Tung Lok Seafood

Sis' birthday falls on 26 Dec, and dad's on 31 Dec. My grandparents' birthday had also passed recently, so I decided to hold a joint celebration for all of them at Tung Lok Seafood, Orchard Central. My mil had been there previously, and kept commenting how good their ala carte buffet was. We used to frequent the ala carte buffet at Pearl River Palace restaurant at Suntec Convention Center last time, but it closed down already, so we've been on the lookout for an ala carte buffet.

Tung Lok Seafood is located on L11 of Orchard Central, and a series of long escalators can bring you from L1 right up to L11. Parking was full when we got there, so hubby asked me to go ahead with P first, while he search for a parking lot. The setting of the restaurant was just what I expected, not too atas but decor was ok. The food order was sent in shortly after we arrive.

Food was quite good. Hubby was exceptionally pleased with their salmon sashimi and we really ate a fair lot. Some food options only allowed 1 portion per table (clams, chilli crab, fish maw soup), but they only did well for the clams. Fish maw soup was so-so but the crab was really mediocre. If I were to go back, I'll skip these dishes altogether. They did really well on the fish and the prawns, and we ordered second helpings. There was a deep fried marbled goby (2nd helpings), garlic red tilapia (steamed), drunken prawns (2nd helpings) and their fried rice was pretty good too. Cereal prawn was so-so.

Service was also quite good. Our tea was refilled periodically, and they came with new plates quite frequently. The food didn't take long to arrive, so overall it was a good experience. Bill came up to $339 for 7 adults and 1 baby. I didn't think we even ate $300 worth of food, but well, you usually lose in a buffet unless you have a table of young army guys.

My grandparents were very happy to see P, who happens to be their 1st great grandchild. They are really getting on in age so I really appreciate the time I spend with them. How often can you have 4 generations at the same dinner table?

After dinner, we tried to make our way to Somerset 313 (where hubby parked his car), but was greeted with a construction pathway teeming with so many people that it was impossible to get through. We took a detour via the back of Orchard Central and in the process check out the X'mas fair they were having. For once, P decides she doesn't want to be carried, and kept struggling to come down as walk herself. Hubby was kept busy trying to prevent her from touching the 'hazards' (lightings, escalators, exhibits etc), great exercise after a heavy meal haha.

It's finally X'mas eve tomorrow. Finally time to prepare her presents.
 

Papa Jon & Ms Itchy-hand, touching everything in sight

The Blessing

Went with mom to Orchard Central today. There's a SPH GSS event and my mom got a text message that she's been picked to enter the challenge. Already a long queue when we arrived, and we soon found out what the challenge was. Upon registration, they will provide you with a form that you need to complete. Then you join the queue. When your turn arrives, you crush the entry form into a ball, pick one racket and try to hit the ball into a car with 2 of the side windows turned down. If you are successful, you get to enter the draw for a car.

Sadly, mom did not manage to do that. She hit so hard that the ball flew out of the fence/barricade. There goes the car, so we made our way on foot to Takashimaya where I tried to scourge the baby fair again. Very tempted to get a sack and seat, which can turn any chair into a high chair, but I can imagine my hubby's wtf face, so mission abolished.

Grabbed a late lunch at Kaffir & Lime at Paragon. It's under Thai Express and menu is so similar that I wonder why they have to give it another name. Despite the crowd, food was surprisingly quick to serve, and tastes good too! We ordered mango salad, sambal kangkong, chicken with cashew nuts, and Tom Yum soup. For desserts, I had red ruby and mom had some chendol looking thing. A lot of food yeah? And we finished the food! Thankfully, P slept till dessert, so lunch was overall a pleasant experience with minimal disruptions.

Went for evening mass, and P was super cranky throughout. No amount of rocking or cajoling can get her to sleep or quieten down. I spent the bulk of the time outside the main church since she was making noises of frustration. This workout is much more effective than my gym, for when I finally passed her back to hubby, I could feel my arms aching.

Today is the last weekend mass of he month, which means there's going to be 'Blessing of Expectant Parents'. I had almost forgotten about this. When the expectant parents took their spots in front of the church and receive the blessings, a sudden rush of emotions came over me. I must have been crazy, or PMS-sy, for I teared! I really feel so touched, and an image of me, hubby and P going up together in future flashed by my mind.

I guessed all the Facebook pictures of friends giving birth or heavily pregnant really got to me. I feel so envious, and makes me wanna start Project #2 soon. However, hubby's facing some instability at work and it's really not a good time. Patience my friend!!


A diaper change + feed at 313 Somerset's nursing room. Big and comfy, I like!