Yes, it’s a fun one-liner ...... but in answer to the question - and expressing a purely personal opinion (an extremely radical one, I know) - I tend to eat ‘airplane food’ because on a 14 hour sector I often have this strange habit of feeling peckish.

That apart, it’s all a matter of what exactly is being offered. I agree with those here who don’t rate EK catering very highly, and it’s certainly not the best aspect of Emirates top cabin and its overall product. Indeed, their food is actually not much better than the likes of BA in F (with the notable difference that you sure won’t find caviar & blinis on any BA menus .... ).

Quality food and airlines are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Just a few examples that immediately spring to mind would include Swissair First (many years back) ; and, more recently, Oman Air (both J & F), and Malaysian F. I can honestly say that these have served me meals comfortably matching standards of many high-end restaurants - not least when one takes into account the limitations of onboard space & general facilities. And so in the same way that I can enjoy eating food in restaurants, I can often have the same experience in the air ; with the added bonus (as an avowed window-seat aficionado) of some occasionally very special views along the way.