Aha, OK. Then it makes sense (and less outrage!)

DFW-HEL:

Amuse bouche: small plastic sachet of nuts Y style

Appetizer: Marinated shrimp with fennel salad (three jumbo shrimp, a bit bland but okay)

Main course: Grilled chicken breast with basmati rice and creamy mushroom sauce / Roasted cod with mashed potatoes, butternut squash and creamy chive sauce / Vegetable rissole with cherry tomatoes, bell pepper and tomato sauce
(No cod was loaded, so in reality there were only two alternatives. The chicken was dry and tasteless. The FA didn't exactly praise it, either. ;) )

Dessert: Caramel cheesecake with raspberry / Chocolate mousse with hazelnuts
(No cheesecake was loaded, there was tiramisu instead; I had the mousse, which was incredibly thick and fatty, not mousse-like at all)

The food was not inedible, so I guess a 2/5 rating would be in order.

DFW-HEL second service is called Light Meal and not Breakfast on the menu. Roasted vegetable quiche with corn and sausage + Fresh fruit.

The quiche was more of a cheese quiche. Tasted okay. The "sausage" was two cevapcicis, they were okay, too. In addition, there was a yoghurt, a cheese stick, a slice of serrano ham and a few pieces of fruit. No croissants. I'd rate this 3/5. Only carbs and sugars, of which I've had quite enough in Dallas already.

Apparently, this flight has a purser, but I haven't caught the slightest glimpse of her during the flight. Either she is really here and made an announcement at the beginning of the flight, or it was tape-recorded. QR introduced some kind of avatar FAs. Perhaps AY now has an avatar purser? :D

BKK-HEL

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b39c2a7992.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3d9ca90514.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6278318815.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...256347136a.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fbcd45c5f1.jpg

The worst in over 60 years!
 

On AY4 LAX-ARN 05.05. The main point of this post:
A totally dry, tough unseasoned chicken breast, a sad broccoli stem and some sort of rice. I had to give up after the second attempt to slice the chicken.
I started flying as an unaccompanied minor over 60 years ago, mostly in first/business class, nothing ever this sad. There have been dishes I didn't like, but this lack of care stands out.
Other things of note:
No menu, 2 choices verbally offered
No offer or mention of wine
@10 out of 32 seats in business class filled.
I understand many, me included, want to sleep on this flight but this was just so disappointing.
It was also in contrast to the flight to LAX which was fine for the times we are living in.
Did I just experience a 'one off' or is this an out station issue with LAX? (I have done LAX-HEL and enjoyed it in the past)
Any comments or suggestions welcome.

Sorry to say, not one-off but a rather all-in day after day.

I'm wondering how long this will go on with AY making barely any progress, I read on bc.se that SK seems to be restoring their pre-pandemic J service and even their COVID catering the quality didn't go down but rather the service flow was changed.

AY catering will change on 11MAY. We of course don't know whether it will be a change for the worse or better.

This is presumably only for flights departing HEL?

I would assume it includes all J catering as they will also introduce new tableware, glasses etc. A complete revamp.

I would have been totally ok with the current tableware and glasses, if they would change what they put on/in them..(not so much about the drinks, they are mostly ok)

Oh, that's right! Totally forgot about this. Hopefully, then, this is an overall improvement on things.

Me too. But they need to be changed as the new ones are more sustainable (read: lighter and cheaper).

I am scared that the food they put on them will follow the same pattern. We'll see. Does any Western European carrier have worse longhaul J food than AY at the moment?

Very good question, I cannot comment on that as I have only flown longhaul with AY and TG post covid (if that expression may yet be used and especially when having it myself at the very moment..)

prob BA