Celebrating the satisfaction of that familiar feeling at your favorite watering hole
Like clockwork, I am at my favorite “writers corner” at Dolcetto at Regent Hotel, having my post-Pilates coffee with a bottle of sparkling water. More than a routine, I consider it a ritual. There’s something deeply therapeutic about consistency and predictability. I do not know what psychological term best describes this behavior, but I call it creature comfort, which is important for the (or rather, my) soul!
Not only do I frequent the same place, I often order the same thing every time. The moment I step into Dolcetto, the staff immediately asks, “Double double?”, a reference that only we know, built on familiarity and consistency — with the occasional small piece of dark chocolate hazelnut slab or a seasonal Easter carrot cake (they always have thematic seasonal desserts, which explains why some of you often receive Dolcetto treats from me). Did I mention that I even have a favorite seat there? It’s my version of the neighborhood corner coffeeshop; a not so secret, secret hideaway, mainly known to regulars who drop in for morning coffee.
Another thing I love most about this place is that it opens at 7AM, perfect for early birds! I mean, how can it be a “breakfast place” if it opens at 9AM? That’s too late! I’m sure fellow early birds out there will agree with me! And as they say, birds of a feather flock together, so I often bump into familiar faces (if you are reading this, you know who you are), as well as familiar dogs waiting patiently outside the hotel lobby. This is what I appreciate: Familiarity and predictability.
Often, the restaurants or F&B outlets that we frequent regularly are the ones that are most comforting and familiar, where service staff feel like friends and food tastes like home cooked meals. These places also happen to be the smaller establishments that do not require reservations made months in advance. I have one such place that I did not even visit till months after ordering via Deliveroo! For the longest time, I was ordering the spinach and egg drop soup with crab meat from this modern Chinese eatery along Duxton Road called Xiao Ya Tou. Sometimes, I’ll add spicy boiled wontons to my orders, but mostly it’s just for the soup. As for frequency, I’m talking as often as three or four times a week — and this was pre-COVID!
One day, after my 100th Deliveroo order from Xiao Ya Tou, I decided to make a trip to their Duxton Hill hideout. I placed my order of, what else but spinach and crabmeat egg drop soup, with, guess what, boiled spicy wontons! And since it was the Chinese New Year period, I ordered their modern take on the traditional yu sheng. I chatted with the manager and told him I’m a fan of the soup and often order it on Deliveroo. He immediately asked, “Are you Wendy?!” Oh gosh, how did he guess? Am I the only one who orders the soup on Deliveroo, I asked. “No, but you are the only one who always orders it — and just that!” I guess that’s consistency and predictability for you !
On that note, another “neighborhood” place that I often visit, and order the same dishes each time I’m there, is Caffe Beviamo at Tanglin Mall. I still think they have the best chickpea purée! When I used to stay in the area, it was my go-to place every weekend. Now, even though it’s not within a 1km radius from where I stay, I still find myself revisiting it from time to time and, guess what, order the same chickpea purée and brown toast with Vegemite on the side. While I’m at Tanglin Mall, I’ll also grab coffee and my favorite biscuits (the Baci Di Dama and hazelnut biscotti) from Brunetti. It’s so good that I’ll reward myself with a piece of each, after a long urban hike.
Often, our favorite go-to places are as such because of particular dishes. Just think about your favorite, regular dining spot; do you normally order the same dishes too? Either that or we’ll go to a particular place specifically for certain dishes. Just the order day, I was reminded of my favorite Peking duck at Cassia, the Chinese restaurant at Capella hotel. I had dinner there and knew I had to order their Peking duck. It’s not a place that most people associate with Peking duck, but that’s why it’s a little known fun fact!
As I type this, I’m waiting for my guests to arrive at our favorite tempura place, Ginza Tenharu, which is a small joint tucked inside Orchard Marriott hotel, next to its more well-known sister restaurant, Ginza Sushi Ichi. At the moment, with only one chef helming the place, only one counter is available for bookings, which means only a maximum of six guests every evening (no lunch service at the moment). So any reservation secured is highly coveted! I’ll be sure to savor every fried morsel! Besides, the staff knows my usual way of having my fried food and eating it too, which is half portions, with the “lucky” guest next to me getting an extra serving. That’s what makes a place a regular “go-to” as well — when you know what you’ll be getting, built on consistency, familiarity, and predictability. A little “secrecy” with its “little known” fun fact doesn’t hurt either!
With a slew of new restaurants openings across Singapore within just six months, diners are spoilt for choice, if they can get a booking! Every now and then, there will be a new “hot table”, with the longest waiting list. But there will always be a place for that regular table or couch; that under the radar place to call your own, with that one dish they can never take off the menu (if you have it your way) and you wouldn’t want it any other way either! As Federico Fellini once said, “Life is a combination of magic and pasta”, and one doesn’t need a silver fork to enjoy your favorite “pasta”.