British Airways flights will feature gourmet food throughout August thanks to chef Tom Kerridge. The British cook has designed menus as part of BA’s centenary celebrations. August marks the airline’s birthday month and Kerridge’s menu will feature British flavours. The menus will provide customers with the option to enjoy a dish designed by Tom Kerridge for each course.
According to British Airways, the airline’s chefs and Kerridge have worked closely to ensure the dishes not only showcase culinary expertise, but also work well at altitude.
The menu includes a variety of fresh seasonal ingredients with a focus on British provenance.
Kerridge said of the partnership: “I’m so proud to be asked by British Airways, one of the most renowned and iconic British companies, to curate exciting onboard menus for the month of August to celebrate their centenary.
“The dishes reflect not only my vision and what I do at my restaurants but most importantly, they represent the best of British food to the world.”
First menu
Loch Fyne smoked salmon tartare with smoked mayonnaise, seeded cracker and quail egg
Fillet of halibut with roasted cucumber, girolle mushrooms, salad cream, accompanied by a classic Caesar Salad with sourdough croutons and pickled anchovies
Milk chocolate and amaretto tart with salted caramel and white chocolate sauce
Club World menu
Severn and Wye smoked salmon with asparagus and gribiche dressing
Roasted breast of corn-fed chicken with braised pearl barley risotto and wild garlic
Chocolate and amaretto tart with salted caramel sauce
World Traveller Plus menu
Salad Dorset Blue Vinny cheese, celery, grapes and sunflower seeds
Roasted breast of corn-fed chicken with braised pearl barley risotto and wild garlic
Chocolate and amaretto tart, coffee and mascarpone cream
World Traveller menu
Gourmet smoked chicken stew with a variety of summer vegetables
Carolina Martinoli, British Airways’ Director of Brand and Customer Experience, said: “Throughout our centenary year we’ve been celebrating with customers and thanking them for making us what we are today.
“As August is our birthday month, we wanted to do something to add a special touch to our customers’ journeys, and we think our partnership with Tom Kerridge will do just that.
“The dishes, which are available on all our long-haul flights, have been carefully created by Tom and his team to showcase the very best of Britain and give customers the opportunity to enjoy gourmet dishes at 35,000ft.”
Chef James Martin launched a new menu on Thomas Cook airlines earlier this year and revealed the key to making in-flight food taste good.
“First, you have the challenges around taste as food served at 36,000 feet within a pressurised cabin doesn’t taste like it does on the ground,” he said.
“We experiment with ‘umami’ rich ingredients (the recently discovered fifth taste).
“You then have the issue of storage, with the steam produced by reheating affecting taste and texture.
“We do a lot of testing and constantly evolve dishes to get them right.”
