell I'm ordering. Or maybe they can add some extra words for the ignorant Macau style (fried) .... Korean style (fried) ... and so on.

 

[anat0l]

... goes to a comment I made way up-thread. On any given QFi menu, there's usually a Neil Perry pretentious term or two I don't understand. Any reference to xx_XX-style beef I'll not have the faintest idea - is it spicy? Garlicky? Salty? No worries, I'm a pleb, so, I ask the FA. They almost never have any idea either. Pick up the menu and read back "Says it's xx_X-style beef. I guess that's what it is" was one response.

From a couple of menus above.
Salmorigio
Fioretto
Macau style ....
Korean style ....

Now, I don't mind being ignorant about the finer side of dining, but I expect that someone will be able to tell me what the hell I'm ordering. Or maybe they can add some extra words for the ignorant Macau style (fried) .... Korean style (fried) ... and so on.

I'm surprised the FAs don't know; I thought familiarity with the menu was part of their role; perhaps not if a passenger doesn't know what they are going to get, but at least a basic understanding of common allergens if that is important to a passenger.

Don't FAs receive cheat notes on each of the dishes, which includes pictures of them?

Maybe they should have a section in the IFE which is a visual menu, which can include more information such as ingredients, allergens, wine matches, nutritional information and even notes from Neil about the dish (for those so inclined). (Maybe not as that might mean the demise of the printed menu)

 

[Steady]

Honest told, it fits the definition, albeit just.

apart from the fact most people can't pronounce, spell or know what is charcuterie.

If you know, you know.… as someone who does, it has become quite a hobby

 

[kermatu]

HBA-CBR 15:45 QF Link 717 service.

Have not flown QF since requalifying P1 a few months ago. Happily enjoyed a few cheaper excellent VA flights in the past few months. But a direct Hobart to Canberra J flight at exactly the right time I needed lured me back. Seeing zero status credits suddenly showing on my account the other day may also have subconsciously been a factor. Either way, happy I did.

No PDB but excellent service from Kim, Erin and Josh throughout the flight. Very surprised given the mid afternoon time to be offered two substantial meals - blade steak or Kung Pao chicken. Given I’d had both early in the year extra surprised they are still on the menu. But appreciated nonetheless.


Meal was piping hot but had been in the oven a bit long so a touch dry. As per the norm there was little spice/kick, but the sauce was actually pretty tasty and helped keep the chicken reasonably tender. I enjoyed it and appreciated having a more substantial dish at this hour.

Continual wine top-ups offered. A few minutes before descent Kim came around with the Y snack (Real rice crackers and cheese) which I happily accepted. Then spare chocolate bars were also offered. These little extras have been the norm on VA for me but much less so on QF, so another good surprise.

Good flight.

 

[RooFlyer]

I’ve heard a lot about Kung Pao chicken here. What flavours is there in it on board?

 

[Quickstatus]

I'm surprised the FAs don't know; I thought familiarity with the menu was part of their role

its like the small public hospital i used to work at
The cafeteria gets its meals delivered from a centraol location.
I went down there one time at 1100am. The attendant was there.
There was nothing on display. I asked her where's the food and what were they serving today
Both questions were answered "I dont know".

Kung Pao chicken here. What flavours is there in it on board?

Ill let you decide which is the real KPC
The flavours are in the pics, but the necessary ingredients are dried chilli, peanut oil, ginger, diced chicken peanuts, shallots. I like it especially HOT and prefer cashews instead of peanuts as cashews are sweeter. Taste is salty/sweet but most of all SPICY. The chillis are dried to give it an extra kick.

'Kung Pao" means Palace chicken cubes. Sichuan origins = spicy

I don't think QF offering is KPC by the usual definitions
NP's Spice Temple does a good rendition - photo 2. Didn't NP send a memo?

there's usually a Neil Perry pretentious term

Not just pretentious but airlines also seem to have a habit of calling something which it is not

 

[Berlin]

its like the small public hospital i used to work at
The cafeteria gets its meals delivered from a centraol location.
I went down there one time at 1100am. The attendant was there.
There was nothing on display. I asked her where's the food and what were they serving today
Both questions were answered "I dont know".



Ill let you decide which is the real KPC
The flavours are in the pics, but the necessary ingredients are dried chilli, peanut oil, ginger, diced chicken peanuts, shallots. I like it especially HOT and prefer cashews instead of peanuts as cashews are sweeter. Taste is salty/sweet but most of all SPICY. The chillis are dried to give it an extra kick.

'Kung Pao" means Palace chicken cubes. Sichuan origins = spicy

NP's Spice Temple does a good rendition. But not this...


View attachment 349014View attachment 349015

Agree, proper Kung Pao tends to be super spicy- those dry chillies are usually a dead giveaway in Chinese food (I personally love em!). While I could imagine that a lot of passengers with a more "Western" palate would struggle with the original, these two dishes have hardly anything in common. I've heard folks calling the Qantas rendition "spicy" but I can honestly hardly taste any spice. Not a bad dish though in itself compared with some of the other Domestic J meals- just certainly no "Kung Pao chicken".

 

[Quickstatus]

Not a bad dish though in itself compared with some of the other Domestic J meals

Agree there, Its pretty good in the overall context.
They could have maybe diced the chicken and left out the most of the chilli as KPC often has as much diced/cubed chicken pieces as there are dried chilli pieces . Call it stir fry chicken.

 

[Rangalad]

I'm surprised the FAs don't know; I thought familiarity with the menu was part of their role; perhaps not if a passenger doesn't know what they are going to get, but at least a basic understanding of common allergens if that is important to a passenger.

Don't FAs receive cheat notes on each of the dishes, which includes pictures of them?

Maybe they should have a section in the IFE which is a visual menu, which can include more information such as ingredients, allergens, wine matches, nutritional information and even notes from Neil about the dish (for those so inclined). (Maybe not as that might mean the demise of the printed menu)

Have seen the preparation and plating notes in the galley.
Believe the galley operator position gives the serving crew an overview of the menu.

Procedures may have changed.

 

[RooFlyer]

I don't think QF offering is KPC by the usual definitions

Not just pretentious but airlines also seem to have a habit of calling something which it is not

Like going into a restaurant and being served by someone with a very faux French accent . It doesn’t impress - it just disappoints ( or amuses).

If it’s chilli chicken, call it chilli chicken!! Then I can decide if it’ll suits me or not and it won’t be wasted if not.

 

[jase05]

Poor ploughman's lunch may be more appropriate?

A proper ploughman’s lunch like you find in many English pubs normally just consists of some crusty bread and butter with some cheese and some sort of pickle. Some pubs will spruce it up with a boiled egg or some ham aswell as condiments.
That photo looks pretty similar to meals I’ve seen in plenty of pubs

 

[DC3]

Poor ploughman's lunch may be more appropriate?

The poor ploughman. Not a patch on any ploughman pub-lunch in rural Oz, in my experience. More for the landed gentry.

 

[MelbFlyer]

QF29 Melbourne to HK - Actually was pretty impressed / happy with the meals and service.

Wife and I were travelling so we got 2 different entrees and mains each, then shared.

For entrees we got the salmon and chicken, for mains we got the beef fillet and snapper.

Entrees were a very generous portion and tasted quite good. Mains tasted good too but could have been better had they been served on larger plates rather than the same size plates for entrees.

Just that little touch would have 'made' the mains more presentable.

Refreshment was also good too.

5/5 from me after having my reservations about Qantas international business.

 

[sww199]

Not just pretentious but airlines also seem to have a habit of calling something which it is not

Yes, my favourite is the 'chilli con carne' at the Melbourne Qantas Club, that in fact, has no carne (ie, meat), and scarcely any chilli. Basically, slow cooked beans.

 

[Quickstatus]

More for the landed gentry.

Yes, I suspect is for the inner city Farmer/ploughman

 

[Berlin]

Yes, my favourite is the 'chilli con carne' at the Melbourne Qantas Club, that in fact, has no carne (ie, meat), and scarcely any chilli. Basically, slow cooked beans.

And wether it's con or sin carne- I always can't help but wonder why, oh why, anyone would think it's a good idea to feed people beans for all things before they have to spend time, close together with strangers in a pressurised tube. Just saying...