Airline food long ago moved from complimentary hot meals to packets of peanuts. And then came... nothing... unless you were willing to shell out $3 for a packet of
M&Ms. May we suggest the cheese plate?! Or maybe not. A review:
US Airways
The fruit and cheese platter ($7) comes
with Swiss, cheddar, and pepper jack cheeses paired with seasonal
fresh red grapes, strawberries, and honeydew melon, and assorted
crackers.
Pros: The fruits and cheese weren't
farm fresh, but they were a proud quality for airline food. For not
eating breakfast, the portion held me till lunch, two hours later,
just fine.
Cons: The packets of Pepperidge Farm
crackers were hardly anything special.
The cheese and fruit plate ($6.25) is a
delicious selection of muenster, cheddar, gouda, and brie cheeses,
crackers, red grapes, and pecan halves.
Pros: The presentation looks like
something for a gift basket, coming with large cubes of cheese under
a dome of plastic. Four types of cheese is rather generous for an
airline these days.
Cons: I didn't get to eat a cheese and
fruit plate because they ran out by the time they got to 28E.
Verdict:
US Airways wins by default. Sorry
Continental/United, but if you're going to win the plato royale, you
must have more options for the back third of the plane beside a
parfait, muffin, and Jimmy Dean sandwich.
