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I believe Simplified Dining Service, in which meals are prepared off-train and reheated in convection ovens on the diners, is still being used. Is that correct?
Also, what items are cooked to order on board? Egg dishes, I imagine. Vegetables, I imagine.
Is SDS used on the Empire Builder, or are meals prepared aboard that train as was advertised a couple of years ago?
Anything else I should know?
I ask because I'm updating "Zephyr" and need to be accurate.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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SDS is still used on the LD trains, but I'm not sure what the latest is on the Builder. Amtrak changed vendors for the pre-cooked/catered food a while back. It used to be Gate Gourmet, but now it's someone else and the name escapes me at the moment (if I can remember it, I'll post it). In addition to cooking eggs, they also cook steaks to order.
Two food items I wish they would bring back are: 1) hot soup, and 2) Turtle Pie for dessert. Boy that stuff was good.
train lady Member # 3920
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You are right Smitty. I remember the days when soup was served automatically at lunch the way salad is at dinner and it was very good.
ColdRain&Snow Member # 15381
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Amtrak's commissary is currently contracted to Aramark.
Mr. Kisor, I look forward to buying your book as soon as it's on sale.
I think you will find that Aramark primarily holds contracts for industrial catering such as company cafeterias and "roach coaches". They also hold contracts for food service at any of a number of prison systems.
Also of interest, a predecessor of theirs, ARA Services, designed the Automat cars for the SP. At least the former commissary contractor, Gate Gourmet, primarily services airline in-flight catering.
Welcome aboard.
mr williams Member # 1928
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I did my last LD trip around the time simplified dining was brought in, and on the train from WAS - CHI had a perfectly edible piece of fish served with mashed potatoes and green beans.
Two nights later on the EB, where full dining had been retained, I had...er, fish, mashed potatoes and green beans!!
The food was identical, only the amount of linen in the dining room was different, and IIRC, china as opposed to plastic plates.
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