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LUKE NGUYEN: Celebrity chef explains why airplane food can be so tasteless

Airplane food, it's not the most appetising phrase. We eat it because it's the only option, but have you ever wondered why it often tastes so bland?

Airplane food, it’s not the most appetising phrase. We eat it because it’s the only option, but have you ever wondered why it often tastes so bland?

Australian-Vietnamese celebrity chef Luke Nguyen shared some insights as we dined at his Vietnam House restaurant during the International Travel Expo in Ho Chi Minh City.

As the newly appointed Global Cuisine Ambassador for Vietnam Airlines, the food on offer at 40,000 feet has been on Luke’s mind of late.

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“Serving food in the air is very different to serving food on land.”

Celebrity Chef, Luke Nguyen

Luke explains that when flying, the high altitude, low cabin pressure, and low humidity all affect our ability to taste.

“It’s very dry and our sinuses start to block, and when we can’t smell, can’t taste. Your taste buds aren’t working properly,” he said.

“So the challenge is. How do we as chefs create food when we can’t taste?”

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According to Luke, we can’t taste saltiness or sweetness properly when flying, BUT what we can taste is spiciness and umami.

Mind blown, right?

“The umami you can taste, it doesn’t affect that so we have to create dishes with a great deal of umami.”

Celebrity Chef, Luke Nguyen

“One ingredient that I love, that we pride ourselves on in Vietnam, that has loads of umami is fish sauce. It has natural umami because it is fermented for many months,” he said.

So to create tastier food on board Luke uses fish sauce, soy sauce, shellfish, prawns and shitake mushrooms.

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He also uses beef, reducing it down to create a flavourful stock.

“We take advantage of what works for our taste buds up there and make it wonderful,” he said.

Luke’s ultimate goal is to help Vietnam Airlines reach the top with a five-star rating.

Anyone who has a goal to improve airplane food across all classes of travel is a friend of ours.

What’s the best airplane food you’ve tasted? Let us know below.