DTS

Sorry to hear that your experience on the flight to LAX was poor. In LH's defense: Harald Wohlfahrt is one of the chefs with the biggest name recognition in Germany, due to him holding three Michelin stars for a very long time. People travel from all over for a dinner in his restaurant in a small town in the Black Forest.

JohnRain

I never understood why famous chefs lend their names to airline catering food anyway. They have little to gain (at best) and a lot to lose. It's quite obvious that they don't cook the food themselves and the publicity they get from seeing their name printed on thousands of onboard menu cards can quickly turn negative (like in this case) when the food doesn't live up to the (justifiably) high expectations. Harald Wohlfahrt is indeed a fantastic chef who can easily compete with the best 3 Michelin star chefs in Paris, but if the actual execution is badly handled by LH catering it creates double negative feedback: foreign LH F guests who had to eat this will probably never go to Mr. Wohlfahrt's restaurant Schwarzwaldstube (a must-go destination for a foodie) and they might even have a bad impression of German food as a whole, which is really unjustified as Germany is in the top 5 list of coutries with the most Michelin stars in the world (and second in Europe behind France). Contrary to many other German products, German food is hardly exported (except of course for sausages, pretzels, sauerkraut and beer) but it is definitely a lot better and more varied than its reputation.

adampenrith

Thank you for another amazing TR.

I had a look at the website for Belmond, looks like an awesome way to travel around that area of France, worth every cent.

Shame about the poor service in F on LH

RandomBaritone

I'd argue it's just the other way around; if the food is underwhelming, most flyers will blame the airline for its execution, not the chef who conceived the menu in the first place.

And as for what they have to gain? The easiest money they ever made.

TPA us ff

Had to laugh...my wife and I had the same junk served as the second "meal" barbeque in F last summer. Totally inedible rib, cold unadorned corn, and a foil wrapped potato that was worse than on offer at the Golden Coral buffet.

The FA proactively cleared everything and brought us hot dogs from an economy stash with biz class Gruner Veltliner. Super!

Sorry you had surly FA's. We really love LH F.

RandomBaritone

So funny how much of a role culture plays! It's as if they have a blind spot when it's a "traditional American meal."

And SFO777, this trip reveals your exquisite taste. I especially love the fact that the barge cruise wasn't much more than a suite aboard a Viking River Cruise would be. So great to see the options that are available if one stretches a bit.

Kagehitokiri

http://www.munich-airport.de/en/cons..._new/index.jsp

good to inform some FlyerTalk readers here

but hopefully mass market never catches on to good value provided by luxury and non-mass-chain options

SFO777

Tell me. Over time, I've learned to pick my battles.

Thanks very much themapelligroup. Indeed, a very relaxing way to watch the countryside slowly pass by.

Thank you techie for the clarification.

Thanks BahrainLad. Perhaps they are trying to remind us that they are a German airline and therefore you will eat German food.

Thank you mag. The crew basing issue makes sense as well as the consistency of aircraft for maintenance. I'm sure Wohlfahrt is very good but I would be concerned if my name was on a menu and it appeared that it was my attempt at American Barbecue.

Interesting and aptly named. Thanks BahrainLad.

Thanks very much worldtraveller73.

Thank you FallenPlat. Mighty penance indeed. We are now nearing the end of week 2 of our self imposed no sweets, no cheese and no alcohol diet. OMG, there is hope... I can lose weight and inches.

LOL. Very wise.

Thank you DTS. I'm sure he is very good and at another time and on the ground, I might reconsider.

Thanks JohnRain. I agree that unless an airline and its caterer can execute, it is a real risk for the celebrity chef. I recall first hearing about Georges Blanc on a ZRH-SIN flight. It was one of the most amazing meals ever, in the air or on the ground, and have been in awe since. Indeed, we went to one of his restaurants in Lyon earlier in the year. Another great experience, also on SQ, was Matt Moran and we subsequently went to his Aria in Sydney as a result. Then there's Delta's Michelle Bernstein whose restaurant I would never think of patronizing based on DL in flight meals.

Thanks very much adampenrith.

Thank you RandomBaritone. Excellent point though on the easiest money they ever made.

Thanks very much TPA us ff. Wow, that was the menu last summer?? Unbelievable. You'd think someone would notice that no one is eating that crap.

Thanks again RandomBaritone. The funny thing was that we actually considered a Viking River Cruise, but were turned off by their demand for payment in full at time of booking. Even worse when our TA told us that they wanted the money up front since they were expanded so quickly and needed it to buy more ships. Sorry, but we had no interest in being Viking's bank.

Thanks for the interesting info Kagehitokiri. It wasn't obvious from looking at the site. How much do they charge for the service at MUC? IMO, the better and cheaper option is just to avoid and MUC and use FRA.

Kagehitokiri

but you did not have that option

although, if you ever do paid VIP service, your wife may require it every time it is possible in the future. (and its expensive in london)

Bretteee

You bid your "Adieus."

I notice that you are now speaking "Franglais."

LH should hire a "food taster." Same with UA.

I also noticed that UA require a lot more miles in LH F than UA F.

Miles and More also charge very high taxes like BA.

If I fly on LH I will avoid Munich though the airport looks nicer than Frankfurt.

Very interesting report as usual.

Thanks for posting.

MatthewLAX

Another superb report, though I was so sad to read the last installment.

I have yet to have a bad experience in LH F, but only have two LH MUC experiences (versus more than a dozen from FRA).

Do you think the FA's nastiness over the seat belt sign immediately ruined the flight? It would have for me and then I would have found everything to nit pick, as you did!

But the pre-arrival meal looks nasty and the F ground experience in MUC is just pathetic compared FRA.

SAtraveller

Interesting TR, thanks SFO777.... I also enjoyed your pics and humour. Maybe you should consider staging a rebellion and putting your foot down with your wife and her route choices.... Apparently some women like that.

jacobac00

Thank you for another amazing report SFO777!

Even though I am stuck stateside working, the pictures of the canal gave me a nice mental break. ^

SFO777

Thanks Kagehitokiri. Based on past experience, you are absolutely correct.

Thank you Bretteee. At 110,000 one way, UA is a lot more than LH although the additional $400 of LH fees tends to offset the additional miles. At 62,500, AC is the most reasonable option.

Thanks MatthewLAX. Agree that FRA is so much better than MUC.

LOL. I'll take your advice under advisement and let you know how that works.
Thanks SAtraveller.

Thanks very much jacobac00 for your kind comments.

BRITINJAPAN3

SPO777 thanks again for an enjoyable read, it seems like you have a habit of an extra night in Europe, ever thought of just planning it in advance !!

The LH food was a horror showm but still the way they recover frim IROPS is worth the odd glitch ! can you imagine if it was BA ? probably a seat on the next Air Norweigen !!