Calvisius Caviar on Buckwheat Blinis with Pepe Saya Crème Fraiche anyone? How about Queensland Spanner Crab and Sweet Pork Salad with Green Mango, Cashews and Nam Jim Dressing?
Ok, so only a lucky few will get to sample the new dining options in Qantas First Class. But there’s something new coming for everyone – and it’s bigger and better than before, promises Qantas.
Qantas will begin rolling out new menus across all cabins on its international flights from 29 March, marking its single largest investment in onboard and lounge dining in a decade.
The flying kangaroo’s menu enhancement program introduces new dishes, larger portions and high-quality Aussie produce across all cabins. There’ll also be more variety and consideration of dietary requirements, including vegetarian options for all meals (which is great news for the herbivores among us).
New menus have been on offer in domestic economy since October 2022, but now it’s international’s turn.
Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer, Markus Svensson said premium food and wine was one of the top three reasons flyers chose Qantas “so this significant boost means we will be able further our efforts to deliver a world-class experience in the sky”.
“We are proud to work with established and emerging Australian food and wine producers to offer the best possible dining experience to our customers,” Svensson said.
“Broader curiosity” among flyers
Qantas Creative Director of Food, Beverage and Service, Neil Perry, and his team put together nearly 250 new dishes for the domestic and international network with each regular menu change, so one could say they’ve come to know what does and doesn’t work.
“We are spoilt for choice in Australia when it comes to being able to source top quality food from fantastic Australian producers,” said Perry, who has worked with the carrier for 25 years,” Perry remarked.
“And together with generous servings and great service, these are the key ingredients to creating an enjoyable meal.
“Over time, it’s been fantastic to see a broader curiosity around international cuisines and plant-based dining, which has allowed us to become more adventurous with our menus.”
Qantas will also introduce a more substantial second meal on long flights between Australia and Asia in Business and Economy.
Premium Economy enhancements include the introduction of a starter salad, as well as an ice cream service on all flights.
So what else is cooking?
International
First
- Crumbed Margra Lamb Cutlets with Lemon Myrtle Celeriac Puree, Seared Glacier 51 Toothfish with Saffron Sauce, Steamed Potatoes and Braised Fennel, and Riverine Beef fillet with Green Beans and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes.
Business
- Seared Grasslands Beef Fillet with Café de Paris Butter, Bannockburn Free-range chicken Kyiv and Seared Snapper with Black Bean Sauce, Seasonal Greens and Salted Chilli.
Premium Economy
- Salmon with Tomato Fennel Sauce, Red Quinoa and Brown Rice, and Braised Lamb Shank with Red Wine Mushroom Sauce and Potato Puree.
Economy
- Cajun Prawns with Spiced Rice, Korean Chilli and Garlic Chicken with Kimchi and Black Pepper Beef with Oyster Mushrooms.
Domestic
- More light options in Business including Ploughman’s and Cheese plates, charcuterie and soups like Dill and Green Pea with Mint.
- New starter salads in Business on long flights, including Grilled Prawns with Asian slaw and Edamame and Tasmanian Smoked Salmon with Kale and Sweet Potato salad.
- Premium snacks in Business from Koko Black, Brookfarm and Carman’s.
- Water and juice in Business prior to take-off on long domestic flights.
Lounges
- In International First Lounges, an enhanced plate of the day including Steamed Blue Eye with Pickled Daikon, Sesame and Shiso Vinaigrette, and Eight-hour Beef Brisket with Potato Puree, Tarragon and Shallot Butter.
- In International Business Lounges, plates of Fresh Ricotta and Crisp Pancetta with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Sourdough, and Beef, Bacon and Dark Ale Pies.
- Ice cream in Qantas Clubs and international and domestic Business Lounges.
- Return of premium cakes such as Decadent Chocolate Ganache cake.
Earlier this year, Qantas scored ten medals including Best First Class Cellar at the Cellars in the Sky Awards. This underlined its commitment to complementing its meals with world-class wines.
The announcement of the new menus comes just weeks after Qantas unveiled major plans for its lounge network.
