With a little preparation anyone can present an elegant style continental breakfast on a Gulfstream, etc. for fourteen passengers on a block to block one hour trip segment! That would translate into about 35-40 minutes of actual flying / serving time! It is all about thinking out when you are given the trip assignment who, what, how and the time factor. For a breakfast trip with a full passenger complement ask the caterer to do the following:

Take a plastic dinner size plate and cover it with about 5 doilies the same size as the dinner plate. DO NOT tape the doilies to the plate.  Instruct the caterer to build the plate with the following items:

1. Two lovely symmetrical cut fruit kabobs.

2. A piece of Brie or Chaume cheese cut in a small pie slice form.

3. One FRESH sliced bagel.

4. One Danish pastry OR one breakfast muffin OR one chocolate filled croissant.

5. One small glass ramekin filled with a flavored yogurt and covered with a piece of Saran wrap to prevent spillage.

6. A piece of colored kale or a colored lettuce placed decoratively on the plate with a few butter rosettes / butter balls etc. on the greens and a glass ramekin with any type of cream cheese. (NO foiled butters.) tacky.... tacky.... tacky.... :)

7. A glass ramekin filled with some gourmet jam then covered with Saran wrap to avoid spillage.

8. Cover this beautiful plate with Saran wrap.

Procedures:

1. Time permitting depending on the taxi-way and take off time ask each passenger what they want to drink for after takeoff.

2. After takeoff, put all the placemats / table-cloths down for the passengers.

3. Bring all of the napkins & eating utensils out on a napkin lined plate or a basket, etc., and set each passenger up.

4. Offer fresh squeezed orange, grapefruit, carrot juices.

5. Offer coffee and tea.

6. In the galley take out China dinner size plates and then take out all of the plastic preset breakfast plates.

7. Remove the Saran wrap that covers the plate and then also remove the Saran wrap on ALL of the ramekins.

8. Grab the edge of the doily and gently slide the meal onto the China plate and run them out to each passenger.

9. You have now served 14 passengers a lovely breakfast in 5 minutes on China plates.

10. Reoffer coffee, juice, etc.

I want to add that you can ask the caterer to also put a piece of rolled salmon (lox) on the plate or assorted sliced European type meats. That is a TRUE European Continental Breakfast.

You will look like a Queen or King to your passengers!!!

***Remember, this is not in lieu of a nice hot breakfast with 2-3 choices for anything over an hour of "actual" work time***

Susan C. Friedenberg - President
Corporate Flight Attendant Training