On train catering - light hearted options to the West Country

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

Port is not taken WITH the fillet steak.
Port is taken with the last course of meal that may have included a main course of steak.

Fillet steak was the most popular main course in the Pullmans, so it was not just me whom enjoyed it. Port was also popular.

[bobm]

Interestingly ?was? is the operative word.  In the last couple of years although steak features on each of the three menus it has been overtaken by other dishes. 

Port, now served from a large bottle with, occasionally a measure, has replaced the miniatures of yore.  Perhaps accelerated by a notable occasion when a diner consumed all 12 small bottles in stock.  Also more environmentally friendly of course.

[GBM]

Going back many (many) years.  Taking the train from Penzance to Wick via London.
Whilst on the Inverness to Wick section I bought a few miniature whisky bottles from the buffet.
Having consumed those quite quickly I went back for several more; and again a little later.
On my next visit to the buffet I was told they had sold me the last one on board but they would meet the down train halfway, and would get a supply from that train (and would bring to my seat).
Trains duly passed, and several more bottles were bought to me.

Those were the days.....

[grahame]

Going back many (many) years.  Taking the train from Penzance to Wick via London.

[snip]

Those were the days.....

And those will be the days again when you can do this at a sensible price on a Tartan Traveller Ticket and come back on a Sunny South Special - http://gwr.passenger.chat/24438

[broadgage]

Interestingly ?was? is the operative word.  In the last couple of years although steak features on each of the three menus it has been overtaken by other dishes. 

Port, now served from a large bottle with, occasionally a measure, has replaced the miniatures of yore.  Perhaps accelerated by a notable occasion when a diner consumed all 12 small bottles in stock.  Also more environmentally friendly of course.

I wrote "was" because the Pullman is not running at present, and I have doubts about it returning. Nothing like a pandemic or other crisis to introduce downgrades.
In the most recent "meet the manager" session they were very careful not to make any promises about the return of dining.

[bobm]

I wrote was too because since 2018 the steak hasn?t been the most popular main dish.  I can remember going back when with 17 diners a dozen would take the fillet.  More recently, before the suspension, it was quite often less than six from the 15 on an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train).

[broadgage]

Thereby proving that DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) steaks are inferior to HST^▸ (High Speed Train) steaks 

[grahame]

Thereby proving that DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) steaks are inferior to HST^▸ (High Speed Train) steaks 

 

No - I don't think that's totally fare.  It's not a loss of product quality as the years move forward, but rather the availability of many exciting new and competing products and ways of presenting them on the train.  In the older days, food was restricted in availability especially during travel of what could be kept fresh(ish) and edible and we were looking at root veg, maturing meat and curly sandwiches.  In addition these days, offerings can include fresh fish, salads, sushi ...

[TaplowGreen]

Thereby proving that DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) steaks are inferior to HST^▸ (High Speed Train) steaks 

 

No - I don't think that's totally fare.  It's not a loss of product quality as the years move forward, but rather the availability of many exciting new and competing products and ways of presenting them on the train.  In the older days, food was restricted in availability especially during travel of what could be kept fresh(ish) and edible and we were looking at root veg, maturing meat and curly sandwiches.  In addition these days, offerings can include fresh fish, salads, sushi ...

I think it may also point to those dining on trains tend to be those whose palates still hark back to their halcyon days of Berni Inns and Angus Steak houses?

"Waiter, another prawn cocktail, steak (well done) and chips and Black Forest Gateau over here please! And another bottle of Black Tower/Blue Nun too!"

- I doubt exciting new options like sushi would have them thronging to the restaurant car - unless it was battered and served with chips!

 

[froome]

Thereby proving that DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) steaks are inferior to HST^▸ (High Speed Train) steaks 

 

No - I don't think that's totally fare.  It's not a loss of product quality as the years move forward, but rather the availability of many exciting new and competing products and ways of presenting them on the train.  In the older days, food was restricted in availability especially during travel of what could be kept fresh(ish) and edible and we were looking at root veg, maturing meat and curly sandwiches.  In addition these days, offerings can include fresh fish, salads, sushi ...

As a veggie, I would certainly hope it isn't included in the fare. 

You could of course have been referring to the steak being rare, but I suspect you were actually referring to it not being fair.

[grahame]

08:04 - Pullman Breakfast   - 21
09:04 - The Coffee Shop, run by our team   - 14
21:04 - "The Office" Tavern Car   - 12
22:04 - The "Pig and Whistle"   - 10
18:04 - Oriental Buffet   - 10
11:04 - Wetherspoon's   - 10
12:04 - Toby Grill   - 9
17:04 - Burger King   - 9
10:04 - McDonald's late breakfast wagon   - 7
14:04 - Polly's Tea Room   - 6
16:04 - The Ivy   - 5
19:04 - the "Rosy Spectacles" - menu to celebrate the BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Sandwich   - 4
13:04 - Taco Bell and KFC Combo   - 3
07:04 - The Continental Buffet by Pret a Manger   - 3
15:04 - Afternoon tea from The Savoy   - 3
20:04 - The Ritz Club   - 1

28 members voted - total of 134 votes so the typical member selected 4 or 5 options.

Pullman Breakfast is, of course, "First Class" and hard to compete with.

A big "Thank You" to all the members who voted for the Coffee Shop at 09:04. I have over 10 years experience of running a business which included bed and breakfast and I'm sure that the 09:04, with a Plymouth arrival at 12:15, could provide you with an excellent brunch.  For several years, we hosted a breakfast club every Friday morning - perfectly happy catering for 30 settings.  The "Well House" way was a buffet to allow everyone to bias their eating towards their preferences - as reviewed by other professionals on Channel 4 (Four in a Bed) on Wednesday 9th January 2013.

[bobm]

Just in case we have forgotten what it looks like - this is the Pullman Breakfast (although admittedly from the South Wales rather than West of England service)

[JayMac]

Here's one from my archive, from March 2013. Filet de boeuf avec buerre Cafe de Paris.



My last Pullman dining was a brunch from Paddington to Newport in November 2019. Here's hoping I'll get the chance to dine again on board in 2021.

[bobm]

Think I might have witnessed that!

[TonyN]

I used to attend IT courses at a staff college on the Mendips. On one visit the on site accomodation was full and a group of us stayed at a local farm. At the same time a group of German engineers installing a new air traffic control system at Lulsgate where staying at the farm. The farmhouse Buffet breakfasts where exelent as long as you got there before the Germans