Newsletter Subscribe
Enter your email address below and subscribe to our newsletter
Taste Takes Off: Alaska Airlines Launches Elevated First Class Dining with Star Chefs
Share your love
Alaska Airlines is upping the in-flight food game in a seriously delicious way. The West Coast-based carrier has introduced Chef’s (tray) Table — a new culinary series that brings gourmet, regionally inspired dishes to First Class passengers on select coast-to-coast flights.
The concept? Rotating seasonal menus crafted by celebrated chefs with deep ties to the Pacific Coast food scene. First up: Chef Brady Ishiwata Williams, the award-winning talent behind Seattle’s Tomo. If you’ve ever dreamt of having a Michelin-adjacent meal while cruising at 35,000 feet, this is your moment.
This isn’t Alaska’s first foray into culinary collabs — you might remember their 2023 partnership with San Francisco’s Chef Brandon Jew. That one was such a hit, they decided to make the chef-curated experience a regular thing. Chef Jew is officially back in the rotation, with more names (and flavors) likely to follow.
“These chefs don’t just cook, they bring their communities with them,” said Todd Traynor-Corey, Alaska’s VP of Guest Experience. “It’s more than food — it’s about values, storytelling, and celebrating local culture.”
And it shows. Chef Brady’s background is rooted in family diners and fine dining alike — from Seattle’s legendary Canlis to his own spot, Tomo, which opened in 2021. For Alaska, he’s designed a First Class menu available on flights between Seattle and New York-JFK, Newark, and Washington D.C., starting June 5.
What’s on the tray? Think Mochi Waffle & Fried Chicken for breakfast, drizzled with apple miso butter and tamari-maple syrup. For dinner, Glazed Short Rib from Klingemann Farms takes the spotlight. Heading back west? Expect Chilled Buckwheat Soba with Ahi Tuna Tataki.
Even better: Alaska Airlines lets you pre-order your meal on flights over 1,100 miles, giving passengers up to five chef-crafted options to choose from before boarding. It’s inflight dining with purpose, flavor, and a real West Coast twist.
Hungry yet? Learn more here.
