Swiss International Airlines - New catering concept on short haul C

Hi guys

Don't know if this has been posted or discussed here before, but Swiss just announced on their Facebook page a new catering concept on Euro Business.

Here you go for the exact statement:

"We will be introducing “SWISS Traditions”, a new culinary concept for our Business Class passengers on European services, on 22 February. The new programme of inflight fare is centred on a series of classic Swiss dishes, which will be supplemented by further delights associated with particular Swiss traditions and cultural events.
The cycle will begin with February’s focus on Basel’s loud and colourful “Fasnacht” carnival, for which inflight guests will be offered such local specialities as Basler Mehlsuppe (flour soup), Käsekuchen (cheese tart) and Basler Läckerli mousse."

and a picture:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/428179_10150499933580723_16565655722_9263606_50418 8973_n.jpg

Interesting.

I can see the mousse with a Basler Läckerli on top, but where's the Mehlsuppe and the Käsekuchen in the picture? :o

I seriously hope they will keep that junk catering in BSL :D

If they ever serve BSL food Ex-ZRH, I do not expect less than people throwing it to the floor of the airplane :p

Generally it looks alright IMHO.

Especially the desert seems to be an enhancement: the current deserts served in Euro-C meals are perfidiously tiny!

Also - it seems the roll will get from now on its own plate? Thats new.

Generally it looks alright IMHO.

Especially the desert seems to be an enhancement: the current deserts served in Euro-C meals are perfidiously tiny!

Also - it seems the roll will get from now on its own plate? Thats new.



and cheese on paper :p

and cheese on paper :p

Looks rather like a piece of slate (Schieferstein) and at least the cheese is finally back ^ .

Interesting.

I can see the mousse with a Basler Läckerli on top, but where's the Mehlsuppe and the Käsekuchen in the picture? :o

They have a picture of it on the press release. Looks quiet good and actually like a decent meal :eek:

http://www.swiss.com/SiteCollectionImages/06_SeasonalEvents/Carnival/Online/Basel_Carnival_FlourSoup_1col.jpg

Looks rather like a piece of slate (Schieferstein) and at least the cheese is finally back ^ .

Yes, it will be a shale plate (Schieferstein Platte) for the cheese and a little preserving jar for the dessert - same concept will also come to TATL flights. Apart from Basel I know that there will be Zurich dishes as well (e.g. something from the Bellevue ;)

same concept will also come to TATL flights.

You mean the slate for the cheese or the entire "swiss traditions" concept?

You mean the slate for the cheese or the entire "swiss traditions" concept?

According to my sources the entire "swiss traditions" concept (though not necessarily already on February 22).

Regarding the concept itself there is an article and video from cash:
http://www.cash.ch/news/alle/so_essen_kuenftig_die_businessclasskunden_der_swis s-1126954-448

I seriously hope they will keep that junk catering in BSL :D

If they ever serve BSL food Ex-ZRH, I do not expect less than people throwing it to the floor of the airplane :p
:D It's a preemptive strike from Basel... http://bazonline.ch/basel/stadt/Hilfe-die-Zuercher-kommen/story/31376942

A couple of more pics here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.243935922349569.58608.118201988256297&type=3

Also - it seems the roll will get from now on its own plate? Thats new.

Let's hope that this doesn't mean that they will stop the generous servings of warm croissants during breakfast... :( ;)

Seeing the trays in a bigger setting just reminds me how small the portions are. The salmon is on a tiny side plate!

You mean the slate for the cheese or the entire "swiss traditions" concept?

According to my sources the entire "swiss traditions" concept (though not necessarily already on February 22).

I might be wrong and it is like:

„SWISS Traditions“ concept = short haul C
"SWISS Taste of Switzerland" concept = long haul C and F

I might be wrong and it is like:

„SWISS Traditions“ concept = short haul C
"SWISS Taste of Switzerland" concept = long haul C and F

Ya but according to tom-r6 : SWISS Taste of Switzerland will be replaced by SWISS Traditions over time

Ya but according to tom-r6 : SWISS Taste of Switzerland will be replaced by SWISS Traditions over time
I took it to mean that the Shale plate and preserving jar would be replacing the half plates on TATL Flights in C rather than the whole Menu being replaced?

Ya but according to tom-r6 : SWISS Taste of Switzerland will be replaced by SWISS Traditions over time

Well, I'm tom-r6 :D
It's just possible that my source mixed up SWISS Traditions and SWISS Taste of Switzerland in this context. But I guess we will see if all or certain parts (like the the shale plate) of the Swiss Traditions will make it to the TATL flights.

Will this food only be served for flights over a certain duriation? (eg more than the famous 2 hours...)
I still wonder for shorter flights, what do you get on ZRH-MUC or ZRH-FRA in this new setting?
Just the cheese....

Was flying two Intra-European segments yesterday and was told told that it was the first day with the new menus in C: "SWISS Taste of Switzerland". It could well be that I was lucky, (according to the "Maître de Cabine" it will be 7 menus all together) but what I was served was a remarkable improvement. Both cold and warm dishes tasted fresher than before, and the concept in itself were added a bit of a personal touch than I before have been missing with LX. With this move i would say they are caching up on OS on the IE-marked in the sense of gastronomy.

Will this food only be served for flights over a certain duriation? (eg more than the famous 2 hours...)
I still wonder for shorter flights, what do you get on ZRH-MUC or ZRH-FRA in this new setting?
Just the cheese....

I'm still expect nasty croissant, frozen fruit and cheap yoghurt on BHX-ZRH, so I shall get breakfast first.

In the Swiss Magazine it was mentioned that the new Menus would be served from the 22nd/Feb.

Yesterday I flew 2 segments and I had as follows:

BUD-ZRH(ex BUD 14,50h).
Smoke Salmon and some sort of Salmon tartare with a cucumber/potato salad
Dessert(in a bigger glass than the tiny portions served before)
Packet of 4 wrapped biscuits(Basler läckery)on the tray
No cheese
Warm bread rolls/butter

ZRH-BCN(ex ZRH 17,20h)
Pasta with thin slices of some sort of meat - good size and very delicious
2 portions of different cheeses(not everyone was getting the same cheeses :confused:)
Dessert(again in a bigger class) - too sweet for my taste
Warm bread rolls/butter

The portions ZRH-BCN were adequate but for me too small on the BUD-ZRH

We will have to wait NewbieRunner for the pictures. ;)

We will have to wait NewbieRunner for the pictures. ;)
I wish they had started the new menus one week earlier. I might have been able to avoid this meat concoction (perhaps a Swiss delicacy?) twice in succession. :(

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/6901847767_58ddf1ac0d.jpg

Ex Amsterdam in C the breakfast is usually a granola yoghurt with warm bread on the side. I always hate those granola breakfasts because when you exit the aircraft you have to head to the nearest toilet to check in the mirror if there are no bits stuck between your teeth before you head off to the meeting:p

I wish they had started the new menus one week earlier. I might have been able to avoid this meat concoction (perhaps a Swiss delicacy?) twice in succession. :(

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/6901847767_58ddf1ac0d.jpg

What actually is that?? :confused:

I wonder if this might actually be quite edible if they didn't heat it to the point where the sauce evaporates. :rolleyes:

It looks like rinderrouladen to me - beef rolled with bacon, onions and gurken. More a German delicacy (oxymoron?? ;) ) than Swiss I thought. Just my guess. Normally tastes better than it looks!

I'm still expect nasty croissant, frozen fruit and cheap yoghurt on BHX-ZRH, so I shall get breakfast first.

Just how bad IS the catering on that route in C ?

We have our first experience of the airline at the end of July.

Expectations = minimal - because it's such a short flight.

At least we can eat breakfast at the hotel before we get onto the aircraft!

It looks like rinderrouladen to me - beef rolled with bacon, onions and gurken. More a German delicacy (oxymoron?? ;) ) than Swiss I thought. Just my guess. Normally tastes better than it looks!
That sounds delicious. However, what they served was not quite what the recipe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rouladen) or these images (http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1252&bih=800&q=rinderrouladen&gbv=2&oq=rinderrouladen&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=12&gs_upl=0l0l0l2857l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0) suggest. It tasted like spiced sausage meat wrapped in a thin slice of meat (and overcooked). Here's the same dish I had a couple of weeks earlier.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/6926122175_8c4457fe2d.jpg

Just how bad IS the catering on that route in C ?

We have our first experience of the airline at the end of July.

Expectations = minimal - because it's such a short flight.

At least we can eat breakfast at the hotel before we get onto the aircraft!
Not sure if they serve the same breakfast on BHX-ZRH as they do on MAN-ZRH but here are some examples of breakfast on MAN-ZRH (http://www.flickr.com/search/?d=taken-20110201-&mt=all&adv=1&w=26284978%40N02&q=SWISS+Breakfast+Business+Class+MAN&m=text) in the last 12 months.

Not sure if they serve the same breakfast on BHX-ZRH as they do on MAN-ZRH but here are some examples of breakfast on MAN-ZRH (http://www.flickr.com/search/?d=taken-20110201-&mt=all&adv=1&w=26284978%40N02&q=SWISS+Breakfast+Business+Class+MAN&m=text) in the last 12 months.

Thanks for those images.

I've seen worse than some of them.......

One in particular would not be my taste!

Not sure if they serve the same breakfast on BHX-ZRH as they do on MAN-ZRH but here are some examples of breakfast on MAN-ZRH (http://www.flickr.com/search/?d=taken-20110201-&mt=all&adv=1&w=26284978%40N02&q=SWISS+Breakfast+Business+Class+MAN&m=text) in the last 12 months.

It's not the same. You get a cold breakfast or a cold plate outside of breakfast time. I eat at Pret at BHX before boarding and then just have a coffee as long as I haven't been dumped in row 1.

I'm flying it in a fortnight, if I'm not in row 1, I'll put a picture of the BHX-ZRH breakfast on my blog.

I only hope I get a hot lunch ZRH-IST.

One in particular would not be my taste!
Do you mean this one (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26284978@N02/5831892235/)?
There has been some discussion (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/swiss-international-airlines/1039456-lx-european-food-service.html#post13184880) on this particular dish in this forum. :p

It's not the same. You get a cold breakfast or a cold plate outside of breakfast time. I eat at Pret at BHX before boarding and then just have a coffee as long as I haven't been dumped in row 1.

I'm flying it in a fortnight, if I'm not in row 1, I'll put a picture of the BHX-ZRH breakfast on my blog.

I only hope I get a hot lunch ZRH-IST.

A cold breakfast might just be better....

We're staying overnight at the Novotel, so will have breakfast there before we walk over to the terminal

We also get to discover the catering on Swiss Railways, which should prove to be an interesting comparison to the UK....

Do you mean this one (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26284978@N02/5831892235/)?
There has been some discussion (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/swiss-international-airlines/1039456-lx-european-food-service.html#post13184880) on this particular dish in this forum. :p

Yes.... precisely that one!

A cold breakfast might just be better....

We're staying overnight at the Novotel, so will have breakfast there before we walk over to the terminal

We also get to discover the catering on Swiss Railways, which should prove to be an interesting comparison to the UK....

Yes, have breakfast at the Novotel first. You get one croissant and I don't know if Helvetic get their's from somewhere different to Swiss, but they have always been fairly manky.

Yes, have breakfast at the Novotel first. You get one croissant and I don't know if Helvetic get their's from somewhere different to Swiss, but they have always been fairly manky.

Seems as though that will be the plan!!

What are the options in ZRH for the return?

Obviously we'll have lounge access, but is there food rather than just nibbles?

It will be early evening, so eating time......

Seems as though that will be the plan!!

What are the options in ZRH for the return?

Obviously we'll have lounge access, but is there food rather than just nibbles?

It will be early evening, so eating time......

Are you SEN, in which case, yes, there is food. The Business Lounge, well, there might be a hot pan of pasta with cheese and potato, but no there isn't much food. In fact, it's lower on food than an LH business lounge. Airside eating options for pay weren't brilliant last time I looked either.

Are you SEN, in which case, yes, there is food. The Business Lounge, well, there might be a hot pan of pasta with cheese and potato, but no there isn't much food. In fact, it's lower on food than an LH business lounge. Airside eating options for pay weren't brilliant last time I looked either.

No, not SEN, or any other status. Just travelling in C

But thanks for the heads up. If airside isn't brilliant it will pay us to eat before we get to that state

The meal on the evening flight from ZRH to BHX will be a cold plate, and quite often very nice (in my opinion). As long as you don't have a huge appetite it should be enough (quantity wise).

My only experience of eating at ZRH is the Burger King, which is airside between A & B gates. A bit pricey, but no other complaints.

It's not the same. You get a cold breakfast or a cold plate outside of breakfast time. I eat at Pret at BHX before boarding and then just have a coffee as long as I haven't been dumped in row 1.
I didn't realise BHX was so much closer to ZRH than MAN. :p And it's not because BHX-ZRH is operated by Helvetic. The most recent overcooked meat concoction (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/6901847767_58ddf1ac0d.jpg) was served on Helvetic.

I'm flying it in a fortnight, if I'm not in row 1, I'll put a picture of the BHX-ZRH breakfast on my blog.
Why no breakfast if you are in row 1?

I was stuck in 1A on Helvetic the other day. Serves me right for not selecting a seat in advance or OLCI early enough. By the time I tried OLCI I had already been checked in automatically and there was no other seat left. :mad:

BTW I had a tour of Gategourmet in ZRH the other day as part of the ZRH-PEK SWISS Inaugural Flight Do (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/communitybuzz/1253681-flyertalk-vielfliegertreff-zrh-pek-swiss-inaugural-flight-do-11feb-15feb-2012-a.html) and will post photos on flickr when I get round to sorting them out.

I didn't realise BHX was so much closer to ZRH than MAN. :p And it's not because BHX-ZRH is operated by Helvetic. The most recent overcooked meat concoction (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/6901847767_58ddf1ac0d.jpg) was served on Helvetic.


Why no breakfast if you are in row 1?

I was stuck in 1A on Helvetic the other day. Serves me right for not selecting a seat in advance or OLCI early enough. By the time I tried OLCI I had already been checked in automatically and there was no other seat left. :mad:


Because I am a larger chap and I can't sit comfortably with the folding tray table. So row 1 - no food. I have the same problem with the CRJ's, hence my attempt to downgrade myself last summer (http://ihatefra.blogspot.com/2011/08/trip-report-8-part-1-lh-c-bhx-muc-txl.html).

We have the highest ex-UK fares, the bus gates, the crappy Helvetic Fokkers and no hot meals in C. The joys of BHX, but I can be home 30 minutes after landing.

Because I am a larger chap and I can't sit comfortably with the folding tray table. So row 1 - no food.
The obvious question is why don't you reserve a seat in advance? ;)

The obvious question is why don't you reserve a seat in advance? ;)

I do, I seem to get seat shifted rather a lot on BHX-ZRH. The MUC incident was due to a plane change from EMB-195 to CRJ-900.

I do, I seem to get seat shifted rather a lot on BHX-ZRH.
LX seat allocation software seems to think row A 1 is the best row. :eek:

LX seat allocation software seems to think row A is the best row. :eek:

Row A or Row 1? :confused:

I understand window or aisle is according to your preset seating preferences.

Row A or Row 1? :confused:
Doh! I meant row 1. :o
Too early in the morning...

Being stuck in 1A on a Helvetic Fokker is bad. :mad:

Being stuck in 1A on a Helvetic Fokker is bad. :mad:

I do not know if they still do it, but a couple of years ago they were also seating people in 1B, with no free middle seat, and this was even worse. :mad:

I do not know if they still do it, but a couple of years ago they were also seating people in 1B, with no free middle seat, and this was even worse. :mad:
They still do. That's why 1A is bad. :mad:

ZRH-MAN is usually on the A320 but once or twice a week they use the Fokker on this route. When I flew ZRH-MAN last week there were only two rows of C on the Fokker 100 for 8 C passengers. :(

I do not know if they still do it, but a couple of years ago they were also seating people in 1B, with no free middle seat, and this was even worse. :mad:

Just be glad they seem to have stopped putting people in 1E.

Mind you it doesn't matter on the Fokker if it's row 1 or 2, your bag is going to end up over row 3/4 at best.

Just how bad IS the catering on that route in C ?

We have our first experience of the airline at the end of July.

Expectations = minimal - because it's such a short flight.

At least we can eat breakfast at the hotel before we get onto the aircraft!

I have good news and bad news.

This morning there was a hot breakfast in C BHX-ZRH, the bad news was that it smelt disgusting (it looked like omlette, spinach, tomato and a white sausage), the better news was that I'd had a full english in the pub at BHX.

The veal dish on ZRH-IST was very nice however.

I have good news and bad news.

This morning there was a hot breakfast in C BHX-ZRH, the bad news was that it smelt disgusting (it looked like omlette, spinach, tomato and a white sausage), the better news was that I'd had a full english in the pub at BHX.

The veal dish on ZRH-IST was very nice however.

Breakfast in the Novotel will now be essential!

They still do. That's why 1A is bad. :mad:

ZRH-MAN is usually on the A320 but once or twice a week they use the Fokker on this route. When I flew ZRH-MAN last week there were only two rows of C on the Fokker 100 for 8 C passengers. :(

i'm doing ZRH-MAN at the end of april and it's on the 319. i've never flown LX before but it is showing more seats in J than in Y? is that accurate?

curious what the meal will be.

i'm doing ZRH-MAN at the end of april and it's on the 319. i've never flown LX before but it is showing more seats in J than in Y? is that accurate?
They usually reduce the number of rows in the C cabin close to departure. Are you going to be in C? Unless you get one of the older aircraft you'll get seats like these with the middle seat blocked and kept empty.

http://www.swiss.com/SiteCollectionImages/02_Product/b_Inflight/i_ShortHaul/02_Business/Online/Business_Shorthaul_Seats_2col.jpg

curious what the meal will be.
I thought "SWISS Traditions" was going to be a permanent feature in shorthaul C but it sounds like a special menu is only served for one week at a time on selected inbound flights.

SWISS Traditions in April – Sechseläuten

Between 11 and 17 April we'll be celebrating Zurich's colourful "Sechseläuten" by serving special dishes associated with the occasion on selected flights in Europe: Zurich-style veal and "Böögg"-style dessert.

http://www.swiss.com/SiteCollectionImages/02_Product/b_Inflight/vii_SWISSTraditions/April12_ZRH_Sechselaeuten/Online/Sechselaeuten_Menu_1col.jpg

http://www.swiss.com/web/EN/fly_swiss/on_board/food_beverages/Pages/swiss_traditions.aspx

It looks like I'm going to miss it by a few days. :(

interesting...and yes, i am in C. doing BRU-ZRH-MAN.

actually looking forward to it since i have never tried LX.

interesting...and yes, i am in C. doing BRU-ZRH-MAN.
Doesn't look like the most direct route unless you are stopping over in ZRH.;)

actually looking forward to it since i have never tried LX.
Since the new Pier B/D opened in ZRH, flights to MAN usually depart from a D gate without the need for a bus ride! ^ Flying time is about 1 hr 40 mins and if they are not serving some special Swiss-themed meal you will get a hot meal usually with meat or poultry, a small salad and plastic wrapped cheese. :td: You usually get two types of chocolate in C. FAs come around with a box of Lindt chocolate after the meal and before landing they come around again with red (or white) SWISS-branded chocolate. They also manage to push a duty-free trolley up and down the asile after the meal.

Doesn't look like the most direct route unless you are stopping over in ZRH.;)


Since the new Pier B/D opened in ZRH, flights to MAN usually depart from a D gate without the need for a bus ride! ^ Flying time is about 1 hr 40 mins and if they are not serving some special Swiss-themed meal you will get a hot meal usually with meat or poultry, a small salad and plastic wrapped cheese. :td: You usually get two types of chocolate in C. FAs come around with a box of Lindt chocolate after the meal and before landing they come around again with red (or white) SWISS-branded chocolate. They also manage to push a duty-free trolley up and down the asile after the meal.

well, i'm doing UA F IAD-BRU and staying in BRU for about 8 hours, then continuing on. best option i could do but i do not have a problem with it.

looking forward to the chocolate!

Do you know until which time breakfast is served in shorthaul C?

Where is the limit?
Is it the departure time?
If so: 9:30 or 10:00 or 10:15 or which is the time where they stop serving breakfast?

Thank you!

FoxYankee

Do you know until which time breakfast is served in shorthaul C?

Where is the limit?
Is it the departure time?
If so: 9:30 or 10:00 or 10:15 or which is the time where they stop serving breakfast?

Thank you!

FoxYankee

I don't know the exact limit, but when I fly LX751 in C, departing in LUX at 10:35, I get the breakfast plate.