Cathay Pacific (2030 pictures & videos)

10/10

Chris Davies

Hong Kong (HKG) to Australia (MEL), 05 Mar 2006

First Class

(Menu Card)
Dinner and breakfast - Fairly soon after takeoff, further cocktails are served and orders are taken for dinner. As always, the first thing served, from a trolley, is Caviar and Balik Salmon Delight. This consists of Caviar and Balik Salmon “Tsar Nicolaj” served with warm new potatoes and crème fraiche. This was followed by a soup of peas, bacon and mint served with mini garlic baguette. Next a seasonal salad with orange segment, fennel and radish served with honey mustard dressing. There was a choice of four main courses. I chose sauteed Wild Mushrooms and shrimps with X.O. sauce and steamed rice. Alternatives were: Braised Lamb Rack with Lamb Jus, roasted Kipfler Potatoes and Vegetables; or poached Chicken Breast with Tomato and Basil Sauce, boiled New Potatoes with Parsley, Sauteed Green Peas and Grilled Capsicums; or Sweet Potato and Leek Ravioli with Tomato Concasse. After main course, a cheese board was offered together with a choice of three desserts. I chose the Crème Brule. Alternatives were: Caramel Ice Cream; or Valrhona Chocolate Tart. About two hours before landing in Melbourne, breakfast was served. This consisted of fresh orange juice with fresh fruit consisting of circles of orange, blood orange, grapefruit wedge, strawberry and blueberries. For main course, I chose Dim Sum selection. Alternatively, eggs or Quiche Lorraine was offered together with usual accompaniments of grilled breakfast steak, pan-fried veal sausages, roast Kipfler potatoes with parsley, vine tomato and sauteed fresh mushrooms. I also had a cappuccino and croissants.

Champagne: Cuvee William Deutz 1996. White Wine: Puligny Montrachet Les Grandes Marches 2002; or Frankland River Chardonnay 2002. Red Wine: Chateau Branaire-Ducru 1998; or St Andrews Shiraz 1999; or Tignanello 2000.

Flying Cathay is pure luxury even before leaving the ground, especially in Hong Kong where they have the finest 1st class lounges in the world. Enroute from LHR, I took the opportunity between flights to freshen up in one of the shower suites. These are large spotless bathrooms lined in black marble. They feature most of the accessories that you need, although I had to ask for shaving foam which I thought they would have readily available, but no, I was given shaving cream instead. Having already had more than sufficient food on the flight from London, I was not tempted by the delicious food and drinks available in the lounge, even so early in the day. I am glad I did this because another feast was waiting for me on the HKG-MEL sector. Cathay is celebrating 60 years of air travel this year. Their service experience really shows in 1st class travel which continues to be of the highest standard. They remain the best airline in the world for obvious reasons.

Date added: 2008-05-21   //   Flight: 9:00   //   Aircraft: A330