Air Transat partners with great
Quebec chef Daniel Vézina to offer
gourmet meals on its flights
Air Transat is proud to partner with renowned Quebec chef
Daniel Vézina to offer a menu inspired by his signature recipes.
The Chef’s Menu by Daniel Vézina, a selection of exclusive dishes
carefully crafted by the chef, will be offered to Club Class
passengers as of May 1. In Economy Class, the menu will be
offered for CA $25 and will be available, in limited quantity,
on transatlantic flights as of May 1 and on flights to the South
and the United States as of July 1.
These dishes will be served with a cheese plate, dessert
and glass of wine.
About Chef
Daniel Vézina
Daniel Vézina is one of Quebec’s
most renowned chefs. He has been
developing refined and authentic
cuisine for more than 30 years,
and is owner of the prestigious
Laurie Raphaël restaurants in Quebec
City and Montreal. A charismatic
and well-known personality, he’s also
a culinary writer and host of several
cooking shows.
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Chicken Blanquette
Chicken ragout with lemon zest
and seasonal vegetables
Duck Confit Lasagna
With spinach and a sherry
and foie gras emulsion
Braised Leg of Lamb
With spices, maple syrup
and Indian vegetable curry
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
With red wine bolognese, spinach pesto
and Parmesan shavings
Vegetarian Moussaka
With grilled vegetables, creamed goat cheese,
tomato and red pepper coulis
Vegan Risotto
With rice cream, red pepper coulis
and diced root vegetables with fennel
The meals created by Daniel Vézina can be
pre-ordered by calling the booking centre or by
visiting transat.com. As of July 1, pre-orders will also
be available on airtransat.com.
Presentations may vary.
Page 2 of 8
Q&A – INTRODUCTION OF A NEW MENU CREATED BY
CHEF DANIEL VÉZINA
INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW MENU
1. What does the new partnership with Daniel Vézina entail?
A. Air Transat has partnered with Daniel Vézina to offer a selection of gourmet meals on its flights,
inspired by the signature recipes of the renowned Quebec chef. A variety of exclusive dishes carefully
crafted by the chef will be offered to Club Class passengers as of May 1, 2017. It will also be available to
Economy Class passengers, in limited quantity, on transatlantic flights as of
May 1, 2017, and on flights to the South, the United States and within Canada as of July 1, 2017. This new
gourmet menu will appear as Chef’s Menu by Daniel Vézina in all communications.
2. What are the six dishes created by Daniel Vézina?
A. The six dishes are:
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Chicken ragout with lemon zest and seasonal vegetables
Duck confit lasagna with spinach and a sherry and foie gras emulsion
Braised leg of lamb with spices, maple syrup and Indian vegetable curry
Sweet potato gnocchi with red wine bolognese, spinach pesto and Parmesan shavings
Vegetarian moussaka with grilled vegetables, creamed goat cheese, tomato and red pepper coulis
Vegan risotto with rice cream, red pepper coulis and diced root vegetables with fennel
These dishes will mainly be served with a cheese plate, dessert and wine.
3. When will the new menu come into effect?
A. The new menu will be included in our Club Class service as of May 1, 2017, for all destinations. It will
also be available to our Economy Class passengers as of May 1 on transatlantic flights.
It will be offered on flights to/from the South, the United States and within Canada as of July 1, 2017.
4. Is this menu complimentary?
A. The new menu is complimentary for Club Class passengers. Economy Class passengers can purchase
the meals for CA $25. Please see the detailed grid below for the prices in their respective currencies. The
prices will not change with the fluctuating exchange rates but may be reviewed based on benchmarks set
by the competition.
Currency
Mealprice
CAD
USD
Euro
25
25
20
CUC
MXN
GBP
(Cubanpeso) (Mexicanpeso) (Britishpound)
25
350
15
CHF
(Swissfranc)
25
HRK
CZK
(Croatiankuna) (Czechkoruna)
130
500
5. Does this price include taxes?
A. Taxes will apply on the following flights:
• For domestic flights, taxes from the province of departure will apply
• For flights from Canada to the United States, a 5% tax will apply
There are no taxes on flights to the South and Europe (we absorb the taxes where applicable).
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INFO ON THE PARTNERSHIP AND VISION
6. Who is Daniel Vézina?
A. Daniel Vézina is one of Quebec’s most renowned chefs. He has been developing refined and authentic
cuisine for more than 30 years, and is owner of the prestigious Laurie Raphaël restaurants in Quebec City
and Montreal. A charismatic and well-known personality, he’s also a culinary writer and host of several
cooking shows.
7. Why did Air Transat decide to partner with Daniel Vézina?
A. Daniel Vézina has been part of the Quebec culinary scene for more than 30 years. He operates two
restaurants, in Quebec City and Montreal, has written numerous cookbooks and has hosted famous TV
shows in Quebec. He has received many distinctions and awards in both Canada and, more recently,
France.
Just as Air Transat is committed to responsible tourism, so, too, is Daniel Vézina dedicated to
responsible cooking, by reducing food waste. Family is also central to his business philosophy, with all
members of his clan involved in his operations. His restaurant, Laurie Raphaël, is named after his
daughter and son. His son, Raphaël, who started working in the kitchen at age 13, also studied cooking
and is now chef at Laurie Raphaël in Quebec City.
8. Why did Air Transat decide to create this new menu?
A. Looking at the competitive landscape, many airlines have introduced meals created by renowned
chefs. However, we believe that ours is a strong partnership, given that Daniel Vézina is a trailblazer in
gourmet cuisine in Quebec and has been closely involved in the creation of the inflight meals.
This new gourmet menu will take on-board dining to new heights for all our Club Class passengers. The
new dishes will feature premium ingredients, such as duck confit in the lasagna, and will introduce new
trends with meals like vegan risotto.
Passengers in Economy Class who have a taste for gourmet meals can indulge their epicurean sides by
selecting from these dishes, offered in limited quantity.
9. How were these six dishes created?
A. Daniel Vézina has created a menu in collaboration with inflight food supplier Delta Dailyfood, part of
the Fleury Michon Group, all in accordance with our airline requirements and passengers’ expectations.
The chef worked closely with the supplier to source premium ingredients and to understand the impact
of cooking and tasting these meals on board. Therefore, the menu is totally adapted to the inflight
realities without compromising the quality of the meals and Daniel Vézina’s culinary style.
10. What were the biggest challenges when creating this new menu?
A. The menu had to be adapted to the realities of the airline industry while remaining true to Daniel
Vézina’s guidelines and vision. The main challenges were:
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Having to freeze the dishes but not lose all their flavours and gastronomic side when defrosting them
The fact that food tastes differently at high altitudes
Having to mass produce these dishes
The strict guidelines of the airline industry
Daniel Vézina worked closely with Delta Dailyfood to overcome all these challenges and deliver topquality dishes.
11. Will the Daniel Vézina menu change over time?
A. We expect the menu to be revised twice a year.
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12. Are there any other plans in the future regarding this partnership?
A. This is a long-term partnership that will evolve over time. In November 2017, we are planning to launch
six new dishes.
THE CONCEPT IN CLUB CLASS
13. What will be served with Daniel Vézina’s dishes?
A. In Club Class, the dishes will be served with a salad, cheese plate, dessert and wine selected by a
sommelier. The salad and dessert are not created by Daniel Vézina and will vary, depending
on the flight.
On flights from Canada, passengers will receive a spinach-and-arugula salad and a pear tarte Tatin.
On flights to Canada, passengers will receive a couscous, sun-dried tomato and olive salad and a
raspberry-and-chocolate cake.
14. Will Club Class passengers be able to pre-order their meals?
A. Yes, passengers can pre-order their meals between 45 days and 48 hours before departure. They can
do so by phone, email or online if the booking was made on transat.com. As of July 1, 2017, they will also
be able to pre-order on airtransat.com.
Passengers who pre-order will be able to choose from one of Daniel Vézina’s six dishes:
• Chicken ragout with lemon zest and seasonal vegetables
• Duck confit lasagna with spinach and a sherry and foie gras emulsion
• Braised leg of lamb with spices, maple syrup and Indian vegetable curry
• Sweet potato gnocchi with red wine bolognese, spinach pesto and Parmesan shavings
• Vegetarian moussaka with grilled vegetables, creamed goat cheese, tomato and red pepper coulis
• Vegan risotto with rice cream, red pepper coulis and diced root vegetables with fennel
Passengers can also pre-order from these additional meals:
• Jamaican-style jerk chicken with rice and vegetables
• Thai red curry chicken with jasmine rice and vegetables
• Spinach and cheese cannelloni with alfredo and tomato sauce
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15. What meals will be offered on board to passengers who don’t pre-order?
A. Passengers who don’t pre-order will have three Daniel Vézina meals to choose from. However, their
first choice might not be available.
On flights from Canada, the three meals will be:
• Chicken ragout with lemon zest and seasonal vegetables
• Sweet potato gnocchi with red wine bolognese, spinach pesto and Parmesan shavings
• Vegan risotto with rice cream, red pepper coulis and diced root vegetables with fennel
On flights to Canada, the three meals will be:
• Duck confit lasagna with spinach and a sherry and foie gras emulsion
• Braised leg of lamb with spices, maple syrup and Indian vegetable curry
• Vegetarian moussaka with grilled vegetables, creamed goat cheese, tomato and red pepper coulis
16. On transatlantic flights departing after 10 p.m., will passengers be offered a Daniel Vézina meal?
A. On transatlantic flights departing after 10 p.m. EST, a soup and a light snack will be served, along with
the full hot breakfast currently offered.
17. What will be served for breakfast in Club Class?
A. Breakfast will continue to be part of our regular Club Class offer, though it is not created by Daniel
Vézina. Passengers will be able to choose from the following:
• Plain omelette with salsa, turkey sausage and roasted potato wedges
• Cheese omelette with salsa and natural red-skin potato wedges
• Mixed-fruit platter with yogourt and granola
• Egg white omelette with hash browns, spinach and roasted tomatoes
• Eggs Benedict with sliced turkey, spinach and roasted tomatoes
• Pancakes and turkey sausages with blueberry and cherry compote
18. Will there be any other changes to Club Class?
A. No, only its menu has changed.
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THE CONCEPT IN ECONOMY CLASS
19. On which flights will the Daniel Vézina menu be offered to Economy Class passengers?
A. The new menu will be available on transatlantic flights as of May 1, 2017. On flights to/from the South,
the United States and within Canada (longer than three hours), this service will be available as of July 1,
2017. The menu will not be offered on flights to Tel Aviv.
20. What will be served with these meals?
A. In Economy Class, the meals will be served with a cheese plate, dessert and glass of wine. Only the
main dishes were created by Daniel Vézina.
On flights from Canada, passengers will receive a pear tarte Tatin.
On flights to Canada, passengers will receive a raspberry-and-chocolate cake.
21. Will the price differ if the passenger doesn’t order the wine?
A. No, the price will remain the same, though the passenger can request a non-alcoholic beverage
instead.
22. Will Economy Class passengers be able to pre-order the new Daniel Vézina meals?
A. Yes, passengers can pre-order their meals between 45 days and 48 hours before departure. They can
do so by phone, email or online if the booking was made on transat.com, starting May 1, 2017, for
departures as of May 15, 2017. As of July 1, 2017, they will also be able to pre-order on airtransat.com.
Passengers who pre-order will be able to choose from one of Daniel Vézina’s six dishes:
• Chicken ragout with lemon zest and seasonal vegetables
• Duck confit lasagna with spinach and a sherry and foie gras emulsion
• Braised leg of lamb with spices, maple syrup and Indian vegetable curry
• Sweet potato gnocchi with red wine bolognese, spinach pesto and Parmesan shavings
• Vegetarian moussaka with grilled vegetables, creamed goat cheese, tomato and red pepper coulis
• Vegan risotto with rice cream, red pepper coulis and diced root vegetables with fennel
23. Is there a limit on the quantity of Daniel Vézina meals available in Economy Class?
A. Yes, there will only be 10 meals available per flight. Passengers will be encouraged to pre-order their
meals, and the amount of dishes left after the pre-order will be available for sale on board.
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24. Why are there only 10 meals available in Economy Class?
A. Due to on-board space restraints, we have to limit the quantity of Daniel Vézina meals offered.
However, we will closely monitor the interest of our Economy Class passengers.
25. What Daniel Vézina meals will be offered on board to passengers who don’t pre-order?
A. Passengers who don’t pre-order will have a choice of three Daniel Vézina meals.
On flights from Canada, they will be able to choose from:
• Chicken ragout with lemon zest and seasonal vegetables
• Sweet potato gnocchi with red wine bolognese, spinach pesto and Parmesan shavings
• Vegan risotto with rice cream, red pepper coulis and diced root vegetables with fennel
On flights to Canada, they will be able to choose from:
• Duck confit lasagna with spinach and a sherry and foie gras emulsion
• Braised leg of lamb with spices, maple syrup and Indian vegetable curry
• Vegetarian moussaka with grilled vegetables, creamed goat cheese, tomato and red pepper coulis
26. How will the Daniel Vézina meals be sold on board?
A. There will be an on-board announcement presenting these new meals to the passengers. These will
also be featured in the Bistro menu. During the meal service, passengers interested in purchasing these
dishes will have to request them from the flight attendants. The meals will be offered on a first-come,
first-served basis.
OTHER INFORMATION ON AIR TRANSAT SERVICES
27. Will special meal requests (eg., gluten-free, kosher) still be available?
A. The introduction of the Daniel Vézina meals has no impact on the current special meal requests.
28. Can passengers make special meal requests with Daniel Vézina’s dishes?
A. Passengers cannot make special requests with Daniel Vézina’s meals, as these have not been designed
to address specific food allergies or dietary preferences/restrictions.
To learn more about the Chef’s Menu by Daniel Vézina, click here
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