Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Aug 13/01) - Did you hear the joke about airline food?

A flight attendant offers a passenger dinner.

"What are the choices?" the passenger asks.

"Yes or no," the attendant deadpans.

Seriously, though, flight food is no laughing matter. It's a multimillion-dollar industry, employing 100,000 people worldwide.

When NorTerra Inc. purchased Canadian North from Canadian Airlines in 1998, the new management promised to serve country food reflecting Northern culture.

Have they delivered?

Absolutely, says Dan Kane, Canadian North sales manager in Iqaluit. "If char is available, it usually runs out. Some customers sit at the front of the aircraft to ensure they get their choice," he says.

Canadian North tried serving caribou, but seasonal harvests made fresh orders difficult to fill regularly.

Joan Griffin often flies to Newfoundland from Iqaluit. She says southern flights offer meals that are typically greasy and cold. "The Northern flights are the best. They're hot, grease-free and healthier. I had the shepherd's pie today. It was to die for," Griffin says.

Canadian North and First Air offer 17 specialized meals for various religious, dietary or child-friendly needs. The supplementary meals include the Hindu meal, the diabetic meal and the bland-soft meal. A minimum of 48 hours notice is required,

"Vegetarian and children's meals are the most common request," says Krista Gilbert, an agent with Qamutik Travel.

Nunavut Catering prepares meals for First Air.

Two southern catering companies and one Yellowknife caterer prepare meals for Canadian North.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner trays are heated and served 24 hours to 48 hours ahead of preparation, Kane says.

Twice a year, Kane loosens his belt buckle and samples some 50 bite-sized meals. His discerning palate determines which items and combinations make the culinary cut. He says the last sampling sessions left him more than satiated.

"I thought I wouldn't have to eat for a week," he says with a laugh.

Future additions includes speciality snacks like char jerky. "We always have the Northern customer in mind," Kane says.