Over the years I have collected thousands of airline meal pictures and I continue to gather them. Each week I highlight a particularly great…or particularly bad meal.
This week, I remember an incredible feast aboard SWISS First Class. I was flying with my uncle from New York to Zurich in 2009 and SWISS not only had brand new first class seats onboard but an incredible menu.
We encountered a delay in New York and were offered potato chips on the ground. Chips are a guilty pleasure of mine and these were great.
Once airborne, a selection of appetizers including lobster, mushroom with beets, and delicious feta cheese and sun-dried tomato wrapped in eggplant was presented.
I moved over to the guest seat in my uncle’s suite and began the real feast. First up was another appetizer course, sliced balik salmon. Although that is not my favorite thing, the quality was impeccable.
Next came a delicious tomato soup course with a dollop of sour cream and basil leave on top.
The salad cart rolled up and included a mix of leafy dark greens, heirloom tomatoes, pine nuts, and mozzarella drizzled in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread basket contained a great assortment of European-style breads and was presented with fresh butter and olive oil.
Then the main course–we both ordered filet mignon cooked medium rare. It was perfect! Served with herb butter on top and mashed rosemary mashed potatoes on the side, it was one of the best steaks I had ever had on an airplane.
Moments later, the FA appeared with sides, including mushrooms and cooked vegetables (carrots and asparagus).
The meal was truly fabulous, but it wasn’t over.
A cheese course served from the cart included grapes, dried apricots, walnuts, and fig spread.
I returned to my seat for the dessert course, a wonderful Tiramisu with sliced strawberries.
Three times in my life I have flown SWISS and all three flights were absolutely exceptional. You can read the full JFK-ZRH first class flight review here. SWISS is in a different league than Etihad and Emirates in terms of bling, but offers some of the best food I have ever had onboard a plane.
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 a decade ago.
Fresh white asparagus! Labor intensive deliciousness rarely found in the states.. The canned stuff doesn’t match the quality at all
I found white asparagus at Trader Joes a few weeks ago. It might be very seasonal but we enjoyed them with steaks.
Yum. Sometimes WF gets them and they’re gone in minutes. So sweet
So what are the best steaks you have ever had on a plane?
This was one of them.
Probably JL was best.
Had several good ones on UA as well (ex-GRU, NRT).
Good on EY, KE, and OS too.
Had the best medium rare steak on Korean business class a few years back. Astonished how good it was. Beat the hell out of BA’s first class burnt disaster a while back.
Austrian Air had some very good steaks. I’m more of a chicken person but like a good filet once in a while. The only thing I didn’t care for on Austrian was the tiny space for your feet in business class.
The 787s they added to their fleet have reverse herringbone seating, so the foot space issue is a better now (if your flight has that plabe).
Legendary. Next time on SWISS skip the dessert and hold out for copious amounts of chocolate.
Wow…I can’t believe this seat has been in service for that long!
It was brand new back then, but yes indeed…it’s an old seat by now.
I recently flew Swiss business class from Zürich to Miami, and I found their food to be thoroughly unremarkable……. In fact, their beef dish gave me the worst heartburn I’ve ever had in my life.
Probably contaminated or spoiled food. You should complain.
I’m trying to figure out, would I want to eat on an airplane or in a restaurant?
I very much doubt my hunger would be satisfied on an airplane; fancy presentation, small portions. And considering that they pour the alcohol and the meal has high sugar desserts; Very unhealthy.