I’ve had many good airline meal over the years, but few good steaks. One reason is because I like my steak cooked medium rare. The other reason is because reheating a steak at 40,000 feet is no easy task. For this week’s Meal of the Week, I recall the best airline steak I’ve ever had.
In my very first Meal of the Week I wrote about an exquisite steak I had in SWISS First Class. That steak rated #1 for six years. But finally, in late 2014, I had one that was ever so slightly better. My mouth still waters at the SWISS First Class steak, but I must admit I enjoyed my Wagyu beef on Asaina Flight 204 in First Class from Seoul to Los Angeles just a little bit more.
The meal started with caviar and garnishes–
Next up came a delicious lobster course–
Then tomato soup, in a clear broth with a pealed tomato in the center. Different than the usual creamy tomato soup but absolutely tasty–
That was followed by a green salad–
And a sorbet palate cleanser (not pictured).
Finally, the main course arrived. When the FA set it down, a look of disappointment spread over my face. I mean, look at it–
It looks like a banquet dinner.
But it sure did not taste like one.
The steak was succulent, full of flavor, and cooked perfectly medium rare (on the rarer side). I had made a special request that the meat be cooked medium rare and the FA sheepishly said she would do her best. She certainly did.
Good steak requires no butter or sauce — it should be cooked with just a touch of salt and pepper. There was some sort of brown peppercorn sauce on the side that I quickly scraped away. Totally unnecessary.
The meal was not over: next up was fruit and cheese.
Last came a wonderful dessert with cappuccino:
CONCLUSION
Some are unwilling to order steaks on an airplane. I am. While I am usually disappointed, the few occasions where the steak comes out well (well, not well, but medium rare…) makes it all worthwhile!
Have you ever had an amazing steak on airplane?
I have had it with these motherclucking steaks on this motherclucking plane!
nice report., but I gotta quit reading them before lunch, the food looks too good.
my 2 cents worth on airline steak, it seems inconsistent from my few experiences, on CX the steak going from lax to hkg was perfect, on the return trip, same order and was too well done
I’m with you – I know beef is usually a bad idea on airplanes, but I can’t help myself. The one out of 4 times I get a great steak makes it worth it.
Interestingly, the best airplane steak I’ve ever had was probably on good old United, on a flight from PTY to IAH of all routes. A beautiful filet cooked perfectly. Runner up goes to BA, on a flight from LHR to IAH, great steak with an equally great Bearnaise sauce.
Oh yeah – and please stop posting these until after 1 P.M. Central time. These posts before lunch always have me salivating at my desk, which is rather awkward when the boss walks by. 🙂
I posted this at 10pm CT last night! 😉
time for a late night snack
I always wondered how airlines cook steaks to your liking… I thought most food was already pre-cooked, and they just heat it up with the oven. How do they customize steak?
LOVE this feature by the way, always look forward to it, thanks!