Via information from Finnair, today we can tell you ten things you didn't know about airline food. Yesterday at lunch Peter was at Sturehof in Stockholm, where Finnair told him about their new menu collaboration with star chef Tommy Myllymäki.
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ShareTommy Myllymäki
Tommy Myllymäki is the star chef who not only won the 2007 Chef of the Year award but also a silver medal in the international Bocuse d'Ore cookery competition. Mr Myllymäki has worked at several top restaurants in Sweden and is currently creative director at Riche and Sturehof in Stockholm.
Myllymäki aircraft menu
Tommy Myllymäki's airplane menu will be served in business class on all long-haul flights departing from Helsinki from 7 February 2018. Peter got to try the entire menu at Sturehof yesterday, and you can see some of the dishes in this post. In addition to the dishes we show here, there is a Jerusalem artichoke soup, and instead of cod for the main course, you can choose braised ox cheek with apple sauce.
Ten things you didn't know about aeroplane food
What do you think about aeroplane food? Here are 10 things you may not have known.
- It is more difficult for people to taste at high altitude because of the lifting pressure and low humidity.
- Since the sense of taste is negatively affected during air travel, food is more seasoned and can therefore taste quite salty if you eat it on the ground.
- The fifth basic flavour, umami, is unaffected by high altitude, which is why umami foods, such as tomato juice, taste particularly good in the air.
- As space is limited, chefs often take into account the odour of different dishes to avoid strong smells on board.
- Aircraft meals often contain a lot of sauce. This is to avoid the food becoming too dry due to the low humidity at high altitude.
- The pilot and co-pilot always eat different meals to avoid the risk of food poisoning.
- The most popular wines on Finnair flights are Riesling and Bordeaux.
- Finnair serves over 5000 hot meals to its passengers every day.
- Every year, Finnair serves almost 1,000,000 litres of blueberry juice on its flights.
- There are over 20 different special meals in Finnair Business Class and over 10 in Economy Class, ranging from vegetarian to gluten-free.
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Kjell/Dessan says:
Those plates looked super happy ... But I don't like the food on the plane because it doesn't taste or get weird in the air. Luckily we have the motorhome and can travel where we want .... almost, depending on how far you want to go. ?
22 November 2017 - 6:43
Helena says:
The food in the motorhome is usually better 🙂 I think food on aeroplanes varies. However, you are often disappointed with tiny sandwiches that cost a lot of money 😉.
22 November 2017 - 16:51
Nils-Åke says:
Many nice dishes! But Jerusalem artichoke soup it is gas forming in the body. BUT also really good.
22 November 2017 - 9:17
Helena says:
Haha, maybe dangerous on flights then? Otherwise good 🙂
22 November 2017 - 16:52
Biggeros says:
Pure gourmet menu. Looks very tempting and appetising. Otherwise I think a lot of food looks dry and boring. Now I have never travelled with Finnair. Many things that you haven't thought about at all that happen in the air. Some things are logical and other things you haven't even considered that air pressure can affect both flavours and smells?
22 November 2017 - 9:23
Helena says:
I think food on flights varies, but it's rarely very exciting ... However, I'm usually hungry so it goes down anyway 😉.
22 November 2017 - 16:53
Mr Steve says:
I can't remember ever being positively surprised by airline food, so it might be appropriate to add a little extra spice to the dishes. That it is still nice to eat up there in the air can of course be due to the fact that you often have something nice in sight when you fly. And usually nice company.
So good that the pilot and co-pilot always eat differently. I never thought about that.
22 November 2017 - 9:59
Helena says:
A few times lately I think the aircraft food has been better actually. But sure, often it's not so exciting... Also had no idea that they eat different pilots, but it seems smart 🙂 ).
22 November 2017 - 16:55
Ama de casa says:
My goodness, what a treat! But for us in economy class it will not be as tasty. Well, there is usually food in place once you have landed. Gets like a lot of money left to eat for if you look at the difference in the ticket price 🙂.
22 November 2017 - 10:06
Helena says:
I think Myllymäki could have composed something for economy class too! 🙂 And you're right, the difference in ticket prices is usually too big to choose the better classes ...
22 November 2017 - 16:57
Ditte says:
Some aeroplane food is not so successful and within Europe we usually take something with us. We have tried business with Finnair to China and Thailand a few times and have been super happy with the food and everything else.
For flights to Asia, we prefer Finnair, which has good departure times and is fast. Often you can also find favourable tickets to Asia and also in business class Appreciated"
Nice to see Finnair refreshing the menu and Tommy Myllimäki's menu seems delicious. But I guess he doesn't cook the food...sorry. Otherwise, I think that Thai food in tourist class is ok and that Quatar and Emirates have really good food even in tourist class.
Some of what you wrote about airline food I knew because we have several friends who are pilots, but it is interesting reading.
22 November 2017 - 11:41
Helena says:
I'm glad you've been happy with the food on Finnair's long-haul flights. And haha, no unfortunately it's probably not Myllymäki who cooks the food... 😉.
22 November 2017 - 16:59
BP says:
Great dishes! Too bad they are only served in business class and on long-haul flights. Airplane food is mostly inedible, so it's a good start.
A very interesting list of points. I only knew that the pilot and co-pilot always eat different meals. The rest was new to me.
22 November 2017 - 17:39
Helena says:
I had no idea that the pilots eat different meals, but it seems smart!
23 November 2017 - 7:31
Liniz Travel says:
Interesting facts!!!! However, I think aircraft food has improved over the years. We have a wide range of options. I never fly business so it's nice that airplane food can be good anyway. Hugs
22 November 2017 - 19:55
Helena says:
I can agree with you. I also think that the food has become a little better over the years on the aircraft.
23 November 2017 - 7:32
Elisabeth says:
Looks like a nice menu. The trick is to serve it just as nicely in a plastic box.
22 November 2017 - 23:17
Helena says:
It's probably difficult to succeed completely with that... 😉 .
23 November 2017 - 7:32
Maya Nordlund says:
Have not thought much about aircraft food before, so fun to get some insider information! 🙂 I had no idea that the pilots eat differently, but it feels very safe - and logical when you think about it! 🙂
23 November 2017 - 3:33
Helena says:
I agree with you! Would be stupid to have two food poisoned pilots...!
23 November 2017 - 7:33
Lena - good for the soul says:
Interesting! Strange that the flavour changes due to air pressure and humidity!
Hug Lena
23 November 2017 - 19:39
Christine - 29°. says:
What a great menu! 🙂
25 November 2017 - 15:31