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United Airlines (UA) Boeing B747-400 new First Class In-Flight: Los Angeles - Tokyo (LAX-NRT) 04/2009

Category: In-Flight Service

2009-04-10

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In-flight meal service menu was passed out soon after boarding, and well before take off.

The tray table was quickly prepared for meal service, as the purser already took our order before take off.

This is the first time I have this color napkin on UA, I think the old version is blue and/or white.

Even the silverware has the United name.

Appetizers was quickly served on one plate:

Warm jumbo lump crab and shiitake mushroom. Monterey Jack cheese and jalapeno creme fraiche.

Slowly braised shredded pork and caramelized onions. Cherry strewn rice, marjoram and a pecan balsamic vinaigrette.

I really could not remember much of the appetizers, they were acceptable, but really nothing jump out as being really special.

Roasted red pepper and smoked Gouda bisque.

This soup is surprisingly good, smooth and not overly creamy, and the pepper and the Gouda provided just the right contrast. One of the best soup I ever had on a plane.

Fresh seasonal greens with red teardrop tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, kalamata olives and seasoned croutons.

I selected the Asian Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette dressing, and it complimented the salad well. I am normally not a big fan of salad on UA, but this salad was quite nice, and I basically finished everything.

I wanted to try the Japanese meal again, so today, we started with:

Appetizer of egg with garlic chive and tomato, simmered duck with karashi miso, smoked salmon with layered egg, teriyaki glazed calamari, grilled scallop, marinated crab leg, cha soba noodles with braised bamboo shoot.

After the nice bisque and refreshing salad, I was not overly impressed by this Japanese course. It seems that there should be at least another two or three other items to round out the offering.

The main course of cod simmered in soy, sake, mirin broth, braised tofu, simmered burdock, shiitake mushroom, carrot flower served with steamed rice and Japanese pickled vegetables.

I thought the fish was cooked just right, but a bit too salty, although I was also quite full at this point.

Cheese and dessert were served from the cart.

Even though I am really full, I always enjoy the cheese course with grape.