Is Amtrak aware -- has anyone internally discussed this? -- that the catering on Acela is significantly below global standards for "first class." For example, packaged breakfast bars and desserts with a "sell-by" date on top, Dunkin' Donuts (a cheap brand comparable to McDonald's) coffee in a styrofoam cup, omelets that have obviously been made with liquid egg product, and "croissants" that are greasy and like something from Pillsbury. The menu literally compares the experience of dining on Acela to a "fine dining restaurant," but that's just laughable when you actually receive the meal.
Improving the tracks and catenary so that the Acela can be a true "high-speed" train is outside of Amtrak's immediate control, but surely they could fix the catering.
For example, use Illy or Lavazza coffee and offer espresso-based drinks in addition to drop coffee; provide real croissants and pastries from bakeries in DC or NY; serve coffee and hot drinks in ceramic mugs; bring in an actual restaurant chef to rework the food menu and teach Amtrak staff how to prepare/present the food to a "first class" standard.
Amtrak's "first class" prices on Acela are literally the highest in the world, so the poor catering really just adds stands out even more. C'mon, Amtrak.
Improving the tracks and catenary so that the Acela can be a true "high-speed" train is outside of Amtrak's immediate control, but surely they could fix the catering.
For example, use Illy or Lavazza coffee and offer espresso-based drinks in addition to drop coffee; provide real croissants and pastries from bakeries in DC or NY; serve coffee and hot drinks in ceramic mugs; bring in an actual restaurant chef to rework the food menu and teach Amtrak staff how to prepare/present the food to a "first class" standard.
Amtrak's "first class" prices on Acela are literally the highest in the world, so the poor catering really just adds stands out even more. C'mon, Amtrak.