We have never made a huge deal out of celebrating Valentine's Day, but when the resort we live at sent out a flyer last week informing the residents of a Valentine's dinner at the resort club, we decided to give it a shot. The brochure advertised "a 4 course meal with music to accompany each course". I love food, so I am already pumped!
We arrive at 8 p.m. and they seat us, have a rose at Jeff's place setting so he can give it to me, hand me a small box of chocolates and a rolled up paper that has several love poems by famous poets. They bring a plate of DELICIOUS hand made white and dark chocolate candies, along with chocolate covered strawberries. The first course is a seafood soup and is quite tasty. They have made thin wafer biscuits in the shape of hearts and have one placed on the top of the soup. Very nice touch! Music is playing in the background--all familiar love songs, but very few sung by the original artist. Just as a note of interest, you don't ever really hear U.S. songs that are current music--it is always from the 60's-80's time period and mostly soft-rock. It almost seems they don't even KNOW there is more current music out in the world.
So a man from the resort goes to a microphone, welcomes everyone and says we have a special treat. Three of the local Malaysian work men from the resort are going to entertain us. They sit down, two on the guitar and one just singing, and he begins a Malaysian love song. It was so sweet, because you could tell all three men were nervous and not used to performing in front of people! They finish that one song and jump up and leave.
Our next course is a choice of chicken or steak, I have chicken, Jeff chooses steak. The chicken breast was cut into the shape of a heart, placed over noodles and had two skewers of grilled, stuffed prawn. Very good and accompanied by ANOTHER heart biscuit. Jeff's meal came with steak, baked fish, grilled veggies and a biscuit. Once again, very good. As we are eating this course, the three men come back and sing another song, trying very, very hard to do a good job. After they jump up and leave again, the resort guy gets the microphone and says we are going to play a game. Well, he says, not really a game, but we are going to play. He walks around the open-air eating area, hands the men in the crowd the microphone, and has them read their "love poem" from the table out loud. There are maybe 8 tables of people for this evening, and he goes to about half of the tables. Of course he comes to our table, and Jeff reads our poem. Then the man from the resort hands him an envelope and says it is a present for reading the poem aloud.
Let me back track a little. The compound we live on has an Equestrian center associated with the Bale Club house. You frequently see people out riding or practicing polo.
Back to the story. Jeff opens his envelope and it is a voucher entitling the holder a 50% discount on horse riding lessons. I'm thinking "cool", Jeff's thinking "no way". Anyway, dinner continues.
The final course is a bread pudding with cream and chocolate ice cream on top, and is also accompanied by one final song from the three men.
I told Jeff that last night I OFFICIALLY fell in love with the people here in Malaysia! The Leisure Farm compound we live on is almost exclusively expats like us, or people that have second homes here. The staff worked SO hard to make the evening special and try their hardest to put on a memorable evening. They actually stated that this was the first year they have attempted a Valentine's dinner, so I knew they were working hard to make it a success. I am sure we will support them again next year if they decide to make it an annual event!
