This week’s edition of Matthew’s Meal of the Week recalls a surprisingly gourmet meal on Royal Brunei from late 2014. Some carriers still put a fair amount of thought and quality into economy class food and Royal Brunei is one of them.
BI685 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam (BWN) to Manila, Phillipines (MNL)
The only reason I was on this flight was due to a camera snafu day before. That meant an extra day and a half in Brunei. This 7pm flight would include a dinner service in both economy and business class.
Royal Brunei competes with low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific on this route, a no-frills budget carrier that certainly does not include a complimentary onboard meal.
Shortly after, meal service began. Royal Brunei is a dry airline and a choice of soft drinks, water, or tea were offered. Moments later the meal was distributed. The choice was a beef or fish in coconut sauce. I had fish on the flight to Brunei so chose beef today. The meal was served still wrapped:
The meal itself was fairly western — chopped beef with peas, corn, and rice. It came with a pasta salad that contained not just noodles, but tomatoes, olives, and calamari. Also on the tray was a warm bread roll and a green sponge cake.
Now, I don’t like calamari (at all), but my wife loves it and it always seems to be a fairly pricey appetizer on the menu, so I am assuming it is some kind of delicacy?
Anyway, the meal was perfectly fine by economy class standards but I cannot comment on the calamari itself beyond that it was served. I also enjoyed a cup of tea after the meal.
Have you ever experienced calamari in economy class before? Royal Brunei food is not bad at all!
actually there is investigative reporting about Calamari provenance on NPR. Please listen
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2013/01/calamari_made_of_pig_rectum_the_this_american_life_rumor_isn_t_true_but.html
I’d hardly call calimari a delicacy, at least not in the States. Price wise, it’s comparable to other seafood appetizers. It’s $15 at Truluck’s, compared to $18 for shrimp cocktail or crab cakes. Personally, I’m with you, though – I’m not a fan. Too rubbery for my taste.
Matthew-
Your first two sentences have a few errors that make it hard to read: The only reason I was on this flight [was] because I left my camera behind the day before. That mean[t] [an] extra day and a half in Brunei.
Please let me proof your posts for you…
I’ll send you an email.