Posted in high-jink , hunger management , photoholic
on my birthday.
The Best Friend called me just 30 minutes before the dinner, and asked if there's any where else I want to have dinner at, besides Wild Rocket @ Mt. Emily. After probing, she explained that the server had forgotten to write down her dinner reservation for six (*snigger* I don't know how). And now we have no table unless we don't mind having our dinner at 9.30pm. Absurd. So almost immediately, I replied dryly, "No. Gimme the number."
Man, I couldn't believe I had to bring out that 'bitch' out of me on my birthday. Not an unreasonable one though. After more than 8 minutes on the phone with Sam, the manager, he got me a table. I listed a few things to make my point:
1. I am a 'regular patron' who wants to celebrate my birthday in my favourite restaurant.
2. I shouldn't pay for the server's mistake of not writing down the reservation.
3. I shouldn't pay for another server's mistake when he didn't call back when The Best Friend called again to book a table the second time.
4. It's my birthday.
5. It's my birthday.
6. It's my birthday.
7. It's my birthday.
I think he pretty much got the idea when I got to Point 10.
So the restaurant specially set up a table for six outdoors. LOL. We thought it was quite romantic. While the other patrons dine within the small A/C-ed dining space, we'd say our cheers under the stars, next to the little pond with croaking frogs and swimming guppies. Like we own the world.
But soon after we settled on our arses, Sam came up and said there's a table for us indoors. *shrugs shoulders*
I don't mind either.
Liming had the honour of tasting the 'most expensive' congee she's ever had. Did I mention 'smallest serving' too?
Seabass with CongeeWe stared at her plate and had a pregnant pause until we were distracted with our own orders. Where is the congee? Oh Under the piece of fish. Where does it look like a piece of pudding which has hardened overnight?
But her verdict? Two thumbs up! The fillet was grilled to (may I say) almost perfection. Smooth, soft, juicy. I'm glad Liming wasn't disappointed and her skepticism of a 'so expensive' congee was met with above par satisfaction. She even commended on the finely diced perserved radish which complemented the seabass well.
Ribeye with Black TruffleNext up: Ribeye with Black Truffle. Without a doubt, The Best Friend and I both wanted this. And I think Chris (if she were present) would love this piece of art to death. Just slightly raw in the middle section, the outer layer of meat was still soft and succulent. The 'umms' and 'ahhs' never stopped even until the last cube of meat. 'Awesome' is what we thought of it. Someone at the table commented it's the 'best-tasting steak she's ever had'. Oh I think it was me. =) And I mean it.
A tuned-up verson of Aglio-Olio with Capsasium Oil Jessie's pasta was a no-brainer. Or so I thought. I love the fresh prawns and the non-oily pasta strands, unlike the conventional Aglio-Olio. At least the non-oiliness of the pasta didn't make her sick after a few mouthfuls.
The ladies were hungry and the slightly small serving of main courses just wasn't suffice. We back tracked to the starters and got ourselves softshell crabs with black pepper sauce and baked cod fish with sweet spicy sauce. Man, my tummy couldn't forget the yummy chewy taste of the crab dipped in rich black pepper sauce. Makes me smile every time I think of it.
Because of the absurdity of the floating/walking helium cow balloon, we couldn't help but become the centre of attraction in the restaurant. I don't know why I chose a cow balloon; I'm not even born in the year of the ox! But I guess it's so much more adorable than that pig or TRex walking balloon... We were teased mainly by Sam and his servers."Sorry Mdm, no pets allowed," "I'll let you just this once since it's not making any noise,"
"Do we need to feed it?"
Sam cracked up after I replied the cow lives the ribeye.
The Best Friend clowning around with her... BFF. Oh same clothes!I momentarily forgot about the ice cream cake which Mr. X had made for me. (Meant to be a surprise but I picha his lobang a few days ago) I made an order of dark chocolate lava gateau with caramelised banana. Then, the HUGE ice cream cake came...
It is LARGER than it appeared to be...Half of it is still in my freezer and because it's so rich and potent, I'm having one table spoonful per day, lest I develop another tonsillitis. But everyone at the table loved it. Me too. So proud of you. =)
The Chilean white wine was deliciously fruity but I had to save room for some champange. We drove south to Keppal Bay's Prive. My craving for champagne was finally satisfied with Champange Supernova and Bellini.
The rest of the night is spent uprooting my usual poise image with embarrassing stories from JC days.
Thanks babes. I can't run but do you really have to laugh at me? At least I'm way better at planning and logistics.
The highlight of the evening should be Liming's annoucement of her wedding next December! Yeah! Not only we've been highly anticipating the ringing of her 'sooner or later' wedding bells, it falls on my birthday month! The four girls started clattering about all the wedding preparations she (or rather WE) has to embark on. Without further ado, we told Liming to cancel her wedding package and we called our friend Jimmy up. He owns La Belle which is one of Singapore most well known bribal studios. How cool is that! I couldn't contain my joy and had to clap continuously to congratualate her. If I could, I would ask to open two bottles of Moet & Chandon to up the happy pill. Pity that James wasn't present, otherwise we could tease the both of them to death. Hah!
Jessie wrote her take on this...
Last night, I met up with my girlfriends. One of them announced that she is getting married next December. She mentioned that her boyfriend proposed to her not in a romantic way. He asked, “Do you really want to marry me?” And she answered, “ Do I have a choice?”
If he proposes to me, I’d like to say. “I have no choice”.
I want to have no choice, but to marry my soulmate. Everybody have a choice. But when you meet with someone that you so wanted to live your life with, it is not a choice anymore. Because marrying your soulmate seems to be the right thing to do.
In 2008, I have learned that loving someone and being with someone are two different things. Love is not selfish and it is certainly not possessive.
Congratulations, lucky woman, you have found your soulmate. I want to be the bridesmaid!
Just so you know.
RIBEYE???!!! Oh man! Indeed one of my FAV!!! ARGH!! Anyway, missed ya bday, owe ya one GREAT one man. You can look forward to our x'mas party. I'm so gonna make it up to you.. Love ya, my babe!