Culinary experts on elevating the in-flight meal experience

On a recent Air India flight this writer noticed that several travellers politely but firmly turned down the inflight meal When our meal was served we realised why mdash it comprised a dry bread roll a potato pattice topped with runny daal and a sicklysweet cakecustard hybrid So when we learned that a menu overhaul was on the cards as one of the enhancements the Maharaja will receive as part of its recent handover we were understandably excited FampB experts and frequent travellers offer their suggestionsMore snacks pleaseAlthough certain airlines have improved their inflight catering variety is limited especially for frequent travellers Bento boxstyle meals work well so the passenger can snack on it later mdash most people look forward to snacking particularly on long flights Cheeses crackers chocolates and beverages are always appreciated Cuisines from Southeast Asia and Mexico that are popular among Indians should be included Small tidbits such as berries cruditeacutes with a dip crisps good viennoiserie popcorn olives breakfast muffins and trail mixes also work There should be an option for a light meal at any time as more fliers are health conscious Refreshing options can be grilled vegetarian proteins mezze platters salads chia puddings and wrapsInflight memory I decided to go vegetarian for a while and on a particular flight I had prebooked a vegetarian meal What surprised me was that the only option available was steamed veggies with rice and a sauce The sauce had shellfish in it so it wasnrsquot even vegetarian It was a long flight and I had to load up on crackers and bread While the crew tried to be helpful most didnrsquot even understand that an egg is not a vegetableUrvika Kanoi chef and owner Cafe DucoGo regional with a flairThe Indian palate has become more discerning and so experimentation is key They could introduce bento boxstyle meal with different cuisines It would be great to see a Vietnamese spring roll for instance Even with traditional Indian food steer clear of paneer or chicken makhani with daal and rice to meals with more regional flair such as a xacuti curry or ishtew Why not have themed meals to extend the travel experienceInflight memory While on an Emirates flight from Chicago to India I was served a delicious mutton biryani The rice and mutton were wellcooked it had a hint of kewra and dry fruits It reminded me of the power of a great inflight mealNikhil Bendre chef and content creator Urban PlatterFocus on timing and balanceOne of the biggest mistakes airlines make is relying on thick rolls and wraps In the absence of adequate heating provisions on the aircraft they can taste stodgy and breadey A balance of carbohydrate and noncarbohydratebased elements can help as can adding a mix of colours and textures For instance a croquette with a tomato base and a little fresh salad would make a light but tasty inflight meal Also being conscious about the time of day the food will be served at is important I remember taking an early morning flight and being served spicy pav bhaji Instead a bowl of muesli with a yoghurt parfait would have been refreshing Airlines need to move away from inflight food being limited to batata vadas medu vadas and alu bondas There are healthier grains and millets that can keep well even during longer flightsInflight memory Air India has some of the best vegetarian meals on international flights As an Indian flight carrier they are conscious about vegetarian fliers and make a good attempt with their vegetarian fare as compared to several other airlines especially those originating in Europe and further west that tend to ignore their vegetarian menus They should extend that ethos to their domestic flightsChef Harsh Shodhan founder Gourmet To GoMake it appealingIn the Gen Z era food must appeal to your eyes and your stomach While I do appreciate that Air India has positioned itself as an affordable airline when creativity is set in force delectable meals are possible even at a low cost and a profit margin They should add more healthy options which I see a dearth of mdash a vegan carrot cake sugarfree chocolate cake parma rosa spaghetti and grilled chicken would work well Also preplated food is a must in 2022Inflight memory Due to oversleeping I barely made it to an early flight and was starving even before Irsquod passed the security check I was happy that my flight included a meal but that relief dissipated when I ate the meal that seemed more like a budget train meal than the slightly more sophisticated plate I was expecting to seePalak Shah owner Plush Cafe