The frequent fliers who get it, get it. And Delta Air Lines gets it.
The Atlanta-based airline launched a refreshed food and beverage program for 2023, and Delta's inflight dining is going to look a lot more like a trendy restaurant in the sky.
On the menu: plant-based cheesesteak, seasonally inspired entrees (think Gramercy Tavern’s signature kielbasa with crushed fingerling potatoes, brussels sprouts and Dijon mustard, served with a marinated yellow beet salad with walnut pesto and ricotta), a signature Delta One dessert, plus a full bar pouring premium rosé and shaking up espresso martinis. Because what better way to fight jet lag than with a cold, caffeinated cocktail?
“Your onboard meal or beverage should be no different than your go-to restaurant at home, and that’s why we’re constantly reinventing our onboard service at Delta—we always want to surprise and delight our customers with seasonal and fresh menu options,” Kristen Manion Taylor, S.V.P. of In-Flight Service at Delta, said in a news release. “From delicious Spanish tapas plates to refreshing rosé, there is something new for everyone to enjoy.”
Delta's new inflight menus will offer a range of vegetarian options in partnership with Impossible Foods, plus partnerships with James Beard Award-winning chefs and elevated wine offerings with Imagery Estate Winery, led by award-winning winemaker Jamie Benziger.
For a sweet finish, the dessert cart will be available exclusively on Delta One's international flights. The trolley pushed down the aisle will offer treats like opera cake with chocolate ganache; a fruit and cheese plate with Cowgirl Creamery wagon wheel, Midnight Moon gouda, and grapes; and a vanilla ice cream sundae with a choice of toppings like whipped cream, cookie crumble, fruit compote and chocolate chips.
Starting in March, the espresso martini, and an Old Fashioned, will be from Tip Top, a canned craft cocktail company, on select domestic and international flights.
Eager for an in-flight espresso martini sooner? Hack the recipe on any airline. While it's illegal to open and consume your own alcohol on the aircraft, bringing your own espresso (or a packet of instant espresso) is totally fine. Order a bottle of vodka, plus a cup of ice, stir with a packet of sugar and strain, if desired, into an empty cup. Cheers!