Food On Airlines: 15 Meals That Give Us Hope For A Tastier Future (PHOTOS)

Before people started hating on baggage fees and charges for assigned seating, airline foods were the punching bag for many disgruntled passengers.

Whether it was about the bland, flavourless mush microwaved in plastic trays, the tiny portions which left much to be desired or the questionable quality, it's easy to see why airline food served as the punch line of many failed comedians. Simply put, trying to feed hundreds of passengers with TV-dinner quality meals was just laughable.

Well, famished flyers can put down those peanuts because there's still hope. Below are a few savoury samples that remind us while airline food may never be our go-to source for nourishment, there are the odd exceptions that buck the tasteless trend.

And hey, if you think whatever your cabin crew is serving you is bad now, just remember: it can always be worse.

They remind us beef doesn't have to come in patty form.

Imugr

First Class, Singapore Airlines' steak and roasted veggiesPhoto Credit: Imugr

The remind us there are vegetables outside of carrots and potatoes.

Flickr: Allerina & Glen MacLarty

Business Class, Virgin Australia's prosciutto with char-grilled veggies and Persian feta cheese. Photo Credit: Glen MacLarty

They remind us you can have your asparagus (and slurp it too).

Flickr: dane brian

North West Airlines' salad and asparagus soup Photo Credit: Brian Johnson & Dane Kantner

They remind us in-flight meals don't have to come in plastic trays.

Flickr: Jun Seita

Business Class, All Nippon Airways' marinated ehime red seabream with Shougoin-daikon radish and Jamón Ibérico chiffonnade Photo Credit: Jun Seita

They remind us that when it does come in plastic trays, they can be chic and cute.

Flickr: andynash

Austrian Airlines' knodel (potato dumplings) and sauerkraut Photo Credit: Andrew Nash

They remind us that fava beans are FAVALOUS!

Flickr: Allerina & Glen MacLarty

Business Class, Virgin Australia's fillet of beef with corn and fava beansPhoto Credit: Glen MacLarty

They remind us that tuna doesn't have to be sandwiched between bread.

Flickr: dane brian

First class, Lufthansa International's sesame-crusted tunaPhoto Credit: Brian Johnson & Dane Kantner

They remind us appetizers are more than just breads and salads.

Flickr: ToastyKen

Business Class, Emirates' crab meat appetizerPhoto Credit: Kenneth Lu

They remind us we don't get enough almonds, lamb and couscous in our diets.

Flickr: Allerina & Glen MacLarty

Business Class, Virgin Australia's braised lamb with Moroccan-spices. Photo Credit: Glen MacLarty

They remind us crayfish crepes are a real thing.

Flickr: BrownGuacamole

United Airlines' grilled zucchini basket, stuffed with eggplant caviar and crayfish newburg crepe with red pepper coulis and pesto sauce.Photo Credit: Ernesto Andrade

They remind us even appetizers can have their own appetizers.

Flickr: kalleboo

Business Class, Scandinavian Airlines' appetizer platter Photo Credit: Karl Baron

They remind us that airline food can look gorgeous.

Flickr: Jun Seita

Business Class, All Nippon Airways' assorted lunchtime appetizerPhoto Credit: Jun Seita

They remind us that food can be colourful too (we're looking at you Mr. Grey Mystery Meat)

Flickr: BrownGuacamole

Lufthansa Airlines' lunch spreadPhoto Credit: Ernesto Andrade

They remind us you don't always have to choose between appetizers -- sometimes you can have both!

Flickr: BrownGuacamole

United Airlines' lunch appetizer sampler of sauteed prawns and crispy Dakota beef organic short rib wontons with organic Thai barbecue sauce and sweet-and-sour cucumber relish.Photo Credit: Ernesto Andrade

Finally, they remind us that wine also exists in bottle form.