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-   -   Club Europe catering | menus, reviews and photos (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1930092-club-europe-catering-menus-reviews-photos.html)

corporate-wage-slave Sep 12, 2018 6:28 am

Band 1 lunch

And so to Brussels. This is normally a very short flight, longer than LBA but shorter than NCL. This was BA394, with a 12.20 hrs departure, we arrived 5 minutes early on a fast flight.

The options for lunch were rare beef salad, or goats cheese and beetroot salad. Both options had the same slaw accompaniment and the mango passion fruit panna cotta. This time we definitely had the different signature bread rolls, and the new Union coffee, I guess my EDI service was using up the bread stocks.

The beef was excellent, a good choice and the horseradish had a good kick without being overpowering. And I liked both the new bread and the dessert. The slaw wasn't terribly exciting but not in a bad way. And the whole tray was certainly filling, given the short flight timings.

The crew struggled with the to get everything completed, and were held up by the need to familiar with the new product.They did get everyone served, but some of them would have been 16 minutes to landing, so only a brief period of time to eat. And this was with very experienced cabin crew. However as we have seen elsewhere, usually it takes a few weeks for changes to get embedded and then things tend to speed up.

This flight was on an A319, Eurofleet. 4 crew with 2 pursers in CE. Not completely full, but nearly full. There were 7 rows for CE, and 25 passengers in Club.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/HyNgll.jpg

JimEddie Sep 12, 2018 6:34 am

That does look like an improvement on the old catering, especially in terms of quantity!

BugAlugs Sep 12, 2018 7:09 am

Oslo to London heathrow lunch
 
Lunch service from Oslo to London

A very tasty coronation chicken ceaser salad, prawn and mushroom salad starter with a decidant Do&Co pudding. Quite nice.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8041ec002e.jpg

Oslo to London lunch

headingwest Sep 12, 2018 7:10 am


Originally Posted by JimEddie (Post 30195346)
That does look like an improvement on the old catering, especially in terms of quantity!

I agree. I must admit I'm quite fond of the mug too!

orbitmic Sep 12, 2018 7:12 am


Originally Posted by JimEddie (Post 30195346)
That does look like an improvement on the old catering, especially in terms of quantity!

Yes, it looks nicer/more appetising than before, with more meat and a small starter (and the cherry tomato portion has trebled! ;) ). I still don't think that makes the cut for former medium/band 2 but for something like LHR-BRU it certainly looks reasonable indeed.

Tobias-UK Sep 12, 2018 7:13 am


Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave (Post 30195334)
Band 1 lunch

...

The options for lunch were rare beef salad, or goats cheese and beetroot salad. Both options had the same slaw accompaniment and the Mango panna cotta.

...

The beef was excellent, a good choice and the horseradish had a good kick. And I liked both the new bread and the dessert. And certainty filling, given the flight timings.

...

Thank you for reporting back, that looks very encouraging. Certainly the meals are more substantial than the 2017 counterparts and it appears much better quality to boot. Let's hope we have similar reports for the other Bands/meals. ^

Newly Wed Sep 12, 2018 7:15 am

Do these new arrangements also apply to LGW routes as I understand they are not catered by Do&Co.?

rossmacd Sep 12, 2018 7:21 am

Certainly looking like improvements in quantity and quality so far ^ Looking forward to see more inputs from our roving reporters. Although still to see the Band 3/Medium dinner offering....

Thankfully no paninis yet!!!!

nufnuf77 Sep 12, 2018 7:24 am


Originally Posted by orbitmic (Post 30195436)
Yes, it looks nicer/more appetising than before, with more meat and a small starter (and the cherry tomato portion has trebled! ;) ). I still don't think that makes the cut for former medium/band 2 but for something like LHR-BRU it certainly looks reasonable indeed.

Completely agree, wonder what band 2 meals are like

Genius1 Sep 12, 2018 7:26 am

Somebody needs to tell Mixed Fleet to remove the plastic lids and put the glasses upright!

orbitmic Sep 12, 2018 7:31 am


Originally Posted by nufnuf77 (Post 30195487)
Completely agree, wonder what band 2 meals are like

My understanding/fear is that they are pretty much the same (possibly with a slightly improved starter with a protein element).

SleepySynapse Sep 12, 2018 7:40 am

LHR-HEL, Band 3
 
"Rest of day" (11.25am departure)

Menus provided after doors closed. Menu cards now folded into mini Club World-style menus, with a choice of two hot and one cold main:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...49dc7c72b.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...935839503.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9c1af5adc.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...97ea48d44.jpeg


Champagne remained in full-sized bottles while the wines reverted to quarter-bottles. I rarely drink wine in Club Europe (today being an exception, for research of course!) but the quality of the wine seems an improvement.

On this flight a bar run, with bagged nuts, was completed before the meals, but I overheard the crew discussing whether or not that was correct. There were no wine glasses loaded separately from on the meal trays, so the initial drinks run was served in tumblers.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...51a14381a.jpeg

All courses were presented on one of the new(ish) tiny trays, meaning a smaller starter plate. Previously "long" flights (which included Helsinki) would have received the main separately, albeit still using the tiny trays.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...44f572412.jpeg

Bread
Extremely good, a certain improvement! I didn't have complaints about the previous bread, but this tasted as though it was baked fresh minutes before. The butter is perhaps slightly smaller but seemed good quality.

Starter
Shaved cabbage slaw with green apple, celery and flat leaf parsley
Nice flavours, crisp and fresh, more of a side salad than the previous starter plate on "long" flights. This seems to be the same as in c-w-s' band 1.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...67302cdcb.jpeg


Main
British reared pork sausage and mash with slow-cooked onion gravy, fresh green beans and peas
I was unconvinced by this as a menu choice, but was interested to see whether it could be pulled off well. It was adequate - filling enough and OK - but perhaps poorer quality than previous "long" mains. Five 1cm slivers of green beans seems slightly stingy for something described as "with" fresh green beans. I wouldn't choose this again. The cold option appears to be the same as c-w-s' band 1.

Dessert
DO & CO's passion fruit panna cotta
Very good, certainly presented better than previous desserts with a fresh firm raspberry and a Do&Co chocolate disc. Again, this looks the same as c-w-s' band 1.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3075596af.jpeg

Cheese
Celebration of British cheese: Cromwell Bishop Stilton and Belton Red Leicester with fog relish and crackers
Similar to before, but presented in a smaller dish (though quantity of cheese seems constant). The packaged crackers (3x Peter's Yard Sourdough Crispbreads) are a definite improvement on the sometimes slightly-soggy biscuits from Heathrow before.


Summary:
Helsinki used to be a "long route", and is now band 3. I have been very happy with the previous long menus; it’s the shorter flights where the problems were evident.

On this Helsinki flight the quality of the wine seems improved. The starter, dessert and cheese were good quality, though the starter more of a (tasty) side salad. From one meal, I'd say the main seems "cheaper" than before. I wonder whether band 4 have an improved main meal?

Presenting the food on one tray presumably speeds service, particularly for those sat further back in the cabin. Note that on this flight Club extended to nine rows (~28 passengers), and three crew worked the Club cabin for the whole time (this would previously have been two?). The lack of familiarisation/changed loading locations was evident.

Based on this experience I'm satisfied with the band 3 "rest of day" menu, particularly if it allows improvements to filter down to shorter flights. I really hope the band 2 routes have received some love.

corporate-wage-slave Sep 12, 2018 7:44 am


Originally Posted by SleepySynapse (Post 30195541)
Based on this experience I’m satisfied with the band 3 “rest of day” menu, particularly if it allows improvements to filter down to shorter flights.

Thanks for reporting back so swifty and comprehensively on that Band 3, quite impressive in terms of menus and what not. You can see some overlap on the food between bands now. And I find out more precisely what I've eaten today!

brentford77 Sep 12, 2018 7:51 am


Originally Posted by SleepySynapse (Post 30195541)
“Rest of day” (11.25am departure)

Menus provided after doors closed. Menu cards now folded into mini Club World-style menus, with a choice of two hot and one cold main:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...49dc7c72b.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...935839503.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9c1af5adc.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...97ea48d44.jpeg


Champagne remained in full-sized bottles while the wines reverted to quarter-bottles. I rarely drink wine in Club Europe (today being an exception, for research of course!) but the quality of the wine seems an improvement.

On this flight a bar run, with bagged nuts, was completed before the meals, but I overheard the crew discussing whether or not that was correct. There were no wine glasses loaded separately from on the meal trays, so the initial drinks run was served in tumblers.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...51a14381a.jpeg

All courses were presented on one of the new(ish) tiny trays, meaning a smaller starter plate. Previously “long” flights (which included Helsinki) would have received the main separately, albeit still using the tiny trays.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...44f572412.jpeg

Bread
Extremely good, a certain improvement! I didn’t have complaints about the previous bread, but this tasted as though it was baked fresh minutes before. The butter is perhaps slightly smaller but seemed good quality.

Starter
Shaved cabbage slaw with green apple, celery and flat leaf parsley
Nice flavours, crisp and fresh, more of a side salad than the previous starter plate on “long” flights. This seems to be the same as in c-w-s’ band 1.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...67302cdcb.jpeg


Main
British reared pork sausage and mash with slow-cooked onion gravy, fresh green beans and peas
I was unconvinced by this as a menu choice, but was interested to see whether it could be pulled off well. It was adequate - filling enough and OK - but perhaps poorer quality than previous “long” mains. Five 1cm slivers of green beans seems slightly stingy for something described as “with” fresh green beans. I wouldn’t choose this again. The cold option appears to be the same as c-w-s’ band 1.

Dessert
DO & CO’s passion fruit panna cotta
Very good, certainly presented better than previous desserts with a fresh firm raspberry and a Do&Co chocolate disc. Again, this looks the same as c-w-s’ band 1.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3075596af.jpeg

Cheese
Celebration of British cheese: Cromwell Bishop Stilton and Belton Red Leicester with fog relish and crackers
Similar to before, but presented in a smaller dish (though quantity of cheese seems constant). The packaged crackers (3x Peter’s Yard Sourdough Crispbreads) are a definite improvement on the sometimes slightly-soggy biscuits from Heathrow before.


Summary:
Helsinki used to be a “long route”, and is now band 3. I have been very happy with the previous long menus; it’s the shorter flights where the problems were evident.

On this Helsinki flight the quality of the wine seems improved. The starter, dessert and cheese were good quality, though the starter more of a (tasty) side salad. From one meal, I’d say the main seems “cheaper” than before. I wonder whether band 4 have an improved main meal?

Presenting the food on one tray presumably speeds service, particularly for those sat further back in the cabin. Note that on this flight Club extended to nine rows (~28 passengers), and three crew worked the Club cabin for the whole time (this would previously have been two?). The lack of familiarisation/changed loadings was evident.

Based on this experience I’m satisfied with the band 3 “rest of day” menu, particularly if it allows improvements to filter down to shorter flights. I really hope the band 2 routes have received some love.

(I really hope these uploads worked!)

You’ve really got me salivating now. Just sat on the BA799 about to depart Helsinki and the crew (who I got to know on last nights outbound) are all excited by the catering. Waiting with baited breath. Oh, and can anyone tell me how you ‘British Rear’ a pork sausage?!

orbitmic Sep 12, 2018 7:57 am


Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave (Post 30195553)
You can see some overlap on the food between bands now.

Yes, I almost wonder if band 4 will feature the prawn starter in the band 2 menu and then we'll have gone a full circle like:

band 1: level 1 starter, cold salad, standard dessert
band 2: level 2 starter, cold salad, standard dessert
band 3: level 1 starter, hot main/cold salad, cheese duo, standard dessert
band 4: level 2 starter, hot main/cold salad, cheese duo, standard dessert

??


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