During the summer of 2026, Swiss International Air Lines will be surprising its first class travellers with some atypical street food. The so-called ‘Bastardo’ hot dog is the result of a collaboration with gourmet takeaway Frau Hund.
SWISS First, the first class division of Swiss International Air Lines, is known for its exclusive character. With a very limited amount of first class seats per plane (SWISS’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft counts eight for example), a suite-worthy lay-out, Zimmerli sleepwear, dedicates lounges, and much more, the airline intentionally aims to deliver a personalised and qualitative service.
As is to be expected, that approach also applies to the SWISS First menu. First class travellers can enjoy new culinary creations every three months, which are prepared by award-winning Swiss chefs. Customers can choose when they want their seasonal meals to be served and they get to enjoy a selection of carefully chosen wines, champagne, and Swiss cheeses on the side.
From 3 June until 1 September 2026, SWISS First’s menu includes a dish that stands out from the crowd due to its high street food level. The airline collaborates with Chris Maurer and Alex Prack, chefs at and co-founders of gourmet takeaway restaurant Frau Hund, to create a bespoke ‘Bastardo’ hot dog.
“We were very proud to be on SWISS’s radar. One of our goals has always been to have a presence all across Switzerland. With the SWISS partnership, that ambition expanded into an entirely different dimension. Now we can scatter our hot dogs across the whole world, so to speak,” Prack said in a statement.
Initially, the plan was to bring the ‘Deutsche Dogge’, a Frau Hund specialty, aboard SWISS’ first class. However, according to the airline, product developers from Gate Gourmet suggested a lighter option – easier to digest and with a greater emphasis on texture.
This led them to another pick from the Frau Hund menu: ‘Bastardo’. The ‘Bastardo’ includes a selection of toppings such as coleslaw, apple chutney, sour cream, and roasted walnuts. Both the sausage, the bun, and the toppings scored well during the tests but one issue occurred: the hot dogs refused to stay upright on SWISS’ porcelain plates.
“If the hot dog is smeared and things are falling out, that’s not our standard,” said Chris Mauer, explaining they took the issue very seriously.
Thankfully, a solution soon presented itself. Thanks to an adjusted cut on the bun, the hot dog managed to remain upright, thus staying appetising and neat for the travellers to enjoy. After all, the aim was to create a fun product, made using local Swiss ingredients, and to prove hot dogs can be a premium dish on the menu.
“Many people have a cheap kiosk hot dog in mind. We want to show there is another way,” Chris Mauer concluded.
The Frau Hund ‘Bastardo’ is available in SWISS First on all flights departing from Switzerland from 3 June through 1 September 2026.
