WHAT SHALL I DO ON MONDAY?

If you see a fine figure of a man in Chinatown tomorrow, that will be me.
The office will be closed in connection with President’s Day. Naturally I will head in to the financial district at some point, stopping in C’town for snackipoos, and dinner later.
Should you notice me, feel free to speak, as I do not bite.
In fact I would love to stop and chat.

And note that by “fine figure of a man” is meant a trim masculine person of medium height, with a small beard and streaks of silver in my hair, possibly smoking a pipe at that time. A mature individual, with sparkly eyes behind reading specs that ride low on my nose.
I wear the glasses primarily because I do not wish to smack myself in the face with a coffee cup. By the time you are my age, it becomes difficult to focus on stuff less than a foot away from the face.
Such as, for instance, a fast-moving coffee cup.
Or rice bowl.
Yep, got warm rice all over my nose once.
It entirely changed my perception of dinner that day.


BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND TEA TIME

Strolled into a favourite restaurant around four thirty, and left half an hour later full of noodles, soup, and Vietnamese drip-coffee. First food since a snack standing at the kitchen sink late last night, but nowadays one actual meal a day is sufficient. Especially if it is a nice one.
I can mentally revisit fine food or good company for hours afterwards, and though I’m writing this after nine in the evening, I can still acutely remember the happy sense of expectation while raising slick toothsome noodles to my mouth earlier in the day.
The staff there recognize me now, and in conversation they and I mix Cantonese and English either way.
They’re good people. Hard-working, hospitable, intelligent.
It is wonderful to be there.

One slight problem.......

They have wide screen televisions hanging from the ceiling. Two of these show alternating views from the security cameras - the street in front, the alleyway beside, a shot from the door area, a focus on the register and counter, the dining hall with cheerful people - and one of them shows pictures of their food.
Beautiful evocative glowing portraits. Of. Food.
Yummy looking food.
Food porn.

Kung pao chicken (宫保鷄丁 gung po kai ding). Fried fish balls (炸魚蛋 za yu daan). Bitter melon fish slices over rice (涼瓜魚片飯 leung gwa yu pien fan). Beef ball noodle soup (牛丸湯 ngau wan tong). Pan-fried noodles with satay sauce chicken (沙茶雞肉炒河 sa tsa kai yiuk chao ho). Pork kidney with ginger and scallion (姜葱腰花 geung tsung yiu faa). Shrimp satay sauce noodle (沙茶蝦球 sa tsa haa kau). Hot and sour chicken (酸辣鷄球 suen laat kai kau). Oyster sauce steamed lettuce (蠔油生菜).
Plus numerous rice plates.It was all very lovely.

This was the first time that the screen had been directly in my line of sight.
I was RAVENOUS by the time my soup came. Even thinking of ordering some fried fish balls.
Which would have naturally lead to a far greater ingestion of Sriracha hotsauce.......
And perhaps ANOTHER ice coffee.
Fortunately I restrained myself. Manfully.
Tomorrow will be a better day because of it.
Heck, wide open, with multiple possibilities.


Might even go there tomorrow and order the fried fish balls.
Za yu daan look like an excellent breakfast, although a whole serving could be too much for just one person.
Yes, there might be other folks at the office tomorrow (not very likely), but though they are nice enough, they aren't very adventurous eaters; I've heard them talk.
Fish balls and Sriracha, followed by shrimp satay noodles and oyster sauce lettuce, would probably frighten them.
So I had better not ask any of them to join me there.
I would rather not eat with timorous people.

Still thinking about what to do tomorrow.
Good food, naturally, is an important part of the picture.

Warm glistening noodles, firm textures, fragrant soup.
Listening in on the conversation of others.
An environment where eating is fun.
Plus strong sweet ice coffee.
Alone, but cheerful.

Fish balls.

Noodles.

Mmm.


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