Settled
- Anya Pandit
- Nov 28, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 29, 2020
I write this with an incredibly full and warm stomach, and a feeling of satiety that I haven't felt in a very long time.
Today, I brought my parents to Burnt Ends for lunch. Burnt Ends is No.10 on Asia's 50 best restaurants, and has one Michelin star. It is challenging to make a reservation to say the least. Every morning at 10 AM, their online reservation system refreshes, and you have the opportunity to make a reservation for the day 30 days from now. 10:01 AM, and, pardon my french, you're shit outta luck.
In my naivety, I thought I would easily be able to manipulate the reservation system, what with my dextrous typing, being technologically savvy and veteran VIP status at most reservation websites (think OpenTable, Chope, Quandoo, you name it, and I have an account) I had smugly set an alarm on my phone for 9:58 AM, as a reminder to go on the website.
It was a quiet Wednesday morning in October, and I sat at my desk at work, half tuned into the meeting I had joined, half focused on what I would be eating in a month's time at Burnt Ends, with my finger hovering over the refresh button on my browser. 9:58, the reminder flashed on my screen. I prematurely refreshed the link. Still nothing. I waited impatiently for 10:00 AM, and immediately as the time changed, I refreshed the page, and eagerly waited. I scrolled through the various dining details, and inevitably the phone began to lag. I became exceedingly frustrated, flustered almost, overwhelmed to a certain extent with all of the seating options (Chef's Table? Private Room? Counter? Bar?) I suddenly forgot how to navigate the keyboard on my phone, pressed the wrong options, and in a moment's time, 10:01 AM, there was no availability left for a table for 3 for lunch or dinner at either the bar, or the counter. And there I sat, hunched at my desk, my hands feverishly clutching my phone, and completely oblivious to whatever was being discussed at my meeting. There went my chance, and now I had to wait for a whole new day. I quickly pushed away at the dejection and melancholy I felt from that defeat, and brainstormed a more effective strategy for the next day.
Thursday came and went, and I was still without a reservation. This fueled me further, and I was even more determined to overcome this challenge.
On Friday, I was finally successful. My fingers trembled with the residual anxiety as I carefully read the confirmation email. Mr. Anya Pandit. November 28th. 11:45 AM. 3 People.
Mr. Anya Pandit.
I'll take it.
Today is November 28th. The meal at Burnt Ends is very memorable for me, already. It signifies a personal growth where I now feel like an independent adult, and no longer that child who lingered in her parents' shadows.
Food has been the genesis of so many of my friendships and relationships. Simply talking about food, and sharing a meal with someone, has brought so many people into my life, many of whom I cannot imagine living without now. Food is how I found comfort when I moved to Boston for college, and later Singapore for work. It was how I found my bearings in these cities. Moreover, food provides insight into the culture of a city. Learning about a city's culture through its food, and becoming familiar with local cuisine is how I made Boston my home for four years, and now Singapore my home.
Through my new friendships and relationships, I have been able to learn so much more about the tips and tricks of the dining scene in Singapore, and it has been such a delight being able to share that with my parents. Being in the know, and learning little "secrets" makes Singapore feel much more like home because I feel as if I'm already a part of this city, its people and its culture. I finally feel that I am able to contribute to our family by introducing my parents to new restaurants, sharing with them stories of the hospitality industry in Singapore, and simply creating new experiences for all of us.
Food signifies comfort, love and joy, and is always a part of the happiest memories I have. Burnt Ends today provided exactly that, and more. The food was phenomenal to say the least. The experience, however, was immeasurable.
It was the first of what I hope to be many more new dining experiences I can share with my parents.
I say new, and yet here I am, already setting an alarm for tomorrow at 9:58 AM for yet another chance to visit Burnt Ends. They'll have new items in a months time. That counts.
Right?
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