Every now and then you have that sort of other wordly experience with food.
It happened with me at lunch today at Ping's.
Lured by the promise of a great stewed duck with rice I walked in not knowing what was in store for me. While placing the order I heard the words Mushroom rice and a voice in my head said 'order that'. So despite the wierd looks I got from my companions for ordering something vegetarian, I followed my instinct and ordered that. People who know me, know that i have this strange fetish for Mushroom Rice and Congee. So much that i regularly try and make both myself in order to learn about the secrets lurking within them. The mushroom happens to be my favourite vegetable (if you can call it that).
One bite of the mushroom rice and I felt a warm glow enveloping me. And no the air conditioning was working just fine. Havent you ever taken a bite of food so good that you just stopped talking ? It was just about me and that rice on my plate, everything else seemed to get blurred. Cooked so perfectly with a medley of different types of mushrooms that the umami goodness was packed into every single grain of rice. With just a hint of truffle oil to round of the flavour so smoothly. This is the kind of food you want when you are sad. This is the kind of food you want when you are happy.
It hit a note !
This was meant to be an ode to that rice but I am having such a problem putting my feelings down in words.I am already thinking about when I can go back to eat it again.
I must add that everything else I ate was also excellent, in particular the Duck rice which I had gone for in the first place. I walked out of Pings this afternoon with a increased amount of love and respect for the place and their kitchen staff.
So folks if you haven't been to Pings, please go. If you have been to Pings, please go again, they have new stuff but don't forget to try this Mushroom Rice although it may not do to you what it did to me. And most importantly, ALWAYS listen to that voice in your head .
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