Text 31098, 100 rader
Skriven 2015-09-20 14:52:06 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: AU 263
==============
UA 870 SYD SFO 1200 0835 772 8C

My old man's problems coming to the fore, I deliberately
chose the seat closest to the rest room. It was okay,
though I must say the 789's beds are much better designed,
with plenty of at-seat storage, whereas this aircraft has
approximately none, not even enough for a pen and a pair
of glasses (enough for one or the other, not both).

Next in the center seat was Kirsty, a pretty and energetic
young woman who helped manage an (according to her) famous
Sydney rock band; she was on her way to work on some kind
of project involving musicians plus YouTube plus Google. I
tried to sound interested, and at some point she started
bemoaning the fact that she'd always wanted to start a
family, and time was passing her by, but hanging around
with (and dating) rock stars is not a basis for the
domestic life. I sympathized but could offer no assistance
as I'm kind of taken and (as she noted later) the exact
same age as her mom. She did spend some time flirting with
me, which did good things for my ego, even though I knew it
was just for practice. Ah, well, more power to her.

Flight attendants were two Asian guys, a jolly round-faced
one approaching middle age, and a skinny older one who had
that beaten-down look as though he'd worked in a restaurant
or a laundry in a previous life; a tallish slim white woman
approaching retirement but still energetic; and a languid
young black woman who didn't serve us at all but seemed very
pleasant to her flock on the other side. There were others
who drifted in and out when they got tired of economy. On
the whole, service was better than average.

 TO BEGIN

 Chilled appetizer - smoked duck with black bean-cucumber
 salsa

 Fresh seasonal greens - tomato, bell pepper and croutons
 with your choice of honey vinaigrette or raspberry
 vinaigrette

The duck was pretty nice, with a good thick rim of fat;
moderately salted, lightly but not negligibly smoked. My
seatmate, it turns out, doesn't eat duck, so she gave me
her portion, so instead of a pleasant though skimpy two-
slice amuse bouche I got a substantial first course. A
California rouge ordinaire went well. My seatmate stuck
with juice throughout the flight.

 MAIN COURSE

 Tenderloin of beef - red wine jus, mashed potatoes, baby
 carrots and broad beans

 Breast of chicken - creamy chive sauce, herbed potatoes
 and vegetable medley

 Filet of ocean trout - chunky tomato sauce, herbed
 couscous and green beans with red chile

 Spinach and ricotta cannelloni - sun-dried tomato sauce,
 sauteed spinach and mushrooms and Parmesan cheese

Kirsty asked me if they'd taken meal orders. I couldn't
say, because I had taken a nap that took up the first hour
of the flight. She was relieved when the vegetarian dinner
came unasked for. She wondered again, how did they know
what she wanted?

When mine came, it was the fish, which I sort of expected
(but prayed to a God I don't know exists that no breast of
chicken appear before me). It was surprisingly decent, not
wholly dry and of good flavor, a smallish portion. The
starch, whatever it was, tasted like plastic, and the green
beans of dynamite. That is to say, really hot. I managed to
get enough nourishment I guess.

 Executive dining - if you prefer more time to work or
 relax, ask a flight attendant about our executive dining
 service. At your request, we will present your main meal
 followed by dessert based on your schedule

 TO FINISH

 International cheese selection - grapes and crackers
 served with Port

 Dessert - ice cream with your choice of toppings

The grapes looked pretty good, the cheeses, one looked
soapy and the other blue, so I passed.

I wanted just the Port (the usual Quinta do Noval LBV 09),
but the round-faced younger FA looked distressed by this,
and so I asked for a scoop (vanilla) with a drizzle of
butterscotch. It was as expected, and the butterscotch was
really nice with the Port.
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
 * Origin: Check Out Doc's QWK Mail  Via Web BBS > DocsPlace.org  (1:123/140)