Flying the Friendly Skies
For the next several weeks, I’ll be writing from “the field.” On any long plane journey, I generally begin my travels with two favorites, perhaps not the most healthiest…no, not organic, not local, but darn good plane food.
On the first of a very, very, VERY long plane ride (s), I experienced the American flight food experience. On American Airlines, I enjoyed a light snack of no-name peanuts and cheese crispies (I thought peanut went by the wayside with allergies and what not), a large soda, and a meal of soggy penne pasta with chicken, cheddar-like wedge of cheese-thing and Pepperidge Farm toasted sesame crackers.
I then tried the British Way…and they did not disappoint. Even in economy class, British Airway showed off first with sour cream and chive pretzel nuggets and a perfectly sized soda. Next came Piri Piri Chicken with White Cabbage and a Chocolate Mousse Cake with Mandarin Sauce…served in a pot made of sugar cane fibers, completely compostable within 3 months. A Diarystix with a shot of skim milk, Lily O’Brien’s chocolatti and pineapple from Costa Rica rounded the meal. The Brits are trying to keep it local as well as environmentally friendly – butter from England, mineral water from Scotland, and bread “made just for me,” with an expiry convincing enough to me to think that bread was made…just for me. For snacks: quarter sandwiches of Cheddar Cheese with Spiced Gooseberry and Chutney Honey Mustard Chicken, both light and delightful – especially for airplane food. This snack even included a tidbit on the origins of the sandwich.
Finally, Air India – not exactly known – for its service, impressed with the twist on peanuts with Chana Masala. The problem was the meal – it was somehow forgotten to be heated!
At least the tradition of tea and cookies remained.
So what of this mini-market research? That all plane food is NOT created equal, and that airlines and its passengers can push for change that is environmental and locally-friendly- even as they travel transcontinently.
Category: South/Southeast Asia, Travel & Culture, US & Canada
Wohoo! go British Airways
Not surprised they would come out top!
At least you got food. The last couple of cross-country flights I was on had no food, very surprising. Though, based on your “market research,” perhaps I was merely crossing the wrong country.