George Calombaris (restauranteur) partnership with QR
Aug 28, 2018, 12:33 am
#1
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George Calombaris (restauranteur) partnership with QR
Australian chef and restauranteur George Calombaris is cooking up a series of Greek-inspired dishes for Qatar Airways' first class and business class passengers, although smashing the plates after your inflight feast is not recommended.
https://www.ausbt.com.au/george-calo...tm_source=hero
https://www.ausbt.com.au/george-calo...tm_source=hero
Aug 28, 2018, 1:02 pm
#4
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If nobody has reported before, my next ex-SYD will be in mid September so I'll be happy to report.
I do agree that not all celebrity chef partnerships lead to good (let alone great) food. That said, things like Moussaka mentioned here strike me as the type of dish which could fit the processes of in flight dining (reheating in a convection oven, effect of cabin pressure on taste buds etc) quite well even though it does not try to be "classy". Look forward to seeing a full menu.
PS: paradoxical that MEL is getting the dishes a month later than all the other Oz stations even though this is where Calombaris actually has his restaurants!!
I do agree that not all celebrity chef partnerships lead to good (let alone great) food. That said, things like Moussaka mentioned here strike me as the type of dish which could fit the processes of in flight dining (reheating in a convection oven, effect of cabin pressure on taste buds etc) quite well even though it does not try to be "classy". Look forward to seeing a full menu.
PS: paradoxical that MEL is getting the dishes a month later than all the other Oz stations even though this is where Calombaris actually has his restaurants!!
Sep 16, 2018, 3:13 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
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Sorry something went wrong with my photo upload. Will try again shortly to add TR
Last edited by orbitmic; Sep 16, 2018 at 7:32 pm
Oct 17, 2018, 5:49 am
#6
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Last Friday SYD DOH in F the two dishes by George were a cold Fraser Island Crab starter and a Beef Short Rib. Both were rubbish. The crab was very bitter due to too much pith from the lemon rind, and the beef was tough. Big disappointment.
Oct 17, 2018, 8:17 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: CGK
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and not to say that the crew fully knows how to pull off the dishes faultlessly.
Oct 17, 2018, 8:28 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2016
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Beef is generally challenging as airline catering food, and I realized time and again that QR is not among those who have overcome this challenge (try SQ or OS to see how it's done).
Oct 17, 2018, 8:32 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 776
This is why SQ has facilities to simulate the onboard tasting experience, including pressure and humidity. I think they are the only airline that does that though.
Oct 17, 2018, 10:46 am
#10
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Oct 17, 2018, 11:36 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Not sure if any of these celebrity chef tie-ups actually work. QR normal food is very good, and I am skeptical (for the reasons mentioned above), if any star-chef involvement is needed.
The fastest way to top-line in flight meals, is to hire Do&Co and give them a decent budget. I have yet to see this method fail.
The fastest way to top-line in flight meals, is to hire Do&Co and give them a decent budget. I have yet to see this method fail.
Oct 17, 2018, 4:10 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,222
Not sure if any of these celebrity chef tie-ups actually work. QR normal food is very good, and I am skeptical (for the reasons mentioned above), if any star-chef involvement is needed.
The fastest way to top-line in flight meals, is to hire Do&Co and give them a decent budget. I have yet to see this method fail.
The fastest way to top-line in flight meals, is to hire Do&Co and give them a decent budget. I have yet to see this method fail.
Oct 25, 2018, 7:09 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Seems like YMMV. I just had both of them in J SYD - DOH and the Beef Short Rib was excellent. The meat was very tender and juicy and also excellently seasoned. I would rate it as the best airplane meal I've ever had and the quality of the meat even compared to high-end restaurants on the ground. The potatoes in the meal were rubbish though and the crab starter was nothing to write home about.