At Long Last... ( Lengthened as per request )

Finally yesterday after a long hiatus since Christmas, did we have a gathering yesterday evening. Seeing how everyone has changed or not changed ever since out last outing was strange to say the least. Well, maybe that was the case for me. Everyone has moved on by some laps in their lives.

Urong is now a relief teacher who has been reassigned a role which is probably unheard of when we were still mucking around in secondary school. The naughtiest students in our time might pale in comparison to the most prim and proper wards in Northland Secondary School. I am glad that you didn't let that incident on your actual birthday affect your ability to enjoy yourself to the fullest on Sat.

Marleen appeared more visibly tired and stressed in appearance. That is inevitable when you are battling against time with crazy schedules in Navy, trying to jostle for yet some more for the sake of Chinese Music appreciation and also, sustaining a long distance relationship at the same time. Way to go girl! It's just that I can't help but feel really sad when I saw her fall sick last evening. The silhoutte of her trying to struggle against the weight of a big 琵琶 on her shoulders was just too apt-the amount of burden on her shoulders is staggering.

As you may have already known by now via my email, Weili has left his preordained role of being an Infantry Specialist. To the best of my knowledge, he is now transferred to HQ SISpec and if everything goes well, he should be able to be an IT Specialist allowed the previlege to stay out everyday.With his design credentials and IT skills, I am sure that that appointment is already as good his's. You still got a long way to go bro but at least you've got an appointment which is favourable in your opinion. I am sure we will be able to see a visibly positive change in you as you harden and grow from strength to strength with every inevitable trial and tribulation in the Army. May the Force always be with you...

I don't think Tara has changed much since our last meeting except that she slimmed down quite a bit since the last time we met. But she claimed she has put on weight (*shrug shoulders....I really don't know where she got that notion from.) But not exhibiting change may not necessarily be a bad thing as I've told my primary school classmate sometime back. I really like her for being a woman of character and I don't deny that she is one feisty/gutsy lady... Because of her, I've gained significant inroads into the insight of a woman....

If that stalker bothers you again let me know... I will see to her deportation. Nobody tries to pull off a feint in front of me and expects to get away scot-free...I will make her pay for it.

Okay... enough of the heavy feelings. Now for the light ones. Jasper, this video clip is specially made for you in the hope that you will be able to soak and revel in the joyous atmosphere yesterday. Don't mind the corny comments though-they were firmly tongue in cheek. :D

Enjoy~





Now for the dining experience... For an eat-all-you-can concept sort of dining, SGD$38-$45 is rather steep for people accustomed to real glutton heavens at the likes of Steamboat Buffet (Zheng Fa etc...) But it's not everyday that you could get yourself to feast endlessly (literally) on
good cuts of meat and help yourself to a respectable salad bar that is great on both taste and variety. For one, the limited seating at the eatery helped oodles in fostering a cloistered and cosy environment. Of course, the warm lighting as well as appropriate decor was important as well.

I never did regard Brazil Churascarria as a really upscale eatery but neither do I perceive it as a budget joint. Well, this is not really very important is it? All the matters is that we feel at home... The service is polite and discreet but sometimes I think that it could have been too discreet to the point of oblivion already. They should have taken care of the basic chore of changing our soiled plates in a more professional manner. Nobody in his or her right nutritional mind will down everything served, meat, bones, fats and all. So in the end, we ended up having plates that were seriously overcrowded with health-wise hazardous materials and yet nobody batted an eyelid. Hello... Is that meant that be my combat rations?

Realise that I haven't touched anything remotely related to the palate? Well of course, the best is always left for the last... Firstly, the salad bar is good in my opinion for having such a diverse mix of ready-to-serve dishes. I was half-expecting raw servings of vegetables sprawled across the bar with everything to be done at your discretion. I am glad that's not the case. I didn't invest much time on every dish available in the Salad Bar but I tried some like French Beans with Cherry Tomatoes, Braised wild mushrooms with dollops of Frankfurters, BBQ Kelps and good old coleslaw... They were good but not to the point that a food critic will have a seizure in delight. The verdict: The Salad Bar is able to hold its own against the main highlights (BBQ cuts) of the eatery so at least it won't appear to be a feeble attempt to diversify the cuisine offering of BC.

The BBQ main leads were as intimidating in size (at least that was the impression i got from Tara...Haha!) as the skewers and cleaver that the Passador wields. Some of the cuts that came our way.

1. Pork Sausages *** ( Too greasy for my liking but hell...the taste is great!)

2. Grilled Lamb ** (I don't really fancy the strong lamb odour, the first serving was the last for me)

3. BBQ Chicken Hearts **** (Do I hear you screaming EWWWW? Hey but it's a novelty for a change right? It oddly taste like Pork Liver though :/)

4. BBQ Pork Ham ** (Nothing too fanciful about this cured meat and the high prevalence of fats put me off...nono)

5. BBQ Beef Ham **** (This was one real feast but sadly noone except for me and Urong asked for a serving as everyone else's stomachs were winding up for the day, bother... I got a good cut near the BBQ surface and it was just supreme with the crispy texture of the flaky charred meat which went down just too well with the tender grainy interior! Enough said.)

6. BBQ Topside Beef ***** (Hey this is my favourite alright? Even the waitress knew! Haha... My god... How on earth the Chef managed to BBQ such a huge slab of prime cut to perfect Medium Rare goodness will remain a mystery. Lip-smacking good!)

7. BBQ Beef with Garlic * (This is a disappointment on a colossal scale. What a royal shame! The beef was way beyond "well done" and in the first place, no prime cuts should ever been subjected to "well done". Neither could my taste buds nor my nose detect a whiff of garlic. Well done Chef... :X)

8. Grilled Pineapple Slices ***** (I bet this might be a dish that could make Yan the HK chef rave, " Awww, look at that! Look at that! It's beautiful..." Indeed it is, Yan. I don't know how in the world did they resort to, just to BBQ the pineapple slices while retaining the natural juices. Thumbs up, both thumbs!)