Uncategorised13 min(s) read
Uncategorised13 min(s) read
uncategorised13 min(s) read
uncategorised3 min(s) read
Thai Airways
One cuisine that seems perfectly suited to air travel is Asian. Simple, boldy spiced cookery goes a long way to pleasing a potentially cantankerous aeroplane crowd. Thai Airways deliver some of the best. A typical lunch consists of lemon chicken, fried rice and tiramisu - a marked improvement on stereotypical airbourne fare.
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BAPJCf_Qm18/]]Ghan Train
Airlines do not have a monopoly on delicious food. Railways are more than capable of packing their own serious culinary punch, though they are certainly more exclusive. A great example is the Queen Adelaide restaurant on Australia’s Ghan train, who specialise in luxury cross country travel. The restaurant’s menu changes seasonally and features classic dishes cooked by some of Australia’s top chefs.
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BY9sdtjFpe0/]]Great Western Railway
Considering the amount of time we spend whinging about trains, you’d never guess that Britain has its very own quality train based dining experience. On select GWR services to and from Cornwall, the Pullman Dining Car delivers exceptional British cuisine to diners as they speed along at over 100mph. With lemon sole, duck and Sunday lunch all possibilities, this is one of Britain’s best kept travel secrets.
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BTcOeshh1Un/]]Singapore Airlines
With a reputation for quality, Singapore Airlines has long been the pinnacle for plane food. While their economy offerings are still exceptional, it is the top end choices that really impress. Lobster thermidor and Japenese Kyo-Kaiseki are just two of the luxurious options that await more exclusive travellers in first class. Better start saving.
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Napa Valley Wine Train
Another exceptional culinary offering courtesy of Pullman, the Napa Valley Wine Train experience is as historical as it is delicious. With dedicated dining voyages in 100 year old carriages through America’s most celebrated vineyards, this is one travel experience that’s all about the journey rather than the destination. Award winning menus and a fantastic wine selection make this trip a must for any history loving foodie.
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BcIRXLIHW4n/]]Turkish Airlines
Great travel food doesn’t always necessitate breaking the bank. According to plane food expert (yes, that is a thing) Nikos Loukas, some of the best food found anywhere in the sky comes from Turkish Airlines. With domestic flights delivering a sandwich and Turkish meze, and long haul flights serving freshly prepped ingredients as standard, you can expect to be well catered for on Turkish Airlines.
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BLH1dhJgUkw/]]Orient Express
The forerunner in luxury travel and foodie excellence, the Orient Express still offers an exemplary experience for food lovers. The train may not be what it once was and its route may have changed, but the prospect of quality food as you’re whisked across Europe is still an undeniably enticing one. Barring any murders, this experience delivers on every front.
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/hashtag_legend/status/723448089353195520]] As these options prove, travel does not have to mean mediocrity when it comes to food. If you’re fortunate to find yourself travelling with one of these businesses, count yourself lucky. You can relax and look forward with anticipation to your next mealtime.uncategorised4 min(s) read
Events in the Sky is an unusual form of travelling roadshow. Suspending their guests 100 foot in the air, it affords those brave enough with unobstructed views of their surroundings whether that’s the sands of Dubai, the arrondissements of Paris or the skyline of London. Add to this potentially nerve-wracking experience the fact that there is also a kitchen aboard your craft and it sounds like a recipe for disaster. However, I was more than happy to put my life in the hands of the professionals so headed to the O2 in North Greenwich where, for the next 10 weeks, London in the Sky is serving dinners with a difference.
The table, seats, kitchen and canopy are all attached to one platform which is hoisted into the air by a crane. Complete with oh-so millennial music, a fantastically Irish host and more selfies than you could shake an extendable selfie pole at, the experience has the vibe of a party rather than a dinner.
The first course is served cold and presented to you while the table is still on the ground. This way, as you ascend and inevitably take 100 photos, your food doesn’t lose its heat. This course consisted of heritage tomato and black olive salad with crouton toast.
It boasted flavours of basil and red onion but most impressive was the addition of feta which was whipped into a sauce. Combined with the crouton toast, it created a contrast of cream and crunch which, like the views, was to be savoured.
In other cities around the world, the views can be slightly more obstructed. Here, due to the immediate area’s relatively low-lying skyline, you are able to see the steel-and-glass towers of Canary Wharf, the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich and the O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome) in a whole new way.
The main took the form of corn-fed chicken, crushed new potato cake, courgette mousse, peas and broad beans. Sadly, I’d spent so long taking photos that by the time I came to eat it, it was rather cold. Needless to say, when you’re 100 foot up, the elements get to your food rather quickly.
Dessert was a citrus tart with raspberry coulis and lemon crisp. The perfect combination of sweet and tart flavours, this made for a refreshing end to an exhilarating meal. As the crane slowly lowered us down, we came to terms with reentering the world of ground-dwellers.
As well as the “standard” dinner in the sky, there's a range of options such as breakfast, prosecco and cake, bottomless brunch, lunch, cocktails, high tea and even “high in the sky” - a special evening of CBD-infused cocktails consumed high above the hustle and bustle of the city.
Food is definitely a secondary focus as, needless to say, the kitchen facilities are limited. In any case, diners seem to pay far more attention to their surroundings including the inevitable discovery that the chairs both recline and rotate slightly. Dangling one’s feet becomes a rite of passage for any first-time diners.
Perhaps the most bizarre thing about the experience of dining 100 foot up is the surreal moment when you see the other of the two tables next to you. This is actually deliberate, as staff on the ground slowly rotate the tables with ropes so that diners get a 360-degree view. Finally putting things in perspective, seeing the other 22-seater table reminds you of just what a rarefied environment - and unforgettable meal - this is.
London in the Sky is running at the O2 in North Greenwich until 15 July. Each flight lasts just over an hour and tickets start at £89 ($117)
health3 min(s) read
Unless you're lucky enough to travel in first class, most of us don't expect fine dining on a flight - but it turns out we might be better off not eating anything on-board at all. Writing on a Quora thread, user Shreyas P, who claims to have been a flight attendant for five major airlines, warned that airline meals are "very unhealthy", even if you've opted for the raw or vegan option - hard to save the planet 40,000 feet in the air (especially in a gas guzzling machine).
"The food on your tray is prepared not in the galley but in the aircraft catering which is often done 12 hours before and even days before the aircraft departure," Shreyas wrote. "Now, how many such industries do you know where the hot or cold meal was made days before you consume it?" If you're flying in the morning or overnight, she said you should be particularly wary of your breakfast.
"The scrambled egg or the omelette that you just had was not only egg but can be a mix of egg and other substitute," Shreyas wrote. "That cut fruit which is on your tray still looks fresh and how is that possible when it was cut hours before the departure, have you ever wondered?"
Shreyas added that most people aren't aware that when a plane is cruising:
"The air pressure in an airliner is equal to about 8,000 feet above sea level (6,000 ft in a Dreamliner). In addition to making your ears pop, it causes our taste buds and sense of smell to go partially numb, compared to on ground. This has major impact on how food tastes and smells. This makes it super bland. So airline catering in recent years has really pumped up the spices, salts, and fats - all to make your mouth happy."
Shreyas said this is one of the reasons why the cabin crew prefer to bring their own food on board. The flight attendant added: "A passenger bringing his own food shows a lot of awareness." According to a flight attendant who spoke anonymously to Vice, you should watch out for the drinks, too.
"Don't drink the coffee on airplanes," she said. "It's the same potable water that goes through the bathroom system. "We recently had a test for E. coli in our water, and it didn't pass, and then maintenance came on and hit a couple buttons and it passed. So avoid any hot water or tea. Bottled and ice is fine, of course."
Even celebrities bear caution when they are flying. He may be able to eat at his own restaurants when he's on the go but if Gordon Ramsay's not flying out of Heathrow, he'll never, ever eat plane food: "there’s no f***ing way I eat on planes."
Ramsay says: "I worked for airlines for ten years, so I know where this food’s been and where it goes, and how long it took before it got on board." The same applies to business and first class, so it might be a good idea to start eating before you get on the plane. Or, bring a cheeseburger or fried chicken onboard. I'm sure no one will mind that much on a long-haul flight.
travel1 min(s) read
"What's the deal with aeroplane food?" is one of those questions comedians always seem to ask. I'll tell you what's wrong with it: it usually sucks, tasting cold, bland and slightly soggy, it's not something you can ever look forward to.
However, now Jet2.com has announced it will be the first UK airline to serve food from Nando's on their flights.
The budget airline intends to introduce Nando's Peri-Peri Flight Bites to their flights: a dip and dunk 'Nando's Box', which includes houmous, Peri-Peri drizzle and salted pita chips, and Nando's Half-popped Corn.
Check out this alarming video of a passenger being thrown off of a plane below:
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In a recent statement, spokesperson for Jet2.com said: "To give customers even more reason to feel sky-high with excitement this summer, Nando's vouchers can also be found in selected Nando's boxes onboard, entitling one person to a free Nando's meal. The new in-flight menu is Jet2.com's biggest and best yet, with a number of new additions to give customers more choice and variety than ever."
"Following the introduction of its first-ever in-flight vegan meal earlier this year, the warming and hearty penne arrabbiata pasta dish, the company has added the vegan and gluten-free 'Gnaw' chocolate bar, with Nando's Half-popped Corn also suitable for vegans."
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Meanwhile, Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy stated: "The addition of these two fantastic snacking options give our customers even more great choice than ever, and mean that we are the first UK airline to offer Nando's products on our in-flight menu. We have already made a number of exciting changes to our menu this year, and we are sure this brand new menu will delight customers even more."
He added: "We pride ourselves on delivering the very best customer service in every area, which was recognised at the recent TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for airlines where we won five awards, and we can't wait for our customers to try the exciting choice on this new menu."
Man, I'm actually now looking forward to my next flight: are you?