HOTEL giant Accor is moving into the fast food market—with a difference.

Its Sofitel hotel chain last week began marketing a new concept targeting diners who are time poor but still want a quality meal at lunchtime

Its introduced its “30 Minute Lunch” which comprises a four course ‘tasting plate’ that can be ordered and served within 30 minutes. And taking a leaf out of some of the fast food giant’s books, the hotel’s are guaranteeing that if the time limit is not reached then the customer will receive their order for free.

The lunch priced at between $25 and $38 includes an appetiser, soup or salad, entrée, and dessert. All are well presented and will highlight the best local produce, said Sofitel.

Sofitel vice president Asia Pacific Thomas Van Vliet said while time is a challenge for busy executives it should not mean they have to “compromise on quality”. He said the concept offers “fine dining experience that can be served efficiently with minimum fuss”.

“The 30 Minute Lunch…fits into the busiest schedule and offers a new alternative to lunches that leave you too full tp concentrate on work afterwards,” Van Vliet said.

“The food may be fast but there is no way you could compare it to ‘fast food’ and I think people will be surprised at the high standard of food they can get at this price and in such a short time frame.”

Sofitel said the menu might include dishes like tropical hot smoked salmon fillet with caper and tomato salsa as an appetiser; duck consommé with wild mushrooms for soup/salad selection; eye fillet of beef with exotic mushroom pie or north Queensland barramundi fillet with baby leeks and lemon myrtle beurre blanc for entrée; and cointreau-infused crème caramel with orange zest or a rhubarb brulee for dessert. Most Sofitels will offer three choices of each appetiser, entrée, soup/salad selection and dessert.

The executive chefs of each hotel have designed their menus to showcase the best regional produce and to highlight signature dishes and flavours from their own restaurants.