SAS offers fresh and delicious meals for purchase in economy class or on a complimentary basis in SAS Premium class on flights within Europe and the birch-smoked salmon is a winner.

Taste Teset: Birch-Smoked Norwegian Salmon On SAS

We were recently flying from Zürich (ZRH) to Copenhagen (CPH) on SAS Connect and, like all SAS flights in Premium (Plus) class, a meal was served. In Europe, you won’t get a “real” business class seat unless you fly on Turkish Airlines, Aeroflot, or a few ITA Airways aicraft, but you can expect a meal even on those very short flights, like this one, that would never have meal service on a flight of simliar length in the USA.

SAS offers delicious, fresh food on its flights within Europe. Economy class passengers can order them in advance, while they are offered for free in the front cabin. Today’s only offer in premium was smoked salmon.

Birch-smoked Norwegian salmon
creamy potato salad, dill and distilled vinegar mayonnaise, and lemon-pickled cabbage

Birch-smoked salmon is salmon that has been smoked using the wood of birch trees. It’s known for its unique flavor profile, often described as having a balance of deep smoke and earthy undertones, sometimes with a subtle sweetness (thank you Google…).

SAS currently serves these meals in disposable boxes, but will return to service in ceramic dishes and metal cutlery when it reintroduces intra-Europe business class this autumn.

The meal was served with rågknäckebröd (rye crispbread) and the salmon had a very flavorful lemon-pickled cabbage and a creamy potato salad with dill. It was a very refreshing meal.

Well, I thought this was a delicious fresh meal, but the kids rejected it…

As SAS prepares to refresh its catering this fall, it should ensure it does not mess up these fresh meals…leave well enough alone, please!

Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago.