Truffle lovers departing or arriving at United Airlines Terminal C at Newark-Liberty International Airport will receive a gift from November 5-12. OTG Management, the company that runs the airport’s restaurants, has partnered with Urbani Truffles to bring in 200 pounds of the edible mushroom, valued at $ 600,000 for a Truffle Week at the Terminal event.
Special truffle dishes will be offered in six restaurants in Terminal C:
- Abruzzo Steakhouse, an Italian-themed restaurant created by chef Mario Carbone;
- Casciano’s, another Italian restaurant from Chef Carbone;
- Caps Beer Garden, an Asian-themed bar and restaurant created by two-time Top Chef contestant Dale Talde;
- Wanderlust Burger Bar, a concept developed by five-time Burger Bash winner Josh Capon, featuring a wide variety of burgers along with a stellar beer and wine list;
- Saison, a French brasserie created by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse, serving classic fare, along with familiar items like burgers; Y
- Daily, the world’s first airport restaurant with a menu that is entirely made up of seasonal and local ingredients that change every day.
All restaurants except Casciano’s will also have wine pairings. OTG will also offer tastings of truffle products, including popcorn and French fries at the Abruzzo market and at the United Miles Shop.
During a preview of the event, three restaurants, Wanderlust Burger Bar, Daily and Abruzzo Italian Steakhouse, offered samples of the truffle dishes that are made available to passengers. The Wanderlust Burger Bar entree was a ground-ground black truffle burger (with truffles in the cheese) from New York City-based butcher Pat LaFrieda. Also served was a ham pressed panini made with truffle cream cheese and truffle Parmesan jars. It was served with a 2011 Oddero Langhe Nebbiolo red wine.
The next stop was Daily, where a pan-roasted Rohan duck with freshly shaved truffles and a glass of Prunotto Barbaresco DOCG 2012 red wine was served. Samples of white truffle popcorn and truffle fries were available in the Abruzzo market . Next to Abruzzo Italian Steakhouse, the chef served cannelloni with truffle ricotta, truffle zambaione, and burgundy sauce, along with a Domaine Prieuer-Brunet red wine.
The evening ended at Saison, where we were served youthful salmon sushi with fresh truffles, along with a plate of truffled grilled chicken. Dessert was a honey, vanilla and truffle ice cream topped with a fresh truffle.
Update in progress
Truffle Week is part of an effort by OTG and United Airlines to highlight an ongoing $ 120 million upgrade to Terminal C, launched in 2014 and expected to be completed in 2017. Among the changes to the store is a new item of integrated security control, gate areas with comfortable seating and iPads that customers can use to track flights and order meals for delivery and natural light that adjusts to the time of day.
Working with OTG, United has brought in new retail spaces and restaurants, designed to reimagine exactly what an airport terminal should look like. OTG has used its industry connections to woo some of the best chefs in the industry, including Paul Liebrandt’s gastropub Vesper Tavern, Alex Guarnaschelli’s Riviera French restaurant, Shoushin Yanaura’s ramen bar, Amanda Freitag’s Nonna’s Meatball Cafe. and Alex Stupak’s Tacquila, which serves street tacos and 200 different types of tequila.
By 2017, Terminal C will have almost 60 new restaurants with many different options and prices. All will highlight fresh, locally sourced ingredients and showcase the best regional and local dining experiences. It will have restaurants that transform from morning to afternoon: Poppy’s bagel shop to Casciano’s gourmet shop or Sugary and Crepes Café to custom burgers and the Notorious PIG, providing travelers with many different options.
And if travelers just want to stay close to the gate, the terminal will have comfortable seating and dining rooms with iPads that they can use to track flights and order food from nearby restaurants for delivery. And those who are MileagePlus frequent flyer members use their miles to pay for food and beverages at the terminal.
