It has been many years since I have set foot in the Qantas Business Lounge Melbourne (International) and so while I was in the pseudo First Lounge (which was a portioned off section of this business lounge which had its own food while the actual First lounge was closed for maintenance) curiosity got the better of me and I went and explored the food. While not Sydney (so not technically the flagship lounge), I was still expecting it to be standout food. But what I was greeted with was anything but I thought. If I hadn’t known I was in the international terminal I would have thought I had walked into a domestic lounge (in between a Qantas Club and Business lounge in the domestic terminals). More ham, cheese, tomato toasted sandwiches. I just looked at the buffet in a bit of disbelief and the thought – is this it for their international business lounge?
What’s nutritious in Qantas Business Class Lounge Melbourne International?
There were bowls of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almond flakes and coconut flakes available which are perfect for adding a taste and nutrition boost to dishes. I really like this initiative in lounges as it provides the ability to personalise meals further in terms of taste and nutrition.
There were also a couple of salads available including a beetroot, carrot and feta salad, coleslaw, and pumpkin and cous cous salad. Love that beetroot and cabbage have starring roles in the salads here as they are very nutritious foods and sometimes under utilised. Beetroot is packed full of vitamins and bioactives such as betanin which is responsible for its beautiful red/purple colour. There has also been great interest in beetroot for its potential to help relax blood vessel walls (and then possibly also helping lower blood pressure) through the nitrates in beetroot. Cabbage is a great source of fibre helping to support gut health which is important while travelling. Mind the portion sizes of the cabbage salad though if you are prone to bloating.
Along with the salads there were a number of sandwich fillings including sliced beetroot, cheese, ham and tomatoes, and antipasto including cornichons, pickled onions and grilled capsicums. I was not inspired because this is basically the same as domestic lounges – so I wasn’t feeling like I was getting much of a premium experience before jumping on an international flight. Looking past the flavour fatigue, it is good there are vegetables that can be placed on the sandwiches or to have as a snack.
While there was a limited selection of hot food for an international business class lounge at least there was big bowl of Asian steamed vegetables. The colours were brilliant and bright – fabulous opportunity for consuming a variety of vitamins and bioactives important for supporting wellbeing. The vegetables go well with the other two hot dishes on the buffet and so adding 1-2 spoonfuls of vegetables on the side gives both a nice flavour and nutrient boost.
A bowl of apples – the staple of airport lounges and nutritious snacks for flying. The humble apple is such a nutrient powerhouse even though it doesn’t seem to be as trendy as other fruits. However if you are prone to bloating be mindful of eating an apple before a flight.
While you heard me ramble on about how I am sick of toasted sandwiches in the lounges, at least there was multi-grain and wholemeal bread available – not just white bread. However looking at the shape of them they do look like a standard supermarket style bread. There were also small rolls with poppy seeds available.
There was also a Moroccan lentil soup available. Love that lentils make an appearance – great source of plant protein and fibre. Again thought if you are prone to bloating or have IBS be mindful of how much soup you have as lentil can contribute to bloating which isn’t great before flying.
Not so great. Caution.
While the bowl of Asian vegetables are fabulous the rest of the hot buffet left a little to be desired. The sign indicated there was a vegetable curry and Korean chicken, and steamed rice. However both dishes looked similar to me and because during this visit I was eating the first class section of the lounge I didn’t taste them. But when I read the sign and it said Korean chicken the first thing that popped in to my head was Korean fried chicken so I was a little surprised to see a dish that looked like the curry. (I am not that familiar with many Korean dishes so perhaps this is exactly what it could look like). Anyway to have two dishes look so similar it would have been nice to have another 1-2 hot dishes just in case people didn’t feel like a hot, saucy dish with rice. While I admit I don’t know how much actual vegetables or chicken were in these dishes I caution them as other dishes like this I have had in the domestic lounges have at many times been more sauce than substance which reduces the nutrition potential of the dishes.
There were a range of snacks available including cakes, chips (crisps), corn chips, rice crackers and rice cakes. These are sources of refined carbohydrates and low in fibre. If you like these foods keep portions small as eating refined carbohydrates before long-haul flights, especially in the evening and late at night is not great for travel wellbeing. Good the cakes are cut into small squares however remember that a little of each of these can add up.
Final word Qantas Business Lounge Melbourne International
While there were some nutritious foods on offer in the Qantas Business Class Lounge Melbourne International I found the menu disappointing and uninspiring. While I love to see nutritious food in lounges, I also like to see dishes and foods offered that should reflect the lounge and enhance the passenger experience. Nutritious food does not need to mean a substandard food experience with little variety.
NOTE: All pictures of the Qantas Business Lounge Melbourne (International) food are my own and I review a lounge from just the foods I see during my visit. There may be different options available at other times.
If you are interested in seeing the foods on offer in Qantas First Lounge Melbourne see food and nutrition review here.
