United Airlines is improving its kosher menus with new choices of food and drink on Tel Aviv flights.
A Kosher Meal Problem
I have many clients at Award Expert who keep Kosher, meaning I frequently order Kosher meals on flights. Usually, however, it goes something like this:
“Order me a fruit plate! Only order a Kosher meal if you have to.”
“Don’t forget the Kosher meal, though it really doesn’t matter…I’ll bring my own food.”
“The Kosher food is so horrible I’m just going to probably skip it.”
I’ve never ordered a kosher meal myself, but I’ll take their word for it…the dishes always appear bland and sometimes downright unappetizing.
New Meals On United’s Newark to Tel Aviv flight
United is partnering with Fresko to include new onboard Kosher options, including:
- fresh bagels
- cheese omelet
- blintzes
- chicken marsala
- kale quinoa burger
- traditional bakery items like rugelach and black and white cookies
United Will Trial Children’s Kosher Meal
United will test out a children’s Kosher meal in all cabins on the San Francisco – Tel Aviv route. If successful, this selection will expand to all Tel Aviv flights.
New Kosher Snacks On United
They don’t sound all that different to me, but United will limit its snack baskets on Tel Aviv flights only to Kosher items:
- Deep River Potato Chips
- Cheez-It crackers
- Drizzilicious Cinnamon Swirl crisps
- Madi K’s Almonds
- M&M’S
New Kosher Wine + Coffee On United Airlines
New Kosher wine will be provisioned by Royal Wine, another New Jersey based brand specializing in Kosher wines. Selection in business class will include:
- Herzog Lineage Cabernet Sauvignon
- Herzog Lineage Sauvignon Blanc
Additionally, United will offer Kosher regular and decaf Illy coffee in all cabins. I take that to mean that the coffee will simply be instant
Kosher Options In Newark Polaris Lounge
United will offer a hot Kosher à la carte meal option in its Newark Polaris Lounge. Already, Kosher wines are offered in this lounge. Kosher snacks will also be available at United Clubs in both Newark and LaGuardia.
Charlean Gmunder, United’s Vice President of Catering Operations, said:
“We are thrilled to expand our already high-quality Kosher culinary choices to include new options we know our customers will love. We know our customers and listen to their feedback and all of these new menu items – from savory new snacks to wonderful wines – are the result of our on-going efforts to exceed customer expectations. We will continue to embrace suggestions as well as seek out ways to create the best possible onboard dining experience for everyone we proudly serve.”
Well, I have suggestion. Perhaps you rotate the menu more often, bring back lamb, and offer soup and a variety of appetizers once again?
CONCLUSION
Based upon my own feedback, these changes are long overdue. It’s nice to see United innovate its inflight meals and I sincerely hope that this innovation spreads to the entire menu. Next time I go to Tel Aviv, I’m going to try one of the Kosher meals.
It would be nice if they could improve the gluten free meals which are terrible in Business Class and pretty bad in Economy.
Kirby competes when the $$ are there – El Al, Delta on TLV cash cow
Good moves
I trust the opinions of your clients that keep kosher, that airplane kosher food isn’t great, but my Dad (and VFTW from what I remember reading) really likes the kosher meals he’s had so far.
I have no idea what the purple thing with the hole in the middle is…..and I should get my mind out of the gutter…but it like a body part. If it’s a red onion, that would be a bizarre thing to eat a half of
It’s a cinnamon roll.