Amtrak Guest Rewards - Who is AMTRAK's Caterer?

I have ridden the ACELA Express many times (much of that time in FC) and have noticed while boarding in NYP GateGourmet employees loading meals into the FC car. In fact, at one point there was even a small card on the tray written by GateGourmet's head chef for AMTRAK about the meal being served.

It got me thinking, what about the Silver Star when it originates in Miami, is GateGourmet sending over a truck from MIA with food prepared for AMTRAK?

Or what about other routes at their endpoint, is GateGourmet sending a truck from that cities airport or is AMTRAK doing the catering themselves at that station?

Obviously, not all of the food is being prepared fresh on-board by the cook in the dinning car (the cheeseburger comes to mind as a dish not being prepared fresh on-board) and as far I know none of the Cafe Car food selections are prepared fresh, they are simply re-heated.

So who provides that catering?

Just curious,
Dan

Amtrak's catering contract changed from GateGourmet to Aramark recently. It had been GateGourmet for a very long time, since they acquired the previous caterer (Dobbs International, maybe?) over a decade ago. There may be vestiges of GateGourmet's operations still around.

Amtrak has its own commissaries that the caterer utilizes to prepare meals at or near major terminals. I believe Acela trainsets are catered as they lay over on the platforms at BOS/NYP/WAS. Your FC attendant indeed heats the entree in an oven, airline-style. Some cafe cars do have convection ovens, but on Acela and most trains it's a microwave.

Most long-distance routes -- which do have real kitchens and chefs -- have some form of en route catering. For example, the Coast Starlight's three food service cars are restocked with key items out of a van on the platform in Oakland. (Caterers also sometimes restock Capitol or San Joaquin corridor trains turning there.) Other long-distance stops may just involve a station agent delivering locally procured ice and newspapers, as the Coast Starlight does up the line in Klamath Falls.

I had no idea that AMTRAK owned its own commissaries, I just learned something new.

I guess it makes sense for a contractor (Aramark) to operate its facilities as their employees would probably be paid less than a Gov't AMTRAK employee.

Dan

I guess it makes sense for a contractor (Aramark) to operate its facilities as their employees would probably be paid less than a Gov't AMTRAK employee.

I'm not sure if that's the case with all commissaries, but I'm almost positive it is with some of the major ones. Now I'm second-guessing myself. :o

Amtrak's caterer has been Aramark for a couple of years now. I can only guess that somehow Amtrak kept the carts that said Gate on them, as to my knowledge Gate no longer services anything for Amtrak at all.

Aramark provides the food to the Amtrak commissaries, staffed with Amtrak employees who then load the food onto the various trains.

Next, Acela uses convection ovens, not microwaves. Additionally the food in the dining cars that is not cooked on the grill or warmed in a steam table is also heated in a convection oven. I'm not sure if the cafe cars have microwaves or if they're also convection ovens. I think that they're convection, but I won't swear to it.

Finally, no LD trains get restocked enroute, unless there has been a major delay. They all carry enough food for the expected run, plus one extra full meal. Then they have a stew that they can cook up for another meal. The Coast Starlight must be an exception, since it's already passing by an existing commissary; but that is the exception not the norm.

The kitchens on the Superliners can hold enough food for a 3 day run.

Obviously, not all of the food is being prepared fresh on-board by the cook in the dinning car (the cheeseburger comes to mind as a dish not being prepared fresh on-board) and as far I know none of the Cafe Car food selections are prepared fresh, they are simply re-heated.


Actually they are supposed to be tossing that burger on the grill in the dining car. I believe that it is partially pre-cooked, but I'm not positive.

Actually they are supposed to be tossing that burger on the grill in the dining car. I believe that it is partially pre-cooked, but I'm not positive.

If they are supposed to be tossing the burger on the grill (in the dinning car) than I must be hitting the same lazy cook on both of trips. I have had the burger twice in the Silver Star's dinning car and both times the burger has been micro/convection cooked (the second time I actually heard the ding of the mico/convection over).

My only other experience with AMTRAK catering is on ACELA FC and I actually quite enjoy the meal (it tastes like airline FC catering, which I like). It was better back when ACELA rolled out and a true desert was offered (usually an Opera Torte or something cake like) but the offerings as of late have been pretty good..

Dan

DELETE

Finally, no LD trains get restocked enroute, unless there has been a major delay. They all carry enough food for the expected run, plus one extra full meal. Then they have a stew that they can cook up for another meal. The Coast Starlight must be an exception, since it's already passing by an existing commissary; but that is the exception not the norm.


Not really a 'restock', but fresh morning platters (croisant sandwiches) are pulled on board on the West Bound Empire Builder before the Portland/Seattle split. That is the breakfast that the folks in the sleeper get before pulling into the final destination since the Diner car isn't available.

Most long-distance routes -- which do have real kitchens and chefs -- have some form of en route catering.

I'm not sure what's up with the Cardinal (in general), but it is a longer route and has neither a real kitchen nor a real chef. For 29+hour train (even greater because it is usually delayed), the dining is lacking. They take prepacked food (see hot pockets) and microwave them. That is Cardinal dining. Be sure to bring onboard your own stash.

That said, the trip is absolutely beautiful - especially in the summertime. You get fantastic views you can't get on a plane or even in the car (see New River Gorge)

The Cardinal's problem is lack of enough full dining cars to go around. Far too many of the 60+ year old single level dining cars have been retired due to the cost of maintaining them and the lack of available parts to keep them on the road. Since it only runs three days a week and only gets 1 sleeping car, it lost its dining car.

However, it is better than "hot pockets" and it's not microwaved. Everything is heated in a convection oven or the steam table.

Hopefully once the new Viewliner II's start showing up late next year and into 2013, with the 25 dining cars in that order Amtrak will be able to restore full dining car service on the Cardinal at some point in 2013. Until then, you get the diner-lite car instead. :(

We may even see a daily Cardinal at that point too. :)

My only other experience with AMTRAK catering is on ACELA FC and I actually quite enjoy the meal (it tastes like airline FC catering, which I like). It was better back when ACELA rolled out and a true desert was offered (usually an Opera Torte or something cake like) but the offerings as of late have been pretty good..

Dan
In May I had a pretty yummy tiramisu type dessert on the FC car. It had dark chocolate, some custard, little cookies, etc. It was in a parfait type glass. It was a big improvement over the ghiradelli chocolate square that they had been using for "dessert" for a while.

Wow a Tiramisu thing sounds way better than a Ghiradelli square....

I am looking forward to my next ACELA FC ride to sample a real dessert.

Dan

New menu today, with a selection I have not seen before. Had a nice salad with a small chilled lobster tail! Yum!

Wow, looks like Acela F had a menu upgrade!

With regards to the microwaved hamburger in the dinning car that I had experienced previously on 92.

This time there was an entirely new staff and when walking into the dinning car I could smell and hear the grill in full operation, a major difference on previous trips.

I ordered the burger and unlike the last two times, the food did not come flying out of the kitchen, instead it took a few minutes to actually grill the burger.

I was also offered a piece of cake (I had a piece of the Creme Brule Cheesecake) or ice cream to finish off my meal, in stark contrast to before when I would be handed my check along with my burger.

Another difference was that I had previously been denied Iced Tea, but this time I saw a pitcher of fresh brewed iced tea sitting on the counter and when asking if any was avail I was brought glass of said iced teach with a few pieces of lemon on a plate.

Over all a much better experience,
Dan

PS There was almost an entirely new (to me ) crew on this train and the overall experience was much improved over prior trips. While the conductor was the same (an older African American man) the nasty assistant conductor whom I had bad experiences in the past seemed to be either working different days or re-assigned.