A COMMENT ON THE CNY EVE DINNER
The idea of eating out was mooted last year. It was the easy way out. No cooking and no mess to clean up. It was a good idea but the feel good experience fell short.
The food at the restaurant was above average and the price reasonable. Unfortunately instead of having a relaxed ambience to enjoy the food you feel harassed. The exceeding hurried pace that the dishes were served was geared to get you out for the place before the next batch of customers arrived for the 2nd session. Eating dinner at 5:30PM (tea time) is neither here nor there. Within half an hour all the dishes were served. There was no time to savor each dish and digest the food. Dinner was over in record time. The sun was still high up over the horizon. It was a weird experience not quite befitting for a reunion dinner.
Comparatively the dinner at home on the 1st day of CNY had a much more relaxed family atmosphere. The dishes might not be as fanciful but the effort put in was much appreciated and enjoyed. We definitely need to rethink next year dinner.
