Food & Wine Magazine is a U.S.-based monthly periodical founded in 1978. For nearly 50 years, it’s been teaching about food and drink around the world, complete with
Over the years, Food & Wine has been recognized by prestigious organizations like the James Beard Foundation, the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and the American Society of Magazine Editors.
Each year, Food & Wine lists top eateries, bars, foods and beverages in a large variety of categories. So it makes sense that they’ve recently announced their top 10 international airlines for food and drink.
From Food & Wine:
To uncover the best food and drink experiences for travelers, Food & Wine polled over 400 chefs, travel experts, food and travel writers, and wine pros from across the globe for their top culinary travel experiences. We then turned the results over to our Global Advisory Board, who ranked the top nominees in each category.
These are the highlights for their winners of #6 through 10:
10. La Compagnie
- Since all seats on La Compagnie are business class, it allows the airline to be fast and nimble on its feet.
- They credit the airline with no scrimping on their meal offerings, which include a four-course meal starting with leeks garnished with shredded beef under a mango vinaigrette, a main of veal shoulder with a side of cheesy mashed potatoes, or shrimp with black rice risotto; a cheese plate of Gruyère, cabécou, and walnuts; and a chocolate mousse for an elegant finish.
9. Japan Airlines
- F&W is very impressed with JAL’s first-class drinks list.
- They feel JAL puts much care into the list, with a large variety of wines and spirits and a variety of sake and shochu.
8. Etihad Airways
- Labeling the menu for their long-haul flights “swanky,” F&W was most impressed with the airline’s breakfast, which includes eggs to order (at 30,000 feet!), with sides of hash browns, bacon and (a very British) baked beans.
- That Anglo vibe continues with the airline’s roasted beef tenderloin au jus, accompanied by heirloom carrots and steak fries.
7. Cathay Pacific
- Food & Wine acknowledged that Cathay Pacific is a four-time winner of Skytrax’s’ “world’s best” airline award, and that the airline upped its meal game about 6 years ago.
- From F&W: “Hong Kong Flavours is a bright selection of signature local dishes, clay pot rice, dim sum (at breakfast!), braised abalone, and not least, the classic dessert, a tapioca-pearl, milk-tea pudding. Beyond that, the airline’s exquisite hospitality extends past the aircraft: Its Hong Kong hub boasts five well-appointed lounges, many of which feature a teahouse, noodle bar, food hall, bar, and coffee cart. There’s even a partnership with celebrated Hong Kong restaurant Mott 32 — highlighting rotating Cantonese specials. All that to say, Cathay Pacific’s food is the ultimate in Hong Kong patriotism.“
6. Air France
- The airline has most recently teamed up with three-time Michelin-starred chef Emmanuel Renaut for its flights out of Paris
- They also have three-time Michelin star winner and French expatriate Dominique Crenn on their team – she designed the meals for flights departing San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami.
- AND three-starred French expat Olivier Chaignon designed their meals on flights that fly out of Tokyo.
#5 through #1
We’ll let you read that on Food & Wine’s page.
But – spoilers – 7 out of the 10 airlines are Asian.
5 of those 7 represent two specific areas: The Arabian Peninsula and Japan.
And – this part is interesting:
The list’s second great narrative lies rooted in more recent geopolitical history: Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines share a past with Etihad and Emirates as polyglot former trading nexuses within the British Empire. Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi came to the Empire and exited it along vastly different political tracks, but half of the 10 awardees were founded and are based in countries that were British. Great Britain’s clipper ships functioned as massive “influencers” that introduced these cuisines to the world.
Which airline is your favorite for its great food and drink?
Feature Image: Emirates Airline
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