My dissatisfaction with Emirates is due to the food. Poor choice for vegetarians and very poor timing of service of food on the longest flights. My Partner & I travelled Business Class from Manchester to Auckland (via Dubai) and return.We're vegetarian but our Agent told us that Emirates do not offer a vegetarian option - only Vegan or A La Carte(ALC).. We thought this odd but selected Vegan. We checked this online and could not find an option to select Vegetarian as one usually can with airlines.On the first flight the flight attendant (FA) approached me and, having established my name whispered 'you are vegan' as though describing some infectious disease! As it was I didn't want to eat late at night so I declined the meal after take off.When breakfast was being served the FA was taking orders but passed me by. I asked if she intended to take my order. She said no as I was just getting the vegan option. When I asked what this was she said 'I think rice and vegetables'. This sounded a bit miserable so I opted for a la carte as the continental option was vegetarian.On the second flight I was able to choose vegetarian options from the ALC, just leaving the meat.We changed our preference to ALC for the return leg. There was no option to select vegetarian.Again I didn't want the late night meal after take off. and chose vegetarian for breakfast. However the time of serving breakfast was appalling. Everyone on the flight was surely on New Zealand time. Breakfast was not served until 11am New Zealand time - some 12 hours after the evening meal served after take off. This was ridiculous. I was left very very hungry and I could see that others felt the same. There had been no indication from the Cabin Crew as to when breakfast was to be served and we all thought that it would be in a timely manner. Light bites were available but I didn't want to eat these in case breakfast was imminent. When I asked a FA at 8am when breakfast would be served she said ' a couple of hours'. It was 3 hours before it came.I did not expect to be so thoroughly uncomfortable in Business Class. I have quite a small appetite - goodness knows how anyone who needed to eat more regularly felt.This was appalling service.On our final flight Dubai to Manchester there was no vegetarian option at all on the main course. I therefore opted for two of the third course (as the menu said I could) - namely fruit and cheese and biscuits. The FA asked me to choose one in case both weren't available. I was astonished by this as the menu says specifically that one can choose 2 third courses if the main course doesn't suit. The FA did bring both but acted as though she were doing me a favour.Surely out of three options on the main meal there should be a vegetarian option as many people are now vegetarian?I am extremely disappointed with the service received. I contacted Emirates about this and was told that I should have pre selected my meal online. I had no idea that I could do this. I had looked online to check re the vegetarian options and I certainly did not see it.I was also told that meal times are available online. Again - this is not at all clear. It certainly is not available anywhere obvious.We are very disappointed and will not fly with Emirates again.
