First hot air balloon restaurant

The first hot air balloon restaurant is CuliAir Skydining (Netherlands), launched by Angélique Schmeinck (Netherlands), in 2003.

In 2003, Schmeinck - a master chef with 25 years of experience, including 12 years at Michelin-starred De Kromme Dissel in Heelsum, Netherlands - was looking for new avenues to explore in the culinary world. After watching a hot air balloon fly over she suddenly realised that it was, in essence, a giant oven!

After a test run in which she cooked fish and chicken in the crown of an in-flight balloon, she launched CuliAir, and has since hosted around 50 trips each year over the past two decades. Flights last roughly 90 minutes and reach altitudes of up to 2,500 ft (762 m).