Cathay Pacific Special Meals
 

Thanks for the post! Looking forward to what other people have taken a picture of. I'm going to be trying the Low Lactose meal in March so I'll see how that goes.

Great! Do let us know. It is very difficult to find information on special meals in general, hopefully we can get a few photos together here.

the Fruit platter from HKT looks much better than the J fruit platters from HKG. I think the quality of the fruit platter is location dependent, not class dependent. If its from HK, it'll be awful, even in J. tasteless fruits, tiny portion, one each of papaya, pineapple, pomelo and melon (they always choose almost raw melon). But from thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, West coast USA, Europe, even in economy, the fruit platter is delicious, many varieties of fruits, good portion, etc. I think the problem is the HK catering service is barebones and always tries to cut corners, whereas the agents they use in outport actually know what they're doing... It is too bad fruits are one of the "easiest" special meals to get right, because no cooking is involved!

Decided to be 'adventurous' and had the Hindu Meal in J, recently on the HKG-TPE shuttle. It was described to me as some sort of a lamb curry, served with some naan. It was absolutely abysmal, I've never had such terrible special meals (esp. Hindu meals, which I usually find delicious on airlines like SQ). The main course was dry, and the naan was waay too chewy. On the other hand, the crew were very friendly.

Is it me, or is the CX meals getting worse and worse (at least in J), like it wasn't this bad the same time last year.https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e256218b96.png

For the ultra short haul flights where cx only serve chicken wraps plus a biscuit/cookie, would I get a better meal if I pre-select my meals during booking? Like if I choose kosher meal?

Tried KSML (Kosher Meal) on TPE-HKG once in Y on a "refreshment" flight. It was horrible.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6f97debe07.jpg

We find CX's Indian meals to India esp BOM to be the best on a flight
better than EK or SQ

but we have not been flying CX last year so things might have changed

on CX next month so will see how it is.

sad to see the courage of stepping out of the comfort zone is not rewarded :(

What is that

it does not look like CX cutlery?

looks revolting

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hl176 (Post 29355249)

What is that

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No clue...

The whole box is made in Belgium. Another friend of mine who tried it on a CX TPE-HKG "breakfast" flight (mine was KA) had a much better one made in England.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c65283c7ea.jpg

@frenzie01

Your thread title did not specify if this thread was for special meals in J or all cabins.

This thread already exists

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...meals-j-2.html

Perhaps the mods can merge it all into one thread

The best special meal (VLML) I had on CX (Y) comprised 6 seeded grapes, which were commandeered from J. I was told how lucky I was to have even those as meal service in J was over. :eek: It was actually the only meal I had on that trip with CX, as nothing had been loaded for the return flight - so I got nothing. Yeah, I don't fly CX for this and other reasons.

Special meals are there to fulfill special dietary or religious requirements. Not to provide a better or more tasteful meal.

That said, when choosing the Hindu non-vegetarian meal, you end up in the India cooking area, where it would be dammed difficult to screw up a meal, so to say. On short legs, I booked the Hindu non-vegetarian meal several times now and it never disappointed me. Unless it's not your thing, Indian food would be a good idea, simply because it appeals to many people.

For my upcoming leg, I booked the all-seafood option. I am looking forward to the result.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...cc98e955c6.jpg

Breakfast in YYZ <> HKG
I ordered low fat meals in Y for all of YYZ>HKG>DPS and return recently. For YYZ to HKG and HKG to YYZ both times the entree was a plain steamed chicken breast, lightly salted, along with some sort of vegetable that I can't remember. Salad became a fruit bowl. No dessert per se, except for the ice cream that gets distributed separately. The breakfast was a perfectly hockey puck shaped looking egg white along with roasted tomato and asparagus. The egg white tasted a bit oily for a low fat meal, imo.

For HKG to DPS (and same thing return), the entree was a very yummy, well sized steamed grouper filet also along with some tomato and the likes. Came with fruit bowl and no dessert with tray as well.

One thing I'd like to add. The dinner roll with Low Fat meal is that it's always a whole wheat (or multi grain?) roll instead of white bread, which I actually found tastier, and less rough.

I've only taken a picture of the breakfast (was too amazed with the perfectly shaped egg white. At first I thought it was a steamed bun), and didn't snap pictures of the other ones.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...924170e6a2.jpg
VGML@CX536 (HKG>NGO), 4-Dec-2017
(Icecream was served separately)

I find the Hindu Vegetarian Meal on CX J Class to be garbage. SQ generally does a better job in Y.

The food out of HKG is the same as SQ Y, while out of LAX/SFO, it is totally inedible.

KA ex HKG (to India !) is a step below.

I have been on about 30 flights HKG-SFO/LAX in about 5-6 years, and they keep serving the same exact entree for breakfast.

They just don't care. CX meets my flight schedule requirements, the J Class seat is comfortable, and I'm able to collect miles on AA Advantage. Other than that, I really don't find anything great about them.

That looks nice! Would be happy with that.

AVML dinner on a recent SIN-HKG flight. The sticker read: "Carrot Peas Lauki Methi Rice" and was mostly inedible. I have no idea what were the round thing on the left and the desert (?) on the right. Very poor but I had a great vegetarian dish made to order in the Noodle Bar at the lounge so no worries.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6e23e931ee.jpg

Mystery app.
 

Sorry to hear about your meal experience on board.
Did u take a bite of the appetizer & yet u still could not tell what it was?
The dessert looks like some sort of pudding, I think.
Are you a vegetarian/vegan?

I always order the LSML (low sodium/salt special meal) so I'm quite used to pretty boring meals on board.
However if the main meal service has ice creme for dessert then I'd ask the FA for one after they are done distributing it to everyone.
There's always extra ;)

Glad that u got something suitable at the lounge at HKG - it's awesome esp. the Pier.
Oh yeah, & I always pack a snack or a light meal from the hotel or the airport when I travel, (esp. in long haul Y)

Yes, I'm vegetarian. The lounge I was referring to was the new CX lounge at SIN T4, which is excellent and as I wrote they prepared for me a vegetarian dish at the Noodle Bar.

The problem I have with ice cream on board is that it is almost always chocolate (on any airline, not only CX) and I'm allergic to cocoa :(

Interesting meals
 

How was the breakfast? I have stopped eating eggs & breakfast in general on airplanes as it just tastes too funky/yucky.
I've got a trip this summer HKGYYZ on AC, & I wonder if they use the same caterers as CX?
+1 on the whole wheat / multi grain roll - I much prefer that to the white roll ^
The grouper filet sounds delicious, how did u know that it was grouper?
I wished more SPML would have fish as an option instead of the usual chicken option.
I know for a fact that the SFML on TG is almost always a cream based seafood pasta both in Y and J & the LSML is usually plain boiled chicken breast with rice & overcooked spinach. Sometimes u might get lucky & get the salmon with potatoes but it's not very often!

You think so? I would think the spices in the meal would not go down so well when one is traveling 35,000 ft in the air.
I've not ordered it before either as a main meal option or SPML.

The only instance where I've seen a pax order the KSML was because she was Muslim & the airline did not cater a Muslim special meal ex-HKG (shockingly this was on MH J). Besides that, I can't think of any reason one would order the KSML unless of course, they were Jewish.

Thanks everyone for the pics. I'll be sure to post mine soon after my flights.

SPML in Y & PEY
 

Just a heads up - the link that u posted was referencing a particular SPML meal choice (or rather the lack of an extra option) in J & the tone of that particular thread (especially at the beginning) is the very reason why I don't enjoy reading FT as much as I used to.

Also, I've noticed that since u last posted in Apr 2017, no one else has contributed to the thread.
I'm guessing that most pax in J don't order the SPML as they would prefer to select from the in-flight menu as SPML can sometimes be quite bland & boring.

We can keep this thread separate as a place to post SPML pics in Y & PEY.
The key to this thread would be to post pics of the meals, & of course friendly discussion & useful advice on what to order etc.
I think that'll be helpful to other travelers flying in the back of the bus ;)

Very shameless plug
 

But a few years ago, in my foodblog I covered nearly every special meal CX has (except the baby meal which catering would not allow despite my protestations and the kosher meal which I had on BA).

Link is below.

Yummy Hong Kong: Special Meals on Airlines - is the first post

Hopefully a useful data point for some!

Cheers

Funny, I actually found your site when I was trying to see what the low lactose meal was on CX. You are the only person (accordingly to google image search) that has taken a picture of this meal.

Low lactose J meals
 

Here are the low lactose meals I had from HKG to AKL in J last month.

The ex-HKG main course looks quite identical to LSML served on economy for HKG-LGW in October.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1384...3974126400544/

(photo not by me)

It doesn't look the same to me - the main course was the fish, it looks like chicken in the FB post. Or did you meant the breakfast steak?

They are the same main courses, both are fish...

Let's make the conclusion that

JCL special meal = YCL special meal in ceramic + few more pieces of fruit

Hence if you want Business class food when flying economy, order special meals lol

I flew Business last week ex-HKG to Taipei and ordered a fruit platter for the breakfast course. The meal consisted of a few pieces of cut fruit (which is served as part of the normal J meal), and a whole apple and a whole banana. That was it.

This is totally uncalled for... Unless you are JEWISH, why on earth did you order a KSML? You think its going to be fresher than what you have?

KSML are all prepackaged and made at Kosher outlets. They are not prepared in the flight kitchens. Because the food and cutlery - everything cannot be cross contanimated with others. If there is meat , it cannot be mixed with dairy. The boxes come sealed, and the proper procedure is for the crew to bring it to the passenger who will break the seal themselves. Then the crew will bring the frozen meal back to the galley to heat up and then serve to you. Jewish passengers who order KSML are because they have strict religious dietary requirements that require this meal. I am sure they know what each container is, and no doubt it may seem horrible to you, it is somebody's meal that has been blessed by a Rabbi. You will be surprised to know that the meal in economy, business and First class are generally the same. It may be only in size that they differ.

To call it 'revolting' is really immature of you guys and making fun of someone else's religion. How would you like it if someone commented your special meal as vomit because they don't know what it is.

CHML (Child Meal) ex-CEB. Got to eat it myself as the kid wasn't hungry and I ended up finishing the whole thing - it was that good. Thinking of trying a couple more child meals going forward and see what else they got :D Seriously much better than the usual "chicken with pasta" or "pork with rice". Even came with a chocolate milk that's cut off in the pic. Haven't had one of those in ages.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d97469a6be.jpg

CHML CX ex-CEB

What is that chili? Looks really good, next time i do regional I'm ordering child :D. Its odd enough i get looks on Asian carriers when they see my Hindu Meal being a westerner let alone wrong age group.

Sorry a little late here but quite the difference in each direction of travel, maybe one was actually dragon air? All were CX operated but i think i saw Dragon lanyards on the return. Though I really didn't need a meal, i connected from same day CX F flight so time at the Wing F lounge prior to boarding. The return in PP lounge in TPE and had 3 bowls of Taiwanese beef noodle soup and all the desserts. I did special meal because i have seen and heard of m,any bad economy meals around the world. I have no dietary restrictions other than i dislike seafood. I'm not sure what i missed out.

Here is Hindu vegetarian May 2018 in Y HKG-TPE.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...905be02d48.jpg




Here is the return flight TPE-HKG in Y a few days later. Maybe it was difference in meal service as this set up was more what i expected in economy than the way over. I went with non-vegetarian version of Hindu meal to see the difference. Potatos, black beans and chicken


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ea21b96640.jpg

That 'chili' ex-CEB appears to be Filipino spaghetti, complete with processed white 'cheese' on top. All that appears to be missing are slices of unnaturally red hot dogs. My kids would have loved it!

Will be flying HKG-SIN afternoon flight (3:20PM departure) in late September 18 and have the following options for SPML-

(1) Bland Meal
(2) Diabetic Meal
(3) Fruit Platter Meal
(4) Gluten Intolerant Meal
(5) Hindu Meal
(6) Kosher Meal
(7) Liquid Diet Meal
(8) Low Calorie Meal
(9) Low Fat Meal/ Low Cholesterol
(10) Low Lactose Meal
(11) Low Salt Meal
(12) Moslem Meal
(13) Non-Beef Meal
(14) Vegetarian Hindu Meal/ Indian Vegetarian
(15) Vegetarian Jain Meal/ Strict Indian Vegetarian
(16) Vegetarian Lacto-Ovo Meal
(17) Vegetarian Oriental Meal
(18) Vegetarian Raw Meal
(19) Vegetarian Vegan Meal

Let me know if you wonder how it looks like. I can take some photos and try it for you. (But won't try bland/liquid diet/fruit platter meals.)