These are special menus for high profile passengers. Peter was in charge of the service and selecting his own crews in the diners. The menus themselves were designed by a chef at head office in Montreal, QC.
In September 1971, BC Premier W. A. C. Bennett and members of his cabinet took a trip on the Pacific Great Eastern Railway to the northern community of Fort Nelson, as a promotion of the North. The cost of the food and the service was borne by the Government of British Columbia.
In July 1988, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, of the Netherlands, and her husband, His Royal Highness Prince Claus, took a VIA Rail trip across Canada. The royal couple used a private car and spoke highly of the service. Government officials were in other cars and ate a different menu in the dining car. The cost of the food and the service was borne by the Government of Canada.
On May 4, 1989, there was the grand opening ceremony for the Connaught Tunnel in Rogers Pass, in eastern BC. Representatives from the Canadian and British Columbia Governments joined railway executives from across North America for the celebration. The cost of the food and the service was borne by the Canadian Pacific Railway.
PGE Railway Lunch Menu
- Chilled Tomato or Apple Juice
- OR
- Cream of Celery Soup, Consommé Dumont, or Jellied Consommé
- Combination Selections:
- Grilled Halibut Steak, Maître D’Hôtel, served with hash brown potatoes and green beans amandine
Chicken Pie, served with mashed potatoes and buttered carrots - Assorted Cold Cuts:
- A variety of cold sliced meats, served with potato salad, hard boiled egg, tomato quarters, pickles, and mayonnaise
- An Additional Feature at the Evening Meal
- Roast Rib of Beef, au jus, served with a baked potato and green beans amandine
- Desserts
- Apple or Chocolate Cream Pie
Peach Melba
Canadian Cheddar or Swiss Cheese with Crackers
Choice of Fresh Fruit - Sandwiches
- Ham, Tomato, or Cheese
- Beverages
- Coffee, Tea, Milk
VIA Rail Dinner Menu
- Shrimp Cocktail, Figaro Sauce
- Consommé with Sherry
- Cornish Hen, Chablis
- Poached Salmon, Mousseline
- Tournedos of Beef, Béarnaise
- Parisienne Potatoes, Julianne of Vegetables
- Caesar Salad
- Cheese Tray
- Pastry Tray
- Herbal Tea, Coffee, Milk
CP Railway Breakfast Menu
- Chilled Fresh Orange Juice
- Half Grapefruit
- Hot Cereal with Cream
- Yogurt
- Fresh Fruit Salad
- Cold Cereals with Fruits
- Ricotta Cheese with Melon
- Poached Arctic Char
- Eggs to Your Preference
- Black Forest Ham, Bacon Strips, Sausages
- O’Brien Potatoes
- Breakfast Pastry Tray, Toast
- Coffee, Tea
CP Railway Dinner Menu
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Sherry Consommé
- Baby Salmon Mousseeline
- Supreme of Chicken Dijonnaise
- Prime Rib of Western Beef, au jus
- Parsley Potatoes
- Julienne of Potatoes
- Fresh Fruit Salad
- Assorted Pastries
- Tea, Coffee
