Private Jet Catering Terminology: UK vs US Food Terms Crews Should Know
Private jet catering terminology can be surprisingly different on each side of the Atlantic. A British purser asks for crisps and a starter, an American captain orders chips and an appetizer, and both mean exactly the same thing. When crews, schedulers and caterers work across Europe, the United States and the Middle East every week, a shared vocabulary turns every order into a smooth, accurate service.
Global Diners prepares VVIP inflight catering in our own kitchens in Paris, Nice and Madrid and in our kitchens across more than 2,500 airports, from Birmingham (EGBB / BHX) and London Luton (EGGW / LTN) to Chicago O'Hare (KORD / ORD) and Teterboro (KTEB / TEB). This guide gathers the UK and US food terms that crews meet most often, with tips on writing orders that read clearly wherever they land.
Why words matter in a catering order
A catering order is a short document read by several people: the scheduler who writes it, our specialised team who prepares the quote, the chefs in our kitchen and finally the cabin crew who unpack the boxes. Each reader brings their own habits. A request for "biscuits with tea" will bring shortbread to a British crew and something closer to a savoury scone to an American one. Clear terms keep every reader on the same page, and the result is a galley that holds exactly what the passengers expect.
Most of these differences are charming rather than confusing once you know them, and many crews enjoy collecting them. The tables below cover vegetables and herbs, snacks and sweets, dairy and baking, and the language of service itself.
Vegetables, herbs and seafood
UK term | US term | Global Diners order tip |
Aubergine | Eggplant | Either word is fine; we confirm the dish in the quote |
Courgette | Zucchini | Mention if the passenger avoids it in sauces too |
Coriander (leaves) | Cilantro | State 'no coriander' clearly, it is a strong preference for many |
Rocket | Arugula | Ask for dressing on the side to keep leaves crisp |
Spring onion | Scallion or green onion | Useful to specify for Jain or allium-free requests |
Prawns | Shrimp | Shellfish allergies always written in full on the order |
Mangetout | Snow peas | Fine for crudités and warm vegetable sides |
Herbs deserve special attention: coriander divides passengers more than almost any other ingredient, so when a principal dislikes it, write it on the order in both forms. Seafood terms also vary by size, and an American shrimp cocktail and a British prawn cocktail are close cousins with different sauces. Our guide to what flight crews expect from a caterer shows how allergen labels make these details visible on every item.
Snacks, sweets and baking
UK term | US term | Global Diners order tip |
Crisps | Chips | Say 'potato crisps' to avoid any mix-up with fries |
Chips | French fries | Fries are at their best fresh; roast potatoes travel beautifully |
Biscuits | Cookies | Name the style: shortbread, oat or chocolate chip |
Scone | Biscuit (savoury, similar) | Clotted cream and jam travel in separate pots |
Jam | Jelly | US jelly is a clear fruit spread; jam contains fruit pieces |
Jelly | Jell-O style gelatin dessert | Mention gelatin preferences for halal or vegetarian guests |
Icing sugar | Powdered sugar | Used for dusting pastries and berries at service |
Pudding | Dessert | In the UK, pudding can mean any dessert course |
Baking has its own vocabulary too. Plain flour is all-purpose flour, cornflour is cornstarch and caster sugar is superfine sugar. Single and double cream correspond roughly to light and heavy cream, and a British crew asking for cream with berries usually means pouring cream rather than whipped. When a dessert matters, a short description of the texture you have in mind is always the clearest choice.
Two crews can order the same meal with completely different words. The best order is the one that describes the plate the passenger will see.
Courses, service and galley language
The structure of the meal brings the most famous difference of all. In the United States, the entrée is the main course; in France, and in classic menu language, the entrée is the starter. A menu written for a French or European passenger and read by an American crew can therefore shift a whole course. Writing starter, main course and dessert, or appetizer, main and dessert, removes any doubt.
Starter / appetizer: the first course; canapés or hors d'oeuvres are bite-size and served before it.
Main course / entrée (US): the central dish of the meal, always worth naming explicitly.
Cutlery / silverware or flatware: knives, forks and spoons, whether silver or not.
Serviette / napkin: both are understood, napkin is the safe international choice.
On the side: sauces and dressings packed separately, a standard Global Diners practice.
Crew meal: meals for pilots and cabin crew, ideally different from the passengers' menu and from each other.
Takeaway / takeout: food collected from a restaurant; restaurant pick-ups can be coordinated on request.
Galley terms are mostly shared, but a few habits differ. British crews often speak of a hot cup or a boiler, American crews of a coffee maker or brewer, and both may call the oven a convection or steam oven depending on the aircraft. Every hot dish from Global Diners carries reheating guidance, so whatever the oven is called, the crew knows how to bring the meal back to temperature.
Dates, times, weights and temperatures
Some of the most useful conventions have nothing to do with food. In the UK, 12/10 means 12 October; in the US, it means 10 December. Writing the month in letters, as in 12 October 2026, is the simplest way to keep the delivery date unambiguous. Times are best given in local time at the departure airport, with the 24-hour clock, and it helps to add the time zone when a crew is planning from another continent.
Weights and temperatures also change: grams and kilograms in Europe, ounces and pounds in the United States, Celsius on one side and Fahrenheit on the other. Portion requests are usually clearest when expressed per person, for example caviar for four passengers or a cheese platter for six, and our specialised team translates that into the right quantities. Our article on catering weight and flight efficiency explains why sensible portions also help the aircraft.
Writing an order that reads clearly everywhere
Email order@globaldiners.com with the airport, aircraft registration, date written with the month in letters, local delivery time and passenger count.
Name each course as starter, main course and dessert to avoid any entrée confusion.
Describe dishes by what they are, for example 'potato crisps' or 'shortbread biscuits'.
List allergies and dislikes in full words, including both names of an ingredient where they differ.
Order 24 hours ahead and check the written confirmation, which repeats every item in clear terms.
Our confirmation is designed to act as the shared reference for the crew, the operator and our kitchen. The Global Diners client portal is coming very soon. It is designed to bring the Global Diners menu, order requests, confirmations and documents into one space for crew, operations and finance. Until it opens, every request goes through order@globaldiners.com. The Global Diners Crew Training Programme, a structured training programme for cabin crew on inflight catering service, is launching soon.
VIP Inflight Catering for Events Near Birmingham (EGBB / BHX)
Birmingham's private-aviation calendar is shaped by the NEC next door: when a major show opens, the whole area comes alive at once. Summer cricket at Edgbaston and the festive season add their own high points. During these weeks, order a little earlier than the usual 24 hours, confirm passenger numbers early, agree the delivery slot with the handler and choose travel-ready formats such as sealed lunch boxes for delegates moving between halls and meetings.
Event | When | Where |
Crufts | March | NEC Birmingham, next to the airport |
Spring Fair | February | NEC Birmingham |
International cricket at Edgbaston | June to September (varies with fixtures) | Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham |
Horse of the Year Show | October | NEC Birmingham |
Birmingham Christmas Market and festive season | November to December | Victoria Square and New Street, Birmingham |
Crufts at Birmingham (EGBB / BHX): March
Crufts, the world-famous dog show run by The Kennel Club, has been held at the NEC since 1991 and draws exhibitors, judges and visitors from many countries over four days. Many international exhibitors arrive by business jet. Because the show is a short walk from the airport, early breakfasts and late returns are common. Plan breakfast boxes for morning departures and light hot suppers in thermal carriers for evenings, and share final numbers as early as possible.
Show, fixture and market dates in Birmingham change from year to year, so check the timings with our team when placing your order.
Things to do around Birmingham (EGBB / BHX)
The NEC and Resorts World Birmingham, next to the airport, host concerts, shows and leisure facilities. In the city, the canal network, with more miles of waterway than Venice, runs past Brindleyplace and the Mailbox for waterside walks. Cadbury World in Bournville tells the chocolate story, while Edgbaston hosts international cricket and Villa Park and St Andrew's welcome football fans. The Belfry, a famous Ryder Cup venue, is a short drive from the airport. Warwick Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon and Kenilworth Castle make easy day trips, and the Cotswolds lie within about an hour's drive.
Culture and heritage near Birmingham (EGBB / BHX)
Birmingham grew as the workshop of the world during the Industrial Revolution, and the Jewellery Quarter still houses hundreds of jewellers. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery holds a major Pre-Raphaelite collection, and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts is a respected gallery. The Library of Birmingham is a striking modern landmark, while the concert halls of Broad Street and the Birmingham Royal Ballet anchor the city's performing arts.
Also nearby: Chicago O'Hare (KORD / ORD)
O'Hare handles business aviation traffic for Chicago's corporate core: the Loop's banks and trading firms, commodity and futures markets, large consulting and manufacturing headquarters, and the convention calendar at McCormick Place. Many flights are same-day roundtrips for board meetings, investor visits and trade shows, with steady weekday demand all year. The airport sits on the city's north-west side, close to suburban office parks around Rosemont and Schaumburg, and is often used when a crew needs long runways or wants to combine a private arrival with international connections.
Chicago's lakefront runs for many kilometres along Lake Michigan, with beaches, cycling paths and parks. Millennium Park, with Cloud Gate and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, sits at the heart of downtown, beside the Art Institute. The architecture river cruise is one of the best ways to see the skyline, and observation decks at Willis Tower and 360 Chicago give views across the city. Navy Pier offers boat trips and attractions, while Wrigley Field in the north of the city is one of the oldest ballparks in Major League Baseball. In summer, the North Shore suburbs have lakefront parks and golf courses.
FBOs at every airport in this guide
Here are the business aviation terminals (FBOs) at each airport mentioned above. Our team coordinates every catering delivery with the FBO or handler you choose, and our own kitchens deliver planeside at Paris (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE).
Birmingham (EGBB / BHX): Signature Aviation and XLR Executive Jet Centres
Chicago O'Hare (KORD / ORD): Signature Aviation
London Luton (EGGW / LTN): Signature Aviation and Harrods Aviation
Teterboro (KTEB / TEB): Atlantic Aviation, Jet Aviation and Signature Aviation
Paris (LFPB / LBG): Dassault Falcon Service, Jet Aviation, Signature Aviation, Advanced Air Support International, Jetex Le Bourget, ExecuJet Paris and Universal Aviation France
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an entrée in the UK and the US?
In the United States, the entrée is the main course. In French and classic European menu language, the entrée is the starter. Writing starter, main course and dessert in your order removes any doubt.
Are crisps and chips the same thing?
British crisps are American chips, thin and crunchy, while British chips are American French fries. When ordering, 'potato crisps' is the clearest way to ask for the snack.
How should I write the delivery date in a catering order?
Write the month in letters, for example 12 October 2026, and give the delivery time in local time at the departure airport. This avoids any mix-up between UK and US date formats.
Can Global Diners help when the crew and passengers use different terms?
Yes. Our specialised team confirms every item in a written confirmation, which serves as a shared reference for crew, operator and kitchen. Send your order to order@globaldiners.com and we will clarify any term before preparation.
Can I order catering at Birmingham (EGBB / BHX) for a flight during a major NEC exhibition?
Yes. Global Diners supplies catering at Birmingham Airport (EGBB / BHX) during NEC exhibitions such as the Spring Fair and Crufts, when business aviation arrivals rise. Executive breakfast boxes, working lunches and light dinners suit delegates travelling between show days and meetings. Order a few days ahead in show weeks, confirm passenger numbers early and the team will agree delivery timing with the handler.
Can Global Diners provide a Birmingham balti or other South Asian dishes on board?
Yes. For departures from Birmingham Airport (EGBB / BHX), Global Diners can arrange balti-style curries, biryanis, samosas and other South Asian dishes on request, prepared mildly or with more spice as preferred and packed in thermal containers for reheating on board. Halal options are available. Share your choice and the number of guests, and the team will confirm the menu with your quote.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in Birmingham (EGBB / BHX)
Private jet catering in Chicago O'Hare (KORD / ORD)
Private jet catering in London Luton (EGGW / LTN)
Ordering across the Atlantic this season?
Whether your crew writes in British or American English, Global Diners reads every order with care and confirms each item in clear terms. Our kitchens serve Birmingham (EGBB / BHX), Chicago O'Hare (KORD / ORD), London Luton (EGGW / LTN), Teterboro (KTEB / TEB) and Paris Le Bourget (LFPB / LBG), and more than 2,500 airports worldwide. Send us your schedule and we will prepare a dedicated quote.
To request a quote, email order@globaldiners.com with your aircraft registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count. Our specialised team replies with a dedicated quote for your mission.
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