Pan Am: A Gastronomic History

2018 Abrams-Banning Grant Award recipient, Dr. Bryce Evans, presents his research: Pan Am: A Gastronomic History. "People today are generally dismissive of airplane food but, at the same time, ignorant of its history. Pan-Am, once the largest international air carrier in the world, performed a pioneering role in airline food service. Nostalgia for Pan-Am’s distinctive food service is now such that a Los Angeles film studio hosts a retro dinner on a stage set up to look like a Pan Am double-decker 747 at which patrons divest themselves of upwards of $200 to dine ‘airline’! But this gourmet glamour was underpinned by both serious science and attention to the detail of fine dining culture. Food tastes differ at high altitudes and in low humidity the sense of smell is less acute and the scent sharper; dryness of air and low air pressure ensures our taste buds are hindered, rendering seasoned dishes bland. Pan-Am led the way in scientific innovation around these problems, while maintaining high class dining rituals. This research project explores the changing science and culture attached to food during Pan Am’s global reign, providing the first serious academic study to highlight the company’s gastronomic history."

For more information about the Abrams-Banning Grant Award, visit https://www.library.miami.edu/specialcollections/abrams-banning-grant.html.

For more information about the Pan Am Collection at the University of Miami Libraries, visit https://scholar.library.miami.edu/digital/exhibits/show/panamerican.