I don't get how this is almost heartbreaking, but that's mainly cause I might be missing something. Anyone care to enlighten me?
Nobody wanting to eat Circe's cooking being heartbreaking, until you remember that Circe's kykeon is what turned Odysseus' companions into pigs, justifying everyone's total avoidance of said cooking?
Not to mention that kykeon being barley gruel is, well... not bad per se, but it's not as filling when compared to hashed beef, Japanese set meal or omelette rice, even if there's grated cheese and wine in it.
Can't think of any other reason why. Me, I think it fits more with Mean but Hilarious instead.
Non-Greek Heroic Spirits: (if Kykeon doesn't have wine added) What's kykeon? Is that... some sort of thin watery stew or porridge? Doesn't look appetizing.
(if Kykeon has wine added) Kykeon? Oh god, is that thing purple!? I thought only bad cooks in anime can make something like that, yeeeurgh!
Greeks: Kykeon? Wow, I'm really looking forward to a taste of the homela— oh Zeus it's Circe. Shuffle away... pretend you didn't see the witch, a-yup...