orbitmic

How does it get to be the customers' fault again?

TyneTraveller

Other airline may operate within their own guidelines and as pointed out above, there is actually minimal (being almost 0) risk in serving the product cold nice cooked rare if chilled correctly.

I am confused at how sometimes BA can do this if the UK reheating law on this is followed, but am certainly not complaining if they manage it somehow. I guess they could take it out of the oven just warmed up, which would do the trick just nicely, but am 99.9% sure that technically they are not supposed to

orbitmic

Actually that does not necessarily mean that GCH and above love it - it may just mean that BA stock comparatively few of them or that for some reasons the routes that you fly have more meat lovers than average. Catering stocks do not include equal numbers of all options but proportions based on what BA thinks is the expected demand for the various choices. Sometimes they get it right, but sometimes they get it wrong - for instance they often load too few of the main course salads which I personally often find the best option.

That said I think that you have been remarkably unlucky not to get the steak if you wanted it as several times I have overheard crew mentioning to people who hadn't got their first choice that this was one or the only option left!!

In any case, hopefully, now that pre-ordering is available on most routes from London you have been able to pre-order it to satisfy your curiosity!

kanderson1965

Because they are the ones who are always complaining.

Land-of-Miles

Let's be clear it isn't a law, there is a big difference between a legal requirement and a company making a risk calculation.

Can you get a rare steak in a UK restaurant? Of course you can. Can you get that in every restaurant no you can't but you can in most (those denying this choice have an effective risk tolerance of zero).

kanderson1965

I will be affording myself that privilege soon. To be fair I did not try order the steak everytime I have flown, but have a 0% hit rate when I have. A couple of times I was asked if I was prepared to choose something else and remarkably twice they had forgotten to load the steak altogether.

orbitmic

Paradoxically, it surprises me less than them running out! I have had a couple of similar mishaps (once forgetting to load a dish, several times them loading something else than what was on the menu!)

orbitmic

Ah, yes, sorry I forgot!!

TyneTraveller

Cooking the steak medium/rare as you say it leaves GG and then chilling is fine. Yes, a rare steak in a UK restaurant is also fine providing traceability is provided & the product comes from a trusted/vetted source.

Now, if BA were to serve that cooked semi rare steak cold after being suitably chilled, would usually be fine but the risk calculation factor done by BA prevents this. What is not fine, and 100% against UK law is to then take that pre cooked semi rare steak and reheat not reaching a core temperature of 75C (or 82C under Scottish law) which by default will result in a well done steak. For a rare stake, the core temperature at times will only reach 45C usually. BA, in line with all large catering companies will have implemented a HACCP food safety management system which if followed, prevents unsuitably heated food being served as a critical control point.

On another note, I really can't understand restaurant's that serve from freshly cooked and won't do anything but well done steaks, but I agree.....some do, which is odd as they are missing a trick and certainly must have a risk tolerance of zero.

chris1979

I think we are establishing that tastes differ so those who like their steaks charcoaled, look away now.

this was the last steak I had in the air and it was the best I've had served on a plane. served 3 weeks ago on an AA flight on an A330 (i.e. older ex US aircraft) so hardly down to modern / sophisticated ovens.

I do recall a few years ago asking an AA crew member if I should go for the steak on a flight on a 763 and she said "you definitely should sir, my colleague who is cooking today knows how to do great steaks on planes".

kanderson1965

Has that steak even seen any cooking apparatus?

chris1979

it tasted fantastic!

orbitmic

This is certainly what I'd like it to look like on a plane. I'd normally have it rarer/bluer than that but just to be on the same said that would certainly be enjoyable!

Some airlines do make a point of asking you how you want your steak. I have had that every time I've ordered a steak on KE for instance. I'd be happy to sign a health disclaimer to BA if only they let me go around that silly safety thing*.

* and yes, I know it wouldn't help if it is a regulatory issue.

dylanks

Because sadly, everything else I've tried over the years was even worse

HIDDY

You won't be getting an invite to one of my BBQ's then.