Cathay Pacific has partnered with Hong Hong-based Pirata to bring classic Italian comfort food onboard. The new menu is now available in Premium Economy on selected medium and long-haul flights departing Hong Kong.
On Wednesday (November 22, 2023), Cathay Pacific announced the launch of a new onboard menu in collaboration with the popular Hong Kong-based Italian restaurant Pirata’s. Featuring classic Italian comfort cuisine, the new menu is now available in Premium Economy on select medium and long-haul flights departing Hong Kong. Opened in 2014, Pirata is Pirata Group’s flagship Italian restaurant in Wan Chai, specializing in regional specialties served up in large plates to share. The new collaboration is the latest in a series of successful menu partnerships with popular Hong Kong brands.
In Wednesday’s announcement, Cathay Pacific’s General Manager – Customer Experience and Design, Vivian Lo, said,
“We are very pleased to be partnering with Pirata in Premium Economy to bring our customers more new and exciting culinary delights when they fly with us. This collaboration underpins our commitment to enhance the inflight customer experience by working with renowned Hong Kong dining brands that share our care and passion for delivering exceptional cuisine. This carefully curated selection of dishes channels the spirit of Italian cuisine by focusing on sophisticated simplicity, traditional flavours and quality ingredients, bringing the rich and vibrant tastes of Italy to the skies.”
Also commenting on the menu collaboration, Pirata Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Steen Puggaard, added,
“It’s an honour to be able to bring to the skies the warmth and comfort of Italian family gatherings, which are hallmarks of our flagship restaurant, Pirata. With this specially curated menu, we hope passengers will feel and taste a sense of unity and togetherness, even at thousands of feet in the air.
“As a Hong Kong-born restaurant group, a partnership with Hong Kong's own home carrier is a milestone for us. This collaboration enables us to expand on our commitment to deliver extraordinary dining experiences beyond the walls of a traditional restaurant, creating lasting memories for travellers around the world.”
Guests will embark on their culinary tour of Italy with vegetable-laden starters such as the Caprese with tomato and bread salad, respectively combining two classics from Campania and Tuscany. For a taste of both land and sea, customers can indulge in Vitello tonnato – roast beef with tuna and caper sauce, or the tuna and saffron orzo salad, which draws inspiration from the traditional Sicilian pasta dish. Another timeless dish is the baby octopus and crushed potato salad, featuring tender baby octopus braised with tomatoes, black olives and a dash of chilli, served over a bed of lightly crushed potatoes.
Selections From Cathay Pacific's New Menu Featuring Pirata's Classic Italian Comfort Cuisine
Main dish selections include a decadent pork saltimbocca with mushroom jus, an adaptation of a Roman classic, which showcases pork loin wrapped in Parma ham and layered with provolone and sage. Guests can also enjoy the chicken pizzaiola with roasted zucchini and saffron rice topped with an oregano-infused tomato sauces and melted mozzarella. Additional mains include the Calabrian-style orecchiette pasta with Italian sausage, spicy ‘nduja and cherry tomatoes, or the classic Italian meatloaf with marinara sauce, a nod to Pirata’s signature M.M.M meatballs, paired with sautéed spinach and creamy mashed potatoes.
Complementing their memorable dining experience, guest can also indulge in a glass of Astoria Lounge Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG (classified under the Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin, the highest level of quality for Italian wines).
Source: Cathay Pacific