Cathay Pacific First Class SFO-HKG
CX 879
SFO-HKG
747-400
February 18, 2012
11:50A-6:50P +1 (sked)
11:50A-6:49P +1 (actual)
Departed 8/9
Seats 1A, 1K and 2A
Since Mrs. SFO is nursing a torn ACL (surgery when we come home) and is moving a little slowly, we head out for the gate at about T-50. She declined the wheel chair at SFO, but agreed on one in HKG. Double door boarding with the F/J/MP priority door remarkably lice light.
Boarding thru 1L and we were welcomed and shown to our seats by Esther, one of our three lovely FA's today. Both Pamela and Joni stopped by shortly thereafter to welcome us as well. And today's first glass of Krug!
Two days ago, we were the only 3 pax in F, and I had fleeting visions of another private charter. Alas that didn't happen as 5 more last minute additions made this a nearly full cabin today. Nice colors and soothing lighting in the cabin.
Our Shanghai Tang PJs...
Great airplane watching on push-back on a gorgeous sunny day in the Bay.
Cleared for take-off on 28R and a great view from 1A.
More spectacular views on our climb.
Once in the air, it didn't take long for our Esther, Jodi and Pam to spring into action, and deliver almost 15 hours of near flawless service.
The menu has a been nicely redesigned with more contemporary feel.
LUNCH
Caviar and Fine Smoked Salmon
International Favourites
Fennel and apple soup
Mesclun salad with king crab, tear drop tomatoes, cranberry and balsamic vinaigrette
Grilled U.S. Wagyu beef tenderloin with red wine sauce, parsley potatoes, asparagus and baby carrots
Lobster and crab ravioli with roasted red pepper coulis and grilled baby zuchini
Chinese Favourites
Double boiled conch and mushroom soup
Cold plate - marinated gluten with cucumber
Kung Po chicken
or
Pan-fried sea bass with sweet wine sauce
served with steamed jasmine rice and stir-fried mixed vegetables
Cheese and Dessert
Camembert, Yellow Cheddar, Danish Blue, Herb Goat Cheese
Seasonal fresh berries with cream
Bread and butter pudding with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce
Black sesame sweet soup
Tea and Coffee
Pralines
SNACKS
Grilled saffron marinated prawn skewer with cucumber raita
Grilled chicken breast with Brie, chipotle mayonnaise and pesto on sour dough bread with mesclun salad
Wontons in noodle soup
Hot pot rice with minced pork patty, water chestnut and mushroom, served with chicken broth
Ice cream
DINNER
Starter
Fresh seasonal fruit
Main Courses
Pan-fried kurobuta pork chop with porcini mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes, roasted heirloom carrots, baby zucchini and caramelized honey shallots
Stir-fried beef with mixed peppers, steamed jasmine rice pak choy, mushrooms and carrots
Dungeness crab cannelloni with white wine cream sauce and sauteed Swiss chard
Dessert
Raspberry mousse cake with chocolate whipped cream
Tea and Coffee
Pralines
Interesting that the menu was specifically printed for this flight/route.
Any ideas about what this entire string of numbers mean?
The wine list was a major improvement over a year ago.
Champagne
Krug Grande Cuvee Champagne
White
2007 Estancia Reserve Monterey Chardonnay
2008 Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes
Red
2010 Sauvion Deliction Chinon
2009 Finca Origen Gran Reserva Malbec
2004 Chateau Lynch Bages Grand Cru Classe Pauillac
Port
Ramos Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira 10 Year Tawny
The 2008 Girardin Puligny-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes ($45 retail, Cellar Tracker 91 rating) was outstanding, but they can do a lot better than Estancia Reserve for the same $20. The Lynch-Bages continues to be a staple while the 2010 cab franc Semillon Dilection was excellent.
Showtime as our meal service begins with the item by item elegant table setting.
The caviar and salmon were outstanding especially with another glass of Krug.
And the personalized note is always a nice touch.
Next, I decided to go with the double boiled conch and mushroom soup and moved on to the Girardin Puligny. Not a 1er cru, but still a lovely addition to the list.
Kung Po chicken was very good, even better with a little chili sauce and another glass of Puligny.
Look at all the pretty glasses all in a row. 
The red is the 2010 Dilection which was really enjoyable.
Next up, I decided to pull a Short hair Francis and have a 2nd main, the grilled U.S. Wagyu beef tenderloin with red wine sauce, parsley potatoes, asparagus and baby carrots. It was excellent.
A wonderful selection of delicious cheeses and, naturally, a glass of the very nice Ramos Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira 10 Year Tawny.
Dessert? Why not. The bread and butter pudding with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce was sensational.
And pralines to end this afternoon's culinary orgy.
After a movie and little iphoto work, I happened to look out the window. Wow, the polar route today and some incredible views of Siberia...
One of the two F lavs on the 744...
Another movie and I'm ready for a snack, the always great wontons in noodle soup...
More sightseeing, somewhere over China...
And later between Beijing and Shanghai...
About 90 minutes out but not particularly hungry, I decided to take one for the team and have "Dinner". The refreshing fruit salad starter.
And the stir-fried beef with mixed peppers, steamed jasmine rice pak choy, mushrooms and carrots. Delicious!
Now one benefit of Mrs. SFO's torn ACL was the amazing reception at HKG and breeze through the terminal, customs and Immigration in HKG. At HKG, the 1L door was reserved strictly for F pax with the cabin divider curtain shut tight. J exits 2L with the back of the bus. Our wheel chair was waiting at 1L and we bid a fond farewell the Esther, Joni and Pamela. Just inside the terminal at the bottom of the jet bridge, we were met by our Mandarin Oriental rep with a golf cart. We zipped past the rest of our pax and pax from other arriving planes for what seemed like at least a mile drive to C&I, beep beeping most of the way.
While hundreds of pax did the perp walk maze, we drove far right where our "driver" took our passports into an unmarked office and returned 30 seconds later with stamped passports. Another 30 seconds, we exited C&I. What amazing service, and totally coordinated as a 2nd MO staffer met us outside the B exit and escorted us to our MO S-class for the 30 minute drive to the MO. Wow, simply wow.