The news is out! Virgin Australia Group of Airlines has launched their new designer menu, which has been exclusively created by leading Australian celebrity chef Luke Mangan.
One of the best things in life is getting a bit of a sneaky preview. And, today was one such day, when I was lucky enough to be invited to a special introductory luncheon of the new Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue menus. Lunch was hosted by Virgin Blue Group of Airlines CEO John Borghetti and Chef Luke Mangan.
From the aptly named soup, through the gourmet and glamourous smoked salmon to the moist white flesh of the barramundi, all was delicious. Not that I would have expected anything less. Some of these dishes are business class offerings and given Chef Mangan’s depth and breadth of talent and experience, you’d more than hope that this would be a great menu – and it was.
What really impressed however was the ‘box’! Vermicelli noodle salad is available on Virgin Blue domestic retail. Our half portion (using half the dressing) was light and refreshing. When I checked out the actual Virgin Blue inflight menu it’s starting price is just AU $10. What a bonus – a healthy tasty and fresh option for regular and infrequent domestic travellers alike. Flavours in Mangan’s domestic inflight Premium Panani were pretty darn good too.
Somehow I was enjoying lunch so much, I forgot to photograph dessert! Whoops! Or maybe I was distracted by the Aussie lad’s cocktail … But I did hear the gossip of the day, which was that on it’s first day (or was it flight?) the Banana Bread on Luke Mangan’s menu for Virgin Blue domestic retail sold out.
Congratulations and well done Chef Luke Mangan and Virgin Australia.
Could not grab feed.
March 14 2011 at 12:50 pm
It looks like you had some delightful dishes… lucky you!