INDEX
- In response to customer requests, we are now offering our secret beef curry in the comfort of your own home.
- A curry with a complex flavor and fragrant spices
- A series of instant noodles developed for eating on airplanes, now available at home
- Consommé soup made with carefully selected ingredients, flavor, and aroma
- We will continue to offer "JAL Originals" for you to enjoy at home
In August 2020, the beef curry that is only available in JAL's international lounges was released on the online shopping site "JAL Shopping." It comes in two 1kg bags for 6,000 yen (tax included). Initially, it was only available to JAL Mileage Bank members, but from October it was available for purchase by anyone. Apart from the lounge, this special curry can only be enjoyed at the traditional Japanese restaurant "Goryozuru" in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture. There was a reason why they started selling it online.
In response to customer requests, we are now offering our secret beef curry in the comfort of your own home.
Aihara: "During the COVID-19 pandemic, customers were unable to travel abroad, and we received a lot of feedback from customers saying they wanted to eat the curry we serve in our lounges. So we decided to take the plunge and start selling it online."
So says Hikaru Aihara of the Product and Service Planning Division's Development Department. However, in their long history, this is an unprecedented endeavor. That's how much they care about this beef curry.
Aihara: "The curry served in the lounge is only available to customers who actually come to the airport. We're particular about the rice and the tableware, and we thought of it as a special dish that only customers who have acquired membership status could enjoy. However, the situation has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With it being difficult to travel overseas, we decided to sell the curry because we wanted customers to be able to enjoy it at home, even if only a little."
Sales began under strict hygiene management by JALUX, an affiliate of JAL, which handles sales. As a result, the topic spread mainly on social media, and we received a lot of feedback.
A curry with a complex flavor and fragrant spices
So, what is it actually like? About 10 days after ordering, the beef curry is delivered to the lounge in a commercial package. It comes in two bags, each containing a generous 1kg. It's quite heavy, and each bag is enough for about five servings.
To defrost, place in the refrigerator for 24 hours or immerse in running water for 60 minutes. Please note that it is not suitable for boiling in hot water. Once defrosted, transfer to a pot and heat slowly until it is done. The delicious aroma of curry will fill the air.
This curry has a complex flavor and the aroma of spices. It is moderately spicy, giving it an adult impression. You can tell it was simmered slowly with the vegetables, and the layered, deep flavor brings out the sweetness of the ingredients, with the spices lurking in the background, nicely tightening the overall flavor. You'll want to bask in the aftertaste every time you take a spoonful into your mouth.
The beef, the main ingredient, is cut into large chunks, but that may not be the correct description, because the meat is not hard and crunchy, but crumbles into pieces as soon as you put it in your mouth.
I poured it generously over freshly cooked rice and finished it in no time. It seems like it would be difficult to recreate this flavor at home.
Aihara: "We sell the exact same dishes that are heated and served in the pantry in the lounge. At home, I serve them on black plates similar to those in the lounge, and I make my own arrangements. My recommendation is curry udon. We provide dashi broth and udon noodles in the lounge, and many customers also make their own arrangements."
Furthermore, when Yuki Okamoto, a member of the same club, served it at her parents' home, it was apparently well received.
Okamoto: "It's a generous portion, so you can divide it into smaller portions. Try it as is at first, and then experiment with how you like to eat it."
■JAL Shopping
Purchase JAL's special original beef curry here
*Sales period: Until November 30, 2020 (while stocks last)
A series of instant noodles developed for eating on airplanes, now available at home
Well, this curry isn't the only JAL gourmet you can enjoy at home. The "Dekai" cup noodle series that is served on board is also available for sale to the general public.
This is a series of instant noodles developed for in-flight meals where the air pressure is low, and can be cooked in water at about 85 degrees so that it can be enjoyed even at high altitudes where the boiling point is low due to the air pressure conditions. Another feature is that the noodles do not get too soft. There are four types: "Udon Kai," "Soba Kai," "Ramen Kai - Shoyu," and "Chanpon Kai," and I ordered these and tried them out.
"Udon no Kai" is a Kansai-style dish made with Rishiri kelp. It has a light flavor and an elegant dashi aroma. The chewy thick noodles are a perfect match with the sweet and soft fried tofu.
"Soba Dekai" is a Kanto-style dish that uses dried bonito flakes processed in Yaizu. It is a stark contrast to "Udon Dekai," and has a strong flavor of soup stock. The crisp noodles have a soft buckwheat aroma.
"Ramen Dekai" is a Japanese-style soy sauce flavor. It has a nostalgic taste that is somehow comforting. The smooth noodles are easy to swallow, and the familiar ingredients such as roast pork and bamboo shoots have a strong presence.
"Chanpon Kai" is characterized by its rich soup with plenty of seafood flavor. The thin noodles are mixed with the creamy, flavorful, and gorgeous soup. The cabbage, octopus, and other ingredients also have a strong presence.
A set of 15 of each is priced at 2,073 yen (tax included). It is filled with a variety of authentic ingredients, and the naruto and kamaboko are subtly decorated with airplanes. No synthetic preservatives or artificial colorings are used, so you can eat it with peace of mind. They are a little small, so they seem just right for a midnight snack or snack. They are also sold in sets at "JAL Shopping," so we recommend having them at home.
■JAL Shopping
Consommé soup made with carefully selected ingredients, flavor, and aroma
Well, there is another JAL gourmet dish you can enjoy at home. It is the "JAL SELECTION" soup series jointly developed by Meiji and JALUX.
Available in two varieties: beef consommé and onion consommé. Beef consommé uses 100% domestic beef extract. It is sweet, fragrant, and rich, with a deep flavor. On the other hand, onion consommé is characterized by the sweetness and umami of slowly sautéed onions. It has a deep, mellow aroma.
Available in packs of 4 and 8.
We will continue to offer "JAL Originals" for you to enjoy at home
Aihara: "There are other original JAL gourmet foods and items that you can enjoy on board the plane. They are very popular and we receive many inquiries about them. We are considering various ways to provide them, so please look forward to them."
For many customers, one of the joys of an international flight is the food. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, overseas travel will remain difficult for some time to come, but just having these gourmet dishes on the table may help you get a little more into the flying mood.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
