personal "food" items in dining car...

[FormerOBS]

I agree that the myth of "Get the Kosher meal because it's better" probably has its origin in the poor quality of early airline food. The myth has persisted for a long time, and I've seen many non-Kosher customers who thought they were being clever, but were disappointed when they saw their meal in comparison with their table mate's steak. Of course, the steaks are gone AFAIK, so I don't know the current situation. Kosher meals are handled according to a strictly proscribed procedure. Chefs and servers thaw the sealed cold items and serve them to the passenger, who opens them. The chef puts the sealed entrée into the oven for a prescribed amount of time and it is served for the passenger to open himself. Utensils are in the cold package. Everything is disposable.

Over the years, I don't think we ever interfered with any passenger who made reasonable efforts to provide for his own preferences in the diner. We've had families whose children were finicky eaters, who determined that the kids wouldn't like any of our menu choices. In that kind of situation, we didn't object to the family getting a hot dog or pizza from the lounge for the kid's dinner, or providing the kid's favorite breakfast cereal (single-serve packs --- please no gigantic cereal boxes). It would be an entirely different matter if the whole family chose to bring their complete meal to the diner. In that case, their accommodation is the appropriate place to eat.

It is inappropriate, rude, and against the rules to bring one's own alcohol into a place where alcohol is served, whether on a train or solid ground.

Tom

 

[Ryan]

Unless the establishment is a byob type place. Had a few amazing meals at Italian joints in Jersey where we brought our own wine. Quite nice.

 

[jebr]

I think Lou Mitchell's in Chicago has went to a similar model during the evening hours. I may have to try that out with dad when we go through Chicago next month.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

I also miss the Thousand Island Dressing. Also hate how the LD trains run out of everything so fast. This summer on the CZ eastbound I loved the Tiramisu. All gone after the first nights meal.

I seriously miss the Garlic Parmesian Dressing as not only was it good on the Slad, it could kick some solid life into a Baker or the often bland Veggie Medley.

And I'd be more than happy to share my bottle of Trinidad Scorpion Sauce

http://cajohns.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=165

 

[oregon pioneer]

I also miss the Thousand Island Dressing. Also hate how the LD trains run out of everything so fast. This summer on the CZ eastbound I loved the Tiramisu. All gone after the first nights meal.

I seriously miss the Garlic Parmesian Dressing as not only was it good on the Slad, it could kick some solid life into a Baker or the often bland Veggie Medley.

Seriously? Garlic Parmesan is gone? So, what's left?

I might be one of the ones bringing my own salad dressing on this next trip.

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

Seriously? Garlic Parmesan is gone? So, what's left?

French?

 

[JayPea]

Seriously? Garlic Parmesan is gone? So, what's left?

From what I've seen all that is left is ranch, balsamic vinaigrette , and lite Italian. The grocery store I work for sells Paul Newman dressings for their deli salads so the next time I go on an Amtrak trip I will stock up.

French?

 

[Manny T]

My advice to someone who wants to personalize their food service, either with special meals or carry-on items: eat in your room (sleeper PAX) or eat at your seat (coach PAX). These are both quite viable options, especially taking meals in your room.

My experiences in the diner have almost always been good when everyone goes with the flow: a table of 4 orders together, has their drinks and courses brought at the same time, pretty much finishes, pays and leaves together. And this is true whether they are a family unit or complete strangers. Happy passengers, happy staff. Break the flow, and the results are unpredictable.

With the perfectly good option of eating in your room or at your seat, why risk disrupting the service to others? Dining staff operate in a confined space according to pre-programmed routines, and have a set amount of time before the next batch arrives. i would respect this and dine away from the masses if I wanted special dining items, utensils or accoutrements.

 

[neroden]

I do sometimes bring my own water bottle (which I carry with me whereever I go), which doesn't seem to bother anyone. And saves the servers a *lot* of work, because they can practically never keep up with my need for water (I typically go through half a gallon at a meal).

 

[Ryan]

Agreed, I'm not sure how sprinkling your own condiments on your food would be a major disruption to anyone else in the diner (unless it was particularly pungent, I suppose).

 

[cirdan]

I have a friend who has gluten intolerance. I will be making a trip with him and also another friend in sleeper later this year.

I see that the menu of that train (CONO) does not have any gluten free choices. Would the attendants mind if he brought his own food and sat down in the diner with us to eat them while we're having our Amtrak food?

 

[OBS]

I have a friend who has gluten intolerance. I will be making a trip with him and also another friend in sleeper later this year.

I see that the menu of that train (CONO) does not have any gluten free choices. Would the attendants mind if he brought his own food and sat down in the diner with us to eat them while we're having our Amtrak food?

Probably, Yes.

 

[cirdan]

I have a friend who has gluten intolerance. I will be making a trip with him and also another friend in sleeper later this year.

I see that the menu of that train (CONO) does not have any gluten free choices. Would the attendants mind if he brought his own food and sat down in the diner with us to eat them while we're having our Amtrak food?

Probably, Yes.

yes as in "yes they would mind", or yes as in "yes, it would be fine"?

 

[OBS]

I have a friend who has gluten intolerance. I will be making a trip with him and also another friend in sleeper later this year.

I see that the menu of that train (CONO) does not have any gluten free choices. Would the attendants mind if he brought his own food and sat down in the diner with us to eat them while we're having our Amtrak food?

Probably, Yes.

yes as in "yes they would mind", or yes as in "yes, it would be fine"?

Yes, they will probably have an issue. If you wish to try, speak to Dining Car LSA ahead of time and see what kind of response you receive.

 

[haolerider]

I have a friend who has gluten intolerance. I will be making a trip with him and also another friend in sleeper later this year.I see that the menu of that train (CONO) does not have any gluten free choices. Would the attendants mind if he brought his own food and sat down in the diner with us to eat them while we're having our Amtrak food?

Probably, Yes.

yes as in "yes they would mind", or yes as in "yes, it would be fine"?

Yes, as in they would mind and it is not allowed.

 

[HARHBG]

Thanks to all who responded to my first-ever post asking those well-seasoned and experienced forum members who took the time and effort to respond about using my own personal condiment selections in the dining car.

For any who might be interested...........I E-mailed Amtrak under "Contact Amtrak" and asked the same question about personal condiment use. Two days later I actually received an "Offical" reply. Amtrak wrote back telling me it was okay to bring and use my own personal condiments in the dining car. Now, if I were "compter savvy" I'd know how to attach a copy of the OFFICIAL E-mail response I received from Amtrak, but since I'm barely computer literate y'all have to just take my word for it, but I will print out a copy of the E-mail received and if questioned by an Amtrak Server in the Dining Car, I'll at least have the E-mail to back me up.

P.S. To anyone questioning, ....I had to re-register as harhbg2......1st posting is harhbg....tried to log-on with my original user ID but failed ??............no idea what that was all about......

I live in Harrisburg, PA and have compleated 2 round trips now on Ammtrak. Because of health issues, I am no longer able to undertake the rigors of flying and I'm really enjoying traveling Long Distance on Amtrak, despite te several encounters I've had with unpleasant Amtrak personel. Preparing for another round trip, this time to Seattle so wanted to ask about the condiment items before heading out again.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

My experiences in the diner have almost always been good when everyone goes with the flow: a table of 4 orders together, has their drinks and courses brought at the same time, pretty much finishes, pays and leaves together. And this is true whether they are a family unit or complete strangers. Happy passengers, happy staff. Break the flow, and the results are unpredictable.

In my experience it's usually the diner staff that breaks the flow, forgets who ordered what, gets grouchy with customers over staff mistakes, and delivers food and drink in a seemingly random order, etc. While serving a main menu that's smaller than many restaurants' kids menus. Even tiny food trucks have bigger menus than Amtrak. I have no idea where these people would work if Amtrak didn't hire them. I'd be shocked if they could run a hot dog stand without going under.

 

[oregon pioneer]

I have a friend who has gluten intolerance. I will be making a trip with him and also another friend in sleeper later this year.I see that the menu of that train (CONO) does not have any gluten free choices. Would the attendants mind if he brought his own food and sat down in the diner with us to eat them while we're having our Amtrak food?

Probably, Yes.

yes as in "yes they would mind", or yes as in "yes, it would be fine"?

Yes, as in they would mind and it is not allowed.

If it was me that had the dietary restrictions, and was traveling with friends, I would eat the majority of my meal in my own compartment first, then head to the diner and order ONLY those menu items that I could be certain would be fine (hot or bottled beverages, packaged branded dessert, perhaps the salad if it did not come with croutons). After all, a sleeper passenger is entitled to a full meal, or any portion thereof. And your friend is certainly entitled by their sleeper ticket to sit down with you and enjoy the experience, even if they do not choose to order anything.

Gluten intolerance comes in many forms and many levels. Some people experience severe physical distress after eating even a scrap of gluten. Some people just prefer not to eat gluten but it's not a crisis if they do. And there are all levels in between. Only the person with the condition knows what their level of intolerance is, and the repercussions (or likelihood) of giving in to temptation. So don't be too surprised if your friend says they can't even come to the diner, or on the other hand, if they eat things that probably contain gluten and show no ill effects later.

 

[cirdan]

Gluten intolerance comes in many forms and many levels. Some people experience severe physical distress after eating even a scrap of gluten. Some people just prefer not to eat gluten but it's not a crisis if they do. And there are all levels in between. Only the person with the condition knows what their level of intolerance is, and the repercussions (or likelihood) of giving in to temptation. So don't be too surprised if your friend says they can't even come to the diner, or on the other hand, if they eat things that probably contain gluten and show no ill effects later.

Thanks for this feedback.

My friend is quite OK with sitting with us while we eat gluten foods. But he does sometimes show negative medical reactions after actually inadvertently eating stuff, but at other times all seems to be OK. It's not really predictable, but he prefers not to take risks.

 

[tommylicious]

Just don't be annoying about it (e.g., saying loudly "Well I don't like to use the standard condiments because blah blah blah blah blah"), and you should be fine.

 

[Asher]

Parmesian, please never bring one of those green shaker containers to my table, the stuff will puke a buzzard.

 

[alan_s]

If it was me that had the dietary restrictions, and was traveling with friends, I would eat the majority of my meal in my own compartment first, then head to the diner and order ONLY those menu items that I could be certain would be fine (hot or bottled beverages, packaged branded dessert, perhaps the salad if it did not come with croutons). After all, a sleeper passenger is entitled to a full meal, or any portion thereof. And your friend is certainly entitled by their sleeper ticket to sit down with you and enjoy the experience, even if they do not choose to order anything.

Gluten intolerance comes in many forms and many levels. Some people experience severe physical distress after eating even a scrap of gluten. Some people just prefer not to eat gluten but it's not a crisis if they do. And there are all levels in between. Only the person with the condition knows what their level of intolerance is, and the repercussions (or likelihood) of giving in to temptation. So don't be too surprised if your friend says they can't even come to the diner, or on the other hand, if they eat things that probably contain gluten and show no ill effects later.

I have a similar problem as a type 2 diabetic controlling via a low-carb diet. I noticed the AMTRAK menu is very high carb; not surprising but disappointing. I have learned to carry emergeny supplies with me (nuts, cheeses, salami and similar) but usually I just leave the carbs on the plate and hope there is enough protein and fat in the dish to meet my needs.