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Post by Starsteward on Mar 4, 2017 13:37:10 GMT -8
Coastal Benny from the Queen of Burnaby's galley: - February 25, 2017 . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr The side of toast wasn't ordered so that I could increase my carbo-load. It was mainly a prop for an instagram photo with the hashtag #ShareTheToast. The things I do for humour... Was that "stack of butter", white, brown or whole-wheat? And, where for pete's sake is the ceramic coffee cup? Oh, doth we pine for the days of 'table-service'.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 5, 2017 8:28:20 GMT -8
And, where for pete's sake is the ceramic coffee cup? Oh, doth we pine for the days of 'table-service'. Truth be told, I took a paper cup on purpose. I knew that I'd be in a rush to eat, and wouldn't have time to finish my coffee at the table. Why the rush? The sun wouldn't wait for me to finish my coffee. DSC09419 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 5, 2017 10:31:24 GMT -8
And, where for pete's sake is the ceramic coffee cup? Oh, doth we pine for the days of 'table-service'. Truth be told, I took a paper cup on purpose. I knew that I'd be in a rush to eat, and wouldn't have time to finish my coffee at the table. Why the rush? The sun wouldn't wait for me to finish my coffee. DSC09419 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr You know Starsteward, Mr Horn is not giving you the whole truth here. He was actually participating in BC Ferries new contest, 'Roll up the Rubbing Strake to Win', and you cannot play unless your cup is a disposable one ...
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Post by Starsteward on Mar 6, 2017 8:36:27 GMT -8
Truth be told, I took a paper cup on purpose. I knew that I'd be in a rush to eat, and wouldn't have time to finish my coffee at the table. Why the rush? The sun wouldn't wait for me to finish my coffee. DSC09419 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr You know Starsteward , Mr Horn is not giving you the whole truth here. He was actually participating in BC Ferries new contest, 'Roll up the Rubbing Strake to Win', and you cannot play unless your cup is a disposable one ... Mr.WettCoast. there may well be a bean of truth in suggesting Mr.Horn may have been momentarily distracted with a prospect of winning a Q ueen of Burnaby key fob or getting the glorious horizon sunrise shot whilst the Beattles "Here comes the sun" blared through the headphones of Mr.Horn's old 'walkman'. But, we of little faith should have known that 'fob or photo' really posed no dilemma at all for Mr.Horn because we see those posted glorious sunrise shots. Truth be known, the disposable cup was tossed into the recycle bin,... rim intact.
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 6, 2017 10:17:07 GMT -8
You know Starsteward , Mr Horn is not giving you the whole truth here. He was actually participating in BC Ferries new contest, 'Roll up the Rubbing Strake to Win', and you cannot play unless your cup is a disposable one ... Mr.WettCoast. there may well be a bean of truth in suggesting Mr.Horn may have been momentarily distracted with a prospect of winning a Q ueen of Burnaby key fob or getting the glorious horizon sunrise shot whilst the Beattles "Here comes the sun" blared through the headphones of Mr.Horn's old 'walkman'. But, we of little faith should have known that 'fob or photo' really posed no dilemma at all for Mr.Horn because we see those posted glorious sunrise shots. Truth be known, the disposable cup was tossed into the recycle bin,... rim intact. Mr. Horn is determined to win the grand prize in "Roll up the Rubbing Strake", that being a romantic & wacky cruise for one through Fijian waters aboard the LP III.
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Post by mirrlmak on Mar 14, 2017 12:32:27 GMT -8
Did the gravy change in the late 1990's to 2000? I remember being a thick beef gravy (my favorite). Now it seems like whatever every other burger joint has. I also miss the old hash browns
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Post by Dane on Mar 24, 2017 12:56:43 GMT -8
I haven't been on the Island Sky since essentially it was new. So with that context of being out of touch in mind, when did they get rid of the microwave meals? They were atrociously bad - and I have a very low threshold for food quality - but they were an option at least. Notwithstanding the world's most expensive hot dogs, and chilli, there's no other hot food on 'The Sky.
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Post by Dane on Mar 24, 2017 18:59:45 GMT -8
In a month marked by fairly boring ferry news: like a new ferry from Poland or something, some sort of irrelevant sale for foot passengers, an announcement about a new class of ship or whatever - I bring you the true news of the month.
There are now muscles in the Pacific Buffet.
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Post by Curtis on Mar 25, 2017 0:08:52 GMT -8
I haven't been on the Island Sky since essentially it was new. So with that context of being out of touch in mind, when did they get rid of the microwave meals? They were atrociously bad - and I have a very low threshold for food quality - but they were an option at least. Notwithstanding the world's most expensive hot dogs, and chilli, there's no other hot food on 'The Sky. The microwaved meals on the Sky have slowly been phased out since about 2015 or so. Back when the Sky first entered service they had 2 microwave meals from a brand name. (mac and cheese and chicken chow mein) Those got replaced in late 2013 when the Sky was used on Route 17 before and after the Westview and Little River berth replacement. These microwaved meals were made and packaged by BC Ferries, there were 2 breakfast and 4 lunch/dinner options. Off the top of my head, I remember there was french toast, sweet and sour pork, another chicken chow mein, and (*shudders) ginger beef. I tried all of the meals and overall, they ranged from average to awful. Since 2015 or so, the only meal I've seen mainly is the chow mein. Overall, from a regular of the Sky, the soup is the best option available for hot food, of which the red thai chicken curry is the best option IMO. Realistically though, you're better off eating on the Queen of Surrey/Coquitlam anyways. With the Sky running Route 3 though, you don't have much of a choice. At least it's only temporary. If I had to guess, you won't see any change to current food services on the Sky till her MLU. But even then, the Sky's (unusual) relief duties could be repaced by a Salish Class vessel in the future.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 8, 2017 17:31:10 GMT -8
There are two tables in the sundeck outside the Coastal Cafe on the Salish Orca. I took advantage to enjoy some table open-air dining, with a view towards Powell River. The food is back old-skool ferries burgers, and the view makes it better. 20170604_180101 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr
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Post by Dane on Jun 11, 2017 21:37:58 GMT -8
Someone asked me many months ago for the document showing Route 17 lost money on food services. I forgot about it until tonight, and was able to find the document.... if it was you please reply to this and I would be happy to pass it along.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Jun 11, 2017 22:19:25 GMT -8
Someone asked me many months ago for the document showing Route 17 lost money on food services. I forgot about it until tonight, and was able to find the document.... if it was you please reply to this and I would be happy to pass it along. Looking at my message file... it was me. Thanks.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 31, 2017 19:58:34 GMT -8
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Aug 31, 2017 21:16:13 GMT -8
My breakfast today in the Pacific Buffet: - Coastal Celebration It was very, very good. My older brother's a real food snob. Food snobs can be tiring, but they can also introduce you to out of the way places that are pretty amazing. He lives in Vancouver, but he'll drive to Abbotsford to pick up bread from a favorite bakery. Just yesterday he was remarking on how good he thought the breakfast buffet on BC Ferries was, considering it was a ferry. So, Mr Horn, I guess you're not imagining things. No buffets on route thirty, but I do love the salsa that comes with their home fries.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Nov 19, 2017 16:47:12 GMT -8
Anybody tried the new chicken chickpea curry yet? I love Indian food, but I thought the butter chicken they offered up was pretty boring... hopefully this is better.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Dec 14, 2017 23:05:05 GMT -8
Anybody tried the new chicken chickpea curry yet? I love Indian food, but I thought the butter chicken they offered up was pretty boring... hopefully this is better. Great question, Neil... yes, I tried it today. Considerably better than the old butter chicken, which would never have found it's way into any decent Indian restaurant. This offering has a bit of heat, but not enough to offend sensitive (or bland) palates, and has a nice complexity of flavor to indicate that someone didn't just dump some 'curry powder' into some diced tomatoes. The chicken felt like it had been cooking for a while, but I realize BC Ferries is essentially fast food, so they're either nuking something or having it in a big pot ready to go. A good addition to the menu... hope it stays, although the little bit of naan you get is skimpy.
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Post by Dane on Jan 5, 2018 16:08:51 GMT -8
I don’t stray from the buffet very often on morning sailing, but did this week. The photo below isn’t mine but there was several new to me breakfast items, including s revamped breakfast sandwich and whatever this is.... http://instagram.com/p/BdjV1zEnZgY
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Post by Starsteward on Jan 6, 2018 11:19:57 GMT -8
What a mess! ..ah,no thanks. "Stack of' hots, 2 over easy with bacon! Yes, and I'll take some cream with the coffee..Merci
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 14, 2018 17:17:15 GMT -8
Ah, BC Ferry clam chowder, one of the few things that has remained pretty much the same since the early days. Perhaps you want to make your own, at home. Check this Victoria Times-Colonist link out to get that recipe ...
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Post by Starsteward on Feb 15, 2018 5:46:54 GMT -8
Ah, BC Ferry clam chowder, one of the few things that has remained pretty much the same since the early days. Perhaps you want to make your own, at home. Check this Victoria Times-Colonist link out to get that recipe ... I'm surprised that BC Ferries would share that recipe! A major aroma-contributor emanating from BC Ferries galleys during the first morning runs was that of a new batch of clam chowder being prepared for the daily consumption. The big floor model steam pots looked like witches cauldrons as the steamy aroma spread across the galley. "Back in the Day", when the soup bowls were the size of wash basins, a bowl of chowder, and a cheeseburger would totally suffice hungry crew over an eight hour shift. Menu prices back in the 60's were a tad different than today's eye-openers. " Rich, steaming Clam Chowder - a specialty of the ship's galley" .. .35 The "Top-quality hamburgers' were a steal at .60 for a Hamburger de luxe and an atrocious .70 for a Cheeseburger, de luxe. Yesiree, .95 cents or a buck-five, less 50% and those were the days of cheap eats. (They had to be as wages weren't exactly anything to write home about) Psst. "there were many days out-back of the galley where one's meal ticket read ....zero. 'Look-outs' to the ready please.
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Post by Dane on Apr 24, 2018 17:40:20 GMT -8
This isn't food per say, but today on the Salish Eagle I used tap to buy lunch with my credit card!
BC Ferries was probably the last place in my life to slide the credit card. Both my love of efficiency and inner-Police officer are so happy (although I have zero concern about BC Ferries swiping credit cards is probably the highest risk activity normal people to without thinking that opens them to identity theft / fraud).
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Post by arrrrmatey on Apr 24, 2018 22:26:03 GMT -8
This isn't food per say, but today on the Salish Eagle I used tap to buy lunch with my credit card! BC Ferries was probably the last place in my life to slide the credit card. Both my love of efficiency and inner-Police officer are so happy (although I have zero concern about BC Ferries swiping credit cards is probably the highest risk activity normal people to without thinking that opens them to identity theft / fraud). Stangely, swiping is still commonplace in the U.S..... I was shocked when I went to Portland last year and a waitress wanted to take my card to make the payment. So old fashioned haha
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Post by Geoff on Jul 18, 2019 5:19:40 GMT -8
When I was on the ferry last weekend on the Queen of Alberni I noticed that they are using a different brand for there Iced Tea, being Gold Peak instead of Nestea which we have been use to for years but it seams like a lot of places are changing to this brand of Iced Tea mainly from Nestea and it looks like BC Ferries has joined that trend.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Feb 2, 2022 15:00:51 GMT -8
Anyone dined on routes one or two recently? Did a route thirty day trip to Courtenay recently, and found my hot dinner options limited to burgers and one chicken pasta offering. Didn't BC Ferries used to have at least two proper, non-burger items, like, say, salmon, as well as a rice bowl type thing, or a curry effort? I'm wondering if they've cut back a bit on all the runs. I suppose it would be understandable with so many people staying in their cars for the duration of their trip.
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Post by Geoff on Feb 2, 2022 18:30:55 GMT -8
Anyone dined on routes one or two recently? Did a route thirty day trip to Courtenay recently, and found my hot dinner options limited to burgers and one chicken pasta offering. Didn't BC Ferries used to have at least two proper, non-burger items, like, say, salmon, as well as a rice bowl type thing, or a curry effort? I'm wondering if they've cut back a bit on all the runs. I suppose it would be understandable with so many people staying in their cars for the duration of their trip. When I was on the Queen of Coquitlam last weekend, I saw that they had the burger options as well as the Chicken Tenders Combo, Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and the Chicken or Salmon with Salad and Garlic Bread. There wasn't a rice bowl on though. According to the BC Ferries Online order website though, they still have the Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl.
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