WHY IT RATES: Hitting the
rails with Amtrak just got tastier.—Donald Wood, Breaking News Senior Writer.
Amtrak and STARR Restaurant Group, led by James Beard
award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr, announced the debut of three new
dishes for the First Class dining menu on Acela trains traveling on the
Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Boston and Washington D.C.
The collaboration began in May, with four seasonal menu
items in rotation across a six-month spring and summer cycle.
“Expanding our partnership with the STARR Restaurant Group
shows our continued commitment to enhancing the Acela First Class onboard
experience,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer
Eliot Hamlisch. “We’re delighted to expand our reach of restaurants along the
Northeast Corridor by adding the iconic Le Diplomate in DC, plus new items from
The Continental Mid-town and Parc.”
The three new menu items in rotation every three weeks
include:
- Lobster Mac & Cheese from The Continental Mid-town: A
comfort food classic! Orzo pasta and chunks of lobster are tossed in a velvety
cheese sauce and topped with panko breadcrumbs, then baked to perfection.
- Beef Bourguignon from Parc: This hearty French stew
comprises tender braised beef with roasted carrots, pearl onions, Cremini
mushrooms, bacon, and red wine jus served over creamy pommes purée.
- Tropez Salad from Le Diplomate: Mediterranean flavors and
ingredients in this dish include a mélange of four chilled salads: cucumbers
and feta, chickpeas and couscous, lentils in a mustard vinaigrette, and shaved
carrots drizzled with olive oil and lemon come together for a light and
refreshing treat.
Acela First Class customers can also enjoy new fall and
winter wine offerings, including prosecco, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and
cabernet sauvignon. For those traveling in the morning, freshly baked pastries
are delivered daily from local bakeries for an extra sweetness to start the
day.
The STARR Restaurant Group portfolio spans the NEC, serving
many of the same travelers who ride in Acela First Class. Customers can expect
a similar level of culinary artistry and premium service onboard as they do at
STARR’s award-winning restaurants.
For those looking to experience Acela First Class, the
Amtrak Bidup program allows already ticketed Acela customers to bid on an
upgrade, space and availability permitting.
SOURCE: Amtrak press
release.
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