Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling Chef, Pullman - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Brucey]

Can I confess that I didn't actually read the article, just look at the pictures 

Having actually read the article, it would seem the author probably misread the press release. 

[bobm]

Just to note for anyone planning on travelling on the Pullmans immediately after Easter...

From the 2nd to 5th April the ones up from Plymouth still leave at 12:01 and 12:55 - except on the 2nd when the 12:55 becomes a 13:03.

The two down will leave at 17:33 and 18:33 from Paddington.

The 12:01/17:33 will go via Bristol Temple Meads (not calling) and the 12:55/13:03/12:55 with their Westbury stops going via Melksham (also not calling  )

Extra mileage to eat your tucker!

[JayMac]

Wednesday 3rd April 1255 for me then. Pullman through Melksham!

[Network SouthEast]

Wasn't sure if this justified a new thread or not, but I see that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have a YouTube video about their new Pullman offering.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/DD_0zZj69dY

[JayMac]

I'm back and forth between Bristol and Taunton all this week, and today, not being required in Taunton until mid-afternoon I decided on a jolly to Reading so I could pick up a lunchtime Travelling Chef service and sample an item from the new menu.

I travelled on the 1211 Swansea service from Reading (1145 off PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)), which in the good old days was a Pullman.

I went for the Premium Gourmet Burger:



Have to say, I was somewhat disappointed by this. When a burger was last on the TC^‡(resolve) menu (then known as 'Build Your Own Burger') you could add items such as cheese, bacon, tomato, onion and mushrooms. Now you get the burger with just cheese.

The chips and side salad were absolutely fine, but then its hard to go wrong with those. The burger itself was the real disappointment. For something described as 'Gourmet' the quality of the beef was below what I was expecting, remembering how good the beef was in the last incarnation of a Travelling Chef Burger. Somewhat chewy despite not being overcooked. Also bland - crying out for some chopped onion and seasoning. The cheese was also on the bland side. I like tasty cheese and this was very mild cheddar - not a great accompaniment when the burger itself is bland. Then there's the bun, or rather, toasted ciabatta roll. What's with the current obsession for arty-farty breads? A ciabatta is too crusty and has the wrong consistency for a burger.  This maybe a personal thing, but I prefer a soft sesame seeded bap for a burger.

The tomato relish is nice though!

Presentation 4/5
Taste 1/5
Value for money 2/5

Overall 2/5. Should be a lot better for ^9.50 and for being named a 'Premium Gourmet Burger'

[bobm]

I haven't sampled the burger yet so will have to try to see if it was just a one off.  Interesting to note they do chips - I don't think I can ever remember them doing them before.  I assume they are oven chips - would they mess about with boiling oil on a moving train?

[JayMac]

The chips will almost certainly be cooked in the fast convection oven. I didn't ask, but there's no way they'd have a chip pan in a Mk3 kitchen. They did have a 'fried' taste though.

[swrural]

BNM you could get paid for doing these gourmet reviews.  Now, don't be a 'neigh' sayer, anyway, I hope you weren't saddled with one of these Irish burgers.  I expect in the mane the food is reliable though.

[grahame]

I've been trying my hand at this "photographing the food I'm served on the move" lark ... but I had a small problem ...



Hunger  

Other pictures - and article - here

[JayMac]

BNM you could get paid for doing these gourmet reviews.  Now, don't be a 'neigh' sayer, anyway, I hope you weren't saddled with one of these Irish burgers.  I expect in the mane the food is reliable though.

The beef is apparently from Somerset. I've tasted better.

And I've tasted horse.

I've been trying my hand at this "photographing the food I'm served on the move" lark ... but I had a small problem ...

Hunger 

Pancakes and ice cream with a Flemish beer? Seems like a perfectly acceptable combination to me. And perfectly acceptable to have tucked in before taking the picture. I did just the same on my recent trip with bobm on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Pullman. 

[bobm]

Pancakes and ice cream with a Flemish beer? Seems like a perfectly acceptable combination to me. And perfectly acceptable to have tucked in before taking the picture. I did just the same on my recent trip with bobm on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Pullman. 

I had to remind him..... 

[thetrout]

BNM you could get paid for doing these gourmet reviews.  Now, don't be a 'neigh' sayer, anyway, I hope you weren't saddled with one of these Irish burgers.  I expect in the mane the food is reliable though.

Go for it BNM... Every little helps

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I must admit to having insufficient confidence in the catering provisions on High Speed Trains (HST^▸ (High Speed Train))'s to rely upon it on our occassional long trips from Reading to St Ives.  So Mrs GTBE and I visit the excellent M&S on Reading station and buy ourselves a 3 course picnic plus bottle of Cava.  We can then enjoy our food at our leisure.

We still remember some years ago just grabbing the last 2 seats in the restaurant car, and then not really enjoying a very rushed service which I think got lunch done and dusted by not long after Newbury. 

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym
 

 

[bobm]

We still remember some years ago just grabbing the last 2 seats in the restaurant car, and then not really enjoying a very rushed service which I think got lunch done and dusted by not long after Newbury. 

I think you must have been unlucky.  The last time I caught a Down service we got to coffee about Taunton while on the Up journeys from Plymouth, which I make more frequently, I'm usually paying the bill as we whistle through Bedwyn or Hungerford and finishing a second cup of coffee as we prepare to make the inevitable stop around Reading West.  I have heard tell that when a new crew go out on their first few trips there is a tendency to race through the meal for fear of not getting it served in time but they learn!

[bobm]

Seems FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are taking steps to promote the Pullmans...

I booked a ticket on the company's website for Monday a few days ago and tonight I got an email reminding me of the purchase, wishing me a relaxing journey and pointing out that "On selected services to and from London Paddington you can enjoy a delicious a la carte meal in our Pullman restaurant...."

Only snag was the ticket was a return from Swindon to Yatton....