If you've spent any time online, you've probably stumbled upon a joke or two about British cuisine. While British food isn't always bad – who can resist a full English breakfast or a proper afternoon tea? – one X user, Yasuko (@miyapii8844), found herself less than thrilled after shelling out 5,000 JPY for afternoon tea at the British Pavilion during the Expo.
▼Here's what 5,000 yen got her.
Yasuko shared her family's highly anticipated visit to the British Pavilion restaurant, eager for a traditional English afternoon tea experience. Despite a 20-minute wait, their excitement remained high as they queued and scanned a QR code for the menu. The 5,000 JPY price tag seemed reasonable given the event's nature and the prestige of the British brand. Coupled with promises of "traditional English" fare, expectations for a refined experience were soaring.
However, what actually arrived was a far cry from their hopes: black tea served in a paper cup with a single tea bag, accompanied by surprisingly simple desserts.
▼The afternoon tea set shown in TV reports clearly looked more elaborate and carefully prepared, unlike what was served.
Adding insult to injury, the menu clearly stated two scones, but only one appeared on the plate. When Yasuko brought this to a staff member's attention, they seemed flustered before heading to the kitchen and returning with a single additional scone.
But the scone saga didn't end there. Yasuko's husband's set also came with just one scone instead of the advertised two. When she questioned another staff member, the response was, "The scones are bigger now, so we only provide one."
This chaotic serving left Yasuko furious. The 5,000 JPY price point, combined with the stark contrast to the TV promotions, left many Japanese netizens equally appalled.
"Is this an experience of Britain, or an experience of British disappointment?" one netizen quipped. Another added, "The Expo is a prime opportunity to showcase each country's charm. If the food experience makes people dislike a nation, it's a total loss."
Netizens quickly began pointing out other baffling elements of the afternoon tea set, such as...
▼The dessert stand itself appeared to be an IKEA product. (Couldn't they at least use British-designed tableware instead of Nordic?)
▼The cakes provided were revealed to be mass-produced frozen cakes from the well-known Japanese manufacturer "Sujahta."
Considering all this, the 5,000 JPY price tag seems truly astonishing.
However, some netizens noted that their experience two weeks prior had been significantly better, with clotted cream and jam not served in paper cups, at least.
It's possible that the Expo venue was simply too busy, leading to restocking issues or a shortage of clean tableware, which might explain Yasuko's unfortunate experience. Regardless, the Expo is a golden opportunity for countries to leave a lasting impression on global visitors. Disappointing those who specifically come to dine is, without a doubt, a missed opportunity.
via： esuteru