Lolo's 80th Birthday @ Royal China

Celebrated my father-in-law's 80th birthday last week, twice. One on the actual day itself and another a few days later when we managed to gather most of the clan together. Royal China (Tai Tung) was chosen not so much for its food but for the amenities it provides like ample car park, private rooms and lift.

Started with a four seasons combo appetiser. Only managed to grab one nori roll as everyone was hungry. That's always the case with the first course.

Shark's fin soup with crab meat.

Stewed pork trotter served with some soft buns. Very nicely done.

Steamed Grouper with four treasures, I found two only - slivers of mushroom and Chinese sausage.

Baked prawns with spicy coconut floss.

Braised mixed vegetables (enoki, shiitaki and button mushroom and sea cucumber too) with fermented bean curd.

Long life noodle, a must for birthdays.

Don took this shoot using my camera and commented that the cam is no good because it showed all the gravy smudges on the side of the bowl. Perfect imperfection (or the other way round)?? I said, 'Clean up before a shot!'

Dried longan with pumpkin and snow fungus for dessert.

Eaten together with these pancakes and jelly.

And the birthday cake of course.

With a few of his grand-daughters,

and grandsons

but not quite the whole clan...

Budding photographer

Happy birthday, lolo!!!

As I mentioned we chose the restaurant not for its culinary fame so we really didn't expect anything spectacular but much to our delight the food was quite good especially the pork trotters.

Maybe this is much like life, where there is no expectation, lovely surprises sping up at most turns.

Jo