Raise your hand if you enjoy dining at the airport? No takers? Not surprised. Not many would say they arrive early to the airport for a unique, culinary experience. But things are about to change at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
This summer United Airlines will begin a complete renovation of Terminal C, pairing chefs’ inspired cuisine with architecture and technology. Upon the space’s estimated completion in 2016, travelers will be able to enjoy 55 new dining venues and 6,000 iPads, on which they will be able to place food orders. Delivery times are estimated at a mere 15 minutes! United Airlines members can even use their Mileage Plus miles to pay for food and amenities like ear buds and neck pillows.
Living just miles away from Newark, EWR is my travel hub and lucky for me, EWR is also a hub for United Airlines. Some of the new dining treats include Little Purse by Chef Dale Talde – a creative dumpling joint, Melange Bakery by Jacques Torres – his chocolate chip cookies are not to be missed, and Salumeria Prima by Chef Elizabeth Faulkner – a chic spot featuring the meats and cheese of NYC’s famous Murray’s.
Recently, OTG Management hosted a tasting of some of the exciting delights to come. My sister joined me and, to be honest, we skipped all of the socializing and got to table hopping instead. Our post-event dinner reservations were not necessary after this hearty tasting. We couldn’t decide which chef station we loved more! Could this really be airport food? Come 2016, it will be. We were also treated to renderings of the space design and got to place “practice” orders on the new iPads. Would it be too much of a stretch to suggest that you may start to receive dinner invitations to join friends or family at the hip new dining spot known as the United Terminal at Newark? Maybe. But then again, maybe not! Stay tuned for updates!
Karin Nastawa grew up in the great Garden State, leaving only briefly to attend college in Philadelphia, where she developed a love for all things cheesesteaks. She has lived in Hoboken for over nine years, taking in the incredible dining scenes on both sides of the river and has a particular affinity for staking out interesting BYO establishments in Hudson County. She is the founder and owner of VinEatsi, a boutique wine & food digital marketing agency and has also studied wine and spirits extensively, receiving her advanced degree from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). Along with running VinEatsi, she is an avid cook and food enthusiast and writes about her wine & food adventures in the VinEatsi blog. She dreams of having a chef’s kitchen and a state-of-the-art wine cellar filled with Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Left Bank Bordeaux… someday.
