A passenger made fresh pasta mid-flight—and the internet can’t stop talking about it
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Anyone who has ever pushed around an unappetizing airline meal knows that in-flight dining isn’t exactly fine dining.
Dry chicken, mystery pasta, and bland sides often leave travelers wishing they had packed a snack.
But one creative passenger decided not to settle.
Instead, she turned her cramped airline seat into a makeshift kitchen at 30,000 feet.
The unusual stunt sparked laughter, debate, and a flood of questions from viewers around the world.
The passenger was Katie Brooks, a pasta instructor from San Diego who documented her mid-air cooking experiment on social media.
In her video, she calmly poured flour into a bowl, mixed in water, and began shaping gnocchi on her tray table.
The caption read, “POV: You hate airplane food so you make it yourself.”
While some viewers applauded her creativity, others were baffled, wondering how she got a bag of flour through security—or how she planned to cook the dough without a stove.
Airline meals often taste worse than they look, and science has an explanation.
At altitude, our taste buds are dulled, and dry, pressurized cabin air makes food seem bland.
Airlines have tried celebrity chefs, upgraded menus, and snack boxes, but many passengers still find the offerings uninspiring.
Katie’s pasta-making may have been a lighthearted protest, but it also highlighted how food is tied to comfort, creativity, and even a sense of joy during travel.
Before anyone considers packing flour and a rolling pin in their carry-on, it’s worth noting the challenges.
TSA rules allow powders but often require extra screening.
Tray tables barely fit a paperback book, let alone a pasta workshop.
And without access to boiling water, the gnocchi would remain uncooked dough.
Still, the video struck a chord—partly because it was so impractical, and partly because it was so bold.
Katie’s stunt wasn’t random. She has a background in pasta-making, having trained in Italy before launching classes and workshops in California.
During the pandemic, she even started delivering fresh pasta locally.
Her mid-flight gnocchi may have been more performance than practicality, but it fits her passion for teaching and sharing Italian cuisine in unusual ways!
Travelers have long found creative ways to make flights more pleasant.
Many bring tea bags, oatmeal packets, or small snack boxes to enjoy with hot water provided by the crew.
Katie’s experiment simply took this idea to the extreme.
While most passengers won’t be kneading dough in row 17, her video added a playful twist to the ongoing conversation about airline food.
For most people, the answer is no—but that doesn’t mean you can’t upgrade your own in-flight meals.
Packing snacks like nuts, protein bars, or a sandwich from home can make the trip easier.
Ordering a special meal option, such as vegetarian or kosher, sometimes results in fresher food.
And staying hydrated with water instead of alcohol can help you feel better throughout the flight!
Read next: Major changes to air travel are here—and loyal passengers just got a surprise
Would you ever go to such lengths to avoid airplane food? Do you bring your own snacks on flights—or maybe even have a creative travel hack of your own? Share your stories in the comments and help inspire other GrayVine readers to make their next trip more enjoyable.
Dry chicken, mystery pasta, and bland sides often leave travelers wishing they had packed a snack.
But one creative passenger decided not to settle.
Instead, she turned her cramped airline seat into a makeshift kitchen at 30,000 feet.
The unusual stunt sparked laughter, debate, and a flood of questions from viewers around the world.
One traveler surprised fellow passengers by rolling out homemade gnocchi in her airplane seat. Image source: TikTok / buonapastaclub.
Turning airplane food into DIY pasta
The passenger was Katie Brooks, a pasta instructor from San Diego who documented her mid-air cooking experiment on social media.
In her video, she calmly poured flour into a bowl, mixed in water, and began shaping gnocchi on her tray table.
The caption read, “POV: You hate airplane food so you make it yourself.”
While some viewers applauded her creativity, others were baffled, wondering how she got a bag of flour through security—or how she planned to cook the dough without a stove.
Also read: A new airport screening option could change how you travel
Why airplane food disappoints
Airline meals often taste worse than they look, and science has an explanation.
At altitude, our taste buds are dulled, and dry, pressurized cabin air makes food seem bland.
Airlines have tried celebrity chefs, upgraded menus, and snack boxes, but many passengers still find the offerings uninspiring.
Katie’s pasta-making may have been a lighthearted protest, but it also highlighted how food is tied to comfort, creativity, and even a sense of joy during travel.
Also read: Don’t book your next flight until you read these senior travel must-knows
The limits of an in-flight kitchen
Before anyone considers packing flour and a rolling pin in their carry-on, it’s worth noting the challenges.
TSA rules allow powders but often require extra screening.
Tray tables barely fit a paperback book, let alone a pasta workshop.
And without access to boiling water, the gnocchi would remain uncooked dough.
Still, the video struck a chord—partly because it was so impractical, and partly because it was so bold.
Also read: Packing tip: This dryer sheet trick keeps your travel outfits fresher, longer
Who is Katie Brooks?
Katie’s stunt wasn’t random. She has a background in pasta-making, having trained in Italy before launching classes and workshops in California.
During the pandemic, she even started delivering fresh pasta locally.
Her mid-flight gnocchi may have been more performance than practicality, but it fits her passion for teaching and sharing Italian cuisine in unusual ways!
Also read: Planning your next getaway? Check these 18 senior travel discounts before you book!
Travel tricks old and new
Travelers have long found creative ways to make flights more pleasant.
Many bring tea bags, oatmeal packets, or small snack boxes to enjoy with hot water provided by the crew.
Katie’s experiment simply took this idea to the extreme.
While most passengers won’t be kneading dough in row 17, her video added a playful twist to the ongoing conversation about airline food.
Also read: Travel nightmare: Lost or stolen license? You never know when this might happen.
Should you try it?
For most people, the answer is no—but that doesn’t mean you can’t upgrade your own in-flight meals.
Packing snacks like nuts, protein bars, or a sandwich from home can make the trip easier.
Ordering a special meal option, such as vegetarian or kosher, sometimes results in fresher food.
And staying hydrated with water instead of alcohol can help you feel better throughout the flight!
Read next: Major changes to air travel are here—and loyal passengers just got a surprise
Would you ever go to such lengths to avoid airplane food? Do you bring your own snacks on flights—or maybe even have a creative travel hack of your own? Share your stories in the comments and help inspire other GrayVine readers to make their next trip more enjoyable.
