TV Chef Cooks Chicken Dinners for Holiday Makers on Thomas Cook Flights

Saturday morning TV Chef launches new in-flight meals for Thomas Cook travellers

James Martin, the TV chef who recently muddled the name of one of the most famous chefs and restaurants of the last 20 years, has lent his name (and culinary expertise) to a new in-flight meal programme with the airline Thomas Cook.

According to the Daily Star which reported Martin’s surprise appearance on a recent flight to Turkey, the new menu includes a “selection of delicious dishes, including a Somerset cider chicken with dauphinoise potato and roasted root vegetables and slow braised beef in Guinness, chive and garlic mash potato for main course. Vegetarians can look forward to James’ roasted cauliflower with a lightly spicy cauliflower puree, mushrooms and spinach gnocchi.”

The above appears to be for premium economy or more prestigious seats on board. In economy, it’s slow braised beef ragu with rigatoni pasta and cumin spiced butternut and chickpea masala (?) with steamed basmati rice are on offer.

Martin said that “Enjoying a hot meal on board is not as widely available as it once was, so we want to ensure that everyone gets the chance to kick off their holiday from the moment they step on the plane with a delicious meal.

“It is a long [12-month] process to develop an in-flight menu...It all starts off with one pan, in my kitchen at home. That’s where we do the testing and development and then we work from there to the factory and then to the finished article at 36,000 feet in the air!” [Daily Star]

And in other news...

• More James Martin news: the chef is apparently in talks with 90s TV favourite, Ainsley Harriott, to revive the popular cookery gameshow, Ready Steady Cook. Suzy salt and Percy pepper, anyone? [Big Hospitality]
• Gordon Ramsay’s controversial and much-publicised “Asian Eating House” will open on 24 June, in Mayfair. It is no longer referred to in terms of being either “authentic” or “vibrant.”
• Babaji Pide, the Turkish restaurant founded by celebrated restaurateur Alan Yau, will make a surprise return to London — on Kensington High Street “soon.”
• Rihanna says she lives in London near a Jamaican market. gal-dem wonders where that might that might be. [gal-dem]
• The sites of Jamie Oliver’s eight London restaurants will be made available for new bidders after the celebrity chef’s group went bust earlier this week. [The Caterer]
• Following its closure late last year, one of London’s earliest gourmet ‘dirty’ burger brands, Meatliquor, has announced it will re-open its flagship central London venue, on Margaret Street in Marylebone on 4 June. [Hot Dinners]
• The latest victim of lactose against intolerance, that is a Brexit-supporting human being covered in milkshake, might well have been staged. Also, it’s fairly clear that the man, Don, is not decorated with milkshake, but, according to one theory, cherry yoghurt. [Twitter]

Good tweet: