That business trip may have you making the last dash to join the clan for your annual yuletide festivities, and on the way home, some airlines will be doing their best to get you in a jolly mood by serving something special.
British Airways – whose fleet almost didn’t take to the skies due to a militant union – is bringing out the traditional turkey, mince pies and a Christmas cake meant for all passengers regardless of class. The carrier expects to dish out a total of 38,000 meals these next few days.
From December 24 to 26, Cathay Pacific will be treating its passengers, whether in the front or back of the plane, to fruit cake (pictured) prepared with a fusion of Guinness stout and spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves and crowned with marzipan toppings and royal icing (hard icing).
Malaysia Airlines will be indulging their First and Business Class patrons on flights from Kuala Lumpur to Europe and Australia with a main course of roast turkey stuffed with chestnuts and garnished with gravy. It will be complemented by side dishes of buttered brussel sprouts, baby carrots, roasted new potatoes and cranberry jelly. Dessert is a Christmas pudding with crème anglaise sauce. In Economy, the fare is almost similar and the dessert is a traditional Christmas log cake.
There will even be giveaways of steamed rich fruit cakes to First and Business Class occupants and ginger snap cookies and a box of Venise minted ganache (combination of chopped chocolate and heavy cream) to Economy Class guests. These goodies will be served from December 24 to January 1, 2010.
Singapore Airlines also goes the roast turkey route for all classes on the eve and Christmas Day, and its version comes with cranberry sauce and side servings of potatoes. Passengers will be biting into a Yule log cake as well. The extra for Suite and First Class passengers will be a cream of chestnut soup laced with Italian parsley oil as well as warm Christmas pudding with brandy-flavoured custard.
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific, which charges for onboard consumables, has included in its December-only menu the ensaymada, a favourite Filipino pastry with Spanish origins. It's priced at US$1.10, while the white chocolate mocha cake costs US$1.70.
Liu Hongzuo
