MasterChef South Africa Winner Elevates LIFT Premium Cuisine

Dishes on LIFT Premium are getting the MasterChef touch as MasterChef South Africa winner, Shawn Godfrey has conceptualised and created a new elevated in-flight dining experience.

The LIFT Premium offering launched in 2021, promising domestic travelers a ‘business class’ type option for local flights.
The Premium offering includes preferential seating onboard, more space, food, beverages, newspapers and lounge access.
LIFT Premium passengers will now enjoy a new menu including Chickpea Shakshuka, Moroccan pulled Lamb and more.
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After winning the coveted title, Gqeberha-born Shawn, an Engineer by profession, launched his new company: The Roasted Dad. It is through a LIFT partnership with The Roasted Dad that Godfrey has explored an entirely new way of preparing food at 30.000 ft.

We set out to elevate our Premium dining experience, with a focus on uniquely South African cuisine, to provide our travellers with a taste of SA when they fly. We knew Shawn would be the best person for the job, and he didn’t disappoint!

// CEO and Co-Founder of LIFT, Jonathan Ayache

In preparing the menu Godfrey had several challenges to take into account since meals prepared for flights have their very own guidelines, not experienced when dining on land.

It’s important to be strategic about the meals served on a plane. Obviously, smell is a big consideration on a flight due to the confined space, so meals including ingredients with a strong odour can be unpleasant, and we chose to stay clear of those. In addition, being mindful that South Africa is a melting pot of beautiful diversity, all food suppliers and products used by LIFT are halaal friendly.

// The Roasted Dad Founder, Shawn Godfrey

Dishes featured on the new LIFT Premium menu include Chickpea Shakshuka served with Ostrich Boerewors and micro herbs as a breakfast snack.

MasterChef — For lunch or a dinner snack, passengers can enjoy creamy cheese herb ‘pap tert’ served with Moroccan pulled Lamb, yogurt and micro herb topping. Those travellers with a sweet tooth can indulge in dark brownie and white cappuccino truffles, mindfully chosen by Shawn in an effort to switch things up from the common jellied consistency of desserts offered on flights. Image: LIFT

To complement the new Premium food menu, LIFT will bring in a fresh assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Travellers will be able to choose from a wide range of premium wines and spirits by local and international producers such as DGB – SA’s largest producers of wine brands: Bellingham, Bochendal, Backsberg and Fryer’s Cove.

Additional beverages include the world’s leading spirits: Vodka’s Absolut, SA’s premium gin – Inverroche, second best-selling single malt – Glenlivet, as well as super-premium Scotch whiskey – Chivas Regal, to name a few from Pernord Richard’s international portfolio of brands.

// CEO and Co-Founder of LIFT, Jonathan Ayache

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