Birthday Dinner at Yayoiken!
Aunty: “Hello, Yayoiken! We've brought a birthday boy along!”
Yayoiken: “Welcome! Come inside and enjoy your celebration!”
The evening's destination was Yayoiken (γγγθ») at Bugis+, where Aunty and her colleagues gathered for a birthday dinner.
Nothing like good food and cheerful company to celebrate another year older. Now, let's see what's on the menu!
Birthday Boy, No Rushing Back to JB Tonight!
Aunty: “Birthday boy, can you join us for dinner?”
Birthday Boy: “Can lah, but I need somewhere to stay overnight!”
Aunty: “Then settle your sleeping arrangements first. We don't want you rushing off halfway through dinner!”
As our birthday boy travelled between Johor Bahru and Singapore for work, we had to arrange the dinner with him beforehand.
Fortunately, he managed to arrange an overnight stay at another colleague's place. With that settled, we could all enjoy a relaxed birthday dinner together at Yayoiken, Bugis+.
Look Delicious… But Cannot Eat!
Look at those dishes! So beautifully presented that Cherry almost wants to grab a pair of chopsticks!
And imagine standing there hungry, admiring all that delicious-looking food… only to discover it's FAKE! HAHAHA! The eyes can feast, but the tummy gets nothing!
Wah! These Japanese food displays look almost good enough to eat!
Aunty: “Wah! Everything looks so appetising! Can I have a taste?”
Wax Food: “Go ahead, Aunty! But don't blame us if your teeth suffer!”
Aunty: “AIYOH! Better order the real thing before I start chewing plastic!”
The display cabinet was filled with beautifully crafted Japanese food replicas, from rice dishes to tempting meat and noodle selections.
Aunty was fascinated by how realistic they looked. With their carefully arranged ingredients and appetising colours, these models could almost fool a hungry customer!
No Kaki, No Table!
This restaurant doesn't entertain the famous Singaporean “I reach first, you all slowly come” arrangement!
Everybody must report for duty before the whole gang gets a table! HAHAHA!
Aiyoh! Even birthday celebrations need everyone to be punctual!
Aunty: “Hello! Can I sit inside and wait for my colleagues?”
Restaurant: “Sorry, Aunty! Your whole group must be here before we seat you.”
Aunty: “Wah lau! Better tell everyone to stop swaying slowly through the shopping mall!”
At Yayoiken, diners had to wait until everyone in their group had arrived before being shown to a table. No going in first to chope seats while the rest of the kakis took their own sweet time!
Aunty spotted the “Please wait to be seated” sign at the entrance. Looks like our birthday gang had better assemble properly before dinner could begin!
Group Study Begins — The Menu Examination!
Aunty: “Okay, everybody! Rice or ramen? Sushi or sashimi?”
Colleague: “Wait lah! So many choices. I haven't finished studying!”
Menu: “Take your time! But don't blame me if your stomach starts protesting!”
With everyone settled around the table, the great Japanese food debate began. Rice dishes, noodles, sushi, sashimi… everyone had an opinion, but making a final decision was another matter!
Aunty watched the discussion unfold. Who knew ordering dinner could turn into such a serious group project?
The funniest part of group dining is when somebody finally decides what to order, then sees another person's food arriving and announces:
“AIYAH! I SHOULD HAVE ORDERED THAT ONE!”
From Group Study to Food Exchange Programme!!!
Aunty: “Eh, your dish looks very nice leh! Can exchange a little?”
Colleague: “Can! But I want to try yours too!”
Aunty: “ON LAH! Fair exchange, no robbery!”
Birthday Boy: “Oi! This is my birthday dinner or food trading centre?!”
WAKAKAKAKA!!!
Imagine the waiter watching all those plates travelling around the table!
One person orders, everybody gets to taste.
And the best part? By the end of dinner, everybody has sampled half the menu without ordering half the menu!
Menu Settled, Time for Table Inspection!
While the others were still having their United Nations menu conference, Aunty had already graduated and started inspecting the table equipment!
And look at those pretty little ceramic containers with maple-leaf patterns! Even the humble toothpicks got a lovely home!
Aunty: “I've decided what to eat! You all carry on with your coin-tossing!”
Soy Sauce Bottle: “Aunty, why are you staring at us?”
Aunty: “Because you all look more interesting than watching them struggle with the menu!”
Ginger or Not Ginger? That Is the Question!
Aunty: “Ah, ginger strips! Come, let me add some soy sauce!”
Little Bowl: “Err… Aunty, are you sure you know what I am?”
Aunty: “Aiyoh! Don't tell me I've seasoned the wrong thing!”
There sat a little bowl of pale shredded vegetables beside a container of reddish seasoning. Without giving it a second thought, Aunty assumed the strips were ginger and happily poured in some soy sauce.
Only afterwards did she begin wondering whether she'd identified them correctly. HAHAHA! Sometimes a little knowledge in the wrong hands can be dangerous — especially when those hands are holding a soy sauce bottle!
Whatever those mysterious strips were, Aunty wasn't about to waste them. Since she'd already added soy sauce, she simply mixed the whole lot into her gohan. Problem solved, tummy happy!
Aunty's kitchen philosophy: When in doubt, mix with rice!
Three Japanese Sets, Three Happy Tummies!
Aunty: “Wah! Everybody's food looks so tempting!”
Colleague: “Aunty, don't tell me you're regretting your choice already!”
Aunty: “No lah! Just wondering whether I can taste yours too!”
Our dinner selections were Simahokke Teishoku (Atka Mackerel Set Meal), Special Steak Mix Teishoku and Miso Katsu Teishoku.
Aunty chose the Miso Katsu, with its crispy breaded cutlet, rich sauce, egg and vegetables. The other two sets looked equally inviting. No wonder our group study eventually turned into a food exchange programme!
My Precious Bowl of Gohan!
Aunty: “Ohhhh, my rice! Finally we meet!”
Gohan: “Aunty, your main dish is waiting for you leh!”
Aunty: “Don't worry lah! Without you, my meal isn't complete!”
A lovely bowl of fluffy Japanese rice. Simple, comforting and absolutely essential for this rice-loving Aunty!
Oh my precious gohan! But today, you've got an unexpected guest!
Aunty's Golden Rule: DON'T WASTE FOOD!
Aunty: “Aiyoh! You're not ginger ah?”
Little Bowl: “You only realise now?”
Aunty: “Never mind! You've already got soy sauce. Come, join my rice!”
Gohan: “OI! Why am I cleaning up your mistakes?!”
Wrongly identified the contents of that little bowl as ginger? Never mind lah! Since Aunty had already poured soy sauce over it, everything went into her lovely bowl of gohan (γι£―).
Nothing wasted, everybody happy! Well… except perhaps the rice. HAHAHA!
Birthday Boy's Tofu… or Aunty's?
Just when everyone was happily eating, birthday boy suddenly announced that he wanted tofu!
Birthday Boy: “I feel like having some tofu!”
Aunty: “Oh! Agedashi Tofu! Looks delicious leh!”
Birthday Boy: “You want some?”
Aunty: “Since you offered… don't mind if I do!”
And just like that, birthday boy's Agedashi Tofu became part of Aunty's food exchange programme too!
HAHAHA! Sharing is caring mah!
At this rate, birthday boy gets the birthday wishes, but Aunty gets to sample everybody's dinner!
Happy Birthday, Birthday Boy!
What is a birthday dinner without a birthday cake leh?
Aunty: “Birthday boy, your cake has arrived!”
Birthday Cake: “Finally! I've been waiting for my grand entrance!”
Aunty: “Don't worry, today you're the star of the show!”
And here came the birthday cake from POLAR, beautifully decorated with chocolate pieces and a special birthday greeting.
A sweet ending to our dinner, with good food, laughter and wonderful company. Happy Birthday!
Birthday Boy's Dessert — ηηθθ!
Aunty: “Wah! Birthday boy, still got room for dessert ah?”
Birthday Boy: “Of course! There's always room for something sweet!”
Dessert: “Come, come! Let's make your birthday even sweeter!”
A colourful little bowl with green tea ice cream, red beans, chewy white balls and other goodies.
Wishing birthday boy a year filled with happiness, laughter and lots of ηηθθ!
Good Times, Good Friends, Beautiful Memories
And so, our birthday dinner came to an end, filled with good food, laughter and happy memories.
Sadly, as time went by, we slowly parted ways. One colleague resigned, Aunty was transferred to another branch, and we hardly kept in touch after that.
But wherever they are today, whatever they may be doing, Aunty sincerely wishes each and every one of them happiness, good health and all the very best.
We may no longer share the same table, but the memories of that evening will always remain.
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