Air France Flight 306, June 29, 2010

I don't know whether to be galled or delighted that my old daughter at the age of twelve has experienced Air France business class. Looking across the aisle at her partially reclined with her feet up behind a linen draped table, watching Alice in Wonderland on her personal video player, enjoying a glass of sparkling water and waiting for dinner to be served I thought, delightful now, but she will be sadder but wiser when she's stuck back in steerage with the rest of the cattle in the future.

Dinner

• L'Amuse Bouche: Cuillère de canard fumé à la poire (Smoked Duck w/ Pear)
• L'Entree: Homard du Maine, mayonnaise au wasabi et petite salade de mangue (Cold lobster with wasabi mayonnaise and mango salad)
• Plats Chaudes: (Mario and Rachel) Tournedos poêle au poivre, purée de pommes de terre et poireau, confit nimois (Pan-seared tournedos of beef with peppercorns, mashed potatoes with leeks and Provençale-style simmered vegetables), (Kristin) Daube d'agneau avec céleri, carottes, févettes et pâtes pappardelle (Lamb stew with celery, carrots, fava beans and pappardelle pasta)
• La sélection du fromage
• Dessert: (Rachel and Mario) Notre trio de dessert: gâteau aux bleuets au sirop d'érable, Linzertorte, mini éclair au chocolat (blueberry cake with maple syrup, Linzertorte, mini chocolate éclair) + mango sorbet

Apéritif: Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne

Red Bordeaux: Médoc Château Tour Séran 2007 Jean Guyon Cru Bourgeois

Digestif: (Kristin) Cognac Delamain Pal & Dry XO Grande Champagne 1er Cru

Actually, except for the beverages, it all sounds better than it was. Don't get me wrong, it's by far the best food I've ever eaten on an airplane. The lobster salad was especially good. But airplane food, even on Air France, is ultimately airplane food. The bread was surprisingly mediocre. Mario and I are betting that the quality will be better on the return flight originating in Paris. We'll see!

Mid-flight they served some Haagen-Dazs ice cream (I slept through that).

Breakfast was fresh fruit, plain yogurt, bread and pastries, and a plate of parma ham, smoked turkey, cheddar and provolone.

Far better than the food was having a seat that reclined to all but flat and plenty of room to spread out. Watched "An Education" and loved it.

We landed in Paris at 8:15 AM…more to come!