Saturday Night Dinner

My saturday dinners are usually instant noodles in the confines of my room, with most C-Towners either out with their partners, friends or family. Today however, I was lucky. Chris, Alicia, Emily, Yi Heng, and Bo yan accompanied me in my quest for a decent dinner.

First stop, Rolling Wok - Closed.

Second stop, Subway - ridiculously crowded

Our third and final stop was the Dover Market where we ordered Fish Head Curry, Hot Plate Beef, Claypot Toufu, and Prawn Paste Chicken. Sounds yummy? Sure it does. Was it yummy? NO. The claypot toufu was tasteless, the prawn paste left no trace on the chicken, and the fish head curry tasted like its main ingredient was chilli. Oh, not to mention the sacrilegiously rubber-tasting beef.

Were our brave diners going to pay $49 for food that crappy? Of course not.

Problem:

We had to pay $49 for lousy food.

Analysis:

Alternate solutions were discussed, among which includes leaving what we thought the food was worth on the table - varies from $2 to $5 person - running in separate directions, sending boyan to ready the escape vehicle.

After surveying our immediate environment, we realised we were smack in front of the store and surrounded by burly middle aged drinkers who might or might not be Friends of Zhi Char Store.

Design:

We settled on all of us walking away at the same time towards the vehicle, and claiming amnesia if we should get caught. Good Plan.

Implementation:

After carefully eyeing the shop aunty for sometime, Shaun found the perfect escape opportunity when 2 fat aunties approached the shop aunty, temporarily obstructing her view of us. He stood up, and breathed, "let's go, now now NOW!" and our daring heroes casually stood up, plastic chairs scrapping the concrete ground as they made their way towards the carpark, the pack led by Shaun and Boyan.

Things were looking good for our escape artists when while walking immediately beside a hdb flat, our leaders heard an aunty shout out in hokkien "Buey Zhi Char eh!!!" and looked up to see a plump hand and stubby finger pointing at them. The shit has hit the fan, it was now time to run! Shaun and Boyan burst out running and the clueless pack(especially Emily who doesn't undestand Hokkien) followed.

Getting into the getaway vehicle in record time, the packed Lexus hurried out of the parking lot and into the main road with all 6 hearts of our maverick diners pounding furiously in their chests.

Once safely out of harm's way, our heroes did a "woosh" in the car and left feeling proud of their principled natures - Never Pay Good Money For Bad Food.

Some notable quotes:

Chris: "Wah my heart's in my stomach!"
Emily: "Eh what is 'buey zhi char eh?' "