@shaari_ and i are at scoop on this dim-lit afternoon to judge their red hot chilli + fiery mango burgers. shaari is dressed for this occasion in a burger themed t-shirt but for some reason, we get sidetracked and decide instead to try their lasagne. ok maybe it’s cos the owners insisted. looks like my word on food is finally being taken seriously. as it should, one might say.

anyhow, it takes a while for the orders to arrive and by then shaari and i have exhausted our conversation. we sit in silence listening to the edm track that seems to trace the downward arc of what must have been a pretty awesome high. ie the track seems fairly bleak.

‘this had better be good,’ mutters shaari when the server comes with the blue lasagne trays placed on cute wooden cutting boards stamped with the scoop logo.

it smells great but as everyone knows, the true test is a spoonful of the material on your tongue, and having it smoosh against your palate.

shaari draws first blood. his eyes light up.

‘i haven’t had anything like this,’ he says. ‘not in male, at least.’

that’s my cue.

it makes me think of how sometimes all the goodness of something is apparent at first sight, and nothing within says anything to the contrary.

‘easily the best of the bunch here. meaty, saucy, cheesy,’ he announces.

‘hmm,’ i say.

‘did I say it’s meaty?

‘huh?’

‘well?’ asks shaari. ‘what’s taking you so long?’

‘gimme a sec,’ i tell him.

where was i? oh yes, some are content to follow the will and inclinations of others, letting these in fact mould and BE their will. so what appears on the surface is all. but if you stare at the outside long enough, you might see things rise to the top. like the pretty oarfish or the colossal squid or the gelatinous sharks. these giants of the deep. in some they are huddled underneath so many layers it will take expert psychic divers to even glimpse them. and once seen, what then? well, sometimes people want to change. in spite of everything. because of everything. sometimes things need to be brought to a boil before transformation takes place…

‘WELL?’ repeats shaari.

‘it is really good!’ i say. ‘beyond good, it is GREAT!

shaari seems very satisfied with the answer.

then again, some rare creatures can rise above all the hurt with their humanity intact. and time, our mortal enemy and dearest friend will bring us closer to the end, but also ease our suffering through its ceaseless flow.

‘i think i have one complaint tho,’ i say.

‘what?’

‘it’s a bit TOO meaty. if that’s a legit complaint.’

‘it’s not,’ replies shaari flatly. ‘lasagne is the the best comfort food when done right.’

‘hmm,’ i say.

‘it feels like a belly hug,’ he goes on. ‘the last one I had was rather discomforting. it was dry and hardly had any meat. scoop reigns, for now.’ 

 ‘alright,’ i say, not really listening. ‘alright.’

is scoop really the best at lasagne? we’ll have to sample more. let us know where else we should go in the comments. we’ll try check them all out.