Friday, 17 June 2016

Is Alone Lonely? Solo Lunches@Superthai Damansara Uptown


Do you like being alone? Spending time alone? To some people, that is a terrible prospect. But to me I'm cool with that. I am pretty much a loner, so much so, I was known as the Lone Ranger when I was in university.

It's not that I am anti-social. I am an introvert and I very much prefer my own company. I used to go to the cafeteria alone, to the library alone and even to the lab (at night) alone. 

I had a classmate who liked to tag along. Everywhere I go, she followed. Haiz.... Sometimes to get  rid of her, I would tell her I was going to the loo and then I disappear. I'm bad, right?

Now I remember a story. At the lab at night (final year, research for thesis), I would not be totally alone. There were other course mates in the surrounding labs. We had to register our names at the reception downstairs for security reasons. After a few hours, we would visit each other or converge at one of the labs for some chit chat (see, I can be sociable).

One of my classmates, a guy, goes by the name of Zainon. That's usually a girl's name. He is quite manly with a beard and mustache. One day, past midnight, as were were happily chatting away (there were 4 or 5 of us), there was a knock on the door.

"Mana Zainon?" (where is Zainon?) the security guard enquired. Mr Zainon raised his hand and answered to the affirmative. The guard stared hard at him and asked for his identification card. Once verified, he left us.

Apparently, Zainon and Amran (another guy) registered themselves to that same lab. The guard must have been concerned. A guy and a girl spending alone time in the lab late into the night. They must be up to no good. Hah!

Now back to my solo lunches. Last week I had lunch at Superthai. I wanted to sample their set lunches. The first one I tried was the Pork Neck Rice Set (RM18.00, RM16.20 after 10% discount).


The set lunch comes with a small bowl of tom yam and a drink (choice of pandan or lemongrass). The pork neck slices were tasty but were a bit on the dry side. Perhaps due to the lack of fats. But it was fine with me.


The tom yam is kosong (without meat or vegetables) and tasted pretty good.


The next day I went back for the Minced Pork Basil Rice Set (RM15.00, RM13.50 after 10% discount).


It was good but lacked the fragrance of basil. I would have preferred more basil for a stronger aroma. But still, I enjoyed my meal and made like a small kid, mixing my rice and meat like so.


The tom yam came looking like this.


Eeeekksss!!! But I have a strong stomach. It tasted fine in spite of that curdled and murky look. Nope, no stomachache the next day.

I also made like a well behaved kid and finished all my food.


Then I went back again for the Pork Belly Rice Set (RM17.00, RM15.30 after 10% discount). After all, I had the discount voucher and it is good till end of this month.


Mmmm....porky fatty goodness. Oh, I love that greenish condiment in spite of it giving me garlic breath.

I mixed the meat and rice again. So good!


Well, I'll have to say that I loved the  3 set meals. There are 3 more for me to try - Yellow Curry Chicken with Lime Leaf Set, Braised Pork Belly Rice Set and Green Curry Chicken Rice Set. But after having tasted the Green Curry Chicken before, I will skip that.

And now, I will make like the Terminator and say "I'll be back!"

29 comments:

  1. I like going around alone...on my own but when eating, I can only eat one thing or to the most, two...at one place, less to blog about. Head you win, tail I lose.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose so, more people more dishes to order and share.

      Delete
  2. We can shake hand, i can be lone ranger at times also, lol...

    ReplyDelete
  3. The pork neck I had wasn't dry at all. The only explanation I can offer is perhaps yours is the set and, because of the lesser quantity, they may not be able to give you the whole portion, so some portions of the pork neck might have been sitting there for a while. Comparing our photos though, mine had a bit more fat where as your slices look much leaner. Hey, where's the nice refreshing dip for the pork neck? ;) The greenish condiment you got for the pork belly, I wonder if it's the same one for the pork neck.

    And....I have no qualms about eating alone either. Sometimes, it's nice to eat alone without having to make conversation...haha! ;D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That greenish condiment is the same for both sets. I love it!

      Delete
  4. Unlike you, I don't like to eat or sleep alone by Paul Anka.. If alone, I will tar pau back home, take a book and eat while reading, then baru shiok! But I don't mind going shopping alone, only eating I cannot... hmmm...
    As for the food, I think I will like the sets, maybe a bigger bowl of tomyam with some seafood inside will be more best! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. heh..heh..I remember that Paul Anka song. Can blush one hah..hah...

      Delete
  5. Been there, done that. I wouldn't mind as I have phone to accompany me. ^^

    Pork basil rice. Must be delicious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's good except that not enough basil.

      Delete
  6. I love company but I also need to be alone to recharge. I have done most things alone but eating alone in public is very rare for me. If I have to eat alone, I prefer to take away and eat in the comfort of office or home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For me, it depends where. If it is a place I am not familiar, I tend to shy away from eating alone.

      Delete
  7. time alone ah...biasa la for me LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  8. If it is a lunch time i do not mind being alone but in the evening i rather have a company:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here and I don't go out in the evening alone.

      Delete
  9. What do you mean "like a small kid"?? There is an adult way of eating meat and rice? I always mix them all up. Thought that's the only logical way to eat them?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always assume that adults don't mix up their rice like that :)

      Delete
  10. In fact, I seldom got chance to be alone, especially now I have two girls tagged a long me all the time. I don't mind to have some ME time in fact. Hahaha! Wait till they are much older, then I think I will miss their company and scare to have too much ME time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Being alone is not lonely. I often eat by myself without a smartphone because nowadays I notice that when people dine on their own they will tend to look and fiddle with their smartphones. I like to have lots of basil too but I think my favourite would be the pork neck as I like lean meat.

    ReplyDelete
  12. At times, alone is good cos you don't need to think of how to please the other party, I usually eat alone, but when eating alone I can only order 1 dish, cannot order many dishes to share, that is the disadvantage, at times we need to have company, so that we can have someone to talk to, to share, so it is a matter of balance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For Thai food, I like their green curry chicken, tom yam clear soup and prawn cake

      Delete
    2. I agree. Usually, I am not comfortable eating with people I don't know very well.

      Delete
  13. Hmmm ... for me, I guess that I would prefer to be alone when I do my grocery shopping/morning marketing, but seldom at out alone. The only place/cafe I love to hang-out alone is the library. Sometime, I could have a meal, sipping coffee and reading/browsing some library books in the cafe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For me, I do most things on my own but if I am not familiar with a restaurant, I tend to hesitate eating there alone.

      Delete
  14. I am totally ok with being alone, like eating/shopping alone, everyone needs to have quiet time sometimes.
    But with two kids already, very very difficult to have ALONE time anymore la! >.<

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hah..hah...when they grow up, you might have some alone time :)

      Delete