
'Exquisite', ' impeccable' and 'dazzling' are not words often used when asked to describe airline food.

However, these are the descriptions used by luxury food magazine Saveur, when it revealed the carriers with the best in-flight options.

The magazine's second annual Culinary Travel Award winners were chosen by an expert panel of the editors as well as industry experts, travel writers, photographers and chefs.

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Emirates scooped the Experts Choice Award at Saveur Magazine's second annual Travel Culinary Awards. Winners are chosen by an expert panel which includes the magazine's editors, industry experts, chefs, photographers and travel writers

The 2014 Best In-flight Dining Award was split into two categories - first and business, and economy.

Emirates scooped The Experts Choice award for the second year in a row, with Saveur's experts saying they were 'dazzled' by the quality of food and service enjoyed on the airline.

The panel wrote: 'Enjoying delicacies such as wild Iranian caviar with sour cream and blinis or lamb noisette with roasted seasonal vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes, award-winning chefs have created menus that are not only exquisite but also healthy.'

The airlines serves its seven-course meals on Royal Doulton fine bone china and guests are able to enjoy an extensive range of vintage wines.

A first-class meal: Fish with roasted vegetables and a variety of bread from from Turkish Airlines. The carrier's food service received a notable mention at the awards

Emirates's first and business class passengers feast on wild Iranian caviar with sour cream and blinis, and wash their meal down with glasses of champagne. Their food service was described as 'exquisite' and 'comparable to dining at a five-star restaurant'

Business and first-class guess are able to freshen up in one of the two on board showers before they enjoy their luxe meals, which include traditional Arab mezze and lamb noisettes with roasted seasonable vegetables and creamy mashed potato.

'Dining in this kind of impeccable luxury is comparable to dining in any gourmet restaurant or five-star hotel we've encountered the world over,' the judging panel said.

'We can't help but appreciate the attention to detail on every aspect of a flight with Emirates, making the travel just as memorable as the destination itself.'

'We are proud to be recognised as the Experts Choice for the second year in a row at Saveur Magazines' annual culinary awards,' a spokesperson from Emirates said.

'Eating well is an essential part of the Emirates travel experience, whatever the class of travel. Emirates has extended its commitment to offering not only the finest dining experience in the skies, but a dining experience worthy of the finest restaurants around the world.'

Outstanding mention: Delta Airlines's first class meal of grilled shrimps with rice, fajitas, a side salad, and a red pepper and olive dip

Singapore Airlines's business and first class in-flight meals were considered 'outstanding.' The carrier economy class food service also scooped top honours, winning both the Expert's and Readers Choice awards

South American carrier LAN Airlines's economy meals were considered notable by the Saveur's panel of judges

Oman Air's business and first class meals were voted as Readers' Choice winners.

The airline's seasonally-led in-flight meals - which are served on bespoke full-size china - was described as 'so much more than airline fare.'

First and business class diners start with caviar and Dom Pérignon champagne and followed by canapes, canapés and appetisers such as a winter pumpkin-and-apple soup

Main courses include fillet of beef, Loch Fyne salmon, pan-fried sea bass with cherry tomato, herb, and olive salsa, and saffron risotto with grilled asparagus.

Also on offer is the Arabian Festival Combination Dish of king prawn kebab, steamed chickpea rice with pine nuts, and seasoned okra.

After dessert (chocolate mousse gâteau or baklava), guests indulge in a cheese plate served with Croft vintage port.

Oman Air's Chief Executive Officer, Paul Gregorowitsch said: 'We are delighted that our First Class and Business Class inflight cuisine has won the praise of Saveur's readers. Oman Air prides itself on the extremely high standards of our inflight dining.

'We believe that we offer the best dining experience in the skies and we are extremely pleased that so many of Saveur's readers agree with us. I would like to offer each of them my thanks for their support.'

Top notch starters: Emirates's award-winning chefs were lauded for creating 'exquisite' and healthy menus

Etihad Airways's first and business class meals were considered outstanding by the Culinary Travel Awards 2014 panel

A salad of shrimp and, mango, chickpeas and leaves served on Oman Air's first and business class flights

Singapore Airlines's business class meal of grilled chicken leg, mash, sauteed baby vegetables, tomatoes, and green beans

In the lap of luxury: Dining on a starter of smoked duck breast salad in the Etihad Airways's business studio. The United Arab Emirates carrier's in-flight meals were considered 'outstanding'

In the same category, Etihad Airways, Delta Airlines and Singapore Airlines were voted outstanding.

Notable mentions for first and business class meals went to Qatar Airlines, Korean Air, Air New Zealand, Qantas Airways, Virgin Atlantic, South African Airways, Turkish Airlines, Virgin America, Lufthansa and Thai Airways Royal Silk Class.

Both the Experts and Readers Choice awards for economy dining were won by Singapore Airlines, whose food service was praised for offering 'passengers meals that reflect the culinary influences of countries along its main routes.

Virgin Atlantic (left) received notable mentions in the first and business class category. A duo of desserts from Singapore Airlines (right)

Oman Air's business and first class in-flight meals, served on 'bespoke full-size china and glassware' with 'a focus on seasonal ingredients' won the Readers' Choice award at Saveur's Culinary Travel Awards.

Passengers travelling on Etihad's first class cabins enjoy top notch meals like steak with Béarnaise sauce, roast potatoes and spinach (left), and desserts such as chocolate mousse with berries and cream

A Japanese meal of scallops, shrimps, edamame beans and chicken is on offer to Delta Airline's first and business class fliers

Emirates's economy fare is equally as appetising as its premium class meals

Thai Airways Royal Silk Class also got a nod from Saveur magazine for its first and business class meal service

Notable mentions for first and business class inflight dining also went to Korean Air (left) and Qantas Airways

'The dinner menus offer choices of East and West: Malaysian favorites including nasi lemak, an aromatic rice dish fragrant with coconut milk, and mee goreng, a spicy noodle street-food standby, or Provençal beef stew and poached Chilean sea bass.'