Wednesday, 14 May 2010
Today I had a most disappointing breakfast, and this after I have had to fast since 9 pm last night. As part of a medical check-up for work-related insurance coverage, I was required to have a fasting blood test. So, at 9.30 am this morning I went to the authorised clinic on the 3rd Level of Suntec Tower 3, just above my office. After one failed attempt by a junior clinical technician to draw blood, I emerged for the clinic with a strip of plaster on each of my arms when a senior technician succeeded.
Then I went down to the the Old Town Cafe for breakfast. This cafe is just outside Tower 3, next to the entrance to the underground Promenade MRT station. Unlike a few other similar cafes like Killiney Coffee Shop and Ya Kun, this one has table service.
I asked for the "My Toast" set comprising a kaya toast, two soft-boiled eggs and a cup of white coffee (instead of the black coffee). You get your coffee first and have to wait a bit for the rest to come. I thought the eggs looked somewhat strange, not like the usual ones I usually have. On a closer look, I found a hard crescent of egg white. Seemed the eggs were cracked into the bowl and microwaved. Somehow, the eggs tasted off - I don't think microwaved "half-boiled" 
eggs are any good. I also didn't like the kaya (egg jam) toast, though it had a generous slice of butter. I like my toast, made from soft bread, to be crispy on the outside while still remaining soft inside, not dry like a biscuit throughout. Yucks, yucks.The coffee tasted like instant coffee. Atested to by the conversation I had with the cashier when I paid the bill.
"X'cuse me, I thought the set is only $4.20, why I have to pay $5.20?'
"You change to white kopi, one lollol extra."
"Wah, your milk costs $1."
"No, not milk, special kopi."
"You mean you grind coffee beans, like Starbuck, to make white coffee?"
"No, no, you know, kopi."
"But coffee comes from coffee beans." Me agitated.
"No, kopi. Dis kopi." Cashier equally agitated, turned around, grabbed a bottle from a shelf, thrust it at me. Lo and behold a gold-labelled bottle of instant coffee. Ssssheh
I paid up and went, vowing not to return.
