After complaints about unappetizing meals and a suspected food poisoning scandal, Cathay Pacific is now the new caterer at Penny’s Bay quarantine camp—and a lawmaker who had the pleasure of taste-testing praised the food as “comparable to cha chan tengs.”
Jeffrey Lam, a legislative councilor, tried four meals provided by the airline during a press conference Monday. The offerings included Thai-style curry fish and chicken and mushroom tomato sauce pasta.
“The food is still warm,” Lam commented as he tucked into the meals.
He added that the vegetables have a “vegetable taste and texture.”
Cathay Pacific began providing meals at Penny’s Bay quarantine camp on Monday, following earlier confirmation from the airline that it had placed a bid to provide catering at the government facility.
The airline’s catering arm is one of the world’s largest flight kitchens.
Lam had earlier suggested that the government could utilize Cathay Pacific’s catering services, explaining that the airline’s food factory is on Lantau Island, not far from Penny’s Bay, meaning food can be transported under hot weather in relatively shorter time.
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He said during the Monday press conference that while the food may not match up to three star Michelin restaurants, it is “comparable to cha chan teng standards.”
The airline’s catering arm replaced Danny Catering Service, which previously provided meals for the camp. The government terminated Danny’s contract after about 45 people fell ill after eating the caterer’s tainted food, the South China Morning Post reported.
Photos of the caterer’s questionable meals, including a brick-like meat patty and breakfast congee that resembled water, were also circulating online.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said earlier this month that laboratory testing of food samples showed bacterial contamination. Its kitchen was also found to be unhygienic, and food stored at improper temperatures.
The caterer could face prosecution, according to local media.
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