If you find yourselves flying United Airlines out of Denver in first class, I highly recommend you order the bison meatloaf, which was the most delicious meal I’ve had on United in many years.
Taste Test: Bison Meatloaf On United Airlines
United offers a special dish in domestic first class from each hub, which tends to rotate every two months. Typically, it is associated with the cuisine of that city. For example, this month the choices are:
- Chicago Signature Dish – Meatballs with creamy polenta, sautéed spinach and marinara sauce
- Denver Signature Dish – Glazed bison meatloaf with mashed potatoes, bacon sautéed haricot verts and red chile sauce
- Houston Signature Dish – BBQ glazed short rib with jalapeno creamed corn, baked beans with pork belly burnt ends, and cornbread
- Los Angeles Signature Dish – Korean BBQ glazed short rib with kimchi fried rice and sesame spinach
- Newark Signature Dish – Bolognese lasagna al forno with layers of pasta, parmesan cream sauce and slow cooked meat ragout
- San Francisco Signature Dish – Kogi glazed pork with jasmine rice, blanched broccoli and kogi sticky spicy sauce
- Washington Dulles Signature Dish – Maryland blue crab cakes with succotash bacon lardons and remoulade
As I was flying out of Denver, I pre-ordered the signature dish, which was bison meatloaf. This dish has been in and out of the rotation over the last year and is generally very highly regarded, so I was happy to try it.
WOW.
I know I’m easier to please than most when it comes to airline food, but this was a very delicious dish…the bison was lean and yet flavorful with a nice mix of spices and the red chile sauce was a nice addition–much better than ketchup (the standard meatloaf topping). I also liked the mashed potatoes and sautéed haricot verts (French green beans) with chunks of bacon.
Also, it was great to see the Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding is no longer offered as dessert, though I skipped the bread and chocolate cake.
Confession: rather than fly Denver – Burbank directly (a flight that is under 900 miles and therefore does not offer meal service), I flew via San Francisco just to try the bison meatloaf. It was was a worthwhile extra stop!
United’s onboard dining is still very much hit or miss, but the seabass on my last longhaul flight, breakfast on the connection, and especially this bison meatloaf all left me very satisfied.
Have you tried the bison meatloaf on United?
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over two decades ago.
I had choices of this, among dozen pre order choices. I chose beef bourguignon.
Not only red (and white and sparkling) wine still uninteresting on short and mid haul first and business, but bourguignon was just ok, one of comfort foods .
I’m not a fan of meat loaves (screaming budget meal), but I may give it a try.
Of those regional limited menu, Kogi out of SFO was the worst: more than half was fat, and I don’t enjoy eating fat. Is it the way supposed to be, like samgyeopsal?
Did RFK Jr put you up to this? Was there a side of buffalo tallow for dipping?
Don’t make me tell you about the lavatory toilet seat, lol.
That chocolate cake would be wonderful served with cherry sauce.
I agree. It is the best preorder option of all the UA regional dishes. They should bring this online to every flight and right away. It heats well and has actually decent flavor.
I live in an areas with a number of bison farms so it’s something I grew up eating and enjoy, It is lean and likely had pork fat mixed in with the ground bison, which gives it moisture and flavor.
Teddy Roosevelt would be proud. Bison is a lean and delicious meat!
Anything but the banana pudding….
As a frequent flyer, I totally agree. I hate banana anything, so why have they been so fixed on that ingredient??
Bison meatloaf on a flight? That’s definitely a unique choice.
If you like bison meatloaf – then try Ted’s (Turner) Montana Grille’s version of the same the next time you’re in Atlanta or wherever they have an outlet. Google the restaurant’s name to see their website and the locations page for their outlets. Ted Turner is one of the top-two private land owners in the U.S. and he’s long been a bison farmer. Therefore, his small chain of excellent steakhouses that also offer bison on their menu. Check it out.
The crab cakes out of IAD is the greatest meal I’ve had on United.
That looks really good!
One of these days, I need to try the IAD crab cakes, being from Maryland and making pretty darn good crab cakes myself!
I really want to try the crab cakes too. Maybe if they survive another month, I’ll get the chance.
Go United.I flew American first class on XMAS Eve,SDQ-MIA-ORD.No AA lounge in SDQ,but open bar pre departure drink,first time I believe getting a Baileys on ice before takeoff.Inflight catering to MIA was a bag of potato chips.The meal I ordered MIA to ORD after AA kept pestering me to do so,never made it onto the flt(or the FA ate it).What was served was so disgustingly presented,cottage cheese slop with beet sprinkles, inedible chicken with tortellini,didn’t touch it,and as others noted,AA 737 first class seats are uncomfortable to say the least.
Go United.I flew American first class on XMAS Eve,SDQ-MIA-ORD.No AA lounge in SDQ,but open bar pre departure drink,first time I believe getting a Baileys on ice before takeoff.Inflight catering to MIA was a bag of potato chips.The meal I ordered MIA to ORD after AA kept pestering me to do so,never made it onto the flt(or the FA ate it).What was served was so disgustingly presented,cottage cheese slop with beet sprinkles, inedible chicken with tortellini,didn’t touch it,and as others noted,AA 737 first class seats are uncomfortable to say the least.Will be sending more business to United in the future.