Mile-high feasts

Many airlines, Indian and foreign, are now offering passengers a virtual smorgasbord of gastronomic options, the better to make the ride more comfortable for you.
From chefs on board who serve you and converse with you, to personalised options that extend to low-calorie, diabetic, low-cholesterol, gluten-free, Jain and even Kosher meals, there is a food fiesta going on 35,000 feet above the ground.
The most innovative of in-flight options is the chef-on-board programme. Business class passengers (yes, they get preferential treatment) can order from an a la carte menu comprising gourmet dishes and select liquors.
They are also personally attended to by a master chef. Air India is among the airlines that introduced this programme in 2006.The programme ran successfully for three months.
Continental Airlines is another company that runs this programme in Delhi-New York and Mumbai-New York sectors, and the response, according to the airline, has been positive.
If luxury is defined as personal indulgence, airlines are going all-out to indulge. Passengers can choose a meal tailor-made to their specific religious, cultural and dietary requirements.
On Jet Airways and Air India, for example, one can order low-cal, gluten-free, diabetic, Jain and Kosher meals. Jet also has no-salt, no-lactose and low-cholesterol meal options, while AI offers Gujarati thalis and high-fibre meals.
All this is combined with fine liquor Air India is currently promoting Indian wines such as Sula on board its Bombay-New York flights.
Continental Airlines has a selection of champagnes and wines chosen by a panel of sommeliers - hence you may order Sula Brut and Sula White.
07/06/08 Girija Duggal/Hindustan Times

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Foreign Jun 2008, Indian Aviation- In General Jun 2008, New Jun 2008