Since January 2020, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has delighted World Business Class guests with an exclusive culinary creation by KLM Captain Folkert Stikvoort, the celebrated winner of the KLM Cooking Contest. The competition was overseen by a distinguished panel of six judges, led by three-star Michelin chef Jonnie Boer.
Participants were challenged to design a pasta dish featuring responsibly sourced seafood, with a focus on local Dutch produce and ingredients suitable for in-flight dining. Captain Stikvoort's winning entry—delicate ravioli filled with shellfish, finished in a Noilly Prat sauce and accented with fresh sorrel—was praised by Jonnie Boer for its exceptional flavor and refined presentation.
The contest, now in its third edition, brought together eight talented KLM crew members from both cockpit and cabin, each showcasing their culinary artistry. Stikvoort's signature dish was introduced to World Business Class passengers in early 2020 and was featured on the menu for a limited three-month period, exemplifying KLM's commitment to elevated inflight gastronomy.
The esteemed judging panel included Roel Verwiel, chair of KLM Foodies; renowned chef Jonnie Boer of De Librije; Bart van Olphen, acclaimed cookbook author and founder of Fishtales, a leader in sustainable seafood; and Miriam Kartman, KLM’s Executive Vice President of Inflight Services.
