Delicious or Disappointing? The Gamble with Airplane Food

Do you cringe at the thought of airplane food? For some, airplane food is as appetizing as week-old leftovers. Several of my friends refuse to travel without packing something to eat while on the plane. I'm a little more open. I'm usually willing to give airlines a shot at impressing my taste buds. Though I've had some disappointing meals amid various airlines, I've also had a few pleasant surprises.

One airline, which shall remain nameless, served Ramen noodles for lunch after 7 hours of the 18-hour flight had gone by. The second meal was noodles, again, but this time accompanied by undercooked and flavorless chicken.

Another time, I received a frozen TV dinner that had not been properly heated. My unpleasant airplane food experiences have included unidentifiable, mystery items; over and undercooked meals; rock hard breads; and tiny portions.

It's not all bad though. I've had some very delicious and unusual meals on flights. When I travelled to the Caribbean with one airline, I received authentic and appetizing West Indian cuisine. It was a great introduction to the food that I would soon enjoy at my destination. On another airline, I received a juicy, well done steak with a flavourful au jus, beautifully presented atop a bed of seasoned rice and accented with tender, grilled asparagus spears. For a moment, I had forgotten that I was on an airplane.

Airplane food can really be a gamble, but if you don't give it a try, you just might miss out on some truly worthwhile meals.

Improving the travel experience one trip at a time!