If you’re a frequent flyer with Delta you’re sure to know our roots in New York run deep. And if you travel with us often through NYC, you’ve seen and heard about all the changes and improvements we’re making, like a new hub at LaGuardia and new terminal at JFK.

Today we’re at it again, with one of our most exciting announcements yet—a new dining experience at Terminal C in LaGuardia. And what better place to indulge in some of the best food in the world from some of the most famous chefs in the world? New York City, where foodie dreams come true! But before we tell you all about it, check out some of the big names in dining you’ll find at Terminal C:

As you can see we’re building on some of the five star dining experiences you’ve had at Terminal D in LaGuardia, and taking world class dining to a new level with some of the biggest names in the culinary biz, with the likes of Andrew Zimmern, Andrew Carmellini, Anne Burrell, Aarón Sánchez and more.

Here’s the full rundown of everything you’ll see:

• Cotto: This enticing trattoria features traditional Italian cuisine with a modern translation. The menu developed by Chef Michael White highlights rustic Italian flavors and features fresh-made pastas and pizzas. In addition to full service dining, Cotto offers gourmet market items with counter service and a full menu, as well as a coffee bar and gelato counter. The design is open and airy, reminiscent of an Italian piazza.
• Empire Tavern: A collaboration from Balthazar’s Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr (also of Bisoux at Terminal D), Empire Tavern is fashioned after a classicNew York City tavern. This restaurant will offer a selection of classically prepared meat and fish entrees complemented by an expansive beverage program that includes 24 beers on tap and 24 wines by the glass. A hearty breakfast for morning travelers rounds out the menu.
• Kombu: Featuring contemporary Japanese cuisine by Chef Jamison Blankenship, Kombu has a modern menu that celebrates fresh ingredients and traditional technique. The menu includes not only a delicious assortment of sushi and maki rolls, but also a raw bar, rice bowls, expansive noodle dishes and Japanese sandwiches. The breakfast offered at Kombu is a combination of traditional Japanese ingredients and American favorites.
• Victory Grill: A new take on American classic dining, Victory Grill’s menu is where comfort food meets global fusion. Guided by Chef Andrew Carmellini and inspired by the flavors of the world, Victory Grill’s guests will find their favorite dishes reinvented. From the raw bar featuring the freshest oysters to lamb chops on the grill, the menu is a collection of American favorites. Forty-eight beers on tap in addition to a selection of wines, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages will encourage guests to linger at the expansive bar. A filling breakfast for morning travelers rounds out the menu.

• Vagabond Burger Bar: With gourmet burgers from the classic to the inventive, guests may build their own or choose from one of the featured burgers and milkshakes created by Chef Anne Burrell. The bar offers 24 beers on tap as well as a selection of wines, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages. A hearty breakfast menu offers made-to-order eggs and fluffy pancakes.

Cibo Express Gourmet Food Halls and Cafes

Patterned after a local farmer’s market, the Food Halls offer fresh produce, baked goods, premiere coffee and tea blends and classic food staples while the themed cafes provide still inspiring, to-go options.

• Cibo Express® Gourmet Markets. Cibo Express® Gourmet Markets feature a wide assortment of freshly prepared products and bottled beverages, including more than 1,000 different products. The markets feature not only 57 varieties of sandwiches, wraps, sides and salads rotated through the offerings, but also an expansive assortment of nuts, fruits, dried fruits, sweets, chocolates, cookies, health bars, granolas, veggies, cheese, crackers, side salads and pastas, spreads and dips, chips, pretzels and pastries.

• Artichoke: This Food Hall eatery serves piping hot pizza by the slice from Pizzaiolos, cousins and best friends, Francis Garcia and Sal Basille. In addition to the duo’s famous Artichoke and Margherita pizza, the menu includes several Italian specialties as well as breakfast.
• Biergarten: Beer gardens have historically been a gathering place for communities and celebration, and they are the inspiration for the Cibo Express® Food Hall seating area. A central bar located within the seating area features a selection of 24 beers on tap. Seasonal rotations, craft beers, local favorites and international brews will all be part of the beer selection as developed by famed brewer Garrett Oliver. The garden will also offer a selection of 16 wines by the glass and seasonal cocktails.
• Custom Burgers: Also available at Terminal D, Custom Burgers offers delicious gourmet burgers made from a custom beef blend sourced from Pat LaFrieda – one of the top meat purveyors inNew York. Burgers are grilled to order and served with all the fixings. Delicious house-made milkshakes are the perfect complement to a Custom Burger.
• Interwich: From Andrew Zimmern, who also has a concept in Delta’s MSP dining space, Interwich offers a menu of globally inspired sandwiches made with locally sourced ingredients. Traditional sides and inventive salads round out the menu. Breakfast sandwiches, ice-cream sandwiches, make-your-own and kiddie sandwiches offer something for everyone.
• Vuelo Taqueria: In the hands of celebrated Chef Aarón Sánchez, Mexican spices and flavors come alive at Veulo Taqueria™, a quick-serve eatery that offers simple but flavorful Mexican-inspired meals and snacks. Entrees focus on tortas and tacos – authentic street fare in any Mexican city. Using locally grown produce and meats elevate the quality and flavor of these simple meals. Mexican-inspired breakfast options include burritos, tostadas and even tacos. A beverage program including a selection of agua frescas, Mexican beers, sangrias and wine are also offered.
• wibar: Also located in Terminal D, wibar is the ultimate wine bar with 101 premium wines by the glass. Customers may also enjoy tasting pours (2 oz.), flights, half- and full-bottles. The wine list composed by Roger Dagorn features a wide range of wines fromCalifornia, France and all around the world. Wines are dispensed from an Enomatic wine serving system that keeps the wine fresh and allows customers to easily taste from the entire selection. A menu of small bites, cheese and meats complements the wine offerings. For those who prefer beer, spirits or coffee and espresso, a full selection will be available at wibar.

• Minnow: Also in Terminal D, Minnow will serve the best selections of fresh fish and shellfish in a quick-service and café venue. From raw options to chowders, salads and sandwiches, the menu developed by Chef Andrew Carmellini celebrates the flavors and versatility of fresh fish and shellfish.

• WorldBean: WorldBean features fresh roasted coffee and espresso drinks. Fair-trade beans are sourced seasonally from small farmers throughout the world. Roasted in small batches to ensure freshness, the coffee selection will rotate depending on which coffee crops are in season. Balthazar pastries will be served at World Bean.
• World Nectar: The World Nectar counter will offer fresh squeezed juices and smoothies with a menu that includes both seasonal selections and year-round favorites. The organic fruit and vegetable juices will be made to order to ensure freshness, and the smoothie menu will include a wide selection of healthy and delicious options.
• Xun Su: Offering a new twist on quick-casual Chinese, Xun Su’s menu highlights traditional Chinese favorites including Lo Mein, roasted and barbecued meats and dumplings. At Xun Su, all of the Lo Mein dishes are wok’d to order in front of guests, and the menu offers a higher level of quality and freshness than typical fast food Asian venues, more closely mirroring a true Chinatown dining experience.

Now that’s a mouthful! The dining concepts will open in phases over 18 months with temporary structures with full menus opening as “Taste Of” concepts in late-March 2012.

Bon Appétit!

Liz Giroux

Delta Social Media

New York is one of the most important markets we serve at Delta, and it has long been our goal to become the preferred airline for customers traveling to and from New York.

And we’ve made a lot of progress in the past decade. We built an international hub at JFK that connects the city to points across the globe, including Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. We broke ground last year on a $1.2 billion expansion and enhancement of Terminal 4 at JFK. And you’re seeing Delta’s name all over the city as the official airline of the Yankees and Mets, the Knicks, the Rangers and Madison Square Garden, just to name a few.

Today marks a new step in our New York expansion, and it’s Delta’s biggest move yet. We’ve unveiled our schedule for 2012 that creates a new domestic hub at LaGuardia Airport. We’ll be adding 100 new daily flights to nearly 30 new cities from LaGuardia. We’re adding new service to top business markets like Miami, Dallas/Fort Worth and Cleveland, and adding or expanding service to small- and mid-sized cities across the country, including Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester, N.Y.; Richmond, Va.; Greensboro, N.C.; and Norfolk, Va.

Many smaller communities will be getting jet service on Delta to LaGuardia, a significant upgrade from smaller, turborprop aircraft that previously served those markets.

Overall, we’ll be adding 4 million new seats every year at LaGuardia.  And we can do that without increasing congestion simply by using larger aircraft than other airlines had previously.  In the end, our new LGA service will enhance customer choice and increase competition in the market. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently concluded that our New York expansion has significant benefits for consumers – and we strongly agree.

It’s the largest single-carrier expansion in New York in many years, which makes this an exciting and historic day for Delta and our New York customers.

To make sure we can handle all of these new flights smoothly, we’re taking over Terminal C at LaGuardia, and building a 600-foot bridge connecting it with Delta Terminal D. We’ll operate a total of 29 gates at both terminals, and we’re also going to add a new Delta Sky Club in Terminal C, in addition to the newly-renovated one in Terminal D.

Including our six gates at the Marine Air Terminal, we’ll have a total of 35 gates at LaGuardia by summer 2012 – more than double what we operate now.

I’m looking forward to seeing you in New York in 2012!

Gail Grimmett

Senior Vice President –New York

If you’re a parent who travels often with children you know the challenges of doing so. We are very brave souls! Between the bathroom breaks, requests for snacks and “are we there yet” questions, everything from getting through security to finding the gate can be difficult.

My little ones on one of many Delta flights

Personally, I love traveling and having children only gives me more ideas of places to go—from Disney to Oahu, Hawaii, my kids love to travel. If you’re getting ready to travel with kids, here are some tips that can help you, your child and, well, the entire plane!

Take off and landing

The change in cabin pressure can be awful for little ears. If you have an infant, take off/landing are the perfect times to nurse or feed the baby with a bottle. For a toddler, a pacifier or a sucker can be a great remedy. Chewing gum is also great for the kids that can handle it (once my 3 year-old complained of her ears hurting and I gave her a piece of gum to help. She put the gum directly in her ear—so be sure to give a full explanation of the purpose!)

And if your child has a stuffy nose or isn’t feeling well, be sure to give them some Tylenol (or such) while sitting at the airport. Waiting until the plane takes off will be too late.

During the flight

Younger babies (under 6 months) tend to sleep on planes, and many are lulled by the engine noise. Let them sleep! If your baby is awake and fussy, use a Baby Bjorn or baby sling to walk up and down the aisle to give them a change of pace. Be sure to bring some toys (stuffed animal, books, rattle to keep the baby amused), and don’t forget teething toys for babies needing something to chew. For toddlers: movies, a variety of favorite snacks, and making a little tent on the floor with a blanket can be a great distraction.

Also be sure to befriend the flight attendants and gate agents. There are so many nice flight attendants out there who are more than happy to help you. I’ve had some flight attendants help make my trip go more smoothly by delivering some extra Biscoff cookies (a favorite for big kids, too), allowing us to move around in the aisle, or provide an extra blanket or two.

Overall, the best thing you can do is relax and enjoy your trip. Traveling with small children can be intimidating, but with the right tips and tricks you can make it easy.

Do you have tips for air-travel with children? Share them here on the blog, on the Delta Facebook page or tweet them to us! We’ll feature the best tips to share with fellow parents!

Libby H.

Manager, Internet Marketing

Delta Vacations