Jonathan Smith

Our group consisted of four individuals

Our group consisted of four individuals. The next day, three of us were struck down with illness. I'm an ardent admirer of Asian gastronomy, but I had never encountered such massive maki rolls, drenched in a mayonnaise concoction, enclosing a minuscule, unidentifiable entity. Also, the pairing of wagyu beef with mayonnaise and ketchup seemed an unusual culinary choice for a Japanese eatery. In conversing with the staff at 1535 Differdange, it became clear why three members of our crew were in less than optimal health. Hence, I'm reminded of the acronym SABENA, which stands for "Such A Bad Experience Never Again", originally used in reference to an old Belgian airline. Allow me to elaborate a bit more on our experience. The maki rolls, usually a delightful part of any sushi meal, were just too large to enjoy properly. They were laden with a mayonnaise-based sauce that didn't quite complement the taste. The unidentified ingredient added a touch of mystery, but not in a pleasant way. As for the wagyu beef, it's a delicacy that should be savoured in its own right. However, the combination with mayonnaise and ketchup was a far cry from traditional Japanese cuisine, making it seem out of place in such a setting. I believe the culinary experiment might have been too adventurous. When we voiced our concerns to the personnel at 1535 Differdange, their reactions were revealing. They didn't seem surprised by our predicament, as if they were already aware of the potential consequences of their unusual culinary choices. This left us feeling that our well-being had not been their top priority. In conclusion, our experience was akin to the infamous reputation of the old Belgian airline, SABENA, hence the reference. We left with a bitter aftertaste and a firm resolution never to repeat such an experience again. This culinary adventure, or rather misadventure, will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Date of experience: May 01, 2024