Brussels Airlines has introduced a new menu for long-haul flights, concocted by Michelin-starred chef Arabelle Meirlaen. Meirlaen will be the fifteenth Michelin-starred chef to craft a special menu for Brussels Airlines, succeeding chef Michaël Vrijmoed. The airline has made it a tradition to offer ‘exquisite cuisine’ to passengers since 2013. Business Class guests will be able to discover the chef’s cuisine from January 2025.
Philip Mortier, Inflight Product Manager at Brussels Airlines, had this to say:
“We’re excited to partner with Chef Arabelle Meirlaen, whose creative and intuitive approach highlights the beauty of vegetables and spices.”
Hault&Millau voted Chef Meirlaen as the first woman Chef of the Year in 2014.
What’s on the menu?
Passengers can enjoy a three-course meal of Belgian cuisine offered on Brussels Airlines’ menu.
There will also be a ‘selection of regional beers’, including Meirlaen’s very own eponymous beer ‘Arabelle’.
Brussels Airlines has included gourmet menus by Michelin-starred chefs for over ten years.
The airline invites a Belgian Star Chef to create a three-course meal based on classic Belgian recipes for travellers on intercontinental flights.
Meirlaen’s menu will change every three months based on the seasons, so passengers have limited time to taste her exclusive cuisine.
Michelin stars are not easily earned.
Beautiful, crisp, and feminine cuisine
Arabelle Meirlaen is from the province of Liège, Belgium. She began her career in 1999.
In 2013, Meirlaen, and her partner Pierre Thirifays, relocated their restaurant to Marchin where her famous vegetable garden resides.
She is the longest-standing female-starred chef in Belgium. In addition to her one star, Meirlaen also owns a Michelin Green Star.
As a result, she is recognised as a chef who promotes food sustainability through preservation, waste reduction, and reduced reliance on non-renewable energy.
She commented on her new beginning with Brussels Airlines:
“To me, cooking mirrors life itself: vibrant, flavorful, textured, and infused with love and deep emotion. It’s my heartfelt wish that every Brussels Airlines guest experiences that as well. Becoming part of the airline’s prestigious tradition of Star Chefs isn’t just an honor – it’s the fulfillment of a personal dream. I’m thrilled to share this journey and my passion with travellers from around the world.”
Airlines love Michelin-starred chefs when it comes to serving their passengers. Air France recently introduced a new selection of Michelin-starred menus.
Will you be interested in trying Meirlaen’s finest dishes? Tell us in the comments below!
