Shy Canadian Blindsided on First Tinder Date After Woman Tells Restaurant It’s His Birthday for Fun
By KIP DUNGWORTH, STAFF REPORTER
CHIANG MAI, THAILAND — What began as a low-stakes Tinder meetup turned into a full-blown nightmare for one Canadian tourist this week after his date casually informed restaurant staff it was his birthday — “just for fun” — triggering an unsolicited celebration that lasted longer than the actual meal.
The victim, 33-year-old Evan Grant of Regina, Saskatchewan, had matched with a Bangkok-based gem trader “looking for chill vibes and passionfruit smoothies.” They agreed to meet at a trendy riverside bistro in Chiang Mai known for artisanal pad kra pao and an aggressive birthday policy.
“I thought it was going well,” Evan said, still visibly shaken. “We talked about astrology, durian, and whether I was emotionally available. Then she giggled, got up to ‘go to the bathroom,’ and told the waiter it was my big day.”
Moments later, lights dimmed, sparklers emerged, and three servers approached Evan clapping rhythmically while singing an off-brand Thai-English version of Happy Birthday at full volume. One of them placed a neon party hat on his head with alarming force.
“I tried to explain it wasn’t actually my birthday,” Evan said, “but they were already bringing out a molten lava cake with a giant sparkler on it.”
His date reportedly filmed the entire thing for her Instagram story, cackling manically as the shy Canadian tried to smile and clap along while internally collapsing.
Staff say this isn’t the first time they’ve seen the same stunt. “It happens about once a month,” said one waiter. “We don’t mind. It moves lava cakes, and we like to sing the song.”
Evan later confirmed he paid the full bill, including the surprise dessert, and left a 20% tip “out of politeness.”
He’s since unmatched with the woman and is “taking a short break from the apps.” When asked what he learned from the experience, he sighed deeply and said, “I don’t think I’m built for this country.”