Airlines

Cathay Pacific partners with upscale Chinese restaurant Mott 32

4 February 2025

Cathay Pacific has partnered with Mott 32, one of the world’s most awarded Chinese restaurant brands, to bring customers an elevated dining experience at The Pier, First class lounge at Hong Kong International Airport.

The thoughtfully-crafted tasting menus have been introduced on rotation from Jan. 21 alongside The Pier, First’s monthly a-la-carte menus, featuring Mott 32’s iconic dishes reimagined for the lounge setting. Embracing seasonality, variation and a sense of balance, the dishes offer a sophisticated taste of contemporary Chinese cuisine that honours the rich culinary heritage of the airline’s home city, Hong Kong.

 “As a world-renowned fine-dining establishment, Mott 32 is deservedly celebrated for its innovative approach and dedication to true Chinese flavours,” said
Cathay’s general manager of customer experience and design Vivian Lo. “This deeply resonates with our commitment to pursuing quality and service excellence at Cathay, and offering our customers a truly memorable dining experience by partnering with premium, award-winning brands that share our values.  

“This collaboration also reflects our shared roots in Hong Kong and our passion for delivering a culinary experience that not only delights the palate, but also enriches our customers’ journeys even before they set off for their next destinations. Our home city’s rich heritage and culinary vibrancy are front and centre in the dishes and drinks we serve, highlighting the diverse flavours and traditions that make Hong Kong unique.”

Mott 32 co-founder Malcolm Wood said: “We are thrilled to partner with Cathay Pacific, an icon of Hong Kong, to bring Mott 32’s authentic Chinese cuisine to The Pier, First class lounge. With nine locations globally and nine more in development, Mott 32 has always strived to celebrate Hong Kong’s rich culinary heritage on the world stage. This collaboration is a testament to our shared commitment to showcasing the vibrant flavours and traditions of our home city. Together, Mott 32 and Cathay Pacific are proud to share the essence of Hong Kong with travellers from across the globe, elevating their journey with an unforgettable taste of its culture and cuisine.”  

Mott 32 co-founder Xuan Mu added: “For this partnership, we’ve carefully crafted a menu that reflects the essence of Mott 32 while tailoring it specifically for Cathay Pacific’s discerning guests. Featuring signature favourites like our crispy crab meat puff and Sichuan-style dumplings, alongside new creations inspired by Hong Kong’s culinary diversity, each dish has been reimagined to suit the elegant lounge setting. We focused on delivering an authentic yet innovative experience that embodies the harmony of traditional techniques and contemporary flavours — just as Mott 32 has always done.”

 

Air France has added Michelin-starred menus in its La Première cabins

3 January 2025

Air France is renewing its partnership with Emmanuel Renaut, triple Michelin-starred chef and Meilleur Ouvrier de France.

This will be his first time creating all the starters and main dishes on the new menu. The chef continues to work with carefully selected seasonal produce, vegetarian products, red and white meat of French origin and fish sourced from sustainable fisheries. As a lover of Savoyard cuisine, he is keen for others to savour his mountain-inspired cuisine combining local produce with French culinary heritage.  

“Nature is a source of inspiration as infinite as it is fragile. My cuisine tells a story, one of simplicity, gourmet indulgence and comfort. This is what I wanted to share with Air France’s La Première customers”, he said.  

With a selection comprising Beaufort PDO soufflé, cream of mushroom with truffles, and foie gras with salsify, blueberry and onion chutney, the chef has created five inventive, gourmet starters. Eight new dishes celebrating French cuisine, especially Savoyard cuisine, also feature on this seasonal menu that will be renewed over the coming months. Polenta with wild mushrooms, spinach and mountain cheese – simple products with a distinct Alpine identity – or Scallops quenelle, tangy cream sauce and root vegetables are among the new gourmet delicacies available on board.  

As for desserts, this is the first time that Air France is entrusting its dessert menu to Claire Heitzler, Gault & Millau’s elected pastry chef of the year 2013, who places special emphasis on French, seasonal products to offer La Première guests a genuine gourmet interlude.  

“For Air France, I created a selection of pastries combining gourmet delicacies, flavours and products from our French regions. A gourmet interlude for the company’s passengers to enjoy”, said the chef.  

Seven of her signature desserts will be gradually unveiled on the La Première menu. The chef has notably created a triple chocolate cloud, a dessert of crunchy chocolate shortbread and creamy dark chocolate, and the Castanéa, a dessert with Ardèche chestnuts and Corsican clementines.  

This winter, the La Première cabin is available on flights from Paris-Charls de Gaulle to Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, San Francisco, Washington-DC (USA), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Singapore and Tokyo-Haneda (Japan).