SQUIZZARD dot com

So here I am back in the USA. A little over two and a half weeks in the UK and a non stop whirlwind of activities. Ok drinking.

As you may recall from an earlier post, one of the elements of the trip I was most looking forward to was trying business class on the flight. Business class these days is probably what most people think of when imagining the first class of old. A little googling shows that only a handful of the top end long haul carriers do ‘true’ first class anymore. Think BA, Emirates, Cathay Pacific and also think fully private suites with flat beds etc. Finish your thoughts with gargantuan price tags and realise its unlikely you will ever get to try this class.

Business class on the other hand is in the realm of the relatively affordable and is a serious leap in terms of comfort and service over flying coach. Indeed this trip was nothing short of revelatory. I have never managed to get more than an hours sleep on the flight back to the UK. Cramped uncomfortable seats, engine noise, kids being kids. Not the case on this flight…

After gorging myself on a 6 course meal and too much free wine (see below) I decided I would try the fancy reclining seat and attempt some sleep. The seat had three electronic controls, one for a foot rest, one for lumbar support and one to recline backwards. The seat goes to 156 degrees which although isn’t flat like a bed, is still damned comfortable. I put the chair into the flattest position possible and used the fancy wrapround headrest so my head stayed in position. I closed my eyes. I opened my eyes. Breakfast was being served and Manchester was 60 minutes away. My first ‘proper’ sleep over the Atlantic.

The meal itself was equally many times better than coach. Once boarding the plane (well in advance of everyone else) the main flight attendant (Continental business class has 1 attendant per 8 seats) introduces themselves and hands you the menu (see below). At this stage your asked to select your meal preferences before take off and also get the chance to have a couple of drinks while the coach types board. I had a couple of glasses of bordeaux (served in real glassware I may add) and browsed the menu:

Not the worlds best picture, but readable nonetheless. Just before take off the flight attendant takes orders and off into the blue skies you go. Once the plane reaches a stable altitude the meal begins. Tray tables extend from the arm of the chair and the flight attendant lays a real table cloth on your table before offering hot towels.

First up is a bowl of warmed nuts, you will have to excuse the relatively poor photography. I was initially a bit concerned about taking lots of flash photography and annoying/worrying people. As the meal progressed and the wine flowed I stopped caring and the pictures improved:

After the nuts we were offered a selection of different bread rolls. We were also brought little salt and pepper pots, butter, water and real silverware:

Those little salt and pepper pots combined with too much free flowing wine at this point, caused me to become quite giddy. Next up, appetizers. This was a trio of appetizers that included a demitasse of mushroom soup, crab cake and spinach and cheese pastry. You could select any or all. Given my particular hatred for cheese and its ilk I opted for the soup and crab cake:

I expected the crab cake in particular to be poor, but it was actually quite good. Worryingly so better than some restaurants. The soup was more than fine, albeit a little creamy for me. The rolls (of which I had a few) were also very good. You would be surprised by how many poor rolls I have had in life. You can never be too picky were bread is concerned!

Following on came the salad. A mesclun mix with walnuts and pear:

Again very competent and tasty, I would have happily eaten this in a restaurant. All the while we were being poured re-fills on our drinks as and when they were emptied. I noticed a few champagne drinkers. I stuck to the bordeaux which was poured from a real bottle of wine. Not some silly little mini bottle. Oh the wonders of this business class escapade!

The main meals were served next. The meals were served one by one and obviously put together carefully for each person. No microwaved boxes to open at your seat here. I looked around jealously at some of the other meals as they slowly appeared. Finally mine came, herbed breast of chicken with cous cous and brocollini:

The chicken was markedly improved from previous chicken meals I have ate in coach. Not rubbery, watery or tasteless. It actually tasted like chicken that had been cooked. At this stage I did consider how the food was being prepared. I wonder if they have some kind of broiler/grill device as opposed to mass microwaving everything ala coach. Nonetheless apart from the slightly so so cous cous, another pleasant course.

Yet more food was wheeled towards us, next a selection of fruit and cheese. I was beginning to feel the belt buckle strain at this point and rather half heartedly had a few pieces of pineapple and a couple of grapes. It was with some degree of greediness that I said yes when asked if I wanted any ice cream from the next cart. The ice cream came with 9 different topping options and being too lazy to enquire at this point just asked for plain. However when the person sat next to me asked for hot fudge, my glass was hurled straight back with demands for the same.

Note the glass of grand marnier as a digestif. We were offered quite a selection of after dinner drinks with the ice cream and being the indulgent so and so that I am, I had to have some. Quite nicely, the drink was warmed and then poured into a brandy glass which with the hot fudge made for a luxurious end to an already enjoyable meal.

It was at this stage, loaded up on bordeaux, grand marnier and multiple plates of food that I attempted sleep. Not sure if it was the booze, food or comfortable chair, but I slept like a baby. As noted earlier I woke to breakfast. Some meats, cheeses, croissant (not pictured), yoghurt, fruit and fresh coffee:

I was actually still stuffed to the gills from dinner and could only manage a salami croissant and coffee. Shortly after breakfast we were starting our approach into Manchester. The flight (apologies for the pun) flew by. Best. Trip. Ever. As a result I have already booked myself and Wendi’s flight back to the UK for Xmas time. And yes, business class international again.