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.
Sometimes an airline meal can be ugly, not exactly as described, but still incredibly delicious. That was the case with my chicken fajitas on Virgin Atlantic on my recent journey from Los Angeles to London.
Virgin Atlantic May Not Have Served Chicken Fajitas, But The Slop Was Delicious
Dinner was served after takeoff on our 10-hour journey to London Heathrow. Choices were described as an Asian noodle dish or chicken fajitas. When I think of fajitas, I think of a sizzling skillet with meat and vegetables crackling.
Instead, I was served what can best be described as a casserole with Spanish rice, chicken chunks, and peppers topped in melted cheese. That’s not fajitas, but it was a surprisingly satisfying supper.
Earlier, I had enjoyed a Texas BBQ dinner (mouth-watering brisket), so I was not even all that hungry, but for purposes of this review (and let’s face it, because I never turn down “Mexican” food…), I ate it. Not bad at all and frankly better than many premium cabin meals I have been served this year.
If you would like to read my full flight review, you can do so here.
> Read More: Virgin Atlantic 787-9 Economy Class Review
CONCLUSION
While the chicken fajitas were not really chicken fajitas, the late-night snack was respectable for an economy class meal and the perfect blend of salt, fat, and carbs that quickly induced slumber.
Virgin Atlantic’s meal service is still not what it was prior to the pandemic (cost savings under the false pretense of protecting your health), but the “chicken fajitas” are recommended.
What utter swill. I can’t believe the difference with which airline meals are treated in reviews here. Remember the criticism of Egypt Air? Im not saying that it wasn’t warranted, more that the same yard stick doesn’t seem to apply.
Are you kidding? EgyptAir was Business Class and the fish was beyond nasty. The pre-arrival meal was a total joke.
As I said, the criticism of Egypt Air was warranted, but, gee some of the slop you give a pass to…..
Just because it looks like crap doesn’t mean it doesn’t taste good. I have had similar experiences flying, I look at the food and think what am I about to eat. Then I eat it and it tastes amazing. Presentation is only one part of the meal, the taste is what is important. You almost sound like you are picking a fight just for the sake of it.
I understand the flight is leaving from Los Angeles which has a large Mexican population, but why would a British airline serve Chicken Fajitas? To me this doesn’t make sense. Surely they could have come up with something a little more like English cuisine.
And why call it chicken fajitas when it was more like chicken enchiladas without a tortilla?
Best economy meal ever for me
November 1984. TWA Heathrow to jfk
With the drinks service they served honey roast peanuts – the main event was a wonderful honey mustard chicken with mini roasties and mixed veg.
Yes this was my first ever transatlantic (done it over 100 times since) but this meal has truly stood out above many mediocre meals in economy on virgin, BA, UA, AA, AC etc.
I’ve also flown business and upper class numerous times (not just transatlantic) on NW, PA, TW, BA, VS, NZ, LH, LX, MH, CX, JL etc…
For me personally…JL…
Looks like the contents of a diaper
Food should look appetizing,(not pig slop)I love what northern Europeans and Japanese do with dill,herbs and vegetables to that end.If I recall right,you were also served a very nice breakfast,a pastry-croissant,skyr,coffee,juice,…that would please me in biz class
SHIM NEEDS TO GET OVER HERMSELF
AND MAYBE CONSIDER SOMETHING
WORTHWHILE LIKE : READING A GOOD BOOK ; SAYING A FEW PRAYERS FOR OTHERS (THAT IS IF SHIM CAN GET AWAY
FROM HERMSELF – A FORMIDABLE TASK !)
AND/OR VOLUNTEERING !
THEN TOO , WITH TRAVEL BENEFITS THERE IS ALWAYS THEE POSSIBILITY OF
VISITING THEE BRITISH ISLES AND LIVING
HAPPILY EVER-AFTER IN A KILT OF A CLAN
OF SHIMS OWN CHOOSING ! A PICTURE ON
THEE MANTLE BAD ENOUGH BUT SITTING
AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE ? NEVER !
Looks exactly like a Stouffer/ Lean cuisine. I have forgotten what they called it. Chicken Siussa ?( Or something). The rice didn’t have olives. But I liked it. Supposed to be chicken in a sour cream sauce with cheese on top.
American is known to make these lean cuisine things a year in advance and freeze until serving,being One World partners,who knows?..Charley(Charlotte?)Barley seems to have eaten British mad cow disease and it’s affecting the poor things brain.Some kind soul will say a prayer for him/her,I’m sure someone will,anyday now
Not bad looking slop…
I have to think, if you were served fajitas that looked Ike that on a US based airline, you might have trashed the review. It’s normal on this forum for people to default to bashing all US based airlines over bad food regardless of how it tastes.
Even though I read this “food news,” I will not mix FOOD and FLYING for various reasons. It presents a toilet problem. I may easily get nauseated by turbulence with food in my stomach. And, why pay extra money for food on an airplane when you can enjoy better food in a restaurant at your destination? Economy class for me.