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"Unbelievable but true": Tourist outraged over shocking restaurant fee

A tourist in Italy has been hit with a shocking fee from an upscale eatery after he asked for his sandwich to be cut in half. The anonymous man was travelling in Italy's picturesque Lake Como region, and stopped in at Bar Pace in Gera Lario, at the lake’s northern end, for a vegetarian sandwich and fries for lunch. Travelling with a friend, the man asked for the meal to be cut in half so they could share. After polishing off their lunch, the traveller was shocked when he was given the bill, noticing a charge he had never seen before. The man paid without arguing, but later took to TripAdvisor to leave a negative review. “Unbelievable but true,” the man captioned a photo of the receipt on TripAdvisor. The receipt lists the sandwich for €7.50 ($12.60), Coca Cola for €3.50 ($5.90), water for €1.50 ($2.50) and espresso for €1.20 ($2), along with the debated “diviso da meta”, or “cutting in half” fee, amounting to 2 euros, or $3.40. The confused customer gave the restaurant one star on TripAdvisor, far below the average of four and a half stars, based on over 100 reviews. After the review garnered a lot of unexpected attention, the restaurant's owner defended the fee to a local news outlet. “Additional requests have a cost,” owner Cristina Biacchi told La Repubblica. “We had to use two plates instead of one and the time to wash them is doubled, and then two placemats. It wasn’t a simple toasted sandwich, there were also French fries inside. It took us time to cut it in two.” She also noted that the customer did not complain or question the charge and clarified that she would have removed the charge from the bill, if someone had raised an issue. The extra charge is not unheard of in expensive cities and popular tourist destinations, with some cities in the United States are sometimes hitting diners with a share charge, or a split plate charge, to make up for the lower check average at a table, while some New York City eateries even ban the practice of sharing all together. Image credit: TripAdvisor

Travel Trouble

Subway falls a foot short for one customer

A woman has run into some trouble with her Subway sandwich after taking to it with a measuring tape. The irate customer had been suspicious about the supposed dimensions of her “6-inch sub”, and decided the only thing to do was to find out for herself if she was on to something or not. However, the woman didn’t succeed in putting her fears at rest, instead proving them to be right. The sandwich, advertised as being six inches long, measured up to be just over five. In her annoyance, she told the company that they should be doing better - in her words, “to up your game” - if they expected to be charging extra for what customers weren’t actually receiving. “Usually I wouldn't really care,” she noted, and then explained in some of the world’s most relatable terms, “but I was super hungry today.” To add insult to injury, she also revealed how she’d gotten "one less piece of salami and pepperoni” than usual, and noted that this was simply not up to standard, and that she had inside intel to prove it - her sister had been a Subway manager for years. This wasn’t the first time Subway had run into trouble over the size of their sandwiches - a customer in Australia once took their anger straight to court, going so far as to sue the company in 2013. His photo, posted to Facebook, showed that his footlong sandwich was not the promised 12 inches, but instead 11. That case was settled for a staggering $525,000 (approximately $798,042.00 AUD), and in 2015, Subway introduced new in-store regulations towards ensuring their products measured up, as well as additional disclosures for their consumers. At the time, Subway acknowledged that the media buzz surrounding the case had motivated its decision to settle the case, while the judge was firm in his belief that the smaller sandwiches actually contained no less food in terms of weight. “The settlement acknowledges as much when it says that uniformity in bread length is impossible,” he said, “due to the natural variability of the bread-baking process.” To many, however, this was not - and seemingly never will be - good enough. And to others, it’s a tale as old as time that they’d tired of hearing. “It's clearly a ‘SUBWAY 6 INCH’ and meant as a description rather than a measurement of length,” wrote one fed up individual on yet another related story, this time posted to Reddit. “In that case,” mused another, “there should be a new policy wherein every Subway employee should be required to do air quotes when using the term ‘Footlong’.” Images: Reddit

Food & Wine

Surprise twist in traveller who failed to declare sandwich ingredients

The Aussie<a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/traveller-slapped-2-664-fine-for-sandwich" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> traveller who was fined $2,664</a> for bringing in a Subway sandwich and not declaring two ingredients has been given an amazing surprise. Jessica Lee was heading back from Singapore to Perth and purchased a footlong sandwich but only ate half and decided to keep the other for the flight. While on the way back to Australia, Jessica did not eat the sandwich and failed to declare chicken and lettuce when she arrived back in Australia. The 19-year-old was slapped with a hefty $2,664 fine and shared the news on TikTok urging others not to make the same mistake she did. In an update, Jessica announced that she was gifted a $2,664 Subway gift card from the restaurant as well as a box of merchandise. “Subway makes my fine worth every single cent,” Jessica said in the new TikTok video. “Looking at positives over negatives always pays off.” She then proceeded to read the letter the restaurant sent her, thanking her for eating from them. “To say thank you for eating fresh, we’ve uploaded a sub card with $2,664 just for you,” the letter read. “We hope this covers all your chicken and lettuce needs. “Love your Subway fans.” Images: TikTok

Travel Trouble

A man’s unusual reaction to a ham roll five years on

A UK-based father who claims he “cannot stop farting” after eating a ham roll in 2017, has launched a legal bid for $350,000. Tyrone Prades, 46, says the snack sparked life-changing flatulence which wakes him at night and embarrasses him in public. The ham sandwich’s victim reports he had a severe tummy ache within hours of consuming it at a Christmas market, and was then bed-bound for five weeks, his lawyers have allegedly told the High Court. He and others who ate at the same stall were said to have been infected with salmonella. Within hours of eating the ham roll, he had stomach cramps, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, the court heard. His lawyer, Robert Parkin, said he was sick for months and was still flatulent five years on with churning noises in his gut. “The claimant continues to suffer from excessive flatulence, which causes him a great deal of embarrassment. “The symptoms are, primarily, fatigue and altered bowel function associated with ‘churning’ within his abdomen and flatulence. The claimant’s stomach continues to make frequent churning noises to the extent his sleep can become disrupted.” Mr Parkin claimed the ham had been contaminated with salmonella bacteria and other customers also fell ill. The barrister added: “The extent of the symptoms has been life-changing.” He said the stall was closed and deep-cleaned following Public Health England investigation. Mr Prades, of Chippenham, Wilts, is suing the operator, Frankfurt Christmas Market Ltd, for at least £200,000 (AU$347,014), although the company denies any blame. The company’s barrister, Philip Davy, admitted council environmental health officers found e.coli on a knife but no salmonella. The case will now go on trial at a later date. Image: Getty

Food & Wine

Traveller slapped $2,664 fine for sandwich

An Aussie traveller has been slapped a hefty $2,664 fine for failing to declare ingredients in her sandwich. Jessica Lee purchased a footlong Subway sandwich while waiting at Singapore Airport and had half, saving the other half for the flight. The 19-year-old boarded her flight but did not eat the rest of her sandwich. As they neared landing in Perth, passengers were asked to declare items and Jessica did not think to mention her sandwich. Walking through customs, Jessica was then given a $2,664 fine because she failed to declare two ingredients - chicken and lettuce. “Probably will cry. Basically just paid $2,664 for my Subway just from Singapore,” Jessica said in a TikTok video. “It is my mistake but basically I bought a foot long Subway at Singapore airport because I was a hungry girl after my 11-hour flight. “I ate six inches before my second flight and then saved the other six inches for my flight, which they [cabin crew] were more than happy with, they were fine with that.” She said it was an “expensive rookie mistake” and was hit with a double whammy because she quit her job before heading off to Europe. “I am very aware this is my mistake and I do take ownership, I am paying the fine,” she said, urging everyone to not make the same mistake she did. Under the Biosecurity Act, any travellers arriving in Australia are required to declare certain foods, plant material and animal products. Images: TikTok

Travel Trouble

“Worst food ever”: Man slams inflight sandwich with sky-high price

A man who paid for a sandwich on a plane has called out the airline for the “worst food ever”. Alex was on an easyJet flight from Paris to London Gatwick when he ordered the $9.80 Roasted Vegetable and Hummus Baguette for his trip. The image on the flight’s menu showed a delicious looking seeded baguette, filled with dozens of pieces of zucchini and red capsicums on a thick layer of hummus. He was however shocked when the stewardess served him the sandwich which had only a handful of vegetables in the middle of the bread. Alex shared a video of the sandwich with the caption: “Is this the worst airline food and advertising you’ve ever seen? I then sent the sandwich back, and got me a new one. Is this any better? “A crew member then told me, ‘You know, the food and the picture are not the same. We were given three minutes to eat before landing, and never got our water.” A spokesperson for the airline said they were aware of the footage and were investigating the incident. “We’re aware of this footage and will be looking into this with our in-flight retail supplier as it appears that the item served falls short of the high standards we expect from our in-flight food and drink range for our customers,” they said. “We will be in touch with the customer to apologise for their experience and provide a gesture of goodwill.”

Travel Trouble

How to care for ageing parents: Strategies for the sandwich generation

The burden of the sandwich generationMum hurt her foot. That’s the only detail you can lure out of her over the phone, which right now makes the distance between the two of you feel that much farther. She’s limping and doesn’t want to go to a doctor. Instead, she wants you to look at it, ignoring the fact that you have a full-time job, two kids and, oh yeah, you live three hours away. Sound familiar? Managing the seniors in your life, whether it’s helping them through their health problems or clearing up insurance issues, is the burden of the sandwich generation.So how can you care for ageing parents when you’re far from home and juggling the responsibility of raising your own family? Here are some strategies from professional caregivers that can help you to help them – even if you live on opposite sides of the country.Make a plan for senior care before it becomes an issue“The older generation can be secretive, but the sandwich generation is more open and aware that communication is important,” says Karen Seebach, a nurse advisor with a caregiver support service. “You need to have a conversation in advance about what they would like to do as they age. Do they want to stay in their home? Does someone have power of attorney? These conversations are very important to start early on.”Read between the linesDad says he’s fine on the phone, but you suspect he’s not taking his medications. The litmus test? Look for a change in the way he communicates. “If a parent is usually chatty and has become quieter, that’s something you need to pay attention to,” says Luanne Whitmarsh, chief executive officer at an organisation assisting seniors. Inconsistent communication from your ageing parent is a red flag that warrants deeper investigation.Create a support networkYou might be tempted to take the day off work to check out that sore foot your mum was complaining about – and you’re not alone. Many caregivers who live more than a half day’s travel away from their ill parent are missing full days of work to help provide care. Instead, get to know the people who interact with your ageing parents day to day. “Become familiar with the neighbours or a house cleaner or something like that,” suggests Whitmarsh. “This way, they can give you the real information you may not be getting.”Research senior outreach services“The more isolated a senior becomes, the more risk there is,” says Joanne Toller, senior fund developer with a seniors resource group. She suggests doing homework on behalf of your ageing parents to find outreach services in their area or organisations that can provide referrals to services that can help seniors with day-to-day tasks. These might include driving services, foot care clinics (look for brochures at doctor’s offices and walk-in clinics) and meal delivery services. More support can be found by making inquiries with the local municipal government, service clubs and churches.Speak with your own doctorMum’s sounding much more confused lately and you’re worried about dementia. You could call your mum’s physician to discuss the issue, or, as Whitmarsh suggests, you could express your concerns to your own doctor, with whom you already have a relationship. Explain what you’ve observed and share the contact information for your mother’s doctor. “Doctor to doctor, they have a way better way of communicating and have a given level of trust,” Whitmarsh says.Image credits: Getty ImagesThis article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/true-stories-lifestyle/relationships/how-to-care-for-ageing-parents-strategies-for-the-sandwich-generation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Family & Pets

How to cope when you’re caring for your parents – and your kids

Changing demographics and social norms in Australia have given rise to a new phenomenon known as the ‘sandwich generation.’ This term refers to those caught between caring for their own children and their ageing parents. This all began when people chose to start their families later. The fertility rate for women aged 35-39 has more than doubled over the last 30 years, while the rate for women aged 40-44 has tripled. At the same time, rising property prices and higher costs of living are enticing adult children to remain living at home for longer. At the other end of the spectrum, Australians are also living longer. The life expectancy of Australians currently stands at 82.5 years, up more than 10 years from the 1960 rate of 71 years. Those sandwiched between care of their own children and the care of their parents have been coined ‘the sandwich generation’. Compounding the pressure on many ‘sandwich’ families is the rising proportion of women in the workforce. Where women may previously have been at home and more available to fulfil caring roles, they are now, more often than not, occupied with their own busy jobs. Getting help Being caught in the sandwich generation can be emotionally and physically exhausting. What is the best way for carers to manage their competing priorities? After all, caregivers can only continue to provide good support it they look after themselves. Recruiting the right help is one of the best ways carers can relieve the pressures they are feeling. Kate Spurway founded her company - NurseWatch - with the ‘sandwich generation’ in mind, aiming to provide care for those with busy lives and heavily competing demands on their time. As a home care provider, NurseWatch is a little different from others companies in this area because Spurway has given the company a strong focus on wellness and prevention, as well as treatment. NurseWatch provides support not only for ageing parents, but also for the ‘sandwich’ carers themselves who are generally in their 50s or 60s and may have health concerns of their own. The staff at NurseWatch offer yoga, massage, health coaching and mindfulness, as well as wound care, post-hospital care, assistance with medical appointments, and medication assistance. Highly qualified and experienced carers work with clients to establish personalised environments and routines which are designed to preserve vitality and wellbeing, as well as restore good health. Spurway says it’s important for older people to remain active in their communities – by continuing to take part in activities they love, whether it be furniture making, ballet, or going on a holiday. She says the staff at NurseWatch can help facilitate these activities if the designated carer is running short of time. NurseWatch follows a ‘wellness, care, social’ model: creating wellness in a caring environment, while providing nurturing, social engagement. Being present… Caring isn’t easy, and for those with competing demands on their time, it’s almost impossible. Acknowledging this fact, accepting help is needed, and then putting the right systems and routines in place, will not only take care of the caring, it will help the ‘sandwiched’ carers regain balance – and ultimately help them to be more present for their loved ones who need them. Image: Shutterstock

Family & Pets

Mum's time-saving school lunch hack branded as lazy

A mum has left parents divided after revealing her lunchbox hack to save time making her children’s school sandwiches. Taking to Facebook, she shared that she makes 40 sandwiches at once and freezes them before taking them out when needed. She asked for advice on the best way to freeze them, saying preparing two weeks worth of sandwiches at once saved her time in the long run. She wrote: "The kids take them out in the morning and put them in their sandwich boxes and the sandwich bag goes back into the freezer ready to be used again (to stay environmentally friendly and cost-effective)." The lunch is made up of ham, cream cheese, plum jam and Vegemite to “keep it simple”. Although many parents praised her for the hack and said they’re planning to try it out themselves, others branded it “lazy” and said the sandwiches would be “tasteless” by the time they came out of the freezer. One commented: "I wouldn't want to eat a frozen sandwich so wouldn't make one for my kids. It takes a minute to make a sandwich." Another wrote: "My mum used to make frozen peanut butter sandwiches when I was a kid so I will admit now those sandwiches were binned every day at school." But others defended her method, arguing that as long as the sandwiches were thawed out for a few hours before they were eaten, they wouldn't taste any different. They also added that the tactic clearly works for the mum and the negative remarks were “uncalled for”.

Food & Wine

Cherry choc chip ice-cream sandwiches

These are the heavenly ice-cream sandwiches of your childhood. Even better – the ice-cream recipe doesn’t begin with a custard, and so avoids the ‘will it or won’t it?’ curdling fear. Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 cups (500 ml) thickened cream</li> <li>1 cup (250 ml) full-cream milk</li> <li>¾ cup (165 g) caster sugar, plus 1 teaspoon extra</li> <li>1½ cups (225 g) frozen cherries, partially thawed</li> <li>85 g dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa), roughly chopped</li> <li>36 plain chocolate biscuits (Choc Ripple biscuits or similar)</li> </ul> Directions: 1. In a large bowl, whisk together the cream, milk and sugar, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Churn in an ice-cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 2. Toss the cherries with the extra teaspoon of sugar. Add the cherries, along with any juice, and the chocolate to the ice-cream mixture. Transfer to a container with a lid and freeze until firm enough to scoop. 3. To assemble the sandwiches, spread 1/3 cup (80g) of ice-cream over a biscuit and top with another biscuit. Repeat with the remaining biscuits and ice-cream. Wrap tightly in baking paper and freeze until ready to serve. Tip: The sandwiches will keep for 24 hours in the freezer. <a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-edible-city-indira-naidoo%2Fprod9781921383816.html" target="_blank">Recipe from The Edible City by Indira Naidoo, published by Penguin Books.</a> Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/cherry-choc-chip-ice-cream-sandwiches.aspx" target="_blank">Wyza.com.au</a>.

Food & Wine

The restaurant that sells $287 sandwich

It’s a restaurant chain that boasts famous names such as David Beckham and Ed Sheeran as its patrons. And now Wagyumafia is ready to expand beyond Asia. The company, which currently has five restaurants spread across Japan and Hong Kong, has made waves around the world with its selection of Kobe beef cuts. The most famous dish is the 20,000 yen (NZ$287) “sando” Chateaubriand sandwich, which consists of Chateaubriand from Tajima cattle coated in panko breadcrumb mix, complemented with lightly toasted milk bread and special tangy steak sauce made with 20-year aged Kamebishi soy sauce from Kagawa and Fuji vinegar from Kyoto. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Ud5p1BqFQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Ud5p1BqFQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by HISATO HAMADA (@wagyumafia)</a> on Nov 1, 2019 at 3:40am PDT </div> </blockquote> There is a reason behind the high price. Today, only pure-blood Tajima cattle bred, raised and slaughtered in Japan’s Hyogo prefecture can be called Kobe beef. Just about 4,500 cattle are certified each year. Wagyumafia co-founder Hisato Hamada said he buys around 100 full Kobe cattle each year for his business. Those looking for more affordable options may opt for other cuts at different price points. Meat enthusiasts in other countries could anticipate more stores opening, as more Wagyumafia outposts are coming. Hamada told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/wagyumafia-restaurants-japan/index.html">CNN</a> that he is looking to open a Manila branch soon and set up four more restaurants around the world, including in the United States.

International Travel

Outrage after tourists charged nearly $200 for three hot dogs and a sandwich

A group of tourists have slammed a Rome bar over an unusually hefty bill for their meal. Leo Recchia told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero that he took his family to the bar on Via dell Conciliazione near St Peter’s Square. They were charged €119 (NZ$206) for three hot dogs, a ham and cheese sandwich, four cans of Coca Cola and a bottle of mineral water. Included in the bill was a €17 ($29.5) service fee. “€22 for each hot dog.... Almost €20 for service,” said Recchia. “To think that the night before we had gone to a restaurant behind the Pantheon – we spent the same, but for a complete dinner.” The bar owner told the publication, “We had other cases like this, other complaints, but the prices are on the menu, you can check. Also, we are near the Vatican, it costs.” The complaint is the latest claim of rip-off meals in Europe. In May, Rome restaurant Caffe Vaticano was criticised after giving diners <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/travellers-stories/rome-restaurant-slammed-for-outrageous-bill/news-story/5a8c5a7762a6f8d5230e4134f4e11abd">a bill of €81.4</a> ($141) for two burgers and three coffees. In January, <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1070491/florence-italy-ice-cream-tourist-police-fine-italian-holidays">an ice cream shop in Florence was fined €2,000</a> ($3,469) for charging a Taiwanese tourist €25 ($43) for a gelato served in a cone.

Travel Trouble

Passenger’s “disgusting” find in airport bread roll

A traveller was left disgusted after finding two “weird looking” flies squished into his breakfast roll. The bagel was bought at Terminal 1 inside Dublin Airport by Martin Warde, an Irish comedian. Mr Warde was rushing to catch a bus, and when he opened his meal he was met with a startling discovery. “Just bought this breakfast roll in the shop at terminal 1 at @DublinAirport,” the comedian wrote in a post to social media. “Why are there two weird looking insects stuck to it? F***ing disgusting.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Just bought this breakfast roll in the shop at terminal 1 at <a href="https://twitter.com/DublinAirport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DublinAirport</a> Why are there two weird looking insects stuck to it? F**king disgusting. <a href="https://t.co/sIipugNtKL">pic.twitter.com/sIipugNtKL</a> — Martin Beanz Warde (@martinbeanz) <a href="https://twitter.com/martinbeanz/status/1130026970413240320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2019</a></blockquote> When asked if he took the roll back to be replaced or refunded, he explained: “I was rushing to get the 9.15 am citylink (bus) to Galway and I was buying it at 9.13am. “I rushed to the bus before opening the packet.” While social media users were disgusted by the discovery, many reacted with humour. “Free extra protein,” one person wrote. Another comment read: “It’s one of your five a day.” A user guessed the bugs ended up on the bagel because “someone used the bread roll to whack the flies dead as they walked along the countertop.” Mr Warde later kidded, saying that he “ate them” as he was on a “protein rich diet.” A spokesperson for the Dublin Airport told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/9127773/tourist-bugs-breakfast-roll-dublin-airport/" target="_blank">The Sun</a> they had apologised for the “unacceptable experience that he had at one of the food outlets here.” “We have raised the issue with the company that operates the outlet in question, and it has also apologised to Mr Warde directly. “The company has confirmed that the issue did not arise within its Dublin Airport outlet, as its bread rolls are sourced externally. “The company is investigating this incident with its supplier and will report back to Mr Warde and to Dublin Airport officials in due course.”

Travel Trouble

"No excuse": Passenger shocked by $9 sandwich on Jetstar flight

A man has been left disappointed and unimpressed by his $9 “soggy” sandwich after a flight with Jetstar. A good sandwich shouldn’t be too hard to come by, at least that’s what Nick Mosley thought when he hungrily tucked into what was supposed to be a deli sandwich trio on his flight from Bali, Indonesia to Perth, Australia. What was meant to be a treat after a long holiday quickly became a frustrating expense. Unfortunately for him, what he bit into was less than appetising – a bare lettuce leaf with an egg and mayo mix spread on to the bread with smeared margarine. Taking to Twitter to share his disappointment, he posted a few pictures of the sad-looking sandwich and wrote: “I must say @JetstarAirways have a cheek charging AUS$9 for sandwiches… without any fillings…. Great for their bottom line but not so good for filling the tums of customers.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> I must say <a href="https://twitter.com/JetstarAirways?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JetstarAirways</a> have a cheek charging AUS$9 for sandwiches... without any fillings... Great for their bottom line but not so good for filling the tums of customers <a href="https://t.co/dok9GicE9E">pic.twitter.com/dok9GicE9E</a> — Nick Mosley (@BrightonNick) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrightonNick/status/1082244098331799552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2019</a></blockquote> “I had a bit of a craving for a sandwich. Having eaten many sandwiches in my life, it wouldn’t have cross my mine to peel back the bread to check the filling,” Nick <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6589237/UK-tourist-stunned-paying-5-petrol-station-sandwich-Australian-airline.html">told the Daily Mail.</a> "However, after the first mouthful of somewhat soggy bread and margarine, peel back I did. “I paid for it so there is really no excuse for serving inadequate products. It was a shocker – it made a petrol station sandwich look like a gastronomic feast,” he said. The airline reached out to the unsatisfied customer offering a refund and an apology. Have you ever paid for an expensive meal only to be left unsatisfied? Let us know in the comments below.

Travel Trouble

Why this $9 sandwich has outraged the Internet

Recently, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/2018/01/perths-new-cricket-ground-has-hungry-punters-fuming/">Perth’s new super stadium was criticised</a> for the outrageous prices and poor quality of stadium food, and now the Perth airport is in the news for its similarly exorbitant food prices. A Facebook post shows a photo of a simple ham, cheese and mustard sandwich for the whopping price of $9.90. The image caption asks: “Is $9.90 a fair price to pay for a ham and cheese sandwich? Spotted at Perth Airport.” <img id="i-355d76dab1ec2e50" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/30/22/48BEBDA700000578-5332123-The_humble_ham_and_cheese_sandwich_comes_with_a_hefty_price_tag_-a-18_1517352141148.jpg" alt="The humble ham, cheese and tomato sandwich comes with a hefty price tag at Perth Airport" width="404" height="524" /> Internet users were quick to respond with outrage. “Nope wouldn't pay that,” one user said. “Would starve rather than pay that price,” said another. However, many others pointed out that customers should expect high prices when at the airport. The airports are a captive audience and customers are paying for the convenience rather than the quality of food. “Cheap for Perth airport. I saw a sanga there for $16 but in general the prices there are completely inflated,” said one person.

Travel Trouble

6 famous sandwiches from around the world

The humble sandwich can be a thing of beauty. These are the best examples from around the world. 1. Banh mi, Vietnam You’re probably familiar with the banh mi as just about every corner bakery in Sydney makes one. Take a crunchy white bread roll and fill it with paté, a few kinds of processed meat, barbecue pork, mayonnaise, fresh salad, pickled vegetables, fresh chilli and soy sauce. It’s a perfect mix of salty, sweet, savoury and spicy that will have you hooked. 2. Po’boy, New Orleans USA The pride and joy of the state of Louisiana, the po’boy (short for ‘poor boy’) comes in many different incarnations. It could be filled with roast beef and gravy, fried catfish, grilled shrimp, crumbed oysters or even fried green tomatoes. Some restaurants even put French fries inside the sandwich. The key is the bread – crunchy on the outside, soft and airy on the inside. 3. Smorrebrod, Denmark The word smorrebrod comes from the Danish words for bread and butter, but you’re going to need a lot more than that. These classic open sandwiches can be filled with meat, cheese, smoked salmon or trout, or pickled herring, and can be garnished with onion and fresh herbs. 4. Lobster roll, Canadian Maritimes During the season, you could eat a lobster roll for three meals a day in the Canadian Maritime provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. McDonalds even does a McLobster. The best lobster rolls have just a few ingredients – fresh lobster, mayonnaise and chives all mixed together and served on a soft, slightly sweet bun. 5. Shawarma, Middle East A staple across countries like Lebanon, Jordan and Israel, shawarma is a close relative of the Turkish kebab or Greek gyro. Marinated lamb, chicken or beef is cooked on a spit and wrapped in flatbread with tabbouleh, pickled vegetables hummus, tahini and garlic sauce. 6. Chip butty, UK Simple but delicious. Take two slices of white bread, butter thoroughly and fill with hot chips. You may also choose to add mayonnaise, tomato sauce or brown sauce. Yum.

International Travel

Ice cream sandwiches

My version of the ice cream sandwich has all of the delicious nostalgia, but in a refined way. The ginger cookies go crispy and golden around the edges, but remain perfectly chewy and gooey on the inside. Use the best quality ice cream you can find. Most ice cream flavours work well, but I think the best partners for the ginger cookies are dark chocolate and vanilla. Makes: Eight Ingredients: <ul> <li>115g unsalted butter, softened</li> <li>170g caster sugar</li> <li>1 organic egg</li> <li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li> <li>225g plain flour</li> <li>1/4 teaspoon baking soda</li> <li>4 teaspoon ginger powder</li> <li>Generous pinch sea salt</li> <li>4 cubes crystallised ginger, cut up into tiny segments</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.</li> <li>Add egg and vanilla, and beat until smooth.</li> <li>Sift in the dry ingredients followed by the crystallised ginger and combined.</li> <li>Form dough into a log approximately 6cm wide.</li> <li>Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.</li> <li>Preheat the oven to 180C. Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper.</li> <li>Cut log into 1cm-thick cookies. Arrange on baking sheets about 3cm apart.</li> <li>Sprinkle a little sea salt on each one.</li> <li>Bake for 12-15 minutes or until just golden.</li> <li>Leave to cool on a rack.</li> <li>To serve, place a generous scoop of ice cream on a cookie and try to flatten the surface of it as much as possible. Gently place another cookie on top and press down lightly.</li> <li>Eat immediately!</li> </ol> Have you tried a dish like this? Written by Jordan Rondel. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Image credit: Emma Boyd / Stuff.co.nz.

Food & Wine

5 toasties under $5

Food at its best is fast – think lazy Sunday nights or days when you just want sit in the backyard with a book and lunch on something quick and easy. Behold the toasted sandwich. What’s more, just because you’re having a sandwich, doesn’t mean it has to be boring. These toasties – which you can make for under $5 – all pack a tasty punch! There’s even something for those with a sweet tooth. 1. Ploughman’s toastie Ingredients <ul> <li>2 slices of fresh white bread</li> <li>30g butter</li> <li>1 tablespoon pickle</li> <li>2 slices ham (thick slices are best)</li> <li>2 thick slices cheddar cheese</li> <li>¼ apple, grated</li> <li>A few lettuce leaves</li> </ul> Method <ol> <li>Preheat sandwich press or jaffle to medium-high heat. Butter both sides of the two slices of bread.</li> <li>Layer all ingredients between slices.</li> <li>Grill sandwich for three minutes or until toasted. Cut sandwich in half and serve immediately.</li> </ol> 2. Cheese and gherkin toastie Ingredients <ul> <li>2 slices of bread</li> <li>30g butter</li> <li>2 thick slices tasty cheese</li> <li>2 to 3 gherkins, sliced lengthways</li> </ul> Method <ol> <li>Preheat sandwich press or jaffle to medium-high heat. Butter both sides of the two slices of bread. </li> <li>Layer all ingredients between slices.</li> <li>Grill sandwich for three minutes or until toasted. Cut sandwich in half and serve immediately. </li> </ol> 3. Chicken and basil toastie Ingredients <ul> <li>2 slices sourdough bread</li> <li>30g butter</li> <li>2 to 3 fresh basil leaves</li> <li>5 semi-dried tomatoes, drained</li> <li>½ cup shredded barbecued chicken</li> <li>40g bocconcini cheese, thinly sliced</li> </ul> Method Preheat sandwich press or jaffle to medium-high heat. Butter both sides of the two slices of bread. Layer semi-dried tomatoes, basil, chicken and bocconcini on one slice of bread. Season chicken with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Top with remaining bread slice. Grill sandwich for three minutes or until toasted. Cut sandwich in half and serve immediately. 4. Banana split toastie Ingredients <ul> <li>2 slices of bread</li> <li>30g butter</li> <li>50g Nutella</li> <li>½ a banana, sliced </li> </ul> Method <ol> <li>Preheat sandwich press or jaffle to medium-high heat. Butter one side of the two slices of bread.</li> <li>Spread the Nutella on both of the non-buttered sides of the bread. On one slice layer the banana slices on the Nutella. Place the other slice on top Nutella faced down.</li> <li>Grill sandwich for three minutes or until toasted. Cut sandwich in half and serve immediately.</li> </ol> 5. Mediterranean toastie Ingredients <ul> <li>2 slices of fresh white bread</li> <li>30g butter</li> <li>40g bocconcini, sliced</li> <li>2 to 3 fresh basil leaves</li> <li>1 small vine-ripened tomato, thickly sliced</li> <li>1 artichoke heart, sliced</li> </ul> Method <ol> <li>Preheat sandwich press or jaffle to medium-high heat. Butter both sides of the two slices of bread.</li> <li>Place the bocconcini, basil, tomato and artichoke on one slice, top with the remaining slice of bread and gently squeeze the edges of the bread together.</li> <li>Grill sandwich for three minutes or until toasted. Cut sandwich in half and serve immediately.</li> </ol>

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