We just finished our RT SEA- LHR in FC. It was wonderful and a trip of a lifetime for us.

Outbound: The crew was good although a bit less attentive then I expected for only half full cabin in First. The food was excellent, with both presentation and quality. When we boarded the purser made a point of telling us we had an "excellent galley chef" with us tonight....I remember the quote because I never imagined that their duties extended to more than warming and plating.....

Return: Quite the opposite. Again only 7 passengers in First. The cabin crew was extraordinary....every thought was attended to before I had time to express it...the food on the other hand... there is no other word for it...lousy. Cold Salmon on a soggy blini that looked like it had just been thrown onto the plate... A way overcooked hunk of meat with weird spices and a seafood salad with dallops of flavorless mayo on a bed of less than crisp greens....bread was warm but by the second go around they were hard....etc. Both quality and presentation were poor.

Could a better galley chef on the return made a difference or are they really limited to what is loaded onto the plane?