The European Ryder Cup Team will fly out of Heathrow with Virgin Atlantic Airways next week on the world’s longest plane and will be tucking into their secret weapon en route - a specially prepared menu featuring Mrs Langer’s Black Forest Gateau and a Ryder Cup Square Pie.Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of the airline, said today:

“The European Team will enjoy Virgin’s famous service including our inflight beauty therapists who will offer massages to the players and their partners, our award-winning Upper Class Suites - the longest beds in business and first - and not forgetting our onboard bar ideal for celebrating the return of The Ryder Cup Trophy to Europe!

“We’ve even prepared a special menu which includes a unique Ryder Cup Square Pie. Made by Square Pie this contains ingredients representing all of the nations of The European Ryder Cup Team.  The Golf Game Pie is a meat pie containing rabbit for England, Scottish venison, wild boar for Germany and during the cooking process the meat will be flamed in Irish whiskey for Ireland.  There is Irish butter in the pastry for Northern Ireland and the meat will be cooked in a red Spanish Rioja wine with a hint of garlic from France.

“We asked European Captain Bernhard Langer what his favourite dish is and he told us it was his mother’s Black Forest Gateau.  We tracked down Mrs. Langer, persuaded her to give us the recipe and it will now be served to Bernhard, The Team and other guests on board.

“Finally we know length is important to golfers so we’ll be flying the European Team out on one of our Airbus A340-600s.  The European built plane is 16 feet longer than the US built Boeing 747.  I hope the Europeans continue the theme by outdriving their American opponents.”

Virgin Atlantic, the Official Airline of The 2004 European Ryder Cup Team, is looking forward to carrying European Captain Bernhard Langer and The European Team on Monday 13 September to The 35th Matches to be held at Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Township, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
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