FIN: Finnair AY132 (Business)
Surprisingly good Indonesian-inspired main course!
I didn't intend to visit Finland at first, but I chanced upon a pretty good deal on Finnair, the flag carrier of the Land of a Thousand Lakes. One thing about Finnair is that each meal is served on one tray instead of course by course in the Business Class cabin.
Of course, being a not-so-fussy person, I didn't mind that at all.
Welcome Drink
Finnair prides itself in serving bilberry juice on all flights. For the first drink onboard, I couldn't resist the temptation of the bilberry juice that was smooth and mildly sweet, ending up with a few glasses of it throughout the flight.
Apéritif & Roasted Almonds
Golden Sky Cocktail - Taste: 8/10
To stimulate my appetite prior to supper, I went for one of Finnair's signature cocktail called Golden Sky to go with the unsalted roasted almonds. The marriage between Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut Champagne and Lapponia Cloudberry Liqueur resulted in a drink that was smooth and pleasant on the tongue. Pika's advice: If you're looking for something non-alcoholic, you may want to go for their Bilberry Mocktail, which was recommended by one of the flight attendants, but I didn't try it.
AY Meal #1
Chicken and Cabbage Salad - Taste: 8.5/10
There were actually two appetiser dishes available, but the smoked mackerel and cauliflower salad was so popular that it had run out by the time our orders were taken. Anyway, the Asian style salad was delectable as the chicken slices were tender and the cabbages were crunchy, drizzled with aromatic sauce comprising oil, ginger and spring onions.
Pan-Roasted Perch Fillet - Taste: 8/10
The fish was succulent with its skin on. It was served with mustard and dill sauce that was tasty, but I felt that it could be thicker. Accompanying the white meat were quinoa mixed with sweet potato cubes and cashew nuts, as well as juicy long beans and cherry tomatoes.
Beef Gulai Padang - Taste: 8.5/10
The Indonesian-inspired dish of dry beef curry turned out to be tastier than I thought. Though not particularly spicy, it was rich and creamy. It was a delight to have the juicy beef with butter rice. Having said that, it was a pity that the stir-fried vegetables were slightly overcooked. I would love to give it a higher rating otherwise.
Cheese & Dried Fig
On the plate were two types of cheese: Swiss-born Gruyère cheese and Kikorangi, a New Zealand classic. I don't usually like blue cheese due to the strong taste, but I thought the Kikorangi wasn't too bad. The dried fig was enjoyably sweet, providing a nice contrast to the taste of the cheese.
Bread
Knowing that I wouldn't be able to eat too much, I went for just one slice of rye bread that was served slightly warm. There wasn't any garlic bread though.
Handmade Pralines - Taste: 8.5/10
Inside the petite box were two delightful pralines. On the left-hand side was the sweeter milk chocolate with almonds, while the other one was the richer dark chocolate dusted with cocoa powder.
Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream - Taste: 8.5/10
If I remember correctly, there were two flavours available: vanilla and strawberry cheesecake. Both of us went for strawberry cheesecake that came with small chunks of the cake. So decadent!
Beverages
A wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were available. I tried the pretty rich Marquis de Bellefont 2011 red wine, as well as the aromatic L'abeille De Fieuzal Pessac-Léognan 2011 white wine with hints of melon, white blossom, acacia honey and spices. To end it off, I had a cup of tea that was of moderate strength.
Wake Up Juice
Bilberry juice for me, of course!
AY Meal #2
Beef Brisket Noodle - Taste: 6.5/10
Sad to say, the breakfast wasn't as wonderful as the supper. While the beef brisket cooked in Taiwanese three-cup sauce (sesame oil, soy sauce and rice wine) was tasty and tender, the egg noodle was a tad dry, not to mention the vegetables that were overcooked.
Omelette with Sausage and Roasted Potatoes - Taste: 7.5/10
The omelette was better than the Chinese option as it was adequately fluffy, accompanied by a chicken sausage, roasted potato cubes and long beans. The tomato sauce was thick enough, but it would've been more appetising had it been slightly sweeter.
Fresh Fruits
The watermelon, kiwi and grapes were quite fresh and juicy, but not the pineapple that had gone slightly brown.
Bread
Each tray included with a rye bun and another that had a slightly buttery taste akin to that of a croissant, but not flaky. They came with a pack of salted butter and a small jar of strawberry jam.
Others
Additionally, there was a cup of plain yogurt, along with a wedge of cheese.
Beverages
Coffee, tea and a few kinds of fruit juice were served for breakfast. I had a cup of coffee with milk that was aromatic enough for my liking, as well as a glass of bilberry juice (not shown) before preparation for landing commenced.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 7/10
Ambience: 8/10
Service: 8.5/10
Overall: 8/10
I heard that there's a reindeer main course that you can book online when you embark on a long-haul flight from Helsinki, Finland in the Business Class cabin.
Finnair
Business Class Cabin
Airbus 350-900
*No separate price given as meals are included in the ticket price.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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