According to a press release, first-class passengers on all eligible American domestic flights leaving DFW will have the option to eat a Pecan Lodge smoked brisket sandwich for lunch and a Pecan Lodge barbecue platter for dinner. The sandwich is self-explanatory, though it does come with potato salad and green beans; the platter has brisket and sausage, plus sides of macaroni and cheese and coleslaw, along with pickles, onions, peppers and barbecue sauce.
“Customer feedback on the Pecan Lodge menu offering has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited to expand this offering across flights from our hometown hub,” said American Airlines Senior Vice President of Customer Experience Design and Strategy Rhonda Crawford. “Pecan Lodge’s bold Texas flavors translate exceptionally well at altitude, making it a great choice for customers looking to enjoy a memorable dining experience in the air.”
American, which is headquartered near DFW Airport in Fort Worth, started rolling out Pecan Lodge barbecue platters and brisket sandwiches for first-class passengers in February. But only travelers heading from DFW to either LaGuardia Airport or John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York had the option to start.
When American first rolled out the service, Pecan Lodge pitmaster and co-owner Justin Fourton told Chron that American approached him with the idea. Pecan Lodge, which is in Deep Ellum in the DFW metroplex, prepares all meats and sides, then packages them for delivery to American’s catering facility. At that point, LSG Sky Chefs plates and delivers the food to the planes, per Fourton.
Fourton told Chron the goal was for American to expand the service after trying it out on New York flights. Now they have cleared that goal.
“Barbecue is deeply personal to us, so scaling these dishes for an airline without compromising the quality and flavors our guests expect was incredibly important,” Fourton said in the release. “Working alongside American has made it possible to share a true taste of Texas with travelers from around the country, and that’s something we’re really proud of.”
The service begins on domestic flights out of DFW on Sept. 9.