Originally Posted by
TTmex
Interesting post, thanks for sharing.
I think it represents a big change in the cost of raw ingredients and in tastes. Could even argue a change in demographics.
Flying QR recently, I was served a breaded chicken roulade, which was tasty. Not sure breaded chicken would have ever made it onto a premium menu 10 years ago, but it was popular and delicious with the Tabasco sauce they serve you. I find BA's use of beef cheek a nice option, but appreciate some people prefer different cuts. Slow cooked meats are certainly something easier to cook well on a plane. We also buy these cuts at home now as the price of prime cuts has gone through the roof and is something with save for a fancy BBQ.
I noticed the thread the other day about bacon missing off the English breakfast. I'm a big bacon fan myself, but I think on international routes there is a need to cater to more people and BA's customer base contains a lot of people who do eat pork and a lot of people who don't, either for religious, cultural or health reasons. We could argue one way or the other all day about what's right, but an airline caterer will in most cases try to provide what suits the majority.
So in inclusion, I don't see a decline in catering, but rather a change.
About breaded chicken, did you see the side discussion about the "milanese" served in Chelsea few weeks ago?
Personally I couldn't care less if a dish is considered premium or not as long as it's done well. What I find more important is to have a good range of different recipes to have more variety.
I would like to have back the option to choose what kind of bread have with the meal. I really don't like the one BA is using.
...and by all means, someone fix the issue BA is having with pre-ordering and get it done!
PS
Bacon: it's a cut of pork by definition, but can be arranged also from other sources, like turkey. I know purists would wrinkle their nose, but, together with the chicken sausage, at least can be used to cater a full English breakfast to a lot of people. Both Diamond Lounges at BRU have only the Turkey bacon for breakfast, offered with omelette and baked beans.