Summary Air France Restaurant offered a unique business class dining experience for 85 euros. The meal featured champagne, expertly crafted dishes by Michelin chefs, and a subpar dessert. Visitors could also learn about sustainable aviation fuel and the future Air France fleet at the exhibition.
The 2024 Olympics, c'est fini, as the locals in Paris would say. During the two weeks between 27 July and 11 August, athletes from around the world competed in Paris , and supporters came from all corners to cheer them all day long - but did you know there was a unique place where athletes and tourists could eat? Let's discover the Air France Restaurant at the Air France Chalet, which I have visited. Business class, but at ground level 60 places were available each day for customers to book, all of which ran out quickly because the experience was truly unique.
The dining experience was located in a tucked-away area within the exposition and operated on a reservation-only basis. My family and I had made a reservation for 1:00 PM local time, opting for a late lunch. Upon arrival, the attendant verifies your name on a designated list and escorts you to your table, where the same tableware typically provided at 35,000 feet is neatly arranged.
Let's raise our glass Customers were presented with branded glassware containing champagne, identical to the glassware provided in the business class of the Parisian airline for long-haul flights. The glassware features a stylized acute accent, commonly used in French. Here, Air France teamed up with Xavier Thuizat, the M eilleur Sommelier de France 2024, an award given to some of the best wine stewards in the country, to select the drinks for the menu.
For the Champagne, Xavier chose a Palmer and Co Brut Réserve champagne, which was light, refreshing, and full of character. A three-course meal represents what France has to offer After the champagne as apéritif (or a starter drink in French culture), the three-course meal started. It was presented like onboard on a tray.
The appetizer was intriguing, consisting of an amuse-bouche featuring seasonal vegetables and mint, served alongside prawns with an orange and honey vinaigrette, as well as creamed butternut, kumquat, and carrot salad. After completing their appetizers, diners are presented with an array of four main meal options: veal, vegan, poultry, or fish. I selected the poultry dish.
Air France enlisted the expertise of Arnaud Lallement, a three-Michelin star chef, to craft the offerings. Interesting fact: The Michelin guide was originally created to provide recommendations for drivers exploring France, suggesting fine dining options The overall flavor profile was quite robust. The rich, buttery sauce complemented the dry grain salad-like dressing exceptionally well, pairing seamlessly with the oven-cooked chicken breast.
This dish exemplifies the essence of French cuisine: uncomplicated, delicate, and bursting with flavors. Following the main course, the dessert and cheese platter were served, and regrettably, the experience was somewhat underwhelming. The goat's cheese lacked the robust flavor typical of my experiences in France.
Although the blue cheese was satisfactory, the Cantal , a firm yellow cheese originating from southern France, stood out as the most noteworthy, offering a bold flavor profile that resonated with my preferences. The dessert consisted of an orange-flavored cheesecake accompanied by a candle, a thoughtful gesture from the restaurant staff who my family had informed that it was, in fact, my birthday. The dessert resembled an orange-flavored cheesecake with a candle, a thoughtful gesture from the restaurant staff, who were informed by my family that it was, in fact, my birthday.
I appreciate that Air France would have attempted to arrange something special for me. They would have done the same had I been on board, reflecting the commendable spirit of the restaurant staff. There were 73 dressage horses, 78 eventing horses, and 95 jumping horses at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
An affordable way to experience business class Business class can be very expensive, it is unafordable for a lot of people. Yet this dining experience was only 85 euros per person (around $94). Granted, this falls within the higher priced restaurants in Paris , so a three-star Michelin experience akin to what you'd get onboard is a perfect compromise.
Unfortunately, the restaurant closed for good on the afternoon of August 11, just before the closing ceremony. The airline is introducing the new cabin in 13 Boeing 777-300ERs. An exposition about sustainability Visitors interested in the production process of SAF can access comprehensive information at no cost in the designated area adjacent to the restaurant.
The area featured three booths, with the initial booth dedicated to the innovative approaches employed by Air France to power its aircraft. I learned a lot about SAF here. For example, I did not know that sustainable aviation fuel was made from a mix of wood chops, used cooking oil, and leftovers from what farmers use to feed livestock.
But also about the future of the fleet. There also was a second booth about the future of their fleet, with one key theme—fuel efficiency. Here, France's flag carrier showcased the new flagship of its short-haul fleet, the A220-300 , and its long-haul fleet, the A350-900.
I discovered that the A350's performance was similar to that of a small car. It consumes 2.5L of fuel per 100km per passenger, which is remarkable for a modern jetliner.
Last week, we reported that Rolls-Royce is working on upgraded Trent XWB engines for its Airbus A350s. The new units are composed of a disc alloy that will increase performance across the Trent XWB-84 and XWB-97 models for better efficiency. The upgraded XWB-84 will enter service next year.
Emirates is one airline that has shared that it is keen to see greater performance on the -1000's engine and will welcome this news. Flights to the likes of Oceania will definitely benefit from such enhancements. Which new routes do you feel will see the enhanced A350? Let us know below! It gave tourists a glimpse into the world of luxury.
The final booth discussed Air France's offer on most of its long-haul fleet—a new business class product derived from the Stelia Aerospace Opera seat. The business class seating on this modern long-haul flight offers passengers a fully flat bed for a comfortable sleeping experience. Additionally, it includes a sliding door to provide passengers with added privacy during their journey.
One standout feature of the AF model is its consistent brand identity. The "Hyppocampe" or seahorse emblem utilized in the storage space is a notable element that harkens back to the DC3 era. While the Olympics are over, don't worry—the exhibition will be back in Paris for the Paralympics at the end of the month.
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