One of the highlights of traveling long haul with Air France, particularly in premium cabins, is the exquisite assortment of food and beverage they offer. The constantly be on top of their game the French national carrier is regularly on the lookout for partnership opportunities. The latest culinary partnership is really something to look forward to for Air France passengers flying from the US.
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Daniel Boulud Brings Michelin-Starred Expertise to Air France
In latest culinary aviation news Air France has partnered with Michelin star chef Daniel Boulud. This is a household name in the higher sphere of luxury dining with a French cuisine focus. A collaboration which will enrich Air France premium cabin menù for flights from the US with some exclusive creations.
Daniel Boulud’s Restaurant Empire and Culinary Achievements
Daniel Boulud is now a huge name in the modern global culinary landscape. He first set off in 1993 opening his first location in New York City and has since opened cafes and restaurants in major cities across the globe, including:
- Toronto
- Montreal
- Singapore
- Dubai
- The Bahamas
- Riyadh
He’s been awarded with numerous international and prestigious awards such as:
- James Beard Foundation awards for Outstanding Restaurant
- The Culinary Institute of America named him Chef of the Year
- The French government recognized him as Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and Officier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole et Chevalier du Mérite National
What Makes Daniel Boulud’s Air France Partnership Unique
What makes this partnership special is that it’s brings a new and fresh input to the Air France menu for those flights departing North America. Also the new creations come from a French chef which knows well what the American user base enjoys and appreciates having lived and worked in the country 3 decades.
New Chef Team: Boulud Joins Dominique Crenn for US Departures
Dominique Crenn’s Continued Role Since 2024
This won’t be a one man band running the Air France menu redesign. Since 2024 the French airline has been collaborating for its premium cabin dishes with Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn. Boulud will work side by side with Crenn honing in closer on the specific needs of the North American market with new tailored creation to tickle the fantasies of premium class travelers in the region.
Dominique Crenn since partnering with Air France in 2024 has been working more on a global scale designing dishes to represent French culinary excellence while flying at 30,000 feet.
Seasonal Menu Items Available on US Routes
Exclusive culinary creations designed by Daniel Boulud for Air France La Premiere and Business class passengers will make their way onto the menu. As with every other dish they will have clear French routes and will make the most of seasonal products. Dishes will rotate regularly to offer the most in season culinary experience to passengers flying Air France from North America.
First Class La Première Menu Highlights
The first of new creations specifically ideated for Air France’s first class, La Premiere is Chicken with Saffron, Turnips, Pumpkin,Green Olive Semolinain. A dish that includes influences of fall and winter ingredients while maintaining clear Mediterranean vibes.
Business Class Dining Experience
Business Class, the other Air France premium cabin, will also have something new to look forward to in the menu in coming weeks and months. Starting with the firs dish created by Daniel Boulud: Braised Lamb Shoulder and Root Vegetables.
Laurent Le Daniel Debuts Exclusive French Desserts on Air France
For those with a sweet tooth there’s something new coming to the menu even in the desserts section. For the desserts Air France has partnered with yet another world renown chef Laurent Le Daniel. The pastry master has, literally, cooked up something very special for both La Premiere and Business class passengers. Something that the chef describes this way: “For Air France customers, each creation is a truly sensory experience“
First Class ‘Coeur de Bretagne’ and Premium Desserts
La Premiere dessert menu is now enhanced with the presence of the “Coeur de Bretagne” a traditional sweet of the Brittany region of France. It consists of salted butter caramel, milk chocolate and crispy hazelnut biscuit. Something that all the more brings the essence of France onboard Air France flights from the US.
Business Class Modern French Dessert Options
There something new coming to the Air France business class dessert menu also. A lemon delight, a modern take on the famous lemon tart. Not as intricate as the new item for La Premiere but surely just as tasty.
Air France’s Sustainability Focus: Local Ingredients and Food Waste Reduction
I’m not a huge believer is sustainability for sustainability sake. I think enterprises only take on the sustainability path because it saves money and in some occasions they ride it way too much pushing things to some extremes. However, some initiatives come with both sustainability and service improvements for passengers.
Business Class Pre-Selection Service Reduces Food Waste
Even for the new dishes Air France will allow meal pre selection. Now this is nowhere near Singapore Airlines’ book the cook service but it allows to know what will be served on the flight along with the possibility to book it so that you are certain to have your meal of choice when on board.
This of course helps the airline plan ahead for quantities and optimize the catering load uplifted to the aircraft for the flight. In turn that reduces food waste and, most importantly for Air France save cash by having more precise catering selections.
The service is available up to 24 hours before scheduled departure time. I used the service on my two flights with Air France in Business Class and it worked well.
Commitment to Fresh, Local Produce
There is also a focus towards offering dishes including local produce and fresh seasonal ingredients. This is a prerogative for both the chefs working on the Air France menu on flights from the US. So expect the menu composition to rotate in unison with the seasons bringing onboard whatever nature offers most of in that time of the year.
Rollout Timeline and Route Availability
The new dishes will come gradually to Air France’s extensive list of US destinations. First, July 2025, it will roll out to a shortlist of primary destinations, and in a second phase to all other routes, November 2025.
July 2025: Initial Launch Cities
The initial Air France US destinations to have the new menu options by Daniel Boulud will be:
- New York (JFK)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Miami (MIA)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Washington D.C. (IAD)
You’ll find the new dishes I’ve talked about an all Air France flights departing these cities starting July 2025.
November 2025: Full US Network Expansion
Only later into the year will the menu enhancement become available to all other Air France US destinations, which include:
- Atlanta (ATL)
- Boston (BOS)
- Chicago (ORD)
- Dallas (DFW)
- Denver (DEN)
- Detroit (DTW)
- Houston (IAH)
- Minneapolis (MSP)
- New York-Newark (EWR)
- Orlando (MCO)
- Phoenix (PHX)
- Raleigh-Durham (RDH)
- Seattle (SEA)
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