Delta Air Lines has announced a new culinary collaboration. Let’s talk about that for a moment, and then I’ll share what I really find newsworthy here.
Delta partners with Chef José Andrés on dishes
It’s not unusual to see airlines partner with celebrity chefs on their inflight catering, and here’s the latest example of that. Delta has announced a partnership with Chef José Andrés. The phased rollout will start as of November 4, 2025, but will go through the end of 2026.
With this, we’ll see dishes inspired by Chef José Andrés served in Delta’s first and business class cabins on select flights. The airline is promising “bold, comforting Spanish flavors,” with “each dish selected for its ability to maintain flavor, texture and authenticity in the unique environment of air travel.”
Dishes will include the following:
- Spanish tortilla with pisto manchego — a classic Spanish egg-and-potato omelet with a rich vegetable stew, served at breakfast
- Braised beef short rib in a mojo rojo BBQ sauce — tender and savory, with a tangy, smoky sauce, and creamy polenta
- Stuffed piquillo peppers — a goat-cheese and mushroom filling drizzled with piquillo bechamel
- Spanish style chicken — chicken thigh with a rich sauce of sherry and dried fruit, served with celeriac-potato puree, roasted carrots, and pearl onions
Delta claims that “Andrés’ team worked closely with Delta’s culinary experts to tweak portion sizes, reheating methods, and presentation so that every bite tastes just as good in the air as it would in a Barcelona tapas bar.”
Let me say that I’m a big fan of Chef José Andrés, and he’s an awesome human. That being said, I care about airline celebrity chef partnerships exactly zilch, regardless of the airline. Why? Well, because airlines have incredibly tight catering budgets, and generally the thing standing in the way of a quality meal is how much the airline is willing to spend, rather than how which celebrity chef signs off on a meal.
In other words, I’d rather the money for the celebrity chef endorsement be used to increase the catering budget. But I also recognize that Delta has a really big marketing budget for everything (I mean, Tom Brady does something or another at Delta), so I guess the money came from that budget.
Delta, can you please tone it down, a little bit?
Am I the only one who is totally put off when I read Delta press releases? Like, take a look at some of the nuggets from this Delta press release (this is all from one press release, folks!)…
For example, it starts with this:
“Delta is once again redefining the onboard dining experience with its newest culinary collaboration…”
Delta is redefining the onboard dining experience? Yes, move over Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines! Y’all are nothing, and no match for Delta’s industry leading catering.
Or Delta’s Managing Director of Onboard Dining Experience is quoted, and says the following:
“Delta is a curator of taste experiences. Just like we lead in operational reliability, we are on the leading edge of culinary innovation — offering delicious meals that build a sense of connection to the world we serve while reflecting culture, craft and care.”
OMG. A curator of taste experiences? Delta is ON THE LEADING EDGE OF CULINARY INNOVATION?!? The Michelin guide needs to get on this ASAP!
Then there’s this:
“Delta has been quietly transforming its in-flight dining into something that feels more like a restaurant experience than any other, standard airplane meal — not just serving meals but serving moments.”
I don’t even have anything to say anymore.
And then of course Delta has to remind everyone that it isn’t an airline, it’s a premium lifestyle brand, natch:
“Delta’s culinary strategy isn’t just about providing sustenance — it’s about delighting customers. By partnering with chefs like Andrés, the airline is doubling down on its identity as a premium lifestyle brand with purpose.”
But wait, there’s even more:
“These new offerings are more than just meals — they’re a celebration of flavor, culinary excellence and storytelling, which is something Delta is increasingly weaving into its onboard experience.”
It’s so true, every time I eat a meal on Delta, I think, “wow, what amazing storytelling.”
Let me of course acknowledge that Delta has done an amazing job marketing itself, and of convincing people that it’s super premium. And I guess this works on people, because it’s what they want to hear?
In real life, there’s little I find more off putting than someone who is just so full of themselves, and who constantly talks themselves up. I live in Miami, and I’ve certainly met my fair share of those kinds of people.
Similarly, when a company just tells you constantly how they’re the best thing in the world, I can’t help but but just think “eww.” But the thing is, this may just be a “me problem.” Delta does this constantly, and people seem to love Delta, so…?
Bottom line
Delta is partnering with Chef José Andrés on premium cabin meals. José Andrés is a great guy who makes delicious food, so that’s lovely. However, I don’t care much about airlines partnering with celebrity chefs, since the limiting factor in food quality is typically the budget for the catering facility, rather than the inability to get inspiration for good food.
This does fit into Delta’s overall strategy of partnering with well respected brands and people to convince customers that the product is something better than it actually is. And this press release perfectly captures that, with claims that are so over-the-top that they leave me speechless.
What do you make of Delta partnering with Chef José Andrés, plus the claims in the press release?
