‘World’s Most Experienced Airline’ Also Cooks Up A Storm

The Pan Am cookbook team of (from left) Elane Kato, Teresa Webber and Geri Kai in a pose from the past. Photo from Teresa Webber.

Teresa Webber flew around the world for 16 years on Pan American World Airways, which adds meaning to her current project.

The 1966 Kailua High School graduate was a stewardess (so-called then) on the famed and long-gone international airline, for which many Pan Am workers and passengers still hold memories and much affection. Seeing a need, Webber (aka Terry Haeger) recently published the 537-page volume, A Touch of First Class – Pan Am Recipes and Nostalgia. It offers hundreds of recipes from former employees across the globe.

“Each contributor has their own page, personal comments and photo,” said Webber, now a Kaneohe resident. “In addition, there are about 100 pages of Pan Am history – some of our late, great airline’s finest moments.”

Working with two former colleagues, Geri Kai (Ogata) of Honolulu and Elane Kato (Yamada) of Mililani, she had 2,000 copies printed by Hagadone, and 500 remain for the general public – after initial promotions and the three-day Pan Am reunion held last month in Honolulu.

The book is available via panamcookbook.com, and all sales proceeds will go to the Pan Am exhibit at Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island.