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British Airways collabs with Franklin Barbecue on in-flight meal and sauce
Franklin Barbecue pitmaster Aaron Franklin meets British Airways executive chef Mark Brega.
The question of Austin's favorite barbecue joint will always be up in the air, but Franklin Barbecue is bringing things to new heights.
British Airways customers flying from Austin to London throughout March will enjoy a barbecue meal onboard, and some will get a limited-edition take-home bottle of Franklin's Original Sauce.
This is in celebration of 10 years of flying between Austin and Heathrow Airport, and the offer only seems to be valid from here to London. In fairness, as much as some good barbecue would be a great prelude to landing in Austin, it'd be pretty hard to cook it up across the pond.
The limited edition "BA-B-Q sauce" (as in "British Airways," ha ha) is being bottled up for Club World customers — that means those flying in the long-haul business class cabin. Not saying a bottle of sauce is worth hundreds of dollars in upgrades, but it would be a good comedy bit to visit London and drench everything in Texas Juice.
Franklin's sauce is mostly tomato and apple cider vinegar, combining for a pleasant and light product that really represents the simplicity of Texas barbecue. If fans aren't planning a trip to London this month, they can also check out this helpful tutorial from the pitmaster himself.
"Franklin Barbecue is a legendary establishment in Austin," said British Airways executive chef Mark Brega in a press release. "Known for its long lines and mouthwatering brisket, it has earned a reputation as one of the best barbecue joints in the world. We are always looking for culinary inspiration in the cities we fly, so it was a delight to meet Aaron Franklin and learn from his passion and expertise and share Franklin Barbecue's Original BBQ sauce with our customers."
Speaking of videos, British Airways documented a trip Brega made to Austin to learn and develop the in-flight barbecue meal. That will be available to the rest of customers on the flights mentioned above, regardless of what type of ticket they have.
Brega toured the back-of-house at Franklin Barbecue and discussed his plans for "a nice little slaw...a couple of nice slices of short rib, corn pudding, beans, and a couple little sides." According to the release, World Travellers will also be able to order a smoky chicken alternative with rice and beans.
Franklin points out that on an airplane, flavors will have to be heightened to avoid tasting bland. He doesn't mention what they'll do behind the scenes to turn up the heat, but suffice it to say, this meal will taste best in the air, and the sauce should stay sealed until safely on the ground again.
"We had such a good time hosting Mark and the team from British Airways," said Franklin in the release. "It's an honor to help represent Austin as we celebrate ten years of a straight-shot between these two great cities, and all kinds of fun to share this special sauce with British Airways travelers!"
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