Feb 27, 2018, 2:35 am
Last edit by: sxc
Discussion of The Deck continues here:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-marco-polo-club/1895979-deck-opens-22-march-2018-a.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-marco-polo-club/1895979-deck-opens-22-march-2018-a.html
Confirmed: CX lounge operator change to Sodexo
Jun 7, 2018, 10:07 pm
#226
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
It's not even "bling" food. But it's great. Someone over at Qantas knows what they're doing with food, and has for a long time in a way Cathay really doesn't grasp.
Something CX could learn from.
Jun 7, 2018, 10:25 pm
#227
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,053
it is really is lovely how nice some of the food is over in the Qantas lounge. The salads and freshness of the food just stands out.
It's not even "bling" food. But it's great. Someone over at Qantas knows what they're doing with food, and has for a long time in a way Cathay really doesn't grasp.
Something CX could learn from.
It's not even "bling" food. But it's great. Someone over at Qantas knows what they're doing with food, and has for a long time in a way Cathay really doesn't grasp.
Something CX could learn from.
Jun 7, 2018, 11:24 pm
#228
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
Jun 8, 2018, 6:03 am
#230
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: HKG SZX
Programs: CX MPC GO, IHG, OZ, NH (no longer UA MP*G thanks to SMJ)(no longer A3 *G due to COVID))
Posts: 620
Degraded siu mai at Bridge
Now at the Bridge... Siu Mai definitely took the hit.
(Thank God no Mac and Cheese)
Credits to attendants: used plates were removed quickly.
Jun 8, 2018, 7:40 am
#231
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
Jun 10, 2018, 12:34 am
#233
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: MPC-DM, Enrich-Plat
Posts: 1,310
Even the tea "department" only has the hollow plastic stabs. Only the noodle bar does have metal spoons, big enough to empty out your rice bowl in 2-3 scoops.
Jun 10, 2018, 3:08 am
#234
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
The Bridge - Dining room
Did a tour of the J Bridge and Pier HKG lounges to see how they had changed. First up are pictures from the Bridge Dining room. Overall, Bridge seemed about on par to what was there before, but some of the dishes (sago pudding, custard tarts) were the same as what I saw previously at the F Wing buffet.
Saw this in the F wing buffet.
Snacks by the bar
Saw this in the F wing buffet.
Snacks by the bar
Jun 10, 2018, 3:14 am
#236
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
The Pier - Western side
Pictures from The Pier Western dining hall. The disappointing thing about this side is that the dishes are basically the same as what is on the buffet at The Bridge. Except you have to get someone to serve you. The Pier was great before because you would have a different selection in this area but now every serving section in every CX lounge basically has the same food.
Jun 10, 2018, 3:19 am
#237
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
The Pier - "asian" side
The Asian dining room no longer only has asian dishes with the addition of "Mac and Cheese". The lounges seem to have an obsession with Mac and Cheese with it being available from every buffet table. What's also missing from the asian dining room are the dishes like fried chicken which was delicious.
Desserts in the Tea House
Desserts in the Tea House
Desserts in the Tea House
Desserts in the Tea House
Jun 10, 2018, 3:22 am
#238
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
It's just industrial / commercial food now. Definitely went downhill and I don't say that lightly.
The Sodexo staff seem "nice" and "friendly", but there is just no obvious service edge. It's a cafeteria now. That's fine, it's free grub and maybe that's all people care about at the end. I'll still eat at Pier F and Wing F from time to time.
One small example. CX / Sodexo had plain pieces of cheap deli ham and turkey laying out in the room between Wing F and Wing J (the room they redid about 2-3 years ago). I really don't mind it at all, I grew up on that stuff (in addition to Mac n Cheese). But just to be clear this is mass produced stuff you can buy in bulk at the supermarket or from any professional caterer in massive massive quantities cheaply. It's not even pretending to be high end. But it's laid out in that side room like it's supposed to be high end! You know, very judiciously and not too many pieces on display, under the glass. This is what I stuffed in my sandwiches when I was 8 years old - I would never imagine presenting that as fine cuisine! Hell, if we're eating cheap ham, at least present it properly: in bulk. Look at some of those American party platters for the proper presentation of less-expensive stuff, now THAT'S how you present it. You pack it high in abundance, stick huge platters on top of the glass and let people scarf their faces. They're presenting ham which is barely a step up from spam like it's aged iberico ham or something. The whole concept is just off. Like, if you want to serve that setup a whole sandwich station with some pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, and you better have an abundance of that meat there. I'd love that. But delicately presenting slices of Kraft ham like it's haut cuisine strikes me as ..bizarre.
I also think it's clear you're getting at least some of the same food in J and F.
The Sodexo staff seem "nice" and "friendly", but there is just no obvious service edge. It's a cafeteria now. That's fine, it's free grub and maybe that's all people care about at the end. I'll still eat at Pier F and Wing F from time to time.
One small example. CX / Sodexo had plain pieces of cheap deli ham and turkey laying out in the room between Wing F and Wing J (the room they redid about 2-3 years ago). I really don't mind it at all, I grew up on that stuff (in addition to Mac n Cheese). But just to be clear this is mass produced stuff you can buy in bulk at the supermarket or from any professional caterer in massive massive quantities cheaply. It's not even pretending to be high end. But it's laid out in that side room like it's supposed to be high end! You know, very judiciously and not too many pieces on display, under the glass. This is what I stuffed in my sandwiches when I was 8 years old - I would never imagine presenting that as fine cuisine! Hell, if we're eating cheap ham, at least present it properly: in bulk. Look at some of those American party platters for the proper presentation of less-expensive stuff, now THAT'S how you present it. You pack it high in abundance, stick huge platters on top of the glass and let people scarf their faces. They're presenting ham which is barely a step up from spam like it's aged iberico ham or something. The whole concept is just off. Like, if you want to serve that setup a whole sandwich station with some pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, and you better have an abundance of that meat there. I'd love that. But delicately presenting slices of Kraft ham like it's haut cuisine strikes me as ..bizarre.
I also think it's clear you're getting at least some of the same food in J and F.
Jun 10, 2018, 3:26 am
#239
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
And those "snacks" / sandwiches in the F Wing deli room that you describe are the same as those laid out in the Wing J cafe section. Admittedly I think some of those items are a bit better (the cakes particularly) but there's not any differentiation between J and F.
Jun 10, 2018, 3:36 am
#240
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
It's just industrial / commercial food now. Definitely went downhill and I don't say that lightly.
The Sodexo staff seem "nice" and "friendly", but there is just no obvious service edge. It's a cafeteria now. That's fine, it's free grub and maybe that's all people care about at the end. I'll still eat at Pier F and Wing F from time to time.
One small example. CX / Sodexo had plain pieces of cheap deli ham and turkey laying out in the room between Wing F and Wing J (the room they redid about 2-3 years ago). I really don't mind it at all, I grew up on that stuff (in addition to Mac n Cheese). But just to be clear this is mass produced stuff you can buy in bulk at the supermarket or from any professional caterer in massive massive quantities cheaply. It's not even pretending to be high end. But it's laid out in that side room like it's supposed to be high end! You know, very judiciously and not too many pieces on display, under the glass. This is what I stuffed in my sandwiches when I was 8 years old - I would never imagine presenting that as fine cuisine! Hell, if we're eating cheap ham, at least present it properly: in bulk. Look at some of those American party platters for the proper presentation of less-expensive stuff, now THAT'S how you present it. You pack it high in abundance, stick huge platters on top of the glass and let people scarf their faces. They're presenting ham which is barely a step up from spam like it's aged iberico ham or something. The whole concept is just off. Like, if you want to serve that setup a whole sandwich station with some pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, and you better have an abundance of that meat there. I'd love that. But delicately presenting slices of Kraft ham like it's haut cuisine strikes me as ..bizarre.
I also think it's clear you're getting at least some of the same food in J and F.
The Sodexo staff seem "nice" and "friendly", but there is just no obvious service edge. It's a cafeteria now. That's fine, it's free grub and maybe that's all people care about at the end. I'll still eat at Pier F and Wing F from time to time.
One small example. CX / Sodexo had plain pieces of cheap deli ham and turkey laying out in the room between Wing F and Wing J (the room they redid about 2-3 years ago). I really don't mind it at all, I grew up on that stuff (in addition to Mac n Cheese). But just to be clear this is mass produced stuff you can buy in bulk at the supermarket or from any professional caterer in massive massive quantities cheaply. It's not even pretending to be high end. But it's laid out in that side room like it's supposed to be high end! You know, very judiciously and not too many pieces on display, under the glass. This is what I stuffed in my sandwiches when I was 8 years old - I would never imagine presenting that as fine cuisine! Hell, if we're eating cheap ham, at least present it properly: in bulk. Look at some of those American party platters for the proper presentation of less-expensive stuff, now THAT'S how you present it. You pack it high in abundance, stick huge platters on top of the glass and let people scarf their faces. They're presenting ham which is barely a step up from spam like it's aged iberico ham or something. The whole concept is just off. Like, if you want to serve that setup a whole sandwich station with some pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, and you better have an abundance of that meat there. I'd love that. But delicately presenting slices of Kraft ham like it's haut cuisine strikes me as ..bizarre.
I also think it's clear you're getting at least some of the same food in J and F.