Emirates Elevates Onam Celebrations with Flavourful Fare Onboard
Emirates, the renowned airline, is embracing the festive spirit of the Kerala harvest season by offering a delectable assortment of treats onboard, coupled with a collection of entertaining Malayalam movies. From August 20 to 31, 2023, passengers can indulge in authentic Onam delicacies across all cabin classes on flights connecting Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai.
Passengers flying aboard the Emirates flights to Kochi (14 times weekly) and Thiruvananthapuram (7 times weekly) will be treated to meticulously curated menus that capture the distinct flavours of Onam, allowing them to relish the essence of home. The culinary journey commences with traditional appetizers such as sharkara upperi – banana roasted in sweet jaggery, kaya varuthathu – crisp banana chips, and kondattam mulaku – fried sundried chillies steeped in yoghurt. These delectable starters are accompanied by an array of essential Onam dips, including kaalan, made with coconut, fresh yoghurt, and yam, cucumber pachadi – a garnished salad, and puli inji – a delightful sweet and tangy ginger-based chutney. First and Business Class passengers can savor the added delight of Kerala-style pappadam and piquant mango pickle.
The culinary voyage continues with a selection of main courses that embody the essence of Onam. Choices include alleppey kozhi curry – spiced chicken in coconut sauce, paired with avial, chemba rice, and cabbage carrot thoran. Alternatively, vegetarians can relish the vegetarian sadhya, featuring sambar and kootu, accompanied by matta rice and carrot pea thoran. Other options include spiced chicken sukha – pan-fried chicken with coconut and spices, served with steamed rice, carrot pea thoran, and vegetable kootu, or mutton sukha with chemba rice, erissery, and bean thoran. For First Class customers, the tempting option of mutton pepper fry is also available.
To conclude the indulgent experience, passengers can choose from classic Onam desserts, including palada pradhaman – a creamy rice pudding adorned with roasted pistachios, raisins, and cashew nuts, or parippu payasam – the beloved sweet lentil pudding topped with roasted coconut flakes. To enhance the authenticity of the culinary journey, all meals will be served on banana leaf dish liners, recreating the traditional feel of the sadhya for Keralites.
Emirates goes beyond the culinary experience, providing passengers celebrating Onam with a rich selection of entertainment options. The airline’s award-winning ice entertainment system offers more than 6,500 channels of entertainment, including over 45 Academy Award® winning films, 2,000 movies, 650 TV shows, and 4,000 hours of music, podcasts, and audiobooks in 40 languages. Notably, passengers can enjoy 18 Malayalam movies, including acclaimed titles like Ela Veezha Poonchira, Hridayam, as well as blockbuster hits like Bro Daddy and 12th Man.
Emirates consistently embraces global cultures and festivals, delighting passengers with regionally inspired cuisine and special seasonal menus. From Onam to Diwali, Eid, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Oktoberfest, and Easter, the airline aims to provide thoughtful and enjoyable experiences for travelers worldwide.
