I finally found somethng nice to say about the French!

During a recent flight to Madrid I did the usual involuntary shudder when the flight attendant came by to ask me if I was the one who had ordered the 'special' meal.  I always shudder because this odd euphemism for my kosher meal (or any meal other than the usual slop) makes it sound like you are getting something above and beyond the usual fare.

However, after reluctantly admitting that, yes, I had requested a kosher meal, I was surprised to be served something that looked... and more importantly tasted... like nothing I had ever experienced on an airplane.

First of all, rather than the usual plastic serving vessels, each of the various parts of the meal were sealed in various sized tins (sort of like sardine cans with pull-tabs).

Next was the delicious aroma that hit me as I began opening things up.  My mouth actually started water!

The meal consisted of Soulie Restauration's (I'm assuming this is the caterer's name) delicious Volaille a la Provencale et ses Legumes, a tin of scrumptious chicken pate (with a package of crackers on which to spread it), a tin of home-style apple sauce, fresh orange juice, mineral water and a chocolate tart for dessert.

All this from a French caterer and under the Rabbinical Supervision of the Beit Din of Paris.

I can't tell you how good this food was and it makes me wonder why everyone else seems to get airline food so tragically wrong.

I saved the address of the French company that does the catering for the meal and will be contacting them to see if I can buy meals from them privately for my frequent trips abroad.

Say what you want about the French... they can't field an army to save their lives (literally) and tend to always pick the wrong side in a fight... but these guys sure know their way around a kitchen!