SKR: Asiana Airlines OZ761 (Business)
Having 'ssambap' (Korean lettuce wraps) onboard!
It was a time well spent at Asiana Business Class Lounge (Central) during the layover at Incheon International Airport in South Korea, especially with the good food served there. In a blink of an eye, it was time to board the 7-hour flight to Jakarta, Indonesia for another quick getaway before flying back to Singapore.
The dinner menu comprises one page on Korean cuisine and another on Western cuisine. Melon was especially looking forward to her proper Korean meal onboard.
Welcome Drinks
I had a glass of chilled orange juice that was quite thick, while the BFF sitting next to me went with mineral water. I didn't see any alcoholic drinks on the tray carried by the flight attendant, but I'm sure you can request for one if you wish.
OZ Meal #1
Beef and Vegetable Terrine - Taste: 8/10
The Korean starter was an appetising gelatinous block of minced beef and other chopped ingredients, such as omelette, onions, carrots and mushrooms. It had coriander leaves too, which I actually dislike, but thankfully it didn't reduce the enjoyment since there were just a few.
Shrimps with Pickled Cucumbers - Taste: 8/10
For the Western starter, it was a plate of delightfully springy shrimps and sour pickled cucumber slices served with a dollop of mango cream sauce that was mildly sweet. They came with baby leaves for added colours and crunch.
Mixed Greens - Taste: 7.5/10
Also part of the Western starter, the side salad was pretty much similar to what I had in the previous flight, but without red peppers and olives. I felt that the latter was fresher though. Anyway, the balsamic dressing was lovely.
Bread
Furthermore, those opting for the Western cuisine were offered a choice of bread from the basket. The one that my BFF picked was quite crispy with a bit of nuts embedded in it.
Ssambap - Taste: 8.5/10
The signature dish of the airline, which was awarded the Gold Prize by the International In-Flight Catering Association in 2016, certainly lived up to my expectations. It was fun wrapping the grilled beef, rice, vegetables and bean paste in some leafy greens, which provided a burst of flavours in my mouth. I really enjoyed the kimchi (Korean dish made of fermented cabbages) that tasted just right. There were also a piece of omelette and a bowl of soup.
Barbecue Chicken Steak - Taste: 7.5/10
I recall there were two main course choices for the Western cuisine. My BFF opted for the not-so-Western chicken option over the beef served with polenta. The white meat was quite tender, although the garlic barbecue sauce could be more robust. The pineapple fried rice was pretty good, but it could certainly use more of the tropical fruit.
Fresh Fruits
The first dessert dish under the Korean menu did live up to its name. With mint leaves as a finishing touch, the snow pear, pineapple, apple and orange were all sweet and juicy.
Rice Cake and Candied Walnut - Taste: 8.5/10
Served alongside one of the best candied walnuts I've ever had thus far, the Korean rice cake filled with red bean paste was enjoyably chewy without being overly sweet. It was naturally coloured with mugwort that lent a nice aroma too.
Cheese Plate
For the Western dessert, Tête de Moine, gruyère and gorgonzola cheese were offered. The Tête de Moine was served in a traditional way of careful scraping with a knife to produce thin shavings, which is said to help develop the flavour and odour by allowing more oxygen to reach to the surface. Besides the cheese trio, there were also crackers, as well as fresh and dried fruits on the plate.
Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream
If I'm not mistaken, there were two variants of the famous ice cream offered onboard as part of the Western dessert. My BFF took the vanilla flavour.
Beverages
I truly enjoyed my deep gold-coloured dessert wine, which was lusciously sweet with quite an intense aroma of apricot, as well as a tone of honey. A glass of mineral water was also provided right from the start. At the end of the meal, I indulged in a cup of coffee that was quite robust and fragrant. Pika's advice: If you're team port wine, fret not! The airline carries that too onboard.
OZ Meal #2
Spicy Ramen Noodle
The menu states that light snacks are available throughout the flight upon request, but the flight attendants did offer them to all passengers about an hour and a half before arrival. I believe it was Nongshim Shin Ramyun instant noodle garnished with mushrooms and spring onions. The kimchi and pickled yellow radish served as side dishes were certainly a nice touch.
Beef Sandwich - Taste: 7.5/10
I thought it'd be a smaller-sized sandwich with white or wholemeal sliced bread, but it turned out to be something like a hamburger. Coming with iceberg lettuce and carrot strips, the sliced roast beef was pretty moist without packing too much sodium. The burger bun was just a little bit dry though.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 8/10
Ambience: 7.5/10
Service: 8.5/10
Overall: 8/10
Someday down the road, I know I'm going to review its Economy Class and, when lady luck decided to smile on me, First Class meals.
Asiana Airlines
Business Class Cabin
Airbus 330-300
*No separate price given as meals are included in the ticket price.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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