Many eateries tout their exquisite views. But they’d have a hard time topping CuliAir, the world’s first hot-air balloon restaurant. During 90-minute flights, diners enjoy a three-course meal made by a Dutch master chef as they float above the Netherlands. The adventure begins before takeoff: The weather affects where the balloon can land, so guests are told where to meet only a few hours beforehand. Once everyone’s on board, the pilot turns up a gas flame that fills the balloon with enough hot air to lift everything off the ground. Chef Angélique Schmeinck relies on that same flame to cook the meal, using a pulley system and steel containers to move the food on and off the heat. The higher the balloon goes, the higher the flame needs to be, so Schmeinck works with the pilot to ensure that everything is cooked at the proper temperatures. And with the balloon reaching altitudes of up to 2,500 feet, those on board get to witness some memorable vistas while they chow down. “Sometimes when the clouds are low, we can go right through them,” Schmeinck told Atlas Obscura. “Then we’re above the clouds and see the sun shining. That moment is unforgettable.”
