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2009-07-19
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Through the cheer and balloons and applause a group of 20 or so threw a party for a dear friend. That was the simple version of the story. Backstory: A few weeks ago an invitation came flying in, A SURPRISE PARTY, we thought, deep down knowing that it can't possible go under wraps without the birthday girl knowing. Then some arrangements were made, and some more adjustments, fine tuning here and there. We have a plan -- the surprise part has GOT TO WORK. "What is Boardgame" Cafe is the place we'
Backstory: A few weeks ago an invitation came flying in, A SURPRISE PARTY, we thought, deep down knowing that it can't possible go under wraps without the birthday girl knowing. Then some arrangements were made, and some more adjustments, fine tuning here and there. We have a plan -- the surprise part has GOT TO WORK. "What is Boardgame" Cafe is the place we're holding the party. The location is really not as hard to find as the address clues us towards. The location was set, food arrangements were set, and then, we each disappeared into high anticipation for the party, no one uttering a word over plans for that day -- no dinner plans, no gatherings, no overtimes either.
The phone rang. 2 minutes before action -- we held our positions behind the couch, crouching down as lowly as we can with balloons in hand and surprise at heart. The party paper popping toy in some of our hands, ready to release the fun. The door was kept slightly ajar. We heard footsteps walking up the stairs slowly. When the door was pushed open. SURPRISE!!! (in big unison). The birthday girl has yet to catch her breath for the sudden burst of excitement from behind a shelf-ful of toys arranged at the entrance by the cafe. She walked closer to the open area of the space to find us, all happy and delighted to surprise her. She was at a loss of words, and with a trademark laugh and squinting eyes as if it was only a dream she has dreamed about...but it was real...surreal even.
For our private party the cafe has put together a casual buffet for our crowd. It's nowhere near fine dining, but none of that mattered so much as to everyone gathering together and have the most fun we can have with the birthday girl. In warm trays there are the unlimited spring rolls and potato wedges, the usual party favorite, somehow lost to the sensational tray of Spaghetti Cabonara, which was of course in no comparison as the al-dente Italian ways, but the flavour itself was good enough. Generous flakes of crispy fried bacon atop and blended in with a besciamella sauce with egg. It came out rich and eggy, and just about the best comfort food we had that night. Spaghetti Bolognese was close, with dollops of Pesto Genovese atop, However we were so caught up with the carbonara that it was forgotten until later on.
What would be a party without wings? The marinated wings were at first very popular but through group games after group games we finished them off, and so did the smoked salmon and the pork on the bone. The latter was sweet and baked on the premise. The meat was tender and well seasoned throughout. Salads maybe laden with dressing from a jar, but instead of a plain apple chunks-canned corn, the cafe managed to throw in enough cubes and tiny globes of melon to make the salad a fresher alternative to vegetables/ fruit. The fruit tartlets, pictured here, were ok, although I would trade ready-made pastry shells to graham cracker crust any day. The whipped cream filling was also very whipped and didn't quite taste like cream. The strawberries, however were sweet and each tartlet looks petite and delicate.
Cola and a lava-lamp lookalike Fruit punch were the beverages du jour, and through cups after cups of fizzy drinks and us playing group games we shared what matter the most in a birthday party -- Laugh and Happiness, the kind of joyful elation that we celebrate the birthday of a friend, and to celebrate having such fantastic buddies around us, the comraderie within. Taking a look around, as I'm glad, pleased, and fortunate to have this group of people from all walks of life, sharing the same passion in food, to celebrate one of us, and many more to come.
Happy birthday, my dear friend.
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