Passengers have been known to do unusual things on planes, but Italian food influencer Federica Rossi may have set a new standard for in-flight creativity.
Rossi, a popular Instagram food blogger, amassed nearly 2 million views after she crafted a whole cheesecake from scratch during a Ryanair flight.
Sitting by the window, she used her tray table as a workspace, producing all the ingredients from her bag and assembling her dessert mid-air.
Her step-by-step process included:
- Crushing biscuits in a plastic bag with a cake tin.
- Mixing melted butter and honey with the crumbs to form the base.
- Blend cream cheese and sugar for the filling before layering it on the base.
- Topping the cake with strawberry jam for garnish.
Mixed Reactions to In-Flight Desert
While many viewers found her video entertaining, some questioned the hygiene of making food on a plane.
Social media user @mj_major_design remarked, “Ah yes, full of circulating germs stirred in,” while @noamycoco added, “If you knew how dirty those planes are, you’d think twice before using tray tables for food.”
A flight attendant told Metro that tray tables are among the dirtiest surfaces on planes. Due to limited cleaning between flights, they often harbour bacteria.
The multifunctional use of tray tables for eating, reading, and resting objects contributes to the problem.
Concerns were also raised about potential allergy risks for other passengers, though Rossi assured her followers that she maintained cleanliness. In a comment under her post, she wrote:
“I cleaned before and after, it took me 15 minutes in silence, I didn’t leave even a crumb, and I ate the cake with my two friends.”
Support from Fans
Despite the controversy, many praised Rossi’s creativity. One commenter joked, “Finally, someone I’d enjoy sitting beside,” while another noted, “Definitely better than what they serve on planes.”
Ryanair’s Food Policy
For aspiring in-flight bakers, Ryanair allows food and cold soft drinks on board as long as they fit in hand luggage. However, passengers should check destination regulations, as some foods may not be allowed off the plane.
This quirky culinary moment showcases the imaginative—and divisive—ways travellers make the most of their flight experiences.
