While the Qantas International First Lounge Melbourne is not as big and impressive as its sister Qantas First Lounge in Sydney, the food menu is usually just as good. So while you might not get the iconic wood arches that make for an impressive view while walking through the lounge, you can still enjoy the memorable dishes (such as salt and pepper squid) while taking in a lovely view. And while there was no salt and pepper squid on offer at 6am in the morning when I visited (you can check out my reviews here of the lunch menu) there were still many delicious (and nutritious) sounding dishes on the menu that could tempt my taste buds early in the morning. The menu has a range of cold and hot a la carte dishes, some being light bites to more decadent heavier dishes.
What’s Healthy?
- The Light Breakfast is fairly nutritious and filling without being too heavy I find. The tomato with the salsa verde is delicious – I think some of the nicest roasted tomatoes I have ever had. The eggs were poached perfectly and the baby spinach tasty without the need to be drowned in butter or oil. The bread I chose was a sourdough which was chewy and crusty. While white bread is not the most nutritious bread (as it has a number of layers of the grain removed), sourdough bread is now thought to be a better choice than standard white bread due to the fermentation process. I also added a side of smoked salmon and avocado to this breakfast to boost the anti-inflammatory properties of the dish.
- Plant-based dining options are a newer addition to the Qantas First Lounge menus and I thought I would try the breakfast option: Zucchini and soba noodles with sesame, tamari and mushrooms. This dish was served cold and it was good to see zucchini and mushrooms served for breakfast. I would have liked to have had more zucchini and mushrooms in the dish as most of the dish was soba noodles under the toppings.
- It is great to see both types of omelettes come with vegetables in them. Not only do capsicums, spinach and mushrooms provide nice flavours but also more a range of antioxidants and other phytochemicals that are good for health. In other words they give the dishes a nice little nutrient boost. If you like these vegetables why not ask for a little extra in the omelettes.
- There are both a toasted and Bircher mueslis on the menu – great options if you don’t feel like a hot breakfast. Muesli can be a healthy breakfast – oats, nuts, seeds, yogurt (or milk) and fresh/dried fruit. While there are so many different types of mueslis available, with some more nutritious and better for you than others, generally they offer a pretty balanced breakfast. If you are someone who is looking to reduce your sugar/added sugar intake you might like to ask what type of toasted museli they have – is it more of a nut-based muesli or a dried fruit-based muesli?
Not so great. Caution.
I only ordered two dishes on this visit to the Qantas International First Lounge Melbourne so unfortunately I don’t have any more pictures from this visit. But that doesn’t mean I can’t explore the menu descriptions to provide some pointers for the ‘caution’ section.
- While I love a bacon and egg roll occasionally (mmmmm I love the smell of one cooking) this one is served on a brioche roll. Brioche is made with butter and egg which can make it higher in calories. It also suggested brioche has a high glycemic index (meaning it is digested quickly in the body, potentially causing blood sugar levels to rise quickly). Eating high GI foods isn’t great before a long flight since you don’t move much which means you aren’t using up all the sugar that has been released into the blood quickly. If you love a bacon and egg roll you could ask them to swap the bread to wholegrain, or have an open sandwich by having one slice of bread.
- If you are about to jump on a long flight then The Signature Breakfast might be a little on the heavy side. While eggs are nutritious, the bacon, sausages and hashbrowns don’t add a lot of nutrient benefits compared to the energy they provide. And bacon and sausages are processed meats which are suggested to have increased health risks if eaten regularly. It doesn’t mean you can’t ever have these, but if you are a frequent flyer then you may like to consider other options sometimes on the menu.
- While sweet corn fritters tend to be a favourite with visitors of the Qantas First Lounges, remember just because they have corn as an ingredient doesn’t automatically make them healthy. I have been travelling with family before who have ordered the corn fritters and while they were declared delicious, they are also deep fried and crispy. So absolutely enjoy them occasionally if you like, but perhaps add a side of tomatoes, spinach or mushrooms to add some more colour and variety of foods to the dish.
Final thoughts Qantas International First Lounge Melbourne
It was nice to be back in the Qantas International First Lounge Melbourne even though it was incredibly early and I was already tired before even taking off. I always enjoy the Qantas First Lounge breakfast menu – even with seasonal changes I find the range of dishes usually will have something to suit most people’s tastes. It is pretty easy to order a nutritious meal and I like how there are lighter and heavier dishes available so you can choose something to match your appetite and also your following travel plans.
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NOTE: All pictures of the Qantas International First Lounge Melbourne are my own and I review a lounge from the foods and menu I see during my visit. There may be different options available at other times.
