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- Jul 16, 2010
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Recently, I wrote a "reply" re onboard food
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/34384-bringing-food-and-drinks-onto-the-train/page-2&do=findComment&comment=556597
one item of which was
Don't go to the diner expecting to see Robert Irvine doing a makeover of the food and decor for "Restaurant Impossible".
It made me think What if Robert Irvine did a makeover of an Amtrak Diner? What would it look like? Better yet, what if Saturday Night Live did a sketch on such a makeover?
The following changes would be made
Of course, the Diner Car would be closed for two days during renovation but would continue as the sole diner on the train.
Passengers would be lining up in adjacent cars waiting for the grand re-opening. Robert would describe how much money Amtrak would make from now on.
A month late, the makeover would be shown on "Restaurant Impossible".
The new menu, "no frozen ingredients" rule and the staff's new-found enthusiasm would be gone the following week.
A month after the changes, the Diner Car would be sold to a new owner because Amtrak had Robert come in just to get a free makeover.
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/34384-bringing-food-and-drinks-onto-the-train/page-2&do=findComment&comment=556597
one item of which was
Don't go to the diner expecting to see Robert Irvine doing a makeover of the food and decor for "Restaurant Impossible".
It made me think What if Robert Irvine did a makeover of an Amtrak Diner? What would it look like? Better yet, what if Saturday Night Live did a sketch on such a makeover?
- Robert would show up in his "advertiser placed" car (use the Auto Train?) and meet the staff while describing that Amtrak is losing tons of money daily in the Diners.
- Robert would invite customers for a meal so he could observe the service. He'd have a cow when he sees it.
- Invited customers would not all be passengers but all would criticize the food and the service.
- Robert would then order and try selected items including the pancakes, RR french toast, Black Angus burger, Veggie burger, pasta, and chicken dinner. He would spit out half of it and describe the rest as tasteless and cold except for the french toast which he would say is not half bad. His worst criticism would be reserved for the pasta which he would describe as mushy noodles with tomato soup.
The following changes would be made
- New multi-color ceiling in red, blue and brown emphasizing soaring transportation.
- New seats in the car custom made from nearby junkyard all of which are located along Amtrak routes.
- "New" hanging lights in old RR motif found in a local downtown hardware store.
- Portion of one side of the car would be cut out, replaced with fence made from old RR ties to provide patio seating.
- Remainder of walls would be covered with stressed paneling to give that "Hobo Boxcar" look.
- There would be a new sign at entry "Lou's Amtrak Cafe" named after the OBS and changeable for each OBS for that day
- No frozen ingredients would be used any more per Robert.
- Servers would be "fired" until the next day when they would all promise to support Amtrak by working harder.
- OBS would receive a dressing down from Robert, would cry then would promise to have "new passion" for the Diner Car.
- Robert would use his signature sledgehammer to break out one of the windows to be removed, would discover it to be impossible and then his construction chief would simply pull out the emergency-exit rubber with handle and remove the glass. The crew would clean up the mess.
- Robert would teach the cook some new menu items - lox and bagels with fresh fruit souffle for breakfast; caprese sandwich on crisp Italian bread with fresh mozzarella and on-board made pesto sauce for lunch; Cajun mussels with spicy, garlicky shrimp for dinner. Robert would jump up and down with joy as he tried his own food and the cook would pretend to be happy describing it as "the best I have ever eaten".
- Prices would be increased.
Of course, the Diner Car would be closed for two days during renovation but would continue as the sole diner on the train.
Passengers would be lining up in adjacent cars waiting for the grand re-opening. Robert would describe how much money Amtrak would make from now on.
A month late, the makeover would be shown on "Restaurant Impossible".
The new menu, "no frozen ingredients" rule and the staff's new-found enthusiasm would be gone the following week.
A month after the changes, the Diner Car would be sold to a new owner because Amtrak had Robert come in just to get a free makeover.
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