Brussels Airlines presents new Belgian Star Chef ​ Eric Pankert

As from December 1, a new Belgian chef presents his Business Class menus on Brussels Airlines’ long haul flights. This time it is top chef Eric Pankert of restaurant Zur Post who has concocted five menus based on local produce from the German-speaking community in East Belgium.

After first successful collaborations with Geert Van Hecke of De Karmeliet (West Flanders), Julien Lahire of Le Moulin Hideux (Luxembourg) and Thomas Locus of Bistro Margaux (Flemish Brabant), Brussels Airlines continues its Belgian Star chefs program with Eric Pankert. During the next five months he will serve his menus to Business Class customers on long haul flights to the US and Africa.

Eric Pankert has been at the helm of the Michelin-starred restaurant Zur Post, in St. Vith since 2003. He has cooked alongside well-known chefs such as Joël Robuchon, France’s “chef of the century”, in cities all over the world, inlcuding Liège, Düsseldorf, Ghent, Paris and New York. In Ghent, he was introduced to the art of pastry-making, and from New York he carried home the influence of various international cuisines. A firm believer in perfection, Pankert chooses not to follow current trends but offers his guests a modern interpretation of French cuisine instead, always adding a personal touch. He earned a 17/20 in Gault Millau and 4 “Toques” from the Belgian gastronomy guide “Guide Delta”.

The menus he has devised for Brussels Airlines include typical Belgian-French dishes with a modern interpretation. The first menu, served in December, starts with a dried beef mille-feuille, followed by goose liver wrapped in Ganda ham. For the main course passengers can choose between venison stew with a Bellevaux beer sauce, accompanied by cabbage Parmentier and fillet of sea bream enhanced by spicy carrot jus and eggplant caviar. As dessert, Zur Post’s pastry chef Edmont Peillot suggests a Bourdaloue-style apple and pear cake. The chef has also selected a beer to accompany his dishes: Bellevaux Black.

As an ambassador for Belgium, Brussels Airlines has a tradition of supporting Belgian talent and to bring Belgian top quality across the borders of its home country. On board of its flights the airline offers a selection of Belgium’s finest beers and wines, pralines, waffles and also cookies.

“We are delighted that we were able to get Eric Pankert on board for our Belgian Star Chefs program. It was a pleasure to work with Eric and to see the dedication he has put into our Business Class meals. I am convinced that his creations will add to the premium experience we want to off our Business Class guests”

-- Anne Tricot, VP Customer Experience Brussels Airlines.

“I felt really honoured when I heard about my nomination as Belgian Star Chef for our national company, Brussels Airlines. It is a great pleasure for me to represent our small German-speaking community in Belgium, of which I am very proud, towards passengers from all over the world. It has been a very interesting experience to adapt my French-Belgian cuisine for Brussels Airlines’ Business Class guests, in order to offer them the most enjoyable journey possible. Maybe in the future, travellers flying over the oceans will dream about East Belgium’s wonderful woods, fields and streams, while savouring one of our regional specialities.“

-- Eric Pankert