Amtrak: New gourmet menu

A new menu for first-class passengers on Amtrak's high-speed Boston-Washington service was developed with help from one of Washington's best-known chefs, Michel Richard.

Richard, owner of Washington's Michel Richard Citronelle and Central Michel Richard, was part of an eight-member team that came up with the new choices for the Acela Express, Amtrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell said Tuesday.

Among the recipes Richard contributed was braised short ribs with cheesy grits, Connell said.

Other options in the new fall-winter menu include seared salmon, chicken Pa Nang, and polenta cakes with mushroom ragout.

At-seat meal service is included in the price of a first-class ticket, which ranges from $250 to $340 for the entire Boston-Washington trip. The new menu went into effect Wednesday.

The previous menu came from a list of standard choices offered by a contractor, while the new menu was developed specially by Amtrak's team and given to the contractor to implement, Connell said.

Richard will continue with the project as the team develops a spring/summer menu, Connell said.