KSML (Kosher Airline Meals) Master Thread

[elya]

From DDMS:

Turkish offers freshly made kosher meals in all classes and they are highly regarded as well. They are made in Turkey and are kosher supervised by the OK.

-1 Its completely inedible!

[elya]

I saw a few people asked about KSML on TK, but I didn't see any replies. So, does anyone know if they have KSML, and which hashgocha it is, on JFK-IST-TLV, and the reverse? Thanks.

Attached is the Email response from the OK regarding KSML on TK:

"Hi,

We have a company Barinyurt Huzurevine Yardim Derneği İKT. İŞL. In Turkey that prepares Kosher meals for Turkish Airlines.

Every packaging / label  and filled tray needs the OK symbol to be certified."

[elya]

Very nice. Thanks. Interesting that even ex-TLV it's OK, not an Israeli hashgocha...

Israeli Hashgacha on airlines is usually Badatz, so technically OK  is a downgrade.. (dont get the wrong feeling here, OK is a top notch Hashgacha!)

To your other point, the food is definitely not fresh, and far from edible.

[Iz]

Thanks.

[Yaalili]

To your other point, the food is definitely not fresh, and far from edible.

Picture? And what class J/Y?

[elya]

Picture? And what class J/Y?

Didnt take pics. J. (and it wasnt just a one time experience either.)

[joew]

any clue who caters jet blue mint?

[Yaalili]

any clue who caters jet blue mint?

Ex JFK is Borenstein on real dishes.

[joew]

Ex JFK is Borenstein on real dishes.

could you request Regal? (for hecsher reasons  )

[ExGingi]

JFK-IST-TLV on TK J:
JFK-IST Weiss (Tartikov and OU). No airline branding. Poorly packed.
Dinner: Appetizer had grilled chicken breast strips over salad (didn't try) and the rest didn't look very edible. I didn't even look at the hot course. I just gave everything to someone else that didn't have KSML on their reservation.
Breakfast: Danish (I think with blueberries) - left a lot to be desired. Hot course was omelette over potatoes. Omelette was dry (as expected) which was mitigated by putting some cream cheese over it, and potatoes were good (except that there was no salt used in cooking, or included with the KSML tray).
For some reason, Weiss decided that the hard clear platsic disposable cutlery included, needed to be sealed with a double seal (wrapped tightly in multiple layers on Saran Wrap, and sealed with a sticker) which made it very difficult to access (and caused some breakage in the process), if only they would wrap their plates so good, so they dont leak.


IST-TLV (A320 Fake J):
Well packed FRESH KSML (actually had a few slices of crispy fresh cucumber in the appetizer) from La Casa de Barinyurt catering service (OK supervision).
Appetizer was some hard cheeses, with some mezonos toast, and mezonos rolls, along with dried apricots. Good quality lox with fresh cucumber, tomato, and pickle. And half a green pepper stuffed with what looked like Kasha, but had pine nuts, and some other ingredients there too (not for every palette, but definitely interesting). Couldn't exactly discern what the desert was (some kind of pudding with a fruity flavor and orange rind - rather decent, also not for every palette, but definitely interesting). Hot course was fish sticks (not breaded, more like long fish balls) which were quite decent, with some roasted potatoes.
Also, importantly there was a note that included some informative Kashrus info.

It boggles my mind how TK can get FRESH KSML at IST, and out of NYC no airline serves FRESH KSML!

[Iz]

Thanks for the info, ExGingi.

[ExGingi]

Thanks for the info, ExGingi.

Long haul they also served roasted nuts to everyone. We asked flight attendant to see package (which had only Turkish on it. I snapped a photo and sent to Rabbi Chitrik (once WiFi came on, which was quite a while into the flight) asking him if it's kosher. To which he responded לכאורה כשר. So we took a sealed package and nibbled on it through the flight.

[Dan]

Thanks for the info, ExGingi.

+1.
Any pics of the food?

[ExGingi]

+1.
Any pics of the food?

I am not a good photographer (especially using phones). I started the flight taking pictures of amenity kit and noise cancelling headphones, but when I saw the results of that I gave up photography for the flight. I will try bl"n on the way back next week. (Though I don't expect to encounter the Weiss variety).

Also sitting in fake J with a KSML tray doesn't leave much room for arm maneuvering in order to take pics, but since I thought it was worth posting about, I took along the certificate which I posted above. Luckily for me, I know Rabbi Chitrik personally, he is very knowledgeable in both Halacha and Kashrus (food preparation and manufacturing processes). I fully trust him. When I was discussing various shechitos with him once, I asked him what is used for the KSML ex IST, to which he responded that they only do Pareve and Milchig.

When I asked my BIL who flew TK J ex ATL if he had KSML, he replied "Gefilte Fish", I will just let you imagine the facial expression that accompanied that response.

[Dan]

You should attend a photo DO

[ExGingi]

You should attend a photo DO

I would first need a time management DO in order to be able to make that happen 

[Yaalili]

could you request Regal? (for hecsher reasons  )

You can try to PUTPAC but most probably not.

[chff]

It boggles my mind how TK can get FRESH KSML at IST, and out of NYC no airline serves FRESH KSML!

Per LY (Borenstein) the reason is the food must go thru LSG/Gate gourmet and they are to blame.

When I got a really old expired meal I emailed both Borenstein and LSG, Borenstein told me they gave it over to LSG fresh, and LSG didn't want to answer

[ExGingi]

Per LY (Borenstein) the reason is the food must go thru LSG/Gate gourmet and they are to blame.

When I got a really old expired meal I emailed both Borenstein and LSG, Borenstein told me they gave it over to LSG fresh, and LSG didn't want to answer

So the bottom line is, it is the דייטשן who are at fault.

[zow]

AC YYZ-TLV is Hamasbia (Montreal Kosher). Appetizer was some lox and garbanzo bean salad (two separate things). Main course was chicken and rice. Not bad. Breakfast was a pareve omelette. Fair at best.  Kosher wine.