Pollen with Xin

Xin asked me to choose a place for dinner and I gave a few options of the places I wouldn't mind trying/Wana go. But I guess my description of pollen must have been damn good and outstanding that she said "didn't u just go pollen? ok la, let's go there romantic"

It was romantic indeed. It was raining when we got to gardens. The buggy came to pick us up in the rain and it was a slow cooling ride over to Pollen.

The complimentary starters that were the same as that of my actual birthday....

I still decide that I like the left side one best Coz it's got some Parma ham like thingy inside.

What's different today is Xin is also one who likes to take pictures of the food!

Burrata...

With beetroot...

Also really good today!

Scallop carpaccio! 

By this dish, Xin could already understand why I like their food so much. The scallops were in chunky portions like how scallops should be! Fresh and yummy!

We also shares a foie gras... It came served thick and diced... Very good cuts and it was sooo yummy!

Chef came by and offered us a complimentary portion of home made pasta AND HOMEMADE CHEESE!

It was sooooo good! I usually don't order tomato based pasta outside but this was so good! The tomato base was very naturale and tasty. The cheese as well. 

And next up was our mains, my must order of the salmon and the pork.

When I first introduced it to Xin, she saw my earlier album and asked me whether the salmon was raw or cooked. I told her it's hard to tell her and she has to try it for herself! Hahaha

It looks raw right? But it's actually cooked and it easily tears off. And it's crazy good! I think takes quite a bit of skills to cook salmon of this texture!

And the pork!

As tender and as bouncy as my last visit. Both a big thumbs up!

And of Coz, cauliflower!

I have this thing for torched broccoli and cauliflower! This one from pollen, they do it so well!

A birthday cake for both of us!

It's a blur how we really clicked during the first 3 months of our college days. But reflecting back, Xin was the very first friend I had who showed me such sweetness as a friend. Genuine sweetness. We will talk on the phone everyday and she will shower me with random surprises in our common locker. It was a fun period for us.

Not that I didn't have friends in primary or secondary school but I guess not of such closeness when we were in secondary school. Or some were just not so genuine. 

And during primary and secondary school days, I was an ugly duckling. I think I only slowly blossomed after college! 

I'm very glad over the years, Xin and I managed to off and on catch up and there's still much fondness for each other and this valued friendship.