Friends and I decided to celebrate ML's 30th at Sushi Goshin by Akashi at the newly renovated wing of Suntec City.  ML was drawn to it by the 2 pull-up banners at the entrance declaring that their sushi starts from S$1.

Little did we know that they meant S$1++ each and only 2 types were at S$1++.  A better figure to start with would be S$2.50++ PER PIECE.

I ordered the Prawn Tempura maki with pitan (century egg)(S$5.80++).  I liked how the tempura was still warm, the pitan cold and everything coming together in wonderful harmony.  Pity that I could only eat 2 out of the 4 pieces since we shared.

ML ordered the white fish with goma (sesame) sauce (S$5++) and it was unexpectedly small.  Really small.  Although it tasted nice, I couldn't help but think that I could whip it up at home!

Ok, at least the Teriyaki Beef (S$16++) felt a little more reasonably priced.  Especially since it was fried to the correct doneness.  The accompanying cabbage salad also had a nice ume (plum) dressing.

ML also ordered a salmon rice porridge (S$15++) which I didn't taste but ML said that it had a very strong bamboo taste.  Judging from the serving, I don't think it deserved the $15 price tag either.

There were only 3 of us and 4 dishes but the total bill came up to S$49.20!  Thank goodness we were full from ramen and udon that we sampled during the Oishii Japan exhibition earlier that day.  Otherwise, we would probably have walked out of the restaurant and gone to another place.  The quality was definitely there but the prices were seriously exorbitant.  It is not as if we had personal dining rooms and served by waitresses who could rival the geishas in Kyoto.  Speaking of waitresses, there was 1 waitress who irritated and kinda traumatised us.

As we had no choice but to sit by the sushi counter, we were totally fine with sitting in a row.  When the seat perpendicular to us became empty, we did not want to move simply because we 3 could still have a proper conversation and it was just too much of a hassle to move.  However, this waitress was a little pushy and asked us again whether we wanted to move.

Now, Sushi Goshin has gone high tech with their menus.  Instead of the traditional printed paper menus, each table gets an attached iPad where you can browse and send in your order.  Said waitress came by and asked us whether we knew how to use the menu.  Siew Mai and I replied that "Yes, we know how to use it.  We're just browsing."  Despite having said that, she pulled the iPad towards her, clicked on 'Preview Order' and was about to submit before I blurted, "Don't press submit! We're not done browsing!"  OMG.  How rude! We've already told her that we know how to use the blardy thing so why did she have to grab the iPad from us AND submit our orders?  Especially weird since they have a policy that any orders confirmed cannot be cancelled!

Her intrusive nature reared its head again when she was clearing our empty plates.  She asked, "Can I clear this plate?" while taking the plate away.  Before any of us could reply.  Uh...what if I still wanted the stray strands of shredded cabbage?

The finale to her weirdness was when we called for the bill.  Her colleague was the one who saw me ask for the bill and she had proceeded to the cashier.  Weird Waitress then came up to us and asked, "If you all don't mind, could you please go to the cashier to pay?"  Sure.  We didn't mind.  But why?  The customer seated next to us had her bill brought to her.  Going to the counter didn't seem like the usual practice.

Overall, we were shocked and horrified at the high prices of the food.  Glad that the food tasted good (but it better be).  Irritated by the bunch of children who were running around the restaurant.  Traumatised by the weird waitress.

No.  We're definitely not going back there again.

Last night, Mel Li and I decided to participate in Lovestruck's (an online dating agency) singles' event at District 10, UE Square.  The whole idea to this event was a bit like guerrilla dating where you participate by ordering drinks and asking the wait staff for a red straw.  So...you chat up anyone who has a red straw.  Sounds interesting?  That's what I thought so too...hence our enthusiasm in turning up for the event. 

Feeling pretty upbeat and hungry, we quickly ordered our dinner and drinks at 7.45pm.  Below is my dinner of wagyu meatballs with fries.

Now, let me wax lyrical about these delectable spheres of wagyu that were drenched in a delightful creamy sauce.  The sauce was unbelievably delicious!!  The secret is either mustard or horseradish  but it was very well done because any more of that stuff and I'd have a gagging effect.  Yes, I react THAT badly to horseradish/ wasabi and any mustard that tastes like those 2 offensive foods. 

The turning point of our evening came when those said meatballs were eaten.  Now...where were our drinks?  We asked 3 different waiters/ waitresses about our drinks.  After asking the 3rd one, she turned up at our table with a glass of Caribbean Breeze which we had cancelled and replaced with an 'Extreme Mojito' immediately after our 1st order.

8.45pm.  Still no sign of the 'Extreme Mojito' nor my Lychee Mojito.  Where have our mojitos gone to?  Ugh.  Parched.  Fries were left half eaten as we were not even given water.  Forget about even trying to participate in the event since we had no drinks and hence, no straws.  -_-  Couldn't take it anymore, so I went up to the bar and spoke to whom I think is the bar manager.  At 8.50pm, the waitress who had earlier arrived with the wrong drink, came up to us and said, "Your drinks are not here yet because nobody had input them into the system. They'll be here soon."  Seriously. I don't give a flying rat's ass if its your colleague's fault if he didn't put it into the system the first time.  What about the 2nd and 3rd time that we asked about our drinks?  I even mentioned the drinks' names ALL 3 times.  Instead of being apologetic, you give me an excuse. 

8.55pm.  Drinks finally arrive.  Ok...the lychee mojito was good enough to garner another one but no way would I want to order another one simply because, I didn't want to be there till 11pm.

9pm. Spoke to a waiter and asked to see the manager.  That caused him to panic a little and when he heard how upset we were with the lack of service AND that we had to wait for an hour for our drinks, he was immediately apologetic.  We told him then that there was no way that we were going to pay the service charge.  He came back a minute later, saying that he has already spoken to the manager and the manager will attend to us shortly.

How long does it take for a restaurant manager to arrive?  Apparently, more than 20 minutes.  At 9.20pm, we saw no sign of the manager and we were really tempted to just walk out.  Mel Li went up to another waiter and told him that we wanted our bill, was very upset that we had waited 20 min for the manager who didn't show up and stressed that we were not going to pay the service charge.  That waiter did come with our bill quite quickly and apologised saying that it was the 1st time in District 10's history where they had sooo many customers, which was why it seemed like they were understaffed.

I did a quick look-see of heads vs seats.  They were about the same.  If you HAVE a certain number of seats, you ought to have enough staff to handle all of them at the same time.  If clubs are able to attend to MORE customers efficiently, why couldn't District 10 do so when they call themselves a bar restaurant?  If you know that you're understaffed, why did you agree to be the event venue? Sheesh.  Anyway, due to some stupid system issue, we were given a 10% discount but was charged service charge.  The waiter pointed out that we 'saved' in this manner.  Uh huh...by 20c.

As we walked out of the bar/restaurant, yet another memory was etched into our minds.  This was really a LOL moment.  We were 'ambushed' at the exit by this guy who said to Mel Li, "Do you know my friend Lionel?" (pick up line from 'How I Met Your Mother').  At this moment, Lionel was talking to another guy friend and looked quite shocked when the ambusher delivered that pick up line.  "Uh...hi....bye," went Mel Li and I.  OMG. That was NOT well done!!! Not well executed.

This is how the pick up line is supposed to work.  Guy A sees girl and likes girl.  Guy A gets his wingman to use that pick up line on the girl.  In the case above, it's more like the 'wingman' saw Mel Li and wanted to get to know Mel Li better.  Uh...use a different line dude. 

Anyway, that's how my event went from yay to nay in 2 hours.  :P

During dinner at Din Tai Fung last night, 2 idiots came by and sat down next to my table.

Guy 1: I want to eat truffle dumplings.
Guy 2: Huh? Where is it? (looking through the menu)
Guy1: It's not here...I want to eat it cos I heard about it.

My ears perked up because I love truffles and was hoping that the guy would just say where this truffle dumpling was being sold.  However, there is a reason why I called them idiots in the intro.

Guy 1: Anyway, I think it'll taste weird.  Sweet and then salty...
Guy 2: Ya...very weird, sweet sweet...

-__-

Guys...truffles are mushrooms. Horribly expensive mushrooms that are harvested by pigs and dogs.  They're not chocolates you dohtz.  Chocolate truffles were named after these famed mushrooms by mimicking the creamy and velvety texture and flavour.

Some people need to read more...

I had so many evening events happening last weekend that I am now faced with a serious backlog in blogging. So...apologies if you're sick of seeing my previous post! :)

Well, just an update on what I did last Sat....it was Suzanne's birthday dinner and we went to this restaurant called Beach Blanket Babylon. I really like the atmosphere and decor of the place...really reminded me of Mimolette in Singapore. They have a dance floor and bar downstairs with a spinning DJ.

Here's the Birthday gal with her "Happy 18th Birthday" balloon and tiara. Yup...she's turning 18...again! Haha...


H, who sat next to me, ordered the pan seared scallops on polenta for her starters. I took a bite and I must say that it was quite yummy!

My bro and a few others ordered the soup of the day, which was French Onion Soup. They said that it was very yummy and was a 'healthier' version because there wasn't cheese in it.

I was the lone experimenter on the table who ordered the crab and pea shoot salad and WHAT A GOOD CHOICE!! It was savoury, creamy and slightly sweet from the fresh peas. I could eat two servings of this and skip the main course.

H's main course of sea bass....

My yellowfin tuna steak. Not bad...but my salad overshadowed it. =P

We were 'chased' from our table after our mains because they needed the table. As such, we walked downstairs for drinks and to dance...and this is what we saw.

This man was wearing glasses, had incredibly messy long hair and he was dressed in a T-shirt and skirt. The picture speaks for itself.

There was another table full of transvestites just behind him...but they were dressed in the typical loud makeup etc.

Suzanne's chocolicious cake!! Sinfully good....mmm.....

Why 3 candles? Go make a guess ;)









I'm not sure whether you can see it clearly at the bottom...but we had extra entertainment when a bunny man came into the restaurant and started dancing around the whole restaurant.
His face was painted white with drawn nose, mouth and pink cheeks. He was wearing a hot pink leotard and fish net stockings!! Some of his hairy chest was exposed too!! LOL!!! Some things, I can only see it here and not in Singapore....

We stayed on and chatted (and ate cake too) with bubbly in our hands. I was feeling really pooped by midnight (was out the whole of Sat) and so, my bro and I left but I heard that the party continued till 3am! I feel like clubbing now....