United Partners with Chef’s Table to Bring Together World-Renowned Chefs for Elevated Inflight Meals

United has today announced a new partnership with Chef’s Table to bring together world-renowned chefs to create new, exclusive inflight meals.  Regionally inspired meals will be created by culinary legends like Nancy Silverton, Fariyal Abdullahi, and Manu Buffara.

United Airlines Partners with Chef's Table for Elevated United Polaris® International Business Class Inflight Dining Experience - Courtesy United Airlines / PRNewswire

On Thursday (March 12, 2026), United Airlines announced the launch of a new partnership with Chef’s Table, the brand behind the award-winning Netflix series, to introduce 10 new, exclusive meal experiences in United Polaris® International Business Class.  The airline has enlisted 11 world-renowned chefs from four continents, representing United’s seven U.S. hub cities and key international gateways in London, Tokyo and São Paulo.

In Thursday’s announcement, United Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer, Andrew Nocella, said,

“United’s network spans many of the culinary capitals of the world, allowing us to authentically bring together acclaimed chefs from around the globe.  Our collaboration with Chef’s Table shows how we’re leveraging our unique position as the world’s largest airline to deliver restaurant-quality moments in the sky.  Our United Polaris international business class travelers are going to love the new dishes coming later this year.”

Also commenting on the new culinary collaboration, Chef’s Table Projects’ President, Justin Connor, said,

“This collaboration represents an unprecedented look at how we can elevate the inflight dining experience, bringing the culinary brilliance featured on Chef's Table to the skies.  By partnering with United, we are turning a global culinary journey into a reality for millions of passengers. Many travelers around the world will be able to experience firsthand the artistry of these 11 world-renowned chefs on their plates at 35,000 feet.  Together we'll create incredible, regionally-inspired meals and unforgettable experiences for travelers from takeoff to landing.”

From August 1st, 2026, guests traveling in United Polaris International Business Class can enjoy recipes from Chef’s Table culinary talent.  Each chef will create complete meal experiences, including an appetizer, salad and entrée, for flights departing from the chef’s home city that inspired the recipes.

On departure from Los Angeles, customers will enjoy a menu created by Chef Nancy Silverton.  A James Beard Award-winning chef and author, Nancy Silverton is a culinary icon and the co-owner of Michelin-starred Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles, where she brings her passion for Italian cuisine and artisan ingredients to life.

United Polaris International Business Class guests departing New York/Newark will enjoy culinary creations by Chef Fariyal Abdullahi.  Chef Fariyal Abdullahi is the Executive Chef of Hav & Mar in New York, where a convergence of her travels and Ethiopian ancestry comes to life with an infusion of European technique in the unique flavors of her meals.

Customers traveling on flights from São Paulo, can taste cuisine created by Chef Manu Buffara.  She is the culinary force behind Manu in Curitiba, where she cooks with a keen sense of stewardship, elevating the bold, vibrant flavors of Brazilian cuisine with a modern sensibility and responsible agriculture practices.

Polaris International Business Class guests departing Chicago will enjoy a menu by Chef Jenner Tomaska.  Chef Tomaska is a three-time James Beard-nominated chef and co-owner of Michelin-starred Esmé in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, where he blends classical French cooking techniques with artistry, as well as steakhouse, The Alston located in the Gold Coast district, and French-Midwestern bistro, Petite Edith, in River North.

Guests departing Houston will enjoy culinary creations by Chef Justin Yu, who is a James Beard Award-winning chef and the owner of Houston’s Theodore Rex, a relaxed fine dining restaurant with a French touch.  From Denver, customers will enjoy a menu by Denver native Penelope Wong, which celebrates the diversity that has helped shape Denver’s food scene, bringing the flavors of her Asian American childhood and memories of her family to her eatery, Yuan Wonton. 

United Polaris International Business Class guests on flights departing San Francisco will be treated to cuisine by Chef David Barzelay, a visionary for unpretentious American fine dining. Chef Barzelay owns the two-Michelin-starred restaurant, Lazy Bear, in San Francisco’s Mission District, JouJou in the Design District and True Laurel in the Mission.  Customers departing Washington D.C. will enjoy a menu created by Chefs Isabel Coss & Matt Conroy.  They combine French technique and Mexican sensibility into Michelin-starred Lutèce, creating refined seasonal dishes that highlight bold flavors.

Guests departing London will enjoy a menu by Tomas Parry, the founder and co-owner of three open-fire restaurants in London, including the Michelin-starred Mountain in Soho and the Michelin-starred Brat in East London.  Inspired by his Welsh and Celtic heritage, his cuisine combines the traditions, techniques and cooking styles of northern Spain.  Finally, United Polaris International Business Class guests departing Tokyo will be treated to cuisine created by Chef Tashi Gyamtso, the acclaimed head chef of Jimgu, the farm-driven restaurant featuring menus solely based on what the land provides.

Chef's Table is an Emmy Award-winning documentary series that spotlights the world's most extraordinary chefs who are redefining the culinary landscape. The series is available only on Netflix.

Source: United Airlines / PRNewswire