Beef tenderloin accompanied by green beans, crispy bacon and baked potatoes with onions; Mediterranean tuna salad and mascarpone cheesecake with Espresso cream
It has been a long time coming, but since last April 1st it has been possible to eat, and do it in a sublime way, in Business class on Iberia Express airline flights. If at the end of 2020 it was its older sister, the airline Iberia, which announced the delicious agreement with its new provider, Do&Co, to renew its entire gastronomic offer, both on flights and in lounges, Iberia Express has just presented it now, and it is now possible to enjoy it on board most of its flights. We have already verified that the pairing between Spanish aviation and one of the most prestigious airline catering in the world works perfectly.
The excellent news of knowing that the passengers of the IAG group (Iberia, Iberia Express and British Airways in the United Kingdom) were going to be able to enjoy one of the highest quality gastronomic bets on the flights of these airlines, and that the pandemic withheld for obvious reasons, has finally come full circle. It has been waiting, but Iberia Express already serves its new menus on board, currently focused on its Business class, signed by the Do&Co seal, which represents a before and after in the gastronomic offer of the airline.
That the singularity of gastronomy on board an airplane must be taken into account is something that Do&Co has more than overcome, not in vain the company, founded and led by Attila Dogudan, is a restaurant giant based in Vienna. The company is not only an expert in the aviation sector, having raised airlines such as Turkish Airlines or Austrian Airlines to gastronomic altars, Doğudan has one of the best VIP agendas in the world and has always been linked to major events, such as tennis or Formula 1 as well as hotels, restaurants and cafes at street level.
"We like to define ourselves as a low cost, high quality airline and having Do&Co as a gastronomic partner is a good proof of this," Iberia Express sources confirm. A high stake, but extremely necessary, that Spanish aviation needs to regain passenger confidence, not only in hygiene and disinfection standards, but also in quality and enjoyment.
Yogurt and fresh fruit to start the day
As a passenger, it is surprising that the airline, positioned in the low cost segment, offers a flight experience that has little to do with its competitors, with a service that even surpasses other airlines outside the low-cost sector. That is why today, despite the fact that its planes do not have Wi-Fi, they do have an entertainment platform on board (Club Express Onboard), four pointer A321Neo aircraft models of its fleet of 23 and, since this spring, of its newly released Business class menu.
SIRLOIN TO THE POINT AND CREAMY TIRAMISU
Being able to enjoy both in the Premium Lounge and on board, in the Business class of all its short and medium haul flights and until 11:00 a.m., Iberia Express offers, to make it worth getting up early, a hot breakfast where it serves some options of omelette, scrambled eggs or frittata accompanied by fresh vegetables (no frozen or cut vegetables enter the Do&Co kitchens), a crispy freshly baked pastry and a bowl with yogurt, fruit, juice and a selection of drinks hot to choose
But as the service does not stop neither on the ground nor in the air, from 11:00 a.m. the airline serves a complete menu of hot food accompanied by a plate of salad, dessert and ciabatta bread, if the flight is to the Canary Islands or Europe (full salad, tapas or snack, dessert and ciabatta bread if it is on the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands).
Lunch based on potato omelette, loin, Manchego cheese and roasted vegetables
In my case I tasted a delicious sirloin, I'm still trying to figure out how they got that magnificent point of meat 35,000 feet off the ground, accompanied by baked potatoes and a cold vegetable salad. finished the proposal a tiramisu to which the only downside I put is that it was so small; In fact, I didn't even remember the delicious chocolate mousse, which is one of Do&Co's star products.
The offer of drinks, with and without alcohol, at last they can be enjoyed in a glass glass and not a plastic one, as has happened during the pandemic in most airlines in the world. After takeoff, and before starting the food service, the crew offers a glass of juice to passengers in business class. A detail of height that he had only seen on long-haul flights and always in business class.
And even though on my 2 hour and 15 minute flight I almost forgot that we are still in the middle of a pandemic, details like all food is served at one time and on the same tray, in order to reduce the movements in the cabin, they made me remember that yes, everything has changed here, but that except for specific details, everything remains the same. And in this case even better.