Tag: singapore

Buffet

February 11, 2025

When I booked our Greek cruise, I did not figure in that we would be at sea during the Super Bowl.  That would have been bad enough but being one-third of the way around the world there was an 8-hour time difference.  That meant the game was scheduled for 1:30 am Monday (our time), and the predicted length of the game was over 4 hours.  The game was being broadcast live on a special on-board sports channel and would be over in time for an 8:00 am departure for our shore excursion.  We weighed our options.  We could stay up and be too exhausted to make the excursion, but this was a trip to the Palace of Knossos, a bucket list tour.  We could miss the game, but that would mean I was a fair-weather fan, and I had already packed my Chiefs shirt to wear the night before the game.  The bigger disappointment was I always put out a spread for 8 to 10 people as part of the game (even if it was just Melissa and me).  How was I going to watch the game without my buffet?

When I looked online, I found the Super Bowl buffet was not just my obsession.  In fact, football is merely the main course on a menu designed to bring fans together.  There are commercials with their own buildup, the halftime show, parties held in houses and bars, and the rare sense most of the country is watching the same thing together.  More than anything, the event is built around food for everyone (but the players in the game).  Everyone else watches football for more than three hours and will eventually get hungry.  USA Today decided to rank the 10 best super Bowl snacks, and mentioned the “closest thing to a vegetable on this list is a jalapeno”.  This begins with soft pretzels and sliders, a tray with a variety of meats and cheeses (charcutier board), nachos, chili, potato skins, pigs in a blanket (or hot dogs) chips and dip, pizza, and wings.  Many of these favorites have been on my buffet over the years.

Our only choice was to go to bed early and wake up in time for the start of the game at 1:30 am.  This worked, and we woke up in time to see the coin toss.  I made it through the first half (24-0) but refused to watch 45 minutes of half-time extravaganza and went to sleep.  The score was exasperated by the fact we were not getting any of the commercials (soccer and MMA previews only) on the special sports channel.  Melissa lasted through the third quarter then also gave up.  Her sister did inform her of the outcome at the end of the game.  The ship planned their own Super Bowl party for later that evening.  The game was broadcast in the theater on the movie screen.  Most had not stayed up late and were not aware of the score.  For them it was great, for me knowing the score was another form of torture.  There was a bright spot.  The cruise made hundreds of bags of popcorn and there were two lines of tables placed in the hall.  One was held basic football food (nachos, wings, chips and dip) while the other was filled with a wide assortment of finger desserts.  I did not partake of the food and only lasted a quarter rewatching the game, but I complemented them on their buffet.

THOUGHTS: The all-you-can-eat buffet has become an integral part of dining culture worldwide, offering a lot of different foods at a fixed price.  This dining experience dates to ancient times and has evolved through different cultures until it is now a staple across the world.  That said, it stands in opposition to the 733 million people and women and children who are the most vulnerable around the world.  Clean air, water, and sufficient nutrition should be a right, not a privilege.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

Lunar

January 30, 2025

Listening to the radio yesterday I was inundated by references to the start of the Lunar New Year on January 29th.  I was somewhat surprised as there is not a large Asian population in our state.  As of 2022 there were 47,413 (1.7%) Asian Americans living in Arkansas.  This was a national broadcast, but again it was a country music station.  Still, the references got me hankering for dumplings and egg rolls.  I texted Melissa on my way home and she agreed this sounded like a good dinner.  Not having a “go to” Asian restaurant in town I decided to buy a frozen variety from the market and cook them in the air fryer.  I realized this was not the same as dim sum (small bites) but it was the closest I could come to it on short notice.  I came home excited by the prospect of a tasty meal to kick off our unofficial celebration of the Lunar New Year.

When I looked online, I found there is a difference between Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year.   While they are can be used interchangeably, Chinese New Year is primarily celebrated in China, where it is a public holiday and one of the biggest celebrations of the year.  Countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, South Korea, and parts of southeast Asia instead celebrate this as Lunar New Year.  Traditionally, the celebration begins with a large family meal on Lunar New Year’s Eve and continues for the next 15 days, or until the following Lantern Festival (the next full moon).  Symbolic traditions include eating fish (associated with wealth) or noodles (for longevity).  People may also give red envelopes with money inside (hóngbāo) to express good wishes, set off fireworks and dragon dances to ward off evil spirits (Nian, the monster afraid of red), offer sacrifices to their ancestors for protection, and reunite with family to enjoy the celebrations.  In China and Vietnam, the event correlates with the start of spring so floral arrangements adorn houses, streets, and businesses.  In South Korea, bird decorations like paper cranes are hung up for longevity and good fortune.  In Tibet, children bring gifts to their elders, and in Mongolia, a pastry tower is made to represent Mount Sumeru (a holy mountain).  Many people with Asian heritage living in other parts of the world still participate in the Lunar celebrations.

Lunar New Year is a time to look towards a new year and good fortune but there are also plenty of superstitions around this time.  In preparation, people will “sweep out” the misfortune of the old year from their home and hang up poems on red paper (couplets) for good luck and prosperity.  It is widely believed you should avoid any washing or sweeping on the New Year to avoid “washing” the good fortune away, to avoid unlucky words like “illness” or crying, and to avoid colors associated with mourning such as black and white.  Door Gods (mén shén) are hung up in entranceways facing each other to ward off evil spirits.  Red is known as a lucky color and symbolizes happiness, prosperity, luck, and good fortune, and appears on envelopes, clothing, lanterns, and decorations especially during this time.

Thoughts: Our celebration of Lunar New Year was derailed by a major thunderstorm that repeatedly knocked out the power.  We did not want to risk a power surge on our new air fryer and decided to go to the local Chinese buffet instead.  The power was back on when we arrived, and I anticipated the egg rolls and pork dumplings.  To my dismay they had no dumplings, and the egg rolls were soggy.  The power flickered several more times before finally going out completely.  Several local police had also come for the buffet, and they turned on their flashlights and placed them around the restaurant so we could see to eat.  We left paying cash to the delight of the cashier (register was out).  Although the food did not rival the dim sum I experienced in the Bay Area, it was memorable.  I hope this inauspicious start will lead to a good year.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.