bar bar black sheep, can i have some more?

me and kathy met for dinner one day during the week. we were at the small plaza of shops across from botanic gardens and had meant to go to relish (on the second floor) which was closed when we arrived.  we could either wait or head down the street to holland village or dempsey... not being inclined to further deal with bus stops and taxis and traffic, we decided to go around the corner to bar bar black sheep for a drink to wait for it to open. ...but... then we just stayed there... because it was awesome!  seriously, the menu is a mixture of thai, indian and western.  and all your favourite options of each. and with the exception of japanese, thai, indian and western are my three most favourite food categories in the world!  my kind of place.  for sure.

i could not decide which way to go.  seriously.  how can one choose? i ordered a lime juice and spring rolls to decide.  and having the spring rolls.. which are always deep fried deliciousness, my resolve caved and i went for western, veggie burger.. with fries no less.  and a coca cola.  oh, the healthniess of it, i know.   kathy ordered a burger too (not veggie) and a white wine.. it was one of those days.

but here is the delightful thing.. when my veggie burger came, it was not one of those massive bun monstrosities that western restaurants serve. the burger was small, like a 1970's size bun, a small macdonald's burger size.  and it was perfect. on top of my burger was this gorgeous red pepper relish. now, i don't usually go for relish at all, but this was damn good. damn good.  i ate it all. fast.  and then i ate the fries.  and then i sighed.  damn.  good.

and... and.. the washrooms are connected!  just down the hall.  and they have this cool mantra (well i think its cool, but i can see how singaporeans wouldn't get it) they charge for water.  water is $1.00. cause its not just tap water but clean mineral water.  and they don't DON'T charge tax or service charge.  what? a restaurant that does not rip off its customers?  what an idea.

so... what can i say... damn, damn, bar bar black sheep. a black sheep you are not at all... you are fackin' awesome.  i just have one question: when can i go back?

Bar Bar Black Sheep
Cluny Court  501 Bukit Timah Road
6763 4757
www.bbbs.com.sg

bananas.

ok..so not a brunch post.. but for those following along... just too hilarious of an event not to post.  as you know, my relationship with graham as been gradually fading.. but he is a nice guy, and you know, if it weren't for some serious physical and mental obstacles there could be... ok fine... no, but he is a nice guy and he's fragile having just been ripped out of his family (his words).  so i haven't had the heart to make a complete break like i probably should have.  instead i chose to gradually fade.

so... graham invited me for a late sunday lunch/early dinner at the banana leaf apolo in little india.  i am mentioning it, because the food is good.  damn good.  its mostly all vegetarian... or can be if you chose.  but... you need to be warned, the decor of the restaurant is odd.  it's a massive cafeteria style room with strangely uncomfortable wooden chairs and usually very little patrons. and don't go to the washroom.  they are attached yes.... but not in a nice way.. in a connected to the rest of the mall way... in a rather grungy mall in little india.. if you get my drift... BUT... but the service is excellent and the food, did i mention?  good.  so good.  we ordered naan (of course) some red spicy vegetable dish, paneer and lime juice.  and then no plates!  just large banana leaves which we spoon our choice of food onto and dip into it with the naan.  so hearty.

speaking of heart... or lack thereof.. so... after the meal as we are sipping our lime juice, eating our second order of naan bread... yum...naan... and i am wondering how to get out of wandering around the markets to buy me yet another packet of jasmine, graham starts to tell me that he thinks it might be time if we see another people. well it went sort of like this.

"you know how first i thought i was in love with you and i wanted to get really serious?  but then you said we should slow down?"
"yeah"
"and then you said that maybe we shouldn't move in together cause it was too fast.."
"yeah"
"and then you thought that i wasn't over my divorce and you thought i needed to sow my wild oats so we decided to see other people?"
"ok.."
"well, i did that."
"ok."
"well, actually i met a really nice girl from malaysia.. and well, she doesn't want to share me."
"oh.  ok."
"you know i want to thank you.  you have helped me so much. before i met you i was in such a dark place.  and you made me smile and you showed me that i could fall in love again."

see? it all worked out.. and no one was hurt.  yeah i didn't have to make a big break up scene.  just fade to black.   ahhhh.. but... why is there always a but?......but ..here's the key girls... if you keep silent and let a man talk long enough he will eventually tell you the REAL truth..

(a few minutes later)

"so.....have you slept with this malaysian girl yet?"
"no.  that's why i wanted to tell you first.  so i could be completely honest with her."
"oh.  that's nice."
"and now i am completely confident that it will be good.  i have you to thank for that."
"really?"
"thank you.  you taught me that; just relax and don't try so hard.  kiss the upper lip and then the bottom lip. you want to know something?"
"ok, sure."
"you know the second time we were together and you asked me if i had been practicing?"
"yeah."
"well i had.  after the first time and you taught me how to kiss, i went out and slept with 5 other women to practice what you said."
"oh."
 um......WHAT THE HELL?   who does that?

............and so if you are in the mood for fantastic indian food in an uncomfortable ambiance  then the banana leaf is for you.  and cheap!  3.5 stars.

The Banana Leaf Apolo
48 Serangoon Road
01-32 Little India Arcade
Tel: 6297 1595