TRY: Turkish Airlines TK800 (Business) (Part 2)

Not the best experience, but I love the strawberry smoothie!

Following the brief stop at Panama City, my BFF and I continued our journey on Turkish Airlines TK800 to Istanbul, Turkey. The flight, lasting just over half a day, included two meal services - dinner and breakfast. One thing I completely forgot to do was to check the galley to see if there were any snacks available. 

Barely able to contain her excitement, Melon eagerly anticipated sipping the tomato soup.

Welcome Drinks

I enjoyed the homemade lemonade with mint as a refreshing welcome drink. The raspberry juice wasn’t shabby either, offering a nice burst of fruity sweetness.

Pre-Meal Snack & Beverage

Before dinner, I was treated to warm mixed nuts comprising almonds, macadamias, and pistachios. To balance the flavours of the nuts, I opted for a bit of Glenfiddich 15-year single malt Scotch whisky.

TK Meal #1

Creamy Tomato Soup - Taste: 7.5/10

Dinner began with a bowl of warm blended tomato soup that was pretty hearty. Topped with crunchy croutons, it had a satisfying consistency. While the flavours could be bolder, it still offered a nice balance of sweetness and tanginess. 

Best of Turkish Mezze - Taste: 6/10

Frankly speaking, I was expecting more in terms of presentation and taste from the Turkish appetiser dish. The plate featured white cheese paired with watermelon, roasted eggplant and chicken, as well as roasted red pepper dip topped with walnut. While they were edible for sure, none of the components stood out as memorable.

Caesar Salad with Grilled Prawns - Taste: 7/10

The Caesar salad turned out to be a better starter, although I felt that there weren't enough greens. Along with cherry tomatoes, cheese and croutons, there were two prawns that were pretty succulent. The dressing, though creamy, was on the lighter side.

Bread

Fron the bread basket, I chose an oatmeal bread, which turned out to be rather dense and slightly dry.

Fillet of Beef - Taste: 5.5/10

The fillet of beef, which fell short of being juicy, was cooked medium-well. It was served with roasted potato wedges seasoned with rosemary. In addition, there were what the menu described as "garden fresh leaves", though they were rather plain to round out the dish.

Grilled Salmon - Taste: 7.5/10

The grilled salmon was executed better than its beef counterpart, with its flesh proving to be pretty flaky and succulent. The potato-celeriac purée, with its hint of earthiness, complemented the fish well. Additionally, there were grilled zucchinis and carrots that weren't overcooked.

Traditional Turkish Dessert - Taste: 7/10

A more delectable trio than the appetiser, the Turkish dessert platter comprised a baklava filled with chopped walnuts, a pistachio wrap and a pastry topped with walnut. Thankfully, all of them weren't overly sweet.

Sachertorte - Taste: 8/10

The chocolate cake of Austrian origin was quite a delight, although it could be denser. The chocolate sponge cake layered with smooth apricot jam was topped with glossy dark chocolate ganache that was decadent enough.

Brownie - Taste: 7.5/10

After the sachertorte, I thought a small piece of chocolate brownie wouldn’t harm, right? Paired with vanilla sauce, the brownie was chocolatey enough for my liking.

Selection of Cheese

Four types of cheese were arranged on the plate, along with dry carrot and cucumber sticks. It was a pity there was no jam or chutney to enhance the experience.

Fresh Fruits

Served in a glass, the assorted fruits were adequately fresh.

Beverages

For the alcoholic drinks, I enjoyed Baileys Irish Cream and Graham's Late Bottled Vintage 2017 port wine that was so agreeable with vibrant aromas of red berries and peppery spice. To wash everything down, I had a glass of herbal tea infused with linden, roselle and ginger. Pika's advice: If you're a fan, be sure indulge in raki (Turkish spirit made of twice-distilled grape and flavoured with aniseed) during the flight.

Wake Up Juice

Before turning on the cabin lights, the flight attendants went around to offer some drinks about 3 hours before arrival. I opted for grapefruit juice, while my BFF went for orange juice.

TK Meal #2

Breakfast Set - Taste: 7/10

To freshen myself up further, I began by digging into the selection of fruits. Sadly, the croissant was limp, despite being pretty buttery. On a more positive note, I enjoyed the cheese and smoked chicken breast, as well as the plain yogurt topped with a slice of strawberry.

Tomato and Mozzarella Omelette - Taste: 7.5/10

Despite its not-so-ideal appearance, the omelette was a delightful surprise, for it was stuffed with loads of melted mozzarella cheese that made each bite so satisfying. The sides, however, could be seasoned better, especially the sautéed spinach. The buttered potatoes were a tad dry.

Pancakes with Apples - Taste: 8/10

Again, they might not be that aesthetically pleasing, but the pancakes dusted with castor sugar were much better than expected. Paired with caramelised apple slices, the pancakes featured a slightly crispy outer layer, while the inside remained pretty soft and fluffy. They came with vanilla sauce, strawberry jam and almonds.

Beverages

The strawberry smoothie, with its creamy texture and fresh flavour, was so nice that I couldn't resist asking for a second serving. I also had a cup of incredibly bold and potent Turkish coffee that came with a small piece of Turkish delight, offering a sweet contrast with its delicate rose flavour.

Melon's Rating
Taste: 7/10

Ambience: 7.5/10

Service: 8/10

Overall: 7.5/10

As mentioned above, it wasn't the best in-flight dining experience, but it still served as a reminder of the joys of travelling and discovering new flavours while flying across continents.

Turkish Airlines

Business Class Cabin

Boeing 777-300ER

https://www.turkishairlines.com/

*No separate price given as meals are included in the ticket price.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)