New Michelin-Starred Menu Takes Flight in Air France La Première

Air France continues to improve its already impressive La Première product with yet another culinary update, featuring an exclusive collaboration with two of France’s most celebrated chefs.

Beginning this December, the airline is introducing a prime seasonal menu for its La Première suites, crafted by the triple Michelin-starred chef Emmanuel Renaut and acclaimed pastry chef Claire Heitzler.

This gastronomic partnership promises to bring the finest French cuisine to the skies, blending creativity, tradition, and a profound respect for local and sustainable ingredients.

Mountain-Inspired Culinary Journey

Known for his deep connection to nature and his mountain-inspired dishes, Emmanuel Renaut is no stranger to culinary excellence. With three Michelin stars and the prestigious title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Renaut is lending his expertise to Air France’s La Première cabin for the first time, designing an entire menu of starters and main courses.

Photo: E. Renaut La Première starter. Courtesy of Air France

“Nature is a source of inspiration as infinite as it is fragile,” Renaut remarked. “My cuisine tells a story, one of simplicity, gourmet indulgence, and comfort. This is what I wanted to share with Air France’s La Première customers.”

Renaut’s menu, steeped in Savoyard traditions, showcases an inventive use of French seasonal ingredients. Highlights include a Beaufort PDO soufflé, cream of mushroom with truffles, and foie gras paired with salsify, blueberry, and onion chutney.

Photo: E. Renaut La Première Dish. Courtesy of Air France

For main courses, passengers can indulge in dishes like polenta with wild mushrooms, spinach, and mountain cheese or scallop quenelle with tangy cream sauce and root vegetables.

Each creation is part of Renaut’s passion for sustainable sourcing, featuring fish from responsible fisheries and meat of French origin.

Sweet Symphony

Joining Renaut in this culinary program is Claire Heitzler, an award-winning pastry chef known for her commitment to sustainable practices and ability to transform desserts into art.

Heitzler, named Pastry Chef of the Year by Gault & Millau in 2013, makes her debut with Air France by curating a dessert menu that highlights the best of French regional produce.

“For Air France, I created a selection of pastries combining gourmet delicacies, flavors, and products from our French regions. A gourmet interlude for the company’s passengers to enjoy,” said Heitzler.

Photo: C. Heitzler La Première Pastry. Courtesy of Air France

Her menu includes seven signature desserts that will be unveiled progressively. Among the offerings are the “Triple Chocolate Cloud,” a decadent blend of crunchy shortbread and creamy dark chocolate, and “Castanéa,” a harmonious pairing of Ardèche chestnuts and Corsican clementines.

Heitzler’s desserts are designed to provide a luxurious yet sustainable sweet escape, perfectly complementing Renaut’s savory creations.

Coming Up Soon: The New La Première

For the second consecutive year, Air France’s La Première cabin has been crowned the world’s best First Class at our Business Traveler Awards—a fitting accolade for an experience that merges unparalleled comfort with culinary artistry.

Available on select routes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to global destinations like New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Singapore (SIN), and Tokyo-Haneda (HND), La Première offers travelers a unique setting where haute cuisine and exceptional service meet seamless French elegance.

Photo: Courtesy of Air France

Looking ahead to March 2025, the French flag carrier is set to unveil a bold reimagining of its La Première cabin, introducing a trio of exclusive private suites that redefine the concept of luxury air travel.

These new suites are designed with only three passengers in mind, each space stretching across five expansive aircraft windows. Natural light floods these personal retreats, which can be reconfigured into three distinct layouts: a sophisticated upright seat, a chaise lounge perfect for unwinding, or a lie-flat bed for the ultimate rest.

Entertainment options are supposed to be equally impressive, with passengers enjoying two high-definition screens controlled effortlessly via an intuitive wireless tablet. Fully enclosed for maximum privacy, the suites promise a cocoon of tranquility, though details on whether the enclosure features sleek walls or elegant curtains remain under wraps.

Photo: La Premiere. Courtesy of Air France

This evolution in design solidifies Air France’s commitment to setting new benchmarks in First Class travel, combining aesthetic sophistication with unmatched functionality.

At the heart of this elevated experience will be the airline’s partnership with culinary virtuosos like Emmanuel Renaut and Claire Heitzler. Renaut’s mountain-inspired creations and Heitzler’s dedication to sustainable pastry-making bring the essence of French gastronomy to the skies, providing La Première passengers with a dining experience that is as refined as the cabin itself.

Together, these elements form a symphony of luxury, innovation, and tradition, ensuring that every journey aboard La Première is nothing short of extraordinary.