6th Jan 2009 - 00:00
Abstract
Virgin Trains has launched a new First Class menu sourced entirely from British produce, which can be traced from farm to plate.
Nic Cuthbertson, Virgin Trains Product Development and Purchasing Manager said: "For our new First Class menu we wanted to offer our passengers only the finest British products. We had researched the ideal menu and ensured that everything we used could be traced and authenticated through the entire food chain." Traditional English sausages, Welsh beef, Scottish beef and high quality British cheese and are among the new ingredients being used. Cuthbertson added: "We have spent many months finding the highest quality ingredients from the highest quality producers. We have also worked closely with our staff to develop a range of menus that can be prepared and served in the limited confines of a train." The pork sausages, from outdoor reared pigs, made with fresh herbs and natural casings, will form part of the breakfast on all Pendolino trains to and from London Euston until 09:59 on weekdays. The sausages will be served alongside outdoor reared sweet cure Suffolk Crown bacon with free range Yorkshire Farm eggs on a potato rosti. The meat for the sausages comes from outdoor reared Hampshire Cross Bred pigs, sourced from a number of farms in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and East Anglia. The bacon is also from outdoor reared pigs and is processed by Suffolk Crown in Bury St Edmunds. The free range eggs come from Yorkshire Farmhouse Eggs, located in the Vale of York at Thirsk. Scotch Rare Beef is also on the menu, as part of a sandwich served with Stilton. The sandwich is just one of the options available on the Light Bites menu, available between 10:00 and 15:59, and after 19:00 on weekdays. A selection of cheeses from around Britain will be offered as part of the Evening Meal offer, served on weekdays between 16:00 and 18:59. Additionally, Lockerbie Cheddar, an award winning medium mature cheddar from the Lockerbie Creamery in Scotland (Supreme Champion Royal Highland Show 2008) will be served on malted brown bread with British Bramley apple and ginger chutney. To complement the new food, new china place settings will be used, with over a quarter of a million pieces being supplied to Virgin Trains from Stoke-on-Trent based company Dudson.