Improved Clubhouse and UC Dining

Just spied this piece in Business Traveller:

https://www.businesstraveller.com/busin ... ht-dining/

Bolding is my own.

Virgin Atlantic has unveiled a new partnership with Irish food writer and TV host Donal Skehan to revamp its ground and inflight dining

New dishes launch in the carrier’s Upper Class cabins and airport Clubhouses this month, and will be followed by revamped economy and premium economy menus next year.

The so-called “dine with Donal” range has been inspired by global destinations and focuses on “sustainable, fresh ingredients which bring restaurant standard food to the skies”.

Example inflight dishes include aromatic thai vegetable stew with jasmine rice, and charred cod with spicy mango salad and Nam Jim dressing, while Clubhouse guests can enjoy choices including spiced chorizo, fennel and tomato stew, Vietnamese beef and mango salad, and super green omelettes with goats cheese, sun-blushed tomatoes and avocado.

The new dishes follow the launch of a new Upper Class “Mile High Tea” earlier this year, in partnership with master patisserie Eric Landlard.

Will be interesting to see if this new menu is present on my next Clubhouse visit on November 2nd. Alas no UC flights planned in the near future but any improvements to service are worth a thumbs up in my view. Proof is in the pudding though, as they say...

https://englishmum.com/dine-with-donal- ... light.html

I'm hoping it's not in place at the end of the month when I fly. Don't fancy any of it!

[mitchja]

That doesn’t sound particularly inspiring for me either. Why not just keep it simple??!!

Nothing wrong with the food the way it is now in the J or W cabins onboard. It’s currently the best it’s been for a long time so why spoil that?

Personally I'm quite happy with clubhouse food and if it ain't broke don't fix it.
On board food is also alright. (except for the cooked breakfast)
The thing that does need fixing is the variability of the service.
Sometimes it is great and others not so good.
Dick D

so he writes about food but isn't a chef so that's always suspicious!

Mind that not all chefs can cook!

I don't like the look of any of it apart from the afternoon tea! Way too fancy for me!

Its another thumbs down from me too.

As long as these options are alongside more traditional fodder, I’m quite happy to try them

Doubt they’ll be in place by 30th when I’ll be off to the States

And yes, the breakfast is deplorable and leaves a very nasty aftertaste ... for about a week. I think I’ve learned my lesson now and will be opting for a more continental offering

Not for me, thank you very much, here's hoping for something less arty-farty for my next fight in May!

Thumbs down.

I see a negative tweet to be made in the near future from me.

Oh no! Was considering flying Virgin again in february, the clubhouse food was swinging it! The example dishes are not to my taste at all, how disappointing.

Too arty farty for me
Like others I don’t see the point in fixing something that isn’t broken

I am almost certain, the things we all know and love, such as the Clubhouse burger, or the legendary Clubhouse Breakfast will all still be there, but this just compliments it. I have no real concerns about this move either way.

I am almost certain, the things we all know and love, such as the Clubhouse burger, or the legendary Clubhouse Breakfast will all still be there, but this just compliments it. I have no real concerns about this move either way.

This is my impression as well.

This thread surprises me somewhat.

In recent years VS have frequently been criticised on here for losing their old sparkle, failing to innovate and becoming “just another airline”.

So they try to innovate and - guess what - people criticise them.

I say good on them for trying to be different. If you want bland, same-old and mediocre I’m sure BA would be more than happy to take your money in return for a dried out slab of beef on board or vats of cheap, processed slop in their J lounges.

(Although to be fair to BA the new Club World catering isn’t half bad.)

How about giving the new VS catering a try and trying something different? You might just like it!

This thread surprises me somewhat.

In recent years VS have frequently been criticised on here for losing their old sparkle, failing to innovate and becoming “just another airline”.

So they try to innovate and - guess what - people criticise them.

I say good on them for trying to be different. If you want bland, same-old and mediocre I’m sure BA would be more than happy to take your money in return for a dried out slab of beef on board or vats of cheap, processed slop in their J lounges.

(Although to be fair to BA the new Club World catering isn’t half bad.)

How about giving the new VS catering a try and trying something different? You might just like it!

Wouldn't the world be a poorer place if we all expressed the same opinions and liked the same things??

But that's the thing - nobody can possibly like or dislike it because it's not even been introduced yet. I think the point gumshoe was making was that people are turning their nose up at something before they've even tried it.

Honestly - I am looking forward to it, it might sound exotic or unusual but in my last visits to the Clubhouse, whilst the menu changes it's always the same staple food. Not that the food is poor quality but it's starting to become a bit "samey same". A bit of variety is nice and good on VS for coming up with a new idea.

Not to accuse people of being infantile, but it reminds me of a child turning their nose up at a new piece of food and deciding they don't want it.

But that's the thing - nobody can possibly like or dislike it because it's not even been introduced yet. I think the point gumshoe was making was that people are turning their nose up at something before they've even tried it.
Honestly - I am looking forward to it, it might sound exotic or unusual but in my last visits to the Clubhouse, whilst the menu changes it's always the same staple food. Not that the food is poor quality but it's starting to become a bit "samey same". A bit of variety is nice and good on VS for coming up with a new idea.
Not to accuse people of being infantile, but it reminds me of a child turning their nose up at a new piece of food and not deciding they don't want it.

I am interested to try this when we fly next month, We always end up being given the same curry so I am happy there looks like another option for us

I don't think it's case of being infantile or sticking noses up. I am lucky enough to eat in fancy restaurants quite a lot and I enjoy it very much. In a restaurant on the ground, with the dishes coming to the table freshly cooked.

While I don't mind for the CH I think it's a bad idea in the air for one simple reason. The food will be made en mass, pre packed, stored for several hours, reheated and then served at 36,000 feet or more. It simply won't be anything like the chef intended. I always think simple food with powerful flavours are best on a plane. Oh, and the fact that I won't eat anything Thai as I can't eat coconut!

But, each to their own, and as has been pointed out - let's wait and see. There's always the graze menu!

Oh, and the fact that I won't eat anything Thai as I can't eat coconut!

Have the same problem with mango!

Not to accuse people of being infantile, but it reminds me of a child turning their nose up at a new piece of food and deciding they don't want it.

I'm not turning my nose up at it and may even try it but my gripe would be if this new menu replaces something on the existing menu that I enjoy. It has become almost a tradition for me to start in the clubhouse with a coffee and eggs Benedict. If that were to come off the menu I would not be happy.
Dick D

Breakfast is breakfast pretty much the world over, I will eat my hat if that changes!

With Nam Jim dressing??

[mitchja]

Breakfast is breakfast pretty much the world over, I will eat my hat if that changes!

...just not when it's that abomination that McD's offer

With Nam Jim dressing??

Nam Jim is a Thai dipping sauce.


I'm actually surprised VS yet haven't gone down the DL pre-select meals before you fly option? DL have now rolled that out on all UK TATL routes for Delta One bookings.