With the festive week coming up faster than you can say “when is that package arriving?”, Emirates has unveiled its plans for Christmas and New Year.
In the lounge
Emirates’ First and Business Class lounges in Dubai will be serving tradtionaroasted turkey with jus and cranberry sauce, glazed chestnuts, root vegetables, brussels sprouts and new potatoes, with other dishes for those who don’t feel the turkey urge. There will be plenty of bubbly, with Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2013 and 2015 being served as well as the Tranquil Tundra cocktail and Cozy Hearth mocktail by Dilmah, Jingle Mule cocktail from Evian, and Holiday Spiced Sour from Perrier.
In First Class Lounge, winter desserts await, from stollen to mince pies, red currant cheesecake, and cinnamon profiteroles.
For those slumming in the Business Class Lounges, Christmas dinner will be served, with g desserts like cherry pistachio festive tart, Christmas fruit cake, chocolate yule log, and lime macarons with peppermint ganache.
There are plenty of bubbles too, with Moët Ice Impérial Brut and Moët Ice Impérial Rosé being served.
And if you’re being basic, you can also enjoy gingerbread lattes or mint hot chocolate from Costa Coffee.
Lounges across the network will have their own spin on things too, from lobster bisque and roasted rib-eye beef in San Francisco and LA, to grilled Norwegian salmon with creamy citrus velouté in Cape Town, roasted duck with red cabbage and caramelized apple wedges in Hamburg, to ballotine of guinea fowl stuffed with date and forest sauce in Paris.
Food in the air
Between 14-26 December, passengers in all classes will be offered festive hot chocolate, with different tempting toppings across classes from meringues to marshmallows to melt-in-the-mouth Valrhona chocolate pellets. From 24-26 December, special giveaways will also be offered; dark chocolate truffles in Economy Class, gingerbread cookies in Premium Economy and Business Class, and a raspberry Paris-Brest pastry in First Class.
In First, Business, and Premium Economy Class, the holiday classics continue with a huge variety of festive dishes across different routes with starters such as salmon gravadlax with beetroot and orange-marinated salmon, pickled herring with potato and quail egg salad, or smoked salmon with crab mayonnaise and salmon roe will be featured.
Main courses include turkey with jus, chestnut and turkey bacon stuffing, truffle potato gratin, caramelized chestnuts, and roasted brussels sprouts, as well as new dishes on select routes like herb-crusted lamb shank with jus, butternut squash and braised cabbage, to duck confit drizzled in cranberry jus lié, with truffle potato gratin and caramelised chestnuts, to seared venison soaked in sage butter and blackberry sauce with potato gratin and braised red cabbage with apple.
Economy Class customers can also unwrap their festive main course of roasted turkey, chestnut and turkey bacon roulade, and maple-roasted parsnips. Desserts include fruit cake doused in orange sauce and a mousse cake featuring one of Santa’s reindeers especially for children.
If you’re flying aboard an Emirates A380 in First or business class and visiting the onboard lounge passengers can enjoy mince pies, stollen, panettone, festive macarons, ginger profiteroles, dark chocolate ganache and cranberry financier as well as hazelnut and cranberry jars, biscotti and candy canes on flights from Dubai. There’s also a chance for a meal, with sandwiches on offer.
Celebrating Orthodox Christmas too
Between 24 December – 8 January, Emirates will also celebrate Orthodox Christmas on flights between Russia, Cyprus, Ethiopia and Dubai.
Passengers in First and Business Class will enjoy appetisers like Olivier salad or lobster tail with celeriac purée and Sevruga caviar, pickled herring, or smoked salmon with crab mayonnaise, and main courses of duck confit with cranberry jus lié, truffle potato gratin, and caramelised chestnuts, or herb-crusted lamb shank drizzled with jus and served with roasted potatoes, butternut squash and braised cabbage. Desserts offered will include white chocolate and peppermint mousse cake with cranberry compote, pistachio sponge and a candy cane or chocolate gingerbread cake served with cranberry jelly.
Economy Class customers will enjoy starters like Russian potato salad and Waldorf salad, followed by a main course of barbecued chicken with chestnut and turkey bacon roulade, and maple-roasted parsnip, or a cream beef stroganoff, finished off with desserts of peppermint mousse with popping candy and a candy cane, or traditional fruit cake doused in orange sauce.
A seasonal celebration
For some during this holiday season, being in the air is a chance to unwind before they have to engage with others during the break, explore a new place, or just kick back – whilst some will still be travelling for work purposes.
Having familiar flavours and tastes – especially in the air after the stress of dealing with airports can be a welcome thing.
Combined with your own festive TV (or non festive), its a chance to relax in the air.
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