Vegetarians and Spicy Airline Food: A Tale of Cultural Chaos
It was the early 90s, and I was a high-flying investment banker (pun intended). My boss and I took a first-class, non-stop flight from Bangkok to Sydney. We were an odd couple—he was a vegetarian ‘foodie’ who loved spicy food, and I was a… well, a vegetarian who had seldom tasted garlic or dairy products and detested hot and spicy food.
As we soared through the skies, we sipped on fruit juices and coffee, turning down snacks that didn’t meet our vegetarian standards. But little did we know, a spicy surprise awaited us.
Lunch was served, and our eyes widened as the aroma of spicy crab curry wafted through the air. My boss’s eyes sparkled, and he dug in with gusto. I, on the other hand, was skeptical. I whispered to my boss, “Dude, I think this is non-veg.” He retorted in Hindi, “Baleh aadmi acha khana layahai aur kya keh rahe ho?” (Nice man has brought a good dish, and what are you saying?)
I called the crew member, who assured us it was vegetarian. But I was adamant. I asked for the menu, and that’s when the truth came out – it was indeed crab curry!
My boss was shocked, and we quickly called the crew to clear the dishes. The crew member apologized and explained that “vegetarian” includes eggs, chicken, and seafood in Australian cuisine. We were, in fact, vegans!
The crew member took pity on us and organized a vegan feast. We munched on vegan noodles, sweet corn fries, delicious sandwiches, and many more. Our taste buds did the happy dance.
As we landed in Sydney, our stomachs were full, and our sense of humor was intact. We learned a valuable lesson: when in doubt, ask for the menu, and don’t assume anything!
Moral of the story: Even in the friendly skies, cultural differences can lead to hilarious misunderstandings. Always communicate, and never assume you know what’s on the menu
