Winter warmers headline Virgin Australia’s new business class menu

Tuck into hearty café-style dishes with Aussie classics, comforting pastas and bright, substantial salads.

By Matt Lennon, June 30 2022
Winter warmers headline Virgin Australia’s new business class menu

French toast, grilled chicken, warm pastas and sautéed vegetables all induce warm and fuzzy feelings as some of the best comfort foods we enjoy during the colder months.

You can now find these and many other roasted and toasted delights on Virgin Australia’s latest business class menu, now featuring on the carrier’s interstate domestic Boeing 737 network.

Tantalise your tastebuds with breakfast delicacies such as waffles with banana butterscotch and crème anglaise, a perfectly toasted ham and cheese Croque Monsieur or decorate a piece of banana bread with hazelnut spread, coconut and strawberries.

Waffles with banana butterscotch and crème anglaise.
Waffles with banana butterscotch and crème anglaise.

Later in the day, travellers will have the choice of a peri-peri chicken burger, Risoni salad with roasted pumpkin and tzatziki, Truffle macaroni cheese with ratatouille, grilled chicken salad and a variety of pastas such as pappardelle and gnocchi with respective sauces, garnishes and trimmings.

Chicken Parmigiana with mashed sweet potato and broccolini.
Chicken Parmigiana with mashed sweet potato and broccolini.

“As we move into the colder winter months, we wanted to bring hearty food options sky-high” explains Virgin Australia Group General Manager of Product and Customer, Sarah Adam.

“So whether our guests are after a chicken parmigiana or pan seared gnocchi with mushroom sauce, we’ve got something to suit every palate.”

Roasted vegetable onion tart with mashed potato and ratatouille.
Roasted vegetable onion tart with mashed potato and ratatouille.

Here’s a rundown of the Winter 2022 menu highlights for high flyers:

Breakfast

  • Citrus French toast with maple syrup
  • Spiced carrot, raisin and oats breakfast bowl
  • Banana bread with hazelnut spread, mixed nuts, coconut and strawberry pearls
  • Waffles with banana butterscotch and crème anglaise
  • Chia with fresh fruit and toasted coconut
  • Croque Monsieur

Lunch and dinner

  • Chicken katsu roll with Japanese mayo
  • Truffle macaroni cheese with ratatouille
  • Pearl couscous salad bowl with prosciutto
  • Peri Peri chicken burger
  • Risoni salad with roasted pumpkin and tzatziki
  • Pan seared gnocchi with creamy mushroom sauce and basil oil
  • Grilled chicken with farro salad and soy sesame dressing
  • Roasted vegetable and onion tart with mashed potato and ratatouille
  • Saffron pappardelle with tomato ragout and slow braised cannellini beans

A Virgin Australia spokesperson told Executive Traveller menu items will be rotated across the network, meaning all frequent guests should have the opportunity to feast on most, if not the entire menu, throughout the winter period.

The airline also confirmed at least one vegetarian option will be available on all interstate flights.

Moroccan spiced eggplant chickpea salad
Moroccan spiced eggplant chickpea salad

The design of the menu comes following extensive customer feedback and input from Virgin Australia cabin crew, who had the enviable pleasure of tasting dishes before they were selected for wider distribution.

While not all dishes are available on all flights, travellers can make their selection from a predetermined menu depending on the time of day they will be in the air.

Virgin’s new business class menu follows the introduction earlier this year of Betty’s Burgers across its eastern-state lounge network along with selected Boost Juice products onboard.