I was a Purser for Pan Am from 1979 to the end, 1991. First class service was as follows: First class attendant comes through with hot, lightly scented towels for a refreah prior to dining. The Purser brings out the set up cart. It included the individual tablecloth, napkin, cutlery, water and wine glass, bread plate, butter pats, individual crystal salt & peppers, and a vase with a flower. 2nd cart: hors d'oeuvres: always at least 4-5 choices minimum. Caspian sea caviar (beluga or sevruga) with blini or toast points, egg yokes and whites separated and chopped, onion chopped, sour cream. Shrimp, stone crab claws, smoked salmon, goose liver patè, and a local specialty from where we departed or our destination. Frozen vodka shots in chilled shot glasses. 3rd cart: soup, varied by season and destination. 4th cart: salad " intermission" palate cleanse of a light, usually lemon, sorbet in a shot glass with little spoon MAIN course served plated from the galley (3 choices).or, the roast, sliced table side with appropo sides. Roasts were usually beef tenderloin or rack of lamb. 5th cart: cheese and fruit. Some of the cheeses served were Brillat Savarin, Cambezola, Brie, Camambert, Gouda, Gorgonzola or Rouqfert, Emmentaller, etc. Fresh fruit selection whole and sliced 6th cart: desserts, at least 3 different ones, served along with fresh brewed coffee or tea 7th cart: after dinner drinks, we had so many! Brandy, cognac, grand marnier, creme de menthe, (which we often poured over dry ice in a small bowl or stem glass to create smokey drama), cointreau, kaluha, B&B, etc. Then another round of hot towels. It was a dramatic, entertaining, and anticipatory service. It took a full 3 hours on a full load of 21 passengers. They adored it. They were always impressed. It was the best. All other airlines followed and imitated Pan Am I am not saying that just because I worked for them it was the truth. Hope you enjoyed the step by step! I enjoyed recalling play by play!
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How was this even possible!! 😅
I was a Purser for Pan Am from 1979 to the end, 1991. First class service was as follows:
First class attendant comes through with hot, lightly scented towels for a refreah prior to dining.
The Purser brings out the set up cart. It included the individual tablecloth, napkin, cutlery, water and wine glass, bread plate, butter pats, individual crystal salt & peppers, and a vase with a flower.
2nd cart: hors d'oeuvres: always at least 4-5 choices minimum. Caspian sea caviar (beluga or sevruga) with blini or toast points, egg yokes and whites separated and chopped, onion chopped, sour cream. Shrimp, stone crab claws, smoked salmon, goose liver patè, and a local specialty from where we departed or our destination. Frozen vodka shots in chilled shot glasses.
3rd cart: soup, varied by season and destination.
4th cart: salad
" intermission" palate cleanse of a light, usually lemon, sorbet in a shot glass with little spoon
MAIN course served plated from the galley (3 choices).or, the roast, sliced table side with appropo sides. Roasts were usually beef tenderloin or rack of lamb.
5th cart: cheese and fruit. Some of the cheeses served were Brillat Savarin, Cambezola, Brie, Camambert, Gouda, Gorgonzola or Rouqfert, Emmentaller, etc. Fresh fruit selection whole and sliced
6th cart: desserts, at least 3 different ones, served along with fresh brewed coffee or tea
7th cart: after dinner drinks, we had so many! Brandy, cognac, grand marnier, creme de menthe, (which we often poured over dry ice in a small bowl or stem glass to create smokey drama), cointreau, kaluha, B&B, etc.
Then another round of hot towels.
It was a dramatic, entertaining, and anticipatory service. It took a full 3 hours on a full load of 21 passengers. They adored it. They were always impressed. It was the best. All other airlines followed and imitated Pan Am
I am not saying that just because I worked for them it was the truth. Hope you enjoyed the step by step! I enjoyed recalling play by play!
Now all we get are some SunChips or a biscoff 😢
First class is still full of food, I went to Amsterdam and ate and slept like a king.