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

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

The six o clock gin sounds good, but I fear that it will be hugely expensive.
The retail price is ^28-50 a bottle, or very roughly twice that of Gordons gin.

Dont know how much a miniature will be, but presumably a lot more than Gordons, hope it is worth it.

[JayMac]

As I said upthread, I tried one of the 6 o'clock Gins on the Pullman the other day. It was ^5.50 (50ml). Add ^1 for Schweppes Indian tonic.

I took a sip of the gin before mixing and I noted a fruitier taste than Gordons. Taste can be subjective though.

The distillers offer a tonic water that is designed to complement this gin. No word on whether the Pullmans will carry this in addition to Schweppes.

[broadgage]

^5-50 is very reasonable for a premium product, remembering that this is for twice the measure normaly served in a pub.
^1 for the tonic is cheaper than most pubs, about ^1-20 to ^1-50 seems typical.

But will the six o clock gin be served BY six o clock on the Golden Hind ? that is 3 minutes before departure, hopefully provided that the incoming train is on time thereby giving the Pullman crew time to prepare.

[bobm]

Well it will for the next week and a half as the train leaves at 17:03!  After that there are always the three lunchtime Pullmans.

I also understand that tawny port will also be available from the menu change (with no time restrictions  )

[thetrout]

As much as I like the idea of the Pullman, the food is perhaps a little bit too "extravagant" [can't think of the right work] for me.

Posh? 

Seriously though I am a bit like that - but for all the fancy descriptions the Pullman fayre is (or can be) basically plain.  As it is all cooked to order if you don't want a sauce you can ask not to.  I, for instance, don't have the salsa verde with the lamb or the chutney with the curry.

This was the very word I was going to use and spent about 10 minutes desperately trying to avoid; Because I really didn't want to. I then considered formal but decided against that too.

I'll bear your additional comments in mind though so thanks. I get seriously put off by "posh" description of foods but this is just my ASD I think. For example, how many ways can you say egg and chips? Well in the high end restaurant business it seems there are endless ways. Where as "Egg and Chips" I know where I stand with that. There are alot of foods I cannot eat without some form of consequential effect. But Travelling Chef Cheese on Toast is perfectly described for me.

At a Christmas Meal recently I asked for a plain pasta with cheese. The chef however decided that there was a mistake with the "order" and created what looked like an amazing piece of food. Sadly as it contained meat I had to send it back, otherwise I would have very likely eaten it. The chef then came down to see what the actual order was and was stunned to find it was exactly as written on the list for the whole booking.

The Christmas meal the year before I ordered a plate of vegetables as there was a severe lack of Vegetarian options (Well non-existent actually) Well the chef there used his initiative and created cauliflower cheese. thetrout hates cauliflower cheese

So when the waitress bought it to the table and said "Plate of vegetables, the chef has done you some cauliflower cheese, is that ok" my response was "Well it's not a plate of vegetables is it?" The waitress apologised and offered to take it back, I refused citing people in the world are starving and that I will eat it but would like to speak to the chef after the meal. Secretly I actually quite liked the cauliflower cheese as it was done with melted cheese and not a sauce so actually rather enjoyed it, as much as I didn't want to admit it. At the end of the meal I explained to the chef that I am Autistic so when I said plate of vegetables, that is what I meant in a very literal sense. I also thanked him for the cauliflower cheese and said it was a dish ordinarily I wouldn't order but was very good all the same. The next time I went there for a meal about 2 months later and ordered a plate of vegetables. It appeared the chef took everything with good grace as I received just that, a plate of roast vegetables


Back to the topic, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) replied to my Facebook Post regarding Travelling Chefs and initially describing the amendment to the Pullmans. I replied saying that I was not after the info about the Pullman to which I was linked to this page:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/contents/taunton-exeter-2014

which includes the line halfway down the page very cryptically

Travelling chef services will not be available on services diverted via Honiton.

Would it have been too much trouble to have said, sorry no, they won't be available. Also I was specific to the time of train I was using (1C86 - 14:06 London Paddington - Penzance - The Cornishman) which AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know) has NEVER had a Pullman? So on a different issue it seems the Facebook Team don't know that much about the catering either.

If anyone saw the post on Facebook did you think I was clear enough on the request?

[bobm]

Can't comment on Facebook as I never use it but taking a couple of your other points.

The 14:06 - way back in the early 1980s there was a Pullman on that service. It was the first one I ever caught. I'm also pleased to say the chief steward that day is still working on the restaurants - although they are called service leaders now.

I can really empathise with your choice of menu items. Just watched tonight's Michael Portillo programme where he tried oysters (again).  I've never had them before so I have no idea what they taste like. There is no reason why I shouldn't like them - just not brave enough to try in case I don't.

So it is the same with the new menu posted earlier.  There are a few things on there I have not had but can I be persuaded to try them or stick with what I know? 

Occasionally I have been brave. I now like goats cheese having first had it on the train. Same with salmon.

I guess I just stay in my comfort zone and make no apologies for that so I know just what you mean.

[JayMac]

Plenty on that new menu for me to try. Omnivore, me (except for liver and Brussels sprouts!). Rotation 2 catches me eye. Mussels followed by Duck, and Paddington Pudding to finish. Yum.

Just watched tonight's Michael Portillo programme where he tried oysters (again). 

...Where he asked a lady, vox pop, "Are you a chewer or a swallower?" And he did that with a straight face. Consummate professional or deliberate attempt to feature on Radio 1's 'Innuendo Bingo'? You decide.

[bobm]

I can see it now - you are going to be such a nag over my choices when I go with you on the Pullman now.

I get pestered enough about my aversion to vegetables as it is!  Can't even hide behind the curry to avoid them now!!

[Cynthia]

...Where he asked a lady, vox pop, "Are you a chewer or a swallower?" And he did that with a straight face. Consummate professional or deliberate attempt to feature on Radio 1's 'Innuendo Bingo'? You decide.
[/quote]

I saw the Railway Journeys programme this evening, this comment of Michael Portillo's gave my friend and I a fit of the giggles....!  

[Chris from Nailsea]

The spirit of Humphrey Lyttleton lives on. 

[thetrout]

Well I enquired about the Pullman on the 17:03 in the First Class Lounge this evening. The host checked and it's worse than first expected... Due to the flooding, No Pullmans until further notice...

Incidentally however a couple of staff members on the 17:03 are wearing a Pullman Uniform so I'm not sure whether they are a London crew or not. It would make sense if they were London Crew because the 17:03 turns around at Exeter St Davids and comes back again.

[bobm]

Yesterday a Plymouth crew worked up from Exeter and should have returned on the 17:03 had it not been cancelled.  Today it is anyone's guess!

[thetrout]

Yes it is a Plymouth crew. They were Taxi'ed to Exeter St Davids and are returning on the 17:03. The train is running (I'm sat in it!) but the Pullman is not

Just goes to show my lucky streaks... The very rare opportunity arises for a Pullman Meal and the Restaurant Cancellation is the special of the day (sorry for the pun!)

The Host in the First Class Lounge told me however that all Pullmans cancelled until further notice (Mentioned nothing about their associated trains though)

The Pullman Host on the train (doing the First Class At Seat Trolley) said the equipment couldn't get up to the train hence why there is no Restaurant Service.

I now have an Egg and Rocket Sandwich for dinner.........

[Super Guard]

FYI^▸ (for your information), there are no London based Pullman crews - they are all Plymouth based.

[broadgage]

I can understand that under present circumstances they cant realisticly provide a Pullman service, indeed very few trains are running.

However what is the point of having a "catering updates" section on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website if this does not advise one.

It seems simple to put on the website "no Pullmans at present due to extreme weather"