Air Canada and Celebrity Chef Antonio Park joined forces to prepare destination-specific meals on flights to Asia and South America. At Chef Park’s Montreal-based restaurant, PARK, the day before his food designs were rolled-out on Montreal to Tokyo-Narita flights, Chef Park hosted a celebration to mark the milestone. “I’m thankful and happy to represent Montreal on Air Canada flights,” Chef Antonio Park said at the event. “I’m excited to showcase local Quebec ingredients to international travellers from all around the world, creating a unique travel experience by combining Canadian food and Japanese flavours together. I’m really honoured and really humbled to go on this journey together.”

The crowd of guests, many who are regulars at PARK restaurant or frequent travellers between Montreal and Tokyo, cheered the partnership with enthusiasm and pride.

“To Air Canada Antonio is a true representation of what Canada is all about: multicultural. He was born in Argentina. His is of Asian heritage and he’s lived in many different cities around the world - in Argentina, Brazil, Japan, US, Canada,” said Andrew Yiu, Vice President, Product, at Air Canada “He’s involved in many, many culinary projects around the world, but he’s a true Canadian at heart, and obviously he owns the best Japanese restaurant in Montreal!”

The passionate restauranteur becomes the fourth member of the airline's panel of celebrated Canadian culinary and wine talent with designs that complement Chef David Hawksworth's meal options on international flights, Véronique Rivest, the company's sommelier, and contemporary Chef Vikram Vij whose inspired Indian dishes are presented on Canada-India flights.

Starting with meals on Montreal to Tokyo-Narita flights, a route that links two cities he’s called home, Chef Park's menu will also be available on flights from Toronto to Tokyo-Haneda, Vancouver to Tokyo-Narita, and flights from Montreal to Sao Paulo in Fall 2019. In 2020, Chef Park's meals will also be available on flights to Hong Kong, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Sao Paulo (from Toronto), Santiago and Buenos Aires, and seasonal flights from Calgary to Tokyo-Narita and Vancouver to Osaka.

More on the partnership, including soundbites from the event, are available in the press release: Air Canada Partners with Award-Winning Canadian Chef Antonio Park to Expand Meal Options on Asian and South American Flights