Remember when airline food was derided and dismissed? The times sure are a-changing, and gourmet cuisine is continuing to evolve in the air. For example, next month, British Airways will launch an airline-themed pop up restaurant, art gallery and cinema in London's Shoreditch called "Flight BA2012," offering menus being served up in BA flights' First Class lounges during the Olympic period, according to TheGoodWebGuide.
Open on select weekdays from April 4 to 17, Flight BA2012 will showcase the works of three winners in BA's 2011 competition to find three "Great Britons" in the fields of cinema, art and food, and take on the interior design, look and feel of the first class section of a British Airways aircraft.
Flight BA2012 includes artwork from artist-designer Pascal Anson from Brighton, who was mentored by Tracey Emin for his "Dove" design for a range of celebratory aircraft displayed in the gallery. It also features a short film, "BOY," starring Timothy Spall, written by screenwriter, Prasanna Purwanarajah under the mentorship of Richard E. Grant, which will be screened in the cinema.
Guests will also be able to sample a British-themed menu, created by Michelin-star chef Simon Hulstone, who has produced an Olympic Games-inspired menu under the guidance of Heston Blumenthal. The First Class menu, which will be served on board long-haul BA flights departing London Heathrow BA planes between July and September, will include:
* Rillette of mackerel dressed on a pickled cucumber carpaccio with sour dough croutes
* Potted braised beef, with a potato and horseradish topping served with hispy cabbage, baby carrots and roasted shallots with a rich jus
* Chilled chocolate fondant with a salted caramel liquid centre, caramel sauce and spun sugar topped with hazelnuts
Passengers in Club World can dine on smoked salmon and Cornish crab roulade with Servruga caviar and summer cress salad, fish pie using sustainable sourced hake and lemon curd cheesecake with raspberry and basil compote.
Tickets go on sale on March 19 and can be purchased at facebook.com/britishairways. Flight BA2012 is located at 3-10 Shoreditch High St, East London. With their tickets, guests will receive entry to the gallery and screening room, plus a welcome glass of champagne, a sit-down three-course menu with amuse bouche, and tea, coffee and petit four.