Where was I? Oh yeah - off to the gate to board and a pre-departure drink or 2. A small delay on departure as we wait for a few aircraft to take off in front of us - Air New Zealand, Norfolk Air Express and Air Calin. Looks like Air Pacific, Qantas, Air New Zealand and Emirates are in behind us in the queue. A busy time for AKL.
We take off to the northeast and as we sweep a lazy turn over the Hauraki Gulf I notice how the sea appears to glow with various colours - turquoise in the gulf itself, lighter in shallower parts of the Waitemata Harbour and Tamaki River, deep navy blue of Lake Pupuke and the green of the Tasman Sea. In all my times flying out of Auckland I cannot recall having such a magnificent vista combined with a great flight path over Waiheke Island, past Rangitoto Island and Whangaparaoa Peninsula before crossing Northland.
We have a northerly track over Australia flying overhead of Brisbane and Darwin - on most trips we pass near Uluru (Ayers Rock) but not this time.
Shortly after take off there's another round of drinks and also hot nuts, followed by lunch. I watch a few movies - there's been a significant change in the programmes offered since I last flew Singapore Airlines ust over a month ago. That's one of the things I like about them.
We encounter some turbulence early in the flight, and again over the top end of Australia, but on the whole it is a smooth flight. The usual headwinds must have been absent as we had a very fast flight time - arriving nearly an hour early despite the small delay on departure.
About an hour and a half before arrival dinner is served. Menu to follow.
LIGHT MEAL from Auckland to Singapore
Appetisers
Smoked magret duck breast and confit of duck with mesclun. Walnut oil and xeres vinegar dressing
Main courses
Seafood noodle soup. Egg noodles with prawns, fish, and vegetables in broth.
Thai style red curry beef served with seasonal vegetables and steamed rice.
Cold chicken with Greek salad.
Dessert
Chocolate brownie with chocolate ice cream.
From the bakery
Oven fresh rolls with a choice of extra virgin olive oil or butter.
Garlic bread.
Hot beverages
Freshly brewed coffee.
Espresso or cappuccino.
Selection of tea.
DINNER from Auckland to Singapore
Canapes
Satay with onion, cucumber and spicy peanut sauce.
Appetisers
Chilled petrosian caviar with melba toast and condiments.
Tasmanian gravadlax. Marinated salmon with tomato bush chutney.
Soup
Snow fungus soup with Chinese mushrooms and quail egg.
Cream of asparagus garnished with roasted pinenuts.
Salad
Fine field greens. Soya vinaigrette. Thousand island dressing.
Main courses
Roasted lamb rack with rosemary jus, spiced eggplant with mango chutney and baby vegetables in vinaigretta.
Panfried blue eye cod fillet in white wine sauce, stewed vegetables and potatoes.
Indian rogan josh chicken with spiced vegetables and potatoes.
Seared sweet potato with avocado, globe artichoke, Kenyan beans, quail egg, roasted portobello mushroom and fennel. Red capsicum-virgin olive oil dressing.
Cheese
Selection of cheese with garnishes.
Fresh fruit
A selection of fresh fruit.
Dessert
Panna cotta. Cream timbale with peach and strawberries.
From the bakery
Oven fresh rolls with a choice of extra virgin olive oil or butter.
Garlic bread.
Hot beverages
Freshly brewed coffee.
Espresso or cappuccino.
Selection of tea.
Pralines
To end on a sweet note.
BEVERAGES
Special cocktail
Orange cooler. A light tangy drink that stimulates the taste buds, created from orange juice and ginger ale with a touch of lime cordial.
Cocktails
Singapore sling. A famous cocktail since the early 1900s, made from dry gin, DOM Benedictine, Cointreau, cherry brandy, Angostura bitters, Grenadine, lime and pineapple juice.
Silver kris sling. One of Singapore Airlines' special touches, this cocktail is a delicious mix of gin, Cointreau, orange juice and pineapple juice, topped with champagne.
Gin fizz. A delightful concoction of gin and lemon juice, topped with soda.
Cloud nine. A refreshing tropical mix of rum, Cointreau and pineapple juice, topped with soda.
Screwdriver
Bloody Mary
Daiquiri
Red or white wine cooler
Aperitifs
Campari
Dry Vermouth
Non-alcoholic cocktails
Citrus Royale
Tropical Sparkle
Golden Spice
Fruit Spritzer
Sunrise Surprise
Spirits
Bombay Sapphire Gin
Cognac XO - Hennessy
Chivas Royal Salute Scotch Whisky
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
Macallan 12 years old Single Malt Whisky
Absolut Vodka
Bacardi Carta Blanca
Liqueurs
Cointreau
Tia Maria
Baileys Original Irish Cream
Beer
International selection
Champagne
Dom Perignon 1998
Krug Grande Cuvee
White wines
2004 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Meursault 2000
Red wines
1997 Chateau Reynella Cabernet Merlot
Chateau Cos D'Estournel 1998 Saint-Estephe
Port
Warre's Twenty Year Old Tawny
Tea selection
Pure Ceylon Tea
Earl Grey
Darjeeling
Japanese Green Tea
Chinese Jasmine Tea
Camomile
Decaffeinated Tea
Mint Tea
Fruit Tea
Gourmet coffees
Brazil Santos Bourbon
Colombian Supremo
Jamaican Blue Mountain
Kenyan AA Kilimanjaro
Specialty coffees
Brewed coffee
Cafe Royal
Espresso
Cappuccino
Cafe Latte
Cafe au Lait
Decaffeinated Coffee
Mocha
Other beverages
Hot chocolate
Ovaltine
Milo
Mineral water
Carbonated mineral water
Non-carbonated mineral water
Fruit juices
Apple
Orange
Pineapple
Tomato
Soft drinks
A range of regular or low-calorie drinks is available
Iced drinks
Iced Fruit Tea
Iced Tea
Iced Mint Tea
Iced Coffee
Iced Mocha
Iced Chocolate
Iced Ovaltine
Iced Milo
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Oct 27, 2005 at 7:39 am