QAT: Qatar Airways QR240 (Business)
No Arabic coffee and dates, but decent fine-dining experience overall!
My BFF and I scored a really good deal on Qatar Airways last year, flying in the Economy Class on QR957 that brought us to the Middle East and the Business Class on QR240 and QR956 to return to Southeast Asia. Let's take a look at the food and beverage service from Istanbul, Turkey to Doha, Qatar.
Thinking that Arabic coffee and dates would be available since Qatar Airways is a Middle Eastern carrier, Pikachu was rather sad that he didn't get any.
Welcome Drink
From the selection of juice offered, I decided to have Qatar Airways' signature welcome drink of refreshing lemonade with mint.
Apéritif & Roasted Nuts
After take-off, I had a glass of So Jennie, an alcohol-free sparkling beverage made of grapes, to go with roasted cashew nuts and almonds.
QR Meal
Bread
I only tried the bread that was topped with sunflower seeds. Served warm, it was quite crunchy on the outside and soft inside. Pika's advice: Take note that Qatar Airways offers a variety of Monte Vibiano olive oil dressings upon request.
Goat Cheese and Roasted Pumpkin Salad - Taste: 8.5/10
A lighter choice of appetiser would be the rather thin slice of roasted pumpkin, which was packed with natural sweetness. It came with fresh leafy greens that were accompanied by goat cheese cubes, red onion slices and toasted piine nuts. The apple dressing was delightfully zesty.
Signature Arabic Mezze - Taste: 8/10
For something more substantial, the trio Arabic appetiser dishes might be for you. The red pepper dip called muhammara wasn't that hot, but pretty fragrant. The tabbouleh, featuring mostly chopped parsley and bulgur, was adequately seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper. The best item was the creamy hummus (Levantine mashed chickpeas), going well with the fluffy Arabic bread.
Seared Fillet of Fish with Lemon and Spring Vegetable Sauce - Taste: 8.5/10
One of the main courses that we tried was the fish fillet that was fresh and firm, though I'm not too sure what kind of fish was served. It was drizzled with light and tangy sauce as described in the name of the dish. The sautéed potato slices were executed well, while the cherry tomatoes were succulent.
Arabic Spiced Chicken Kabsa with Rice - Taste: 8/10
The Middle Eastern main course featured on the flight was a dish that originated from Saudi Arabia. The chicken and vegetable stew sitting on top of saffron rice were quite tasty, although the aroma of the spices could be stronger. It came with a small bowl of raita (Indian yogurt with vegetables).
Cheese Plate
Elegantly served on a white-speckled brown platter were three types of cheese: goat, gruyère and blue. On the same plate were something akin to date paste, grapes and strips of carrots and celeries. The crackers were addictive.
Warm Chocolate Cake with Sweet Tahini - Taste: 8/10
I tried a bit of my BFF's chocolate cake that was decadent enough, though not the best that I've ever had. With a degree of sweetness that wasn't overwhelming, the chocolate cake topped with sesame seed paste was sitting on milky vanilla sauce.
Fresh Berries with Rose Water Syrup
I was feeling rather full, so I opted for the lighter dessert option of fresh strawberries and blueberries. Drizzling them with sweetened rose water syrup was truly rewarding.
Godiva Pralines
Two pieces of Godiva pralines in a small box were given to every passenger at the end of the meal.
Beverages
Between saffron and cardamom, I chose the former as the flavour of my spiced milk tea. It turned out to be rather thin for my liking, but aromatic nonetheless. I also had my favourite Baileys Irish Cream on ice.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 8/10
Ambience: 9/10
Service: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10
Do look forward to the upcoming review on QR956.
Qatar Airways
Business Class Cabin
Boeing 787-8
*No separate price given as meals are included in the ticket price.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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