我在這專欄 2007年曾經評過以杜拜為中心的阿酋航空 (Emirates Airlines)的飛機餐,算是給它蠻高的評價。2008年搬到阿拉伯聯合大公國後,因為是住在首都阿布達比,不是在杜拜,並不太常有機會去搭阿酋航空 (當然主要原因是在阿聯搭阿酋航空票價很高,通常會選擇其他國家的航空 ─ 像是需要轉機的卡達航空)。
2009年夏,因為種種原因。反而有不少機會搭阿酋。幾段航程累積了不少照片,在這裡和大家分享一下。
上圖:由香港起飛的飛機是半夜起飛。一起飛後送上的小點心 (savoury snack)。三明治是 cheese and chicken on focaccia bread (focaccia 是一種用橄欖油烤的義大利式麵包)。一旁還有梨子及馬鈴薯塊沙拉。很簡單的料,可是非常地好吃。
上圖:上午四點多左右到杜拜 (因為有四小時時差,航程是七個小時左右) 之前還有一餐,是正式的『早餐』。除了水果盤,可頌,果汁之外,主菜有兩種選擇。我捨棄了西式的蛋捲 (omelette), 而選了港式的飲茶小點。英文菜單上寫著:『Fried efu noodles: Fried Chinese noodles, accompanied with chive dumpling and bean curd roll, served with chilli sauce』麵太鹹,太乾。腐皮捲 (bean curd roll)及蒸餃皮太軟,內餡太鹹。不是很好吃。
上圖:由杜拜飛倫敦的航班也是半夜一,兩點起飛。一起飛後,送上的也是小點心 (savoury snack)。這次的三明治是 chicken and sweet onion。這麵包沒有前面的 focaccia 好吃,但也不差就是了。
上圖:預計抵達倫敦的時間是上午六點左右,所以抵達之前的那餐也是『早餐』。一樣是附水果盤,可頌,果汁,還有酸酪乳。主菜也是有兩種選擇。阿拉伯式的『mixed grill』(綜合烤肉)感覺太豐盛,於是我這次選了蛋捲。
上圖:早餐主菜起士蛋捲。英文菜單上寫著:『Herb cream egg roll: with golden hash brown stick (薯餅), seasoned sweet corn and creamy sauteed spinach』蛋捲裡面起士很多,不過我覺得很好吃。墊在蛋捲下的菠菜泥也沒想像中鹹。整體來說,算是水準很高的經濟艙早餐。這次學到了,以後點阿酋飛 機餐的早餐,盡量點西式的,不要點中式的。
上圖:一大早由杜拜飛賽普勒斯 (Cyprus)的早餐。主菜還是一樣兩種選擇。阿拉伯式的『breakfast grill』(綜合烤肉)及,沒錯,還是蛋捲。菜單上正式名稱是:Ricotta cheese omelette, served with crunchy hash brown roesti and freshly sauteed mushrooms. 和在杜拜到倫敦的航班上的早餐很像,而且也一樣,還是蠻好吃的。
[Emirates from Dubai to Cyprus]: This is a 3 hours flight in the morning, so it comes with breakfast. With a main dish, croissant, fruit plate, and coffee/tea.
上圖:由賽普勒斯 (Cyprus)飛馬爾它 (Malta)的航程。行程不長,大概兩小時左右,而且又過了午餐時間。菜單上寫著『Cold Light Meal』,因此算是只提供小點 (而且是冷的)。這 light meal 除了水果盤及咖啡外,就是一盤各式西式開胃小菜,包括了 “chicken mushroom and pistachio roll, smoked salmon fillet, beef pastrami and marinated artichoke, garnished with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and olive.” ...smoked salmon?! 他們我有最愛吃的燻鮭魚啊!剛好我也很愛吃朝鮮薊 (artichoke)。
[Emirates from Cyprus to Malta]: Fly from Cyprus to Malta lasts only around 2 hours, so only a cold light meal is served. But damn, there are a lot of stuffs in this "light snack plate"!
上圖:這綜合冷盤的特寫。
[Emirates from Cyprus to Malta]: OK, it included "chicken mushroom with pistachio roll" (?), smoked salmon fillet (yum!), beef pastrami, marinated artichoke (I happen to be an artichoke fan), garnished with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives.
[Emirates from Cyprus to Malta]: Close-up...so this is so called"chicken mushroom with pistachio roll". It indeed tasted very good...a gourmet food you rarely see in economy class meals these days!
[Emirates from Malta to Cyprus]: Return flight from Malta is again, "Cold light meal". But this time, a real desert is included (instead of a fruit plate). The "assorted cold cuts and cheese" plate. It's beef pastrami again, but it's good they also have grilled salmon again too!
[Emirates from Malta to Cyprus]: Desert: Ricotta kannoli. It sounds Italian but does not look like Italian cannoli I had before...maybe it's Maltese version of it? Anyway, it tasted all right.
上圖:由賽普勒斯 (Cyprus)飛返杜拜,剛好是晚餐時間。晚餐的兩種選擇,仍然一樣是西式,一樣是阿拉伯式。西式是很常見的義式麵食,於是我決定點阿拉伯式的主菜。根據菜單,這主菜是『Roasted chicken thigh tagine (摩洛哥式燉雞腿): "marinated roast tender thigh of chicken, served with green olive cream sauce, accompanied wth cooked basmati rice with dried fruit and coconut milk and roasted vegetable curry" 看起來好複雜啊!
[Emirates from Cyprus to Dubai]: Dinner after taking off from Cyprus. It is a relatively big meal, with a bread roll, cold appetizer, main course, desert, some crackers and cheese.
上圖:主菜『Roasted chicken thigh tagine』的特寫。因為是阿拉伯菜,香料放不少,感覺味道比較重。其實非常好吃,包括咖哩風味的烤茄子都很下飯。不過其實附白飯比較好,這裡附的是香料飯,整體感覺起來就鹹了一些。
[Emirates from Cyprus to Dubai]: There are two main courses to choose - Lasagne with mixed peppers (sort of vegetarian) and roast chicken tagine. I usually go with veggie choice, but the description of chicken looks so appealing, that I opted for "meat" this time.
It's marinated roast chicken thigh, served with "green olive cream sauce (yummy), accompanied with cooked basmati rice with dry fruit and coconut milk (a little soggy but varied layers of flavors is mesmerizing). On the side is roasted vegetable curry (though it tasted like Arab version of ratatouille). This is a great dish.
It's marinated roast chicken thigh, served with "green olive cream sauce (yummy), accompanied with cooked basmati rice with dry fruit and coconut milk (a little soggy but varied layers of flavors is mesmerizing). On the side is roasted vegetable curry (though it tasted like Arab version of ratatouille). This is a great dish.
[Emirates from Cyprus to Dubai]: Appetizer - Marinated fish fillet with pesto, and rice salad with peppers. The fish is good. However, the rice tasted horrible. But I would say rice is the only bad thing they served in this whole journey...
[Emirates from Cyprus to Dubai]: Desert - Berry cheesecake with lemon sauce. Another good (though may not be healthy) choice. I guess by in flight meals alone, I'm sold to Emirates :-0
以上只是飛的幾段航程中的飛機餐。但基本上,在我 2009年搭過的所有航空公司中 (包括阿聯自己的另一家公司─ Etihad Airways),阿酋航空的飛機餐算是最好吃,除了中式餐點做得不太稱職之外,西式的都非常好吃;阿拉伯式的,雖然我不太愛太鹹的主食,還是覺得他們做的不錯。
既然是 2009 年搭過所有航空公司中做得最好的,最後總成績,毫無意外的:
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