23Mar08 - BKK/FRA

TG922 (747-400, 7443 config)
Royal Silk Class

Near full in all classes on this day-time service through to FRA. Amenity kit (same as MEL/BKK kit), menu and wine list handed out on reaching the seat with meal orders taken shortly before lift-off.

Menu - First serving

• # * Mini vol au vent with Fricassee of portobello mushroom scented with fresh thyme
  
• Deep-fried fish cake, cucumber salad Thai style
  
• # Combination of potato salad with truffle oil, goose liver and avocado mashed cherry tomato
  
• # Mixed green salad with Italian Tiziano dressing
  
• Stuffed beef tenderloin with leek and duck liver Madeira sauce, caramelised endive, buttered broccoli, carrot and potato au gratin
  or
  # * Seared Chilean sea bass topped with pancetta and leek tomato fondue, black squid ink linguine, roasted vegetables
  or
  Braised pork chop with cider sauce, poached Fuji apple, pappardelle noodles, vegetables
  or
  Chicken thigh curry mussaman, steamed Thai hom mali rice, mixed oriental vegetables
  
• Assorted cheeses and fresh fruits
  
• # * Charlotte of coconut mousse, jasmine pannacotta and mango coriander jelly
  

The * indicates the "Chef on Board" options. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a chef on board, but rather these were the special dishes for flights from BKK to LHR, FRA and MUC that the chef would have cooked if he was on board... and there was a suitable kitchen. The mini vol au vent was delicious! For main, normally I would have gone for the curry but instead I opted for the sea bass and wasn't disappointed (although it was a bit more colourful than necessary). I wasn't quite sure what a "Charlotte of mousse" was. I have a friend called Charlotte and the mousse was nothing like her. Charlotte (the person) is great but unfortunately Charlotte (the mousse) was a bit on the bland side.

I finished watching a movie I started on the run up from Melbourne and then it was time to sleep.

Five hours later, the second (dinner) meal service commenced.

Menu - Second serving

• # Canapes
  
• # Green asparagus wrapped with smoked ham, grilled US scallop
  
• # Shell pasta with capsicum and Italian vinaigrette, orange couscous
  
• # Braised yellow noodles with sliced roast pork, braised black mushroom and Taiwanese cabbage
  or
  Roasted chicken thigh, creamy pommery mustard sauce, linguini noodles, roasted vegetables
  
• Bread selection
  
• # Peach and apricot crumble
  

I had the noodles and pork, and it was great. Generous amount of roast pork (with minimal fat) and noodles that were like, well, noodles. The peach and apricot crumble was more crumble than peach and apricot, but it was tasty. Finished the meal off with a cappuccino and Grand Marnier... and then it was time to sleep.

Slept a bit, watched another movie, slept a bit more and then we were only 30 minutes out from FRA.

Good service on this sector with one outstanding flight attendant – she was über-attentive (use of German given final destination) and friendly... always a smile on her face. Should have got her name for a complimentary letter to TG... Bhasin? Something like that...

Smooth landing and a five minute taxi before arriving at the gate. No queues at passport control and waited less than two minutes before luggage was on the carousel. All up, I was at the train station within 15 minutes of the TG Boeing's wheels hitting the FRA runway. Zoom zoom... German efficiency rocks!