TORONTO — Chef David Hawskworth is bringing his brand of fine dining to the skies. The Vancouver-based executive chef of Hawksworth Restaurant has partnered with Air Canada to create in-flight business class meals to be served on international flights departing Canada and in Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge beginning Oct. 1.
Last night, members of the media were invited to the Royal Conservatory of Music to hear the announcement and sample some of Hawksworth’s in-flight menu items, which included appetizers such as yellowfin tuna tataki with scallion ginger vinaigrette, passion fruit and puffed rice; and main dishes such as roasted black cod with chorizo, san marzano tomato, fennel, crispy chickpeas and fine herbs. Dessert was a dark chocolate fondant with blackberry compote.
Air Canada short-listed nearly 30 chefs from across the country and narrowed it down to the final five before approaching chefs. In the end, Hawksworth’s culinary vision for Air Canada was the most compelling. “My team and I are relishing the unique challenge of developing dishes that can be enjoyed at 35,000 feet,” said Hawksworth. “It’s an honour and a pleasure to be invited by Air Canada to share my concept of Canadian cuisine and to create compelling dishes for their passengers that will showcase the very best of our region. I look forward to giving passengers a small taste of my restaurant here in Vancouver and taking my personal culinary philosophy to new heights with Air Canada.”
The chef added, “Developing new dishes has been a process that has produced challenges and triumphs that were very different from a dinner service and a restaurant and I couldn’t be happier with the final results.”
