A comment on Y meals, it appears standard meals on both short haul and medium haul are frozen meals (complete with mfr and expire dates). They tasted fine, but was unusual considering EK has a large fresh catering base. I know AA domestic has moved to reheated frozen meals as well, but thought overseas airlines didn't see much cost savings to go frozen considering labor costs.
Special meals are done via fresh catering services.
My QR experience is part of a plan to try pretty much all of the major carriers in the region.
Rasheed