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Back in the day, airlines provided passengers with world class service, gourmet cuisine, and plenty of Top Shelf cocktails. But, all that changed (at least, in America) when travelers switched to a “just get me there at the lowest cost” mentality, while also leaving good manners at the terminal. In an effort to restore a certain sophistication to the skies, SWISS will begin serving its First and Business Class guests exciting new culinary creations from the Canton of Vaud. This Michelin-starred cuisine is the latest iteration of the ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ inflight food and beverage program, bringing Swiss cuisine to the world. The select meals have been created by Franck Giovannini, a top chef at the Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Ville in the town of Crissier, Switzerland. Through summer 2024, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will be serving Business and First Class customers on its long-haul flights from Switzerland culinary delights from the Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Ville. The gourmet restaurant is the proud holder of three Michelin stars and 19 Gault-Millau points. Located in Crissier’s former town hall, minutes away from Lausanne, the restaurant offers outstanding cuisine with strong traditional touches. Since 2016, Franck Giovannini has been the Chef de cuisine and general manager of the Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Ville. His Vaudois culinary concoctions have earned fame and acclaim far beyond the canton’s borders. This starred chef’s classic creations are now being served aboard SWISS flights. “I have been working at the Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Ville in Crissier for some 29 years now,” says Franck Giovannini. “I’ve had the great, good fortune to cook alongside such outstanding chefs as Frédy Girardet, Philippe Rochat and Benoît Violier. I’m carrying on this exceptional tradition by preserving my predecessors’ culinary philosophy while further developing it daily.”
 SWISS also employs a healthy, svelte, and fashionable team of professional stewards and stewardesses (which, is nice).
Vaudois classics and award-winning cuisine For the appetizer, SWISS First Class customers can enjoy a langoustine with tomato mousse. For their main course, Franck Giovannini has created a veal filet mignon served with conchiglioni pasta filled with aubergine caviar., SWISS Business Class travelers can choose between a beef tenderloin served with pesto polenta or a grilled chicken breast accompanied by gnocchetti di Zita pasta for their main course. The SWISS Business offering is rounded off with a gourmet-style classic Vaudois dessert: an éclair with raspberries and caramelized pistachios. The new three-course SWISS Premium Economy Class menu also draws its inspiration from Canton Vaud. Premium Economy travelers can enjoy local specialty cheeses such as Gruyère and Bleu du Village, with a classic apricot tart to round off the experience.
Gourmet dining aloft Since December 2002, SWISS has been taking its First and Business Class guests on its long-haul services from Switzerland on a journey of culinary discovery through its home country’s various regions. The ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ program was also extended to the new SWISS Premium Economy Class in 2022. Every three months, a new Michelin-starred and Gault-Millau-point top chef is invited to create a varied selection of quality dishes from their ‘home’ canton, with a particular focus on regional and seasonal specialties. The meal creations are also accompanied by wines and cheeses from their home region. In its 21-year success story, the ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ program has welcomed aboard 84 guest chefs representing every one of Switzerland’s 26 cantons.
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