Rode the Coast Starlight end to end from Seattle last week, and they were using the new menu as the paper menu; however, they had none of the new desserts or entrees, and only two of the new appetizers--the coconut shrimp was not available. The brie and raspberry empanada was not bad, but the Mexican street corn, jalapeno, and black bean souffle was an abomination--if there was any black bean in it, I failed to identify it. The charred corn kernels were fine, but the 'souffle' was inedible--a rubbery solid mass the size and consistency of a hard boiled egg. Even my husband--who bless his heart does not believe in wasting food--could not finish his.
They did load the 'old' desserts, and the carrot cake and chocolate torte were excellent and the cheesecake acceptable. I was sorry that the Meyer lemon dessert and the chocolate toffee mousse weren't yet available, since they sounded terrific. Of course, by day two, all desserts had vanished.
Our LSA was overworked and harried, since the menu provided to passengers has only a passing similarity to what was on offer, resulting in people needing to be told what was really available and what wasn't. Add to that the fact that all of the desserts were gone by the end of the first day and he was having to deal with a grouchy group of diners. We have been onboard Amtrak enough to roll with things, and as a result he refilled our wine glasses repeatedly--since it was all he had to offer after dinner. I kept track of the number of refills so we could pay, but he waved my credit card away. "Hey, if they don't stock enough desserts, they have to expect that I'll be giving away the wine!"
