Aer Lingus today launched a new onboard menu called ‘Clodagh’s Kitchen’ Bia on short-haul flights that includes a range collaborated with chef and restaurateur Clodagh McKenna. The menu has a range of fresh lunch and snack options including two delicious treats: a carrot cake muffin and a butter fruit scone, baked fresh daily.
The new high quality range offers value for money and includes the Irish Croque Monsieur known as a ‘Cheesy Mister’, a Caprese Panini and Chicken Caesar Wrap, all priced at €5.00. There is also an afternoon tea option, with a finger sandwich selection consisting of smoked salmon & cream cheese, egg & cress and a ploughman’s.
Clodagh has developed two signature dishes for the Aer Lingus Bia menu: a pastrami and pickle sandwich and a cheese board featuring Gubbeen Irish farmhouse cheese and Ditty’s artisan oat cakes priced at €4.50.
The Aer Lingus Irish Breakfast, a customer favourite, remains a firm staple.
A new feature of the menu is a “foodie map” which highlights to customers exactly where produce has been sourced, from all over Ireland. Aer Lingus sought out the best of Irish for the Bia treats and drinks range and has included the nation’s favourite Tayto crisps and Ireland’s favourite chocolate bar, Cadbury’s Dairy Milk. Broderick’s homemade bars and cakes including rocky road and chocolate brick are also being sold. New additions to the drinks menu include a craft beer by Creans Irish Lager, brewed in Dingle, Co Kerry.
A children’s snack pack is available. Priced at €4.50, it doubles as a fun colouring book to keep little ones entertained.
Caroline Hanly, Director of Retail at Aer Lingus, said: “We are always looking at ways to delight our customers. We designed Bia to offer greater choice and value to our customers with reasonably priced tasty lunch and healthy snack options. Our focus from the outset was on sourcing fresh Irish-grown produce to ensure a quality offering for our customers and in turn supporting Irish businesses. We are really excited to be working with one of Ireland’s best loved chefs and we look forward to receiving feedback from our customers.”
Clodagh McKenna said: “Having been a frequent flyer from an early age, I have always dreamt of collaborating with Aer Lingus on its menu. Aer Lingus is my favourite airline and I love food so it was such a perfect fit in my mind. Everything we have put on the menu is fresh and tastes delicious. The sourcing of Irish produce was very important for both of us, so that was exciting to develop. Whether the traveller is catching the red eye, going on holidays or returning after a long day’s work, we have something for you and I hope the first bite will make you sit back and relax… Up, up and gourmet.”
Clodagh is also developing a selection of pre-order meals that will launch for sale on aerlingus.com in the coming weeks.
The menu will change twice yearly, with the second menu due to be introduced in June 2014. This new menu will include some small changes to reflect the seasonal change.
Full Menu Descriptions
3 Finger Sandwiches €5.00 / £4.30
Smoked Irish salmon and cream cheese on oatmeal
Free range egg, mayo and cress on brown
Irish cheddar ploughmans on brown
Cheesy Mister! €5.00 / £4.30
Irish Croque Monsieur. Layered with Carroll’s cooked ham, mustard and béchamel sauce between two slices of fresh batch
Grilled Caprese Panini €5.00 / £4.30
Melted mozzarella cheese, fresh tomato, seasonal rocket, pesto and a touch of cracked black pepper
Chicken Caesar Wrap €5.00 / £4.30
Irish chicken, crunchy COS lettuce and a drizzle of Caesar parmesan dressing in a soft flour wrap
Irish Pastrami and Pickle Sandwich €5.00 / £4.30
Succulent, meaty Pastrami, creamy emmenthal cheese and crunchy gherkin on oat grain bread
Cheese Board €4.50 / £3.90
Gubbeen Farmhouse Cheese and Smoked Gubbeen Cheese (vegan friendly) served with Ballymaloe relish and Ditty’s Oatcakes
Fresh Irish Scone €3.00 / £2.60
Traditional Irish fruit scone packed with juicy sultanas and served with Kerrygold Irish butter and strawberry jam
Fresh Fruit Salad €3.00 / £2.60
Fresh oranges, red apples, pineapple, grape and honeydew melon served with Clodagh’s refreshing mint and lime dressing
Irish Breakfast €7.50 / £6.50
Back by popular demand, the Irish breakfast consists of sausages, bacon, black and white pudding, tomato, hash browns, McCambridge’s brown bread, orange juice and tea or coffee
