There's A Very Good Reason Why Gordon Ramsay Won't Touch Plane Food

Whether you're a frequent first-class flier or the occasional economy air traveler, one thing you can't overlook is plane food. From peanuts and chip bags to Jetblue's EatUp boxes, a 2022 press release tells us that the in-flight catering market is estimated to bring in over $20 billion by 2025. If you're one of those passengers who cringe as the food cart approaches, you may roll your eyes when you hear that those tiny, prepackaged containers that likely carry some variation of pasta, meat, salad, bread, or dessert are part of a multibillion-dollar industry.

Alternatively, you may be among the group of travelers who take small delight in what types of mystery meat or other "perks" will land on your tray table nearly 36,000 feet in the air. Frequent flier Nik Loukas developed Inflight Feed, where he posts reviews and photos covering his airplane meals (via CNN Travel). Loukas writes about the delicious dishes served by Emirates and notes, "In economy class it's always interesting to see what airlines offer...smaller details such as hot towel offerings, printed menus, bottled water make a small difference to the experience."

Yet some travelers refuse to even dig their plastic forks into plane food. Take well-known chef Gordon Ramsay, for example, who says, "There's no f***ing way I eat on planes," (via Refinery29). You may think — of course, a professional chef despises plane food. But Ramsay owns a restaurant of the same name, Plane Food, in England's Heathrow Airport, and the chef doesn't only avoid airplane food because of his extensive culinary background.

Gordon Ramsay is not averse to all plane food, depending on the definition. If he's flying out of London, he can head to terminal five and indulge in fish and chips with mushy peas, tartare, and curry sauce at his own restaurant — Gordon Ramsay Plane Food. The restaurant's current menu also offers an express option, which allows travelers to enjoy two courses, such as a pepper and tomato soup and veggie burger with goat cheese or tamarind chicken wings and a walnut pesto rigatoni, in less than 25 minutes.

"The idea behind Plane Foods [sic] is simple," says Ramsay in a video on his YouTube channel. "I like you to eat incredibly well before takeoff at one of the best-looking restaurants anywhere in the country. You come away from the hustle and bustle of the check-in and you walk through that stunning open bar into this elegant, spacious, airy, vibrant restaurant. And for me, it's a great way of taking that stress out of that journey with a good meal. I know how precious time is. I also know you've got a plane to catch." 

In addition to promoting his own restaurant as a pre-flight option, Ramsay says that when he's not at Heathrow Airport, he likes to "keep it light" and flavorful with a small Italian meal (per Refinery29). Describing his ideal airport dining experience, he says he enjoys "a nice selection of Italian meats, a little glass of red wine, [and] some sliced apples or pears with some parmesan cheese." 

You may not know that in the early 2000s, Gordon Ramsay was a culinary advisor for Singapore Airlines for a decade where he assisted them with menu development, per CNNTravel. This experience certainly had an impact on him, and while the celebrity chef suggests that his restaurant, Plane Food, may help travelers ditch both plain food and plane food, he explains to Refinery29 why he refuses to eat in-flight meals. He says, "I worked for airlines for ten years, so I know where this food's been and where it goes, and how long it took before it got on board."

If you're not as selective as the multi-Michelin-starred chef and are considering skipping a restaurant or your own meal before boarding, you may want to first explore the foods and beverages that you should never eat on a flight. And if you're hoping to share some dietary restrictions, just be prepared that some airlines' versions of a gluten-free meal could be just a banana. If all else fails, sleep or in-flight booze may be an alternative option for the weary traveler who wants to avoid plane food.