United’s On-Board Tribute to Chicago’s Most Influential Chef
Share
US legacy carrier United Airlines just announced that they’ll be emphasizing a different kind of legacy this summer thanks to a new partnership with The Trotter Project, an organization dedicated to preserving the vision and values of the late chef Charlie Trotter, who set the bar for fine dining in the United States at his iconic Chicago restaurant Charlie Trotter’s until its closing in 2012.
Trotter himself was a consulting chef for United Airlines in the past and now his legacy will live on in aircraft cabins all around the United States with new Trotter Project dishes that will debut in economy class this July as part of United’s Choice Menu Bistro on Board program. A more sophisticated menu will hit the sky in premium cabins this September as part of United p.s.® transcontinental service between New York (JFK) and both Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). Details about specific dishes haven’t been finalized, but they’re currently undergoing testing to see which items will work best at 30,000 ft.
“We very much enjoyed partnering with [Trotter] in the past… It was sort of a natural fit for us.” – Karen May, United spokesperson
The United/Trotter Project alliance began back in March when a group of Trotter’s former protégés teamed up with United’s executive chefs to create the brand new menu. Trotter’s kitchen has produced award-winning chefs for decades – including big names like Priscila Satkoff of Chicago’s Salpicón, David LeFevre (M.B. Post, Fishing With Dynamite, the forthcoming The Arthur J), and Christian Ramos of Virginia’s in Manhattan – and they’re all paying tribute to their time with the legendary chef by stepping away from their current kitchens and contributing to the United program. As for United, they’re thrilled to be back in the Trotter business.
“We very much enjoyed partnering with [Trotter] in the past,” says United spokesperson Karen May. “It was sort of a natural fit for us.”
This won’t just be a one-time deal, either. May says that the goal is to make the collaboration with The Trotter Project “a long term partnership,” meaning the spirit of Chef Trotter’s kitchen will most likely be flying on United for quite some time.