Finnair unveils its first Japanese Signature Menu chef

(Warsaw 7.2.2018) Finnair continues its Signature Chef program by introducing the airline’s first Japanese Signature Chef. Tokyo-based top chef, Rika Maezawa, has designed a series of five seasonal signature menus served in the Business class of Finnair´s flights from Tokyo to Helsinki as of February 7, 2018.

Rika Maezawa opened her first restaurant in Tokyo in 2003 after receiving training at several well-known Japanese restaurants. Her food philosophy places a strong focus on vegetables and seasonal flavours from Japanese home cooking. She also takes her inspiration from Japan’s history -as far as the Edo period from 1603 to 1868 - as well as from overseas influences to create modern yet nostalgic vegetable centric meals that go beyond the conventional boundaries of Japanese cuisine.

“Beautiful Japanese sceneries of each season are incorporated into these in-flight meals,” says Rika Maezawa about her food philosophy and the meals she created for Finnair. “Through my cuisine, I would like to share with travelers the unique Japanese sentiments and sense of season. I have used ingredients from both Japan and abroad so that it may taste familiar to both Japanese and non-Japanese customers.”

“Food plays an important role in our customer experience", says Maarit Keränen, Head of Inflight Service at Finnair. "I am sure our customers will enjoy the Japanese seasonal flavours that Ms. Maezawa’s meals will bring onboard.”

Finnair started its Signature Chef program in 2013, and has worked since then with a series of acclaimed chefs, who have created their own Signature Menus for Finnair’s Business class.

Link to images: https://finnair.emmi.fi/l/XXZXftKFPVjQ

Further information:

Finnair Media Desk, +358 9 818 4020, comms(a)finnair.com
www.finnair.com, www.finnairgroup.com
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Images: gallery.finnair.com
Finnair blog: blogs.finnair.com


Finnair flies between Asia, Europe and North America with an emphasis on fast connections via Helsinki, carrying more than ten million passengers annually. In 2017, Finnair's extensive network connects 18 cities in Asia and 7 cities in North America with over 60 destinations in Europe. The airline, a pioneer in sustainable flying, was the first European airline to fly the next-generation, eco-smart Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and it is the first airline listed in the Leadership Index of the worldwide Carbon Disclosure Project. The only Nordic carrier with a 4-star Skytrax ranking, Finnair has also won the World Airline Award for Best Airline Northern Europe for the past eight years running. Finnair is a member of oneworld, the alliance of the world's leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and convenience to frequent international travellers.