New flex meal menu (10/06/21)

[happycamper]

Well written account... and I agree with everything you said. Flex meals remain generally poor and inadequate. I've been talking around during my present itinerary and all are pretty much disenchanted with the flex idea... not enough to eat with a tapas sized dish... the deserts are too repetitious and the salad is a joke. On the route between ALB and BOS they used to have a large delicious chef salad choice... or sandwiches... all prepackaged. Hoping the 'flex folly' will eventually be replaced with more traditional full meal items.

Am presently in ALB at the Fairfield... taking Empire Service to NYC where I'll board the Crescent... important bucket list goal... for NOL. Have been pleased with the kosher option choices as it is more of an actual full meal... better than flex but not as good as full service dining.

I was going to say the same as above - load up in NOL and grab something to bring back with you when you leave. By our hotel was an outdoor pit bar/grill that made awesome smoked pulled pork sanwiches and jambalya (spelling).

 

[MARC Rider]

On the New York section of the LSL, the SCA gave us a printed menu when he came by for the pre trip briefing, and there were plenty of menus in the dining car. I cant speak for the food, beause I had the kosher, but I got good service fron the dining car staff who were working their tails off. I made up for the microwave food with a 4 course special wine tasting finner at the Fogo de Chao in Chicago.

 

[fdaley]

On the route between ALB and BOS they used to have a large delicious chef salad choice... or sandwiches... all prepackaged. Hoping the 'flex folly' will eventually be replaced with more traditional full meal items.

Am presently in ALB at the Fairfield... taking Empire Service to NYC where I'll board the Crescent... important bucket list goal... for NOL. Have been pleased with the kosher option choices as it is more of an actual full meal... better than flex but not as good as full service dining.

I knew from other posts that you were on the move, but I didn't realize you were way out here, practically in my front yard. (Actually, I'm in my office about an hour outside of ALB.) Enjoy your ride down the Hudson. You are a more determined rider than I am if you're taking the Crescent in its current form all the way to NOL. At least, as Cassie225 says, there are lots of great places to eat once you're there.

On the Boston section of the Lake Shore, I can remember in the '80s and early '90s having table service in the lounge car with some of the same menu items that were available in the full diner west of Albany. The current meal service seems a huge step down from that, and the business class/cafe combo Amtrak now uses on the Boston leg has only a few tables, with about half of them occupied by the crew.

 

[20th Century Rider]

I was going to say the same as above - load up in NOL and grab something to bring back with you when you leave. By our hotel was an outdoor pit bar/grill that made awesome smoked pulled pork sanwiches and jambalya (spelling).

Appetite is up for some good Louisiana cooking and am hoping to make connection from Empire Service to crescent… will probably be ok but it seems that most trains I’ve been on are delayed due to freight… gets old fast and wastes lotsa valuable time that could be better spent…

 

[20th Century Rider]

I knew from other posts that you were on the move, but I didn't realize you were way out here, practically in my front yard. (Actually, I'm in my office about an hour outside of ALB.) Enjoy your ride down the Hudson. You are a more determined rider than I am if you're taking the Crescent in its current form all the way to NOL. At least, as Cassie225 says, there are lots of great places to eat once you're there.

On the Boston section of the Lake Shore, I can remember in the '80s and early '90s having table service in the lounge car with some of the same menu items that were available in the full diner west of Albany. The current meal service seems a huge step down from that, and the business class/cafe combo Amtrak now uses on the Boston leg has only a few tables, with about half of them occupied by the crew.

Hey there… spent childhood years in Schenectady… went to Carman School and lived in the community of Colebrooke… hope to come back here for a longer visit and maybe we can meet up!

A few weeks ago had the pleasure of connecting with Bob Dylan (Jim Hudson) when passing through Austin.

Anyway it’s great to be getting to know fellow AUers while waiting for these delayed trains!

 

[happycamper]

Appetite is up for some good Louisiana cooking and am hoping to make connection from Empire Service to crescent… will probably be ok but it seems that most trains I’ve been on are delayed due to freight… gets old fast and wastes lotsa valuable time that could be better spent…

Unless the train coming in to pick you up in New Orleans is delayed giving you time to get more food before you leave.... Think positive...

 

[20th Century Rider]

CONO leaves early afternoon leaving time for a good bkfst!

 

[Exvalley]

I was able to try the beef last night. It is definitely an improvement over the old beef entrée. My two complaints are: (1) the presentation; and (2) the mashed potatoes are instant mashed potatoes.

I could tell that there was much less sodium, however.

Overall, I thought it was fine for one meal. Nothing that I would get excited about, but it did the job.

 

[joelkfla]

I was able to try the beef last night. It is definitely an improvement over the old beef entrée. My two complaints are: (1) the presentation; and (2) the mashed potatoes are instant mashed potatoes.

I could tell that there was much less sodium, however.

Overall, I thought it was fine for one meal. Nothing that I would get excited about, but it did the job.

I hate stringy or fatty beef. Was the beef reasonably tender and free of chunks of fat?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I hate stringy or fatty beef. Was the beef reasonably tender and free of chunks of fat?

Yes!

 

[20th Century Rider]

I hate stringy or fatty beef. Was the beef reasonably tender and free of chunks of fat?

Had the beef on the TE and it tasted good however there were about three chunks of fat. I know with catering hundreds of these little flex meals they aren't all going to be perfect... but the mashed potatoes were definitely an improvement over the polenta and wine braised beef that was so poor.

Also got the kosher beef for some of the travels... it was 'meaty' but on one occasion it was watery and on the other it was dry. I'm sure that has something to do with storage and/or preparation.

The best dining on Amtrak is the full service dining in the West.

 

[Exvalley]

My beef did have any chunks of fat.

 

[MARC Rider]

I hate stringy or fatty beef. Was the beef reasonably tender and free of chunks of fat?

Actually, when I make pot roast, I like a little fat included, as it adds flavor. In fact, I made a pot roast last night (used a boneless chuck roast), and I made sure to snag a slice that had a little fat in it.

 

[BoulderCO]

The little chunks of fat are what makes beef tender, tasty and pleasurable. It's why Prime beef is tastier than Choice. It's why a ribeye steak is tastier than a NY Strip or a filet.

Just my personal opinion, your results may vary :>)

 

[Rambling Robert]

Has the Amtrak Food Service Advisory Board”” been re-activated? It ended in 2019. Is there a link if they are back?

 

[20th Century Rider]

The chunks of fat that I experienced with the 'beef' flex meal were unpleasant, and what do you do in a public setting when you are eating and ingest fat...??? I swallowed it rather than ... um... ya know. Not a pleasant experience, when the food served is not all entirely edible... sorry, pieces of fat are edible. So I swallowed it. Flex meals are hmmm... containing perfectly digestible fat. So swallow it rather than disgust others in yur presence,

Reeeeeeeeeeee diculous!

 

[joelkfla]

The chunks of fat that I experienced with the 'beef' flex meal were unpleasant, and what do you do in a public setting when you are eating and ingest fat...??? I swallowed it rather than ... um... ya know. Not a pleasant experience, when the food served is not all entirely edible... sorry, pieces of fat are edible. So I swallowed it. Flex meals are hmmm... containing perfectly digestible fat. So swallow it rather than disgust others in yur presence,

Reeeeeeeeeeee diculous!

I think I'll skip the beef entrée.

 

[Rambling Robert]

The video below features Chef Madi in 2019 at the “top secret” launch of prolly flex meals.

2019 “Top Secret” and discussion of the “Amtrak Culinnary Advisory Team”

 

[basketmaker]

I do not think the on train attendants have access to the information. However, it can be found. Right after contemporary meals started, an Amtrak employee that I know (who I ran into in the Chicago Lounge) tried to find out ingredients for me. It took a little over an hour but he was able to tell me which contemporary meals contained garlic. I ended up having the children's turkey and cheese sandwich on the CL that evening (which was pretty awful since I do not eat white bread).
The information is there but it is not easily accessible for employees let alone passengers.

Curious does this link not provide the information people need? Amtrak Food Facts
A quick glance looks like it covers all the required stuff including allergens.

 

[basketmaker]

Hooray for Railroad French Toast! (I hope it's not microwaved.)

I agree and love it but look at all the allergens!

 

[20th Century Rider]

The video below features Chef Madi in 2019 at the “top secret” launch of prolly flex meals.

2019 “Top Secret” and discussion of the “Amtrak Culinnary Advisory Team”

The video didn't show them eating the new to be [as of 2019] flex meals which have become so unpopular.

 

[Ryan]

Curious does this link not provide the information people need? Amtrak Food Facts
A quick glance looks like it covers all the required stuff including allergens.

In addition to being frequently out of date (so no info on current selections) it doesn't actually list all of the ingredients, so if you're allergic to something uncommon (like garlic), then no. This site does not provide the people the information they need to make an educated decision on if they can eat the food or not.

 

[pennyk]

Curious does this link not provide the information people need? Amtrak Food Facts
A quick glance looks like it covers all the required stuff including allergens.

Not everyone who suffers from allergies is allergic to what are considered "allergens." Some of us need a complete list of ingredients to determine whether we are able to eat a certain meal and that link does not provide that information. I am sure @neroden would agree with me.

 

[basketmaker]

In addition to being frequently out of date (so no info on current selections) it doesn't actually list all of the ingredients, so if you're allergic to something uncommon (like garlic), then no. This site does not provide the people the information they need to make an educated decision on if they can eat the food or not.

There are over 170+ known food allergens. That is gonna be a long list for LSAs to tote. It appears that the Amtrak's "Food Facts" menu ingredients by meal with the nine common known allergen groups covers the 2.5% of food allergies public as required.

 

[pennyk]

There are over 170+ known food allergens. That is gonna be a long list for LSAs to tote. It appears that the Amtrak's "Food Facts" menu ingredients by meal with the nine common known allergen groups covers the 2.5% of food allergies public as required.

The LSAs do not need to "tote" anything. Amtrak should list all ingredients on "Food Facts" or another Amtrak food related website. It is even easier with flex (pre-packaged meals) because there is no chef to add anything.