Qantas, the Australian airline, has stolen a march on its competitors by introducing a gourmet ”tasting” menu in the first class cabin on non-stop flights from Sydney.
Qantas Group general manager customer product and services, Lesley Grant said that the new menu, designed by internationally renowned chef Neil Perry, offered Qantas First customers a cuisine service comparable to that of the world”s top quality restaurants.
”The tasting menu is initially being offered on First routes from Australia to Bangkok, Singapore and Los Angeles, but we expect it to become a signature product for most Qantas First routes.”
Grant said that the eight-course menu gave customers the opportunity to sample Neil Perry”s signature dishes, matched with specially selected wines from Qantas” extensive cellar, in small portions throughout the course of their flight.
She noted that as part of its latest international product and service upgrade, Qantas had also reintroduced caviar for first class passengers on some international flights.
”From this week, we are also supplying a comprehensive pocket guide to the wines currently offered in Qantas First and Business cabins,” she said.
”The guide has comprehensive tasting notes, compiled by independent wine writer and educator Peter Bourne, on all of the 145 wines available in Qantas” premium international cabins and lounges until October 2007.”
Served on Qantas” new designer product ” whose development was overseen by Australian designer Marc Newson and includes Alessi cutlery ” the tasting menu is presented on Noritake bone china crockery and an extensive range of specially designed glassware.