…and the winners of the 2014 Culinary Travel Awards are Emirates, Delta, Etihad, Singapore, and Oman air. Emirates took home the “Experts’ Choice” award, Oman received the “Readers’ Choice” award, and Delta, Etihad, and Singapore received the “Outstanding” awards. From the press release:
Emirates – Experts’ Chocie
For the second year in a row, we have been dazzled by the quality of food and service enjoyed on Emirates. It’s always a pleasure starting and ending a trip with an airline that’s dedicated to making a journey’s dining painless, memorable, and relaxing. Seven-course meals are served on Royal Doulton fine bone china, alongside an extensive range of vintage wines. Award-winning chefs have created menus that are not only exquisite but also healthy, placing a huge emphasis on dishes that are low in fat, salt, and added sugar. During a long trip, there is nothing better than freshening up with a shower (there are two onboard) before enjoying delicacies such as wild Iranian caviar with sour cream and blinis or lamb noisette with roasted seasonal vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes, while sipping champagne in a spacious and private first-class suite. Our expert panel loves being able to stretch their legs and socialize in the business and first-class lounges with a traditional Arabic meze and cocktails, or relax and find comfort with a fresh espresso and craquelin—an airy and light hazelnut cake covered with rich chocolate ganache. Dining in this kind of impeccable luxury is comparable to dining in any gourmet restaurant or five-star hotel we’ve encountered the world over. We can’t help but appreciate the attention to detail on every aspect of a flight with Emirates, making the travel just as memorable as the destination itself.
Oman Air – Readers’ Choice
The traditional Arabic greeting of dates and coffee is just the beginning of a dining service that focuses on the essential details that make a difference at 40,000 feet. It certainly set the right mood for our readers, who selected Oman Air’s first and business class dining as their favorite in 2014. Consider the cabins: small and intimate, making meal service feel more like a private catered affair. Bespoke full-size china and glassware, elegant cutlery, and a focus on seasonal ingredients turn the meal into something so much more than airline fare. Oman plans the lavishness of its meals based on the length of the flights, making the daily trip from London to Muscat a particular favorite among our readers: A substantial dinner menu is one of the rewards, starting with a caviar and champagne service (Dom Pérignon) followed by several canapés, appetizers such as a winter pumpkin-and-apple soup, and entrées along the lines of poached fillet of beef, Loch Fyne salmon, pan-fried sea bass with cherry tomato, herb, and olive salsa, and saffron risotto with grilled asparagus. Diners also have the option of a wonderful Arabic meze with traditional kibbeh, tabbouleh, spinach fatayer, olives, and labneh with fresh mint, followed by the reader favorite, “Arabian Festival Combination Dish”—king prawn kebab, steamed chickpea rice with pine nuts, and seasoned okra. After dessert (chocolate mousse gâteau or baklava), guests indulge in a cheese plate served with Croft vintage port. If all this delicious decadence is not enough, look forward to waking up well-rested to the scent of freshly brewed coffee and a bowl of Bircher muesli, yogurt, and fresh fruit—a light repast before landing.
Check out the full list of 2014 Culinary Travel Award winners here.
Related
- Trip Report Part 1 – Emirates First Class on the A380 w/ Shower Suite – LAX – Dubai (DXB)
- Trip Report Part 2 – Emirates First Class on the A380 w/ Shower Suite – LAX – Dubai (DXB)
- Emirates First Class Lounge – A380 Terminal – Concourse A – Dubai
- Emirates First Class Lounge Concourse B – Dubai
- Trip Report – Emirates First Class DXB- Malé (MLE) – DXB B777-200LR
- Emirates Business Class Lounge – A380 Terminal – Concourse A – Dubai
- Trip Report – Emirates First Class DXB – Milan (MXP)
- Trip Report – Emirates Lounge Milan
- Trip Report – Emirates First Class MXP – JFK B777-300ER
Want a flight on Emirates? Consider Juicy Miles for all your award booking needs.
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
