An MSN conversation with Unkaleong at 4.23pm, 27th August 2008
FBB: I don't think it'll rain
FBB: or at least, not pour
Unka: me too...
5.40pm
(Genesis 7:11)
In the fortieth year of Lemongrass' life, on the twenty seventh day of the eighth month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth [which look like it would last] forty days and forty nights.
5.49pm - Phone rings.
This is your favourite Unka here. It's POURING CATS AND DOGS.
[Yeah, anyone with half an eye can see that]
Highlights of SMS-es:
SMS from Bald Eagle:
Heavens r crying. My Blardy carpark also cock jam. Unfortunately we nw hv 2 tk 2 cars, so dnt be suprised 2 c Lemongrass. Pls help tel the rest. Txs.
SMS from Nigel:
Let's go home
SMS from Kieran:
Eeks, who suggested town!
SMS from Precious Pea:
U there oledi? Lemongrass arrived oledi? Jam Jam Jam.
It takes me 1 hour to get from the Hartamas intersection, (near the Wilayah Mosque), to the clearing on Jln Duta at Parliament House. That's a distance of 2 km. Max. I had pranged the car while endeavouring to manouvre into someone's driveway.
But it's not about me. It's her special day. Hairy Berry is updating me from SINGAPORE, as to Lemongrass' movements.
We are nowhere near Max. The dreaded sms arrives:
8.10pm from Paprika: Lemongrass is already here!
Ah well, so much for the romantic notion of all of us seated quietly by 7.30pm, Bald Eagle and she ascend the stairs at 7.45pm like a bridal couple, to dimmed lights, as we all yell SURPRISE!!!!!
FBB: I don't think it'll rain
FBB: or at least, not pour
Unka: me too...
5.40pm
(Genesis 7:11)
In the fortieth year of Lemongrass' life, on the twenty seventh day of the eighth month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth [which look like it would last] forty days and forty nights.
5.49pm - Phone rings.
This is your favourite Unka here. It's POURING CATS AND DOGS.
[Yeah, anyone with half an eye can see that]
Highlights of SMS-es:
SMS from Bald Eagle:
Heavens r crying. My Blardy carpark also cock jam. Unfortunately we nw hv 2 tk 2 cars, so dnt be suprised 2 c Lemongrass. Pls help tel the rest. Txs.
SMS from Nigel:
Let's go home
SMS from Kieran:
Eeks, who suggested town!
SMS from Precious Pea:
U there oledi? Lemongrass arrived oledi? Jam Jam Jam.
It takes me 1 hour to get from the Hartamas intersection, (near the Wilayah Mosque), to the clearing on Jln Duta at Parliament House. That's a distance of 2 km. Max. I had pranged the car while endeavouring to manouvre into someone's driveway.
But it's not about me. It's her special day. Hairy Berry is updating me from SINGAPORE, as to Lemongrass' movements.
We are nowhere near Max. The dreaded sms arrives:
8.10pm from Paprika: Lemongrass is already here!
Ah well, so much for the romantic notion of all of us seated quietly by 7.30pm, Bald Eagle and she ascend the stairs at 7.45pm like a bridal couple, to dimmed lights, as we all yell SURPRISE!!!!!
The degustation Menu for Lemongrass' 40th.
Smoked Salmon, Artichokes and Sun Dried Capsicum
Sea Scallops marinated in champagne vinaigrett and lobster oil, charred tuna loin king crab meat-white anchovies salsa
Warm Eel Fillet on Truffle Cremed Cuttlefish Ragout with a
Melange of Fresh Highland Herbs and Sea Trout Roes
River Water Farmed Yabbies Char grilled in a Pernod Laced Fennel Bulb - Tomato Broth
Parrot Fish (Gasp) Fillet on Parsley - Garlic Poached Clams served with
Berlotti Beans and wilted English Spinach Leaves
Present from those lacking in imagination.....and didnt want to buy lingerie...
Chicken Breast Roulade With Pumpkin Cannelloni and Sweet Peas
And Shimeji Mushroom
(Specially created cake by Nigel and Allan of Just Heavenly Pleasures)
I shall let the pictures do the talking for a change. The food was excellent. All of it.
There is an air of festivity. Tipple is flowing freely. The stress of the rain and traffic eventually eases away, like a knotted muscle after a massage. With the nectar of the Gods, the world seems okay again. Friends mingle like fish in a small pond. There is hysterical laughter.
Someone talks about gayness. The deaf one asks, "what is gayness?"..... I speak into her ear, for ease of hearing, "oh, its next to an**"....
There's a lecture on the origins of the cuisine and food, from the chef himself. We learn that you can get yabbies from Kluang.
There is another soliloquy on the creation of Lemongrass's special birthday cake. A competition follows, to christen the cake with an appropriate name. One would never have guessed the amount of creativity in the room. Lemongrass' 40th Double D. I liked that one. A winner is selected, and from henceforth, the cake to be ordered from JHP is known as Lyrical Lemongasp.
There's the Oscar speech, by the birthday girl. She is thankful to her parents for giving birth to her so she can meet us.
The paparazzi does their job. The sound of shutters clicking away merge with the very old 80s music that plays in the background.
Finally, the lies, the deception, the plotting and planning are over. She is satiated. She has had a wonderful 40th.
Pictures of people? Well, you'll have to check on my facebook.
31 comments:
How come HairyBerry in Singapore can update you on LL movement???!!??!! Teach me teach me then I can monitor Paul's movement when am in Melbourne.
By the way, thanks for co-organising...had a great nite!
Wahahaha...Laff's at Pea's comment. Worth all the trouble lah right? Rain and all. It was a really good night out ;)
Hairy musta been psychic coz even I didn't know of my movements. I remember shitting (coz must empty stomach for degustation dinner mah), then driving like the wind through torrential rain and carpark-like jam, then honking at misbehaving cabbies, showing my finger at a couple of drivers, crying my lungs out thinking I was going to be late, illegally throwing my car in the first available spot about 100m away from Max, hunting for a non-existent umbrella, dashing through the rain coz unable to find umbrella, walking into Max dripping wet to be greeted by shouts of Surprise from all of SIX early birds. At which point did Hairy update you again? :-P
The soliloquy was very touching. It aint everyday that someone gets a cake named after her. And your very very very short speech almost made me think I was deaf (coz I'm quite sure I missed it).
It was good fun. A lot of good fun. You guys are the best! (Thanks for the pav, Fatboybakes!!)
Waaaa... so sorry I missed it. Had a prior engagement other side of town which went on till late, so couldn't even pop by for dessert. (Bald Eagle stole my number from LL's phone, issit?!)
So glad though to have dined with LL, FBB, Kenny and his sweetie on Monday. Yum-yuminee-yum.
Argus (who has logged herself out of her own blog 'coz got Alzheimer's ahead of time)
O I C...
And couldn't you have at least captioned the food pixes??
But everything and everyone looks good. :)
Happy Birthday again, LL!
But where's the pix of the pav??
kat, pix of pav ...hmmm, have msged you on facebook about that.
and yes, your highness, i have captioned the food pixes as per the menu.
argus dear, yes, you missed a fine feast. i told LL you look like a younger version of anne bancroft. (that's a compliment, AB is such a classy dame).
lemongrass, pav? what pav?
unkaleong, hmmm, dunno, havent dared to get a quote from the workshop yet. snigger.
precious pea, you gotta ask hairy berry himself lor.
Oh all the adventures I missed! (Though the rest of KL and I had plenty of our own adventures wrangling with the mad traffic last night.)
So sorry I had to miss your dinner, dear LL but I did sort of make up for it with a dinner and lunch with ya right before, rite? And helping to keep the surprise a surprise? Hehe.
And FBB + the rest, thanks for the story. More drama than what's on TV and Permatang Pauh, that's for sure. :D
.. and the SINKER! good job guys :D
Geez, the surprise arriving before the rest of the deceptions. Thank you , monsoon rain.
Maybe you should have come by my workplace earlier before heading over to Max.
Wow. I actually got the tingles reading that post - the menu was truly sensational, and would have done LL proud. What I LOVE is that the chef came out and spoke about the dishes. Brilliant.
Sounds like a great night - congratulations to all that were invilved in the organising. (And congrats to LL, of course!)
...and it's hilarious that Fatboybokes gave LL a pavlova given his well-documented views on pavlovas!
sounds like a blast la!!! Happy Burfday Lyrical Lemongrass! You don't look a day over 21! ;)
precious pea, to do that to paul, you will first have to make me his friend. then, we'll go FB everyday and i'll ask questions on his whereabouts and will then, report to you. i feel like a mole..haha!
lyrical lemongrass, haha! remember that time (around 6.45 - 7, i think) when you told me you are going off? i told that was rather fast of you (cos your ETA was around 8-8.15) and decided to quickly sms fbb to tell him of your movement...haha! you should be less punctual that day..haha! and i was right. u were there before lotsa 'em...hehe
fatboybakes, i agree on the "air of festivity". was telling ll that it felt like CNY that day liddat. perhaps it's the "air on anticipation" lah. haha!
and 7:11? really ar? hehehe!
jackson, check your nose. has it reached one world hotel?
hairy, brilliant. and so seng mok of you. dees is why we lub you. yes, it really is from genesis 7:11...and that's not a store.
kenneth, buaahahahhaa, since i dont know you as well as jackson, i shant comment about the ill effects of lying.
steveky, thanks for dropping by. haha, it was just a smoke screen. anyway, the pav, yeah, that's another story altogether. maybe lemongrass can tell you.
not only the chef came out and gave a discourse on the menu, the guys who created her birthday cake did likewise. she is such a blessed woman. now she has a commercial cake named after her.
henry yeo, thank you monsoon rain?
ciki, good hor. i rather impressed too.
LFB, yalar, see what you missed.
LFB, don't worry about it. Yes, you've more than made up for it. *hugz*
Henry, I can't believe you're saying "thank you, monsoon rain". Especially after all the effort these guys put in. (And I'm truly appreciative of their effort). You have a weird sense of humour.
Steveky, congratulations? hahaha....I guess it's a milestone! :-)
Kenneth, you're too kind. Let's be friends. :-D
Jackson, hehehe....I look old enough to be your mother la.
Well, here's to us meeting up more often lah, LL dear. And with FBB too. And that Hairy lil Berry fler. :P
And you dun look like Jackson's mom lah. More like his exotic mistress from some distant land of many mysteries... LOL
kenny, "lil berry"???? *shocked and confirming it* ok, no, not little. haha!
ll/fbb (and all the other invited guests), rain or shine, you guys had a fantastic time and that's more important! even earthquake cant shake a good party, i'd say! ;D
wish i was there (this must be the 10000000th time i'm saying this..haha!)
hairy, i make special pavlova for you this saturday okay...
but yeah, i was SO hoping you'd be the ULTIMATE surprise and show up. you know, i ACTUALLY missed you that night.
LFB, how you know the size of the berries ah?
I liked Lemongrass Double-D too. Would have been fun to order that with a straight face..
But Lyrical Lemongasp comes a close second. Do we need to do theatrical effects when ordering? Like, "I'll have the Lyrical Lemon *gasp* (ala Sally at the diner with Harry), please." with a bright smile ala barbie..
HairyBerry: Confirming it? Woiks!
FBB: I didn't mean to imply the size of the berries lah. Just a term of endearment of those wee cute itty-bitty berries werries... Uhm, I'm not helping, am I? :P
That was a fun night. :)
I'm glad that LL had a great night.
And furthermore am now thoroughly honoured to have Lyrical LemonGASP on our menu. Thank you Paprika! ;-)
Actually, my preferred name was FUNKY COLE MADMEENA! ALSO by Paprika. I tell you ah that girl! Amazingly creative.
But to sell a cake like that and have to EXPLAIN to customers just tired me out before I started so I went sensible and voted with the other one! ;-) At least got the main ingredient in the name we chose. ;-)
Allan and I had such fun and it was uproarious. Sitting next to the gorgeous crewcut75 was a bonus! Especially every time he raised his arm to take a pic! I never knew biceps could ripple like that. I was thoroughly mesmerised. ;-)
Thanks FBB for putting it togethr. :-)
nigel, hahahaha, i dunno what to say about crewcut.
LFB, [donning on best innocent saintly look], i have no idea what you guys are talking about.
kat, yeah, you do need to do the big O thing when ordering.
everything looks so yummy! am sure LL enjoyed every minute of it :). oh, there's yabbies in kluang? i'm from kluang and i've never even heard of that! did they, by any chance, told you whereabouts in kluang (since i'm going back next weekend, might just look for it! hehe)
Gosh, you guys eat out a lot. The food looks amazing, and that cake... I want!
Happy birthday Lemongrass.
i want to join the fun too .........
Ah, FBB, at this age, I'll take whatever has a complimentary whiff. Thank you, thank you. Now where's my compact-model Dustin Hoffman?
(Yar-lah, I still can't believe LL is forty - so vibrant and yoootful. And that Kenny is like sixteen-and-a-half.)
wow, i'm so late to add comments to this lol
precious pea, you come to melbourne often? you should let me know when you do next ;)
jeez meena, maybe you are going deaf... no comment la :P
i'm so jealous of the food, looks so good... i'm practtically drooling over the unagi (it really is food pron - i'm a bit hard in fact)
hahaha..and to think that i would be late and then find out im the 1st..
but hats off at the speed u guys upload the pictures.. i havent even had time to look at it properly!
It was a lovely pavlova btw. I don't have anything further to add. I am still recovering from one whole week of late nights!
paps, awww, u are so sweet, just like the pav. ya, i am also suffering like mad.
nipples, yalar, why so slow? exams ah?
james, i thought you were gonna comment about lingerie for lemongrass! unagi makes you hard? hmmmm........eughhhhh
argus, ah, there you go, kenny can be your dustin hoffman!! hahahahahha!!! are u still in the country?
breadpitt, that's why you must become Lemongrass' friend la. when you know her, your whole life will change!!!
dee, that cake can now be ordered from the boys from Just Heavenly Pleasures. its yummy!
sc, yes, please find out where we can buy the yabbies from kluang. they were rather good wor.
Now in Taiping. Back in KL from Saturday till next Tuesday.
Can Kenny sing: "And here's to you, Mrs Robinson..."? But the only way I can relate to that is to shop at Robinson's sales.
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