XC new First Class menu

[danshrimp]

A few weeks ago CrossCountry announced that they'd brought in a new menu for First Class, which somewhat buries the lede: they're now doing hot meals during the day (on all except the ex-Avanti Voyagers.)

Microwaved, sure, but it's a step up in quality and the menu looks the part - more like what you might expect from a long distance cross-country operator if you didn't know better.

Has anyone had a chance to try it yet? What's availability like?

 

[Bletchleyite]

No gluten free breakfast option is a bit poor, particularly as it would have been quite easy to do the yogurt one GF by using GF oats. They do cost more but it's just a tiny sprinkling of them, but as this will all be prepacked stuff it wouldn't be easy to just have it without (coeliacs are generally very sensitive so just taking it off won't be viable).

Oddly for main course they have done a GF couscous dish which would presumably massively add to the cost of that compared to just making it a rice dish instead!

 

[Vexed]

I think it's an overall improvement, but i will miss the fruit cake. The first class hosts have said I'm not the only one to mention this!

The breakfast yoghurt is tiny; it's smaller than what you can get as a snack in a Sainsbury's meal deal. It comes with roughly a tablespoon / heaped teaspoon of oats.

Unlike the previous menu, I've actually seen this one placed on the tables! They're not trying to hide it like before where you had to ask for a sandwich. Combined with the refurbishment it's a good step up in First.

 

[htwestern]

I’m surprised it’s not available on the ex-Avanti units. I thought they had a better set up with the fixed shop/buffet counter and the coach with far more tables in it?

 

[Jimini]

They were dishing out the weekend(?) snackboxes on Sunday when I last traveled (photos below):

 

[sabanda]

I think it's an overall improvement, but i will miss the fruit cake. The first class hosts have said I'm not the only one to mention this!

Hear, hear!

So far, I have tried the couscous and peri-peri chicken and both were thoroughly enjoyable and of an acceptable quality. 'Sandwich of the day' (chicken, bacon, lettuce and tomato) on Saturday was excellent, very fresh, and ran out halfway down the coach - but annoyingly there was only a single option with no vegetarian/vegan alternative. The snack box selection feels a little random but the dip is very nice!

 

[Tetchytyke]

I’m surprised it’s not available on the ex-Avanti units. I thought they had a better set up with the fixed shop/buffet counter and the coach with far more tables in it?

Worse for delivering hot food, though: the Arriva units have the galley equipment behind the cab, which is much easier.

XC give and take away, though. I notice that there is now no catering at all on any Turbostar routes.

 

[MartinC]

I think it's an overall improvement, but i will miss the fruit cake. The first class hosts have said I'm not the only one to mention this!

The breakfast yoghurt is tiny; it's smaller than what you can get as a snack in a Sainsbury's meal deal. It comes with roughly a tablespoon / heaped teaspoon of oats.

Unlike the previous menu, I've actually seen this one placed on the tables! They're not trying to hide it like before where you had to ask for a sandwich. Combined with the refurbishment it's a good step up in First.

Yes, the fruit cake !

 

[Oxfordblues]

Imagine trying to eat all that while standing-up in the vestibule!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Yes, the fruit cake !

Nice and moist and not dry.

 

[ainsworth74]

Worse for delivering hot food, though: the Arriva units have the galley equipment behind the cab, which is much easier.

So do the Avanti units. I had a very nice meal on one of them between Euston and Holyhead (and I had to almost be wheeled off the train as the host was very generous with the booze!) some years ago. I suspect it's more that they're non-standard so rather than trying to train the staff and adapt the offer to match the non-standard equipment they're just not bothering until they can be fettled to be the same.

 

[Rail2002]

This is a brilliant improvement. Even the snack box (courtesy of Jimini's image) look to be high quality products.

I'm not sure why the ex-Avanti ones can't have food heated in the First Class galley though.. They certainly had catering equipment for Avanti, maybe this was removed when they were in between leases.