15 February 2005
Airlines add reptile meals on domestic flights
"Tastes just like chicken"
NEW DELHI -- When businessman Ashok Sharma chomped down on a two-inch
lizard served to him on a Jet Airways flight in India last year, the
surprised passenger thought he had a court case. What he didn't think
was that he was starting a trend. But that's exactly what seems to be
happening.
Ernie Washoe, known as The Food Traveler, told Travel Fox, "Thanks
to Mr. Sharma, cold-blooded
and slimy creatures have become the nouveau cuisine of the upscale
traveler, and the airlines are ramping up to cash in on the trend."
Many
airlines have long offered passengers the option of selecting "special"
meals when making their reservations. Now, in addition to being able to
order seafood, low-calorie, low-sodium, vegetarian, kosher, and
lactose-free prepared meals, passengers can choose from a selection
of reptiles and amphibians. (Dr. Jonas Sulker, dietary expert at the
World Health Association, noted that most meals prepared with reptiles
and amphibians tend to taste like chicken.)
According to Aida Nuff, spokesperson for Food Aire, a major airline
catering company based in Dallas, the most popular meals among the new creations
delivered to their clients have been Snake Eyes Sandwiches (all
the rage on Las Vegas charter flights), Toad Suck Teriyaki (offered by Arkansas-based
carrier Air Ozark), Cornfrog-On-A-Stick (available on MidAmerican
Airlines flights during the popular
summer state fair season) and Tuatara Tacos (being promoted on
domestic Kiwi Airways
flights).
Not to be outdone, several lodging companies will also
jump on the bandwagon—or in this case, on the buffet table. For instance, the Traveller Hotel Group, known as a vanguard in
the lodging business, contracted with Joe Rogan, host of NBC's popular
television show Fear Factor, to develop trendy menu items to
replace its Atkins food offerings, which according to a statement
released by THG, has "lost its hipness on the fad diet scene."
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© 2005 Applied Psychology
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