80 million meals a year: the world's largest restaurant is located at 35,000 feet
Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, has provided some data about the food services it offers on board [...]
Emirates
Emirates, the largest company in the Middle East, provided some data about the gastronomic services It offers on board its flights. At 490 flights operated daily are served 215 thousand meals for a total of 77 million meals offered each year: this is the scope of the UAE flag carrier's service.
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To prepare these meals, as the company explains, the following are needed 1400 cooks working both in the Emirates Flight Catering Facility Dubai and both in catering partners scattered around the globe.
Emirates wants to create dishes that can compete with those served in the world's best restaurants and, for this, it uses top quality ingredients and offers some regional specialties among which are the truffle, the foie gras and the black cod but also thecanadian lobster, the Japanese nori seaweed and the sushi.
But not only that: on many European routes, in fact, the Emirates carrier offers economy class passengers the Marshfield's ice cream, an organic ice cream with 60% milk from a family farm in the Cotswolds, UK. On the routes from Ireland, however, the Killowen Farm yogurt, a producer of yogurt from single-origin milk.
Emirates, then, also carefully selects the snacks: It is estimated that, in 2023, passengers consumed over 2 million packages of dried fruit.
Equally broad, finally, is the vegan proposal: after registering a'40% surge in demand for plant-based dishes by customers, Emirates will introduce - during 2024 -. A range of new vegan dishes on board flights and inside lounges. Let us give some examples. The passengers of economy will be able to enjoy, among other things, chickpea crepe stuffed with carrot concassé, peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes or they can experience a pumpkin omelet. Those traveling in premium economy, instead, may choose jackfruit curry with basmati rice or a chestnut and pumpkin stew.
The selection of vegan desserts in economy class includes a coconut mousse with mango compote, a banana cake with chocolate crumble or, alternatively, a chocolate pudding with cocoa sprinkle. Premium economy passengers, on the other hand, can choose between a chocolate and tofu cheesecake and a raspberry parfait with a touch of orange compote.
Again: to travelers from business class a range of elegant and sophisticated dishes will be offered, including roasted cauliflower with grains or noodles with a warm Asian tuff ragu and shitake mushrooms; those with room for dessert will then be able to choose between a tropical coconut and pineapple cake and a dark chocolate and strawberry compote cheesecake. In first class, finally, diners will have the opportunity to enjoy top-notch vegan recipes including creamy polenta cake with thyme mushroom ragout and sautéed spinach with a vegetable sauce.
First-class desserts feature thoughtful contrasts, including the tartness of rhubarb tempered by strawberries, chantilly cream and raspberry tuille or a hot chocolate with salted caramel sauce and cashew cream.
Okay, we get it, on Emirates flights there is no starvation. But what are travelers drinking? According to last year's data, in addition to a selection of fine wines and exclusive champagne, customers of the Middle Eastern carrier drank 1.2 million liters of orange juice and 70 kg of ground coffee and used nearly 2.5 million tea bags.
