Travel Chow: Peanuts, Pretzels or . . . Matzoh?
Next time you're on a flight and bored, play the kosher game. This is how it works: Choose a food item offered by the airlines and guess if it is kosher or not. Then, let Rabbi Safran of the Orthodox Union, a New York-based Jewish organization, shock you with his answer.
Ready . . .
3 Musketeers candy bar?
You say: No.
The Rabbi says: Yes.
Animal Crackers?
You say: Nope-a-doodle.
The Rabbi says: You bet your monkey's uncle.
Ritz cheese crackers, raisin nut mix, Pringles?
You say: Um, yes, yes, yes?
The Rabbi says: You're catching on.
In the spirit of the upcoming Jewish holidays of Purim and Passover, I was pleased to receive a press release from the Jewish society on how, for once, the airlines are doing something right when it comes to snacks and meals. The report stated that of the eight airlines surveyed -- American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Airways -- all offered edibles that are kosher-friendly.
American Airlines, for example, serves Chocolate Chunk cookies and 3 Musketeers, as well as approved kosher meals on international flights to Europe, Asia and select South American markets. And kosher diners can actually gain weight on Delta, which hands out Pringles, animal crackers, Clif Bars, Dove Bars and Emerald nuts mix.
As a vegetarian, I can relate to special dietary needs, especially when flying (oh, the sadness of opening the snack box and seeing a slab of ham mocking me). Therefore, I have to chime in with Rabbi Safran and thank the airlines for their sensitivity to passengers with food restrictions. Indeed, in the past, we have heard about how carriers addressed passengers' nut allergies by creating peanut-free zones or swapping pretzels for nuts. Now, they are getting a gold star from the OU. And if James Beard ever awards the airlines for their culinary excellence, I might start flying not so much for the travel but for the good meal.
By Andrea Sachs |
March 4, 2008; 12:58 PM ET
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Posted by: Tom | March 4, 2008 4:55 PM
In honor of the upcoming holidays of Purim and Passover, how about some research on the availability of "Kosher for Passover" food in airlines.
Posted by: confused | March 6, 2008 2:54 PM
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There's something about pressurized cabins, white noise, strangers leaning against you, food prepared hours in advance and reheated (and heavily salted, turbulence, and crying babies that just doesn't say fine dining.