Friday, September 10, 2010

In Rage (and Sage) We Trust

While I subscribe to the universal tenet that anger and aggression yields only more anger and aggression, I don't support that Anger in itself is necessarily an unconditionally negative force.

Being repeatedly incensed by the same triggers has proven to be the catalyst to change the situation, or in disagreeable circumstances beyond my control, how I manage my reaction towards them. More often than not, humour helps. Company in cynicism helps. Company with humour works the best.

Simply put, there are worse things than being subjected to the abject diatribes of this group of people. I resign and rejoice in the mere fact that the things to bask in content far outweigh the things that inspire rage.

Like this chilled jelly-like Konbu Bavarois with scallops and caviar, one clandestine Friday (working) afternoon at the graduate school of set lunches, Sage. Pure poetry. Be still, my quivering heart on fire.

The company is stellar, as always, and breathing without convulsing in rage becomes a gentle rhythm. Even the fiery red of the sumptuous tagliolini with grilled river prawns soft-pedals the famished, frenzied hour.


I engineered lunch here in order to not miss this, the Pâté en Croûte, read and ravaged first at Paranoid Android's visual arrest of a blog. When it became apparent that this particular week was going to end on yet another sour, sordid note, I had to introduce an extraordinary neutraliser.


Thin crust enveloping minced duck meat, which in turn, sprang a cut of duck foie in its midst. Food has been a lot of things to me, but it has not often confounded or provoked a reaction rich enough to counter fury. But this, this was a work of staggering beauty, reminder of a thousand things to be thankful for. Foie. The word itself takes the edge off.


We ended with a touch of sweet and a dash of the cure-all elixir, melon with honeydew sorbet, floating on white wine jelly. I walked out of lunch, considerably lighter from having offloaded all that wrath, yet heavier in thought and gratitude.

Evidently, there is great, calming wisdom to be found in food. And in the beautiful group of people with whom I had the pleasure of dining. Or maybe it's just Sage.

Bookmark the weekly set lunch (at RM100 nett each) menu here.

Sage Restaurant & Wine Bar
Level 6, The Gardens Residences
Mid Valley City
Lingkaran Syed Putra
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603 2268 1328

12 comments:

Ciki said...

The company is stellar, as always, and breathing without convulsing in rage becomes a gentle rhythm!! Gorgeous shots.. and even more beautifully penned words.. you must be inspired.. then again, with food as good as sage, who would not be eh? LOL

reprieve from rage is good.
in sage we trust.

qwazymonkey said...

Didja know that the Latin name for sage, salvia, means “to heal". Although the effectiveness of Common Sage is open to debate, it has been recommended at one time or another for virtually every ailment?

How true is that eh? A meal at Sage can heal even the most unrest of souls.

boo_licious said...

Am glad you made it for a superb lunch at Sage. It's funny but we always seem to have the best ever karma for Sage (vs the other unmentionable places). At least we can rely on Sage to provide us with saffron.

Rebecca Saw said...

Wow!
I must say the duck does look superb enough to sooth any frayed nerves!
Too bad I missed this! Urghhgh!

Quay Po Cooks said...

OMG! the sorbet look so yummy! I am going SAGE!!

Sean said...

Y'know, I've never ever managed to try sage's lunches ... I guess mainly cos I can't play hooky for more than 90 mins on a workday afternoon (at least not while the boss is around!), and traveling to and from midvalley would already take at least 45 mins! And a heavenly lunch like this must NOT be rushed, right? :D
Btw, a friend and I were discussing moods and impulses recently, and we were wondering about hormone replacement therapy, cos apparently, some traits (like a feeling of constant mental sluggishness or a tendency to get angry quickly) can sometimes be attributed to hormone imbalances and deficiencies. I haven't looked it up further, but we know people who swear that it's dramatically changed their lives...

Paranoid Android said...

WOW! I am glad that the food has inspired you enough to write such a brilliant post!

We must do it again sometime.

minchow said...

Ciki, it's troubling how rare these inspiring meals have become. Thank heavens there's always Sage! Totally understand how it's PA's weekday canteen! :-P

Qwazymonkey, ahhh... I always thought sage was either that herb or a wise old man with a long white beard! Makes perfect sense then.

Boo, haha true that! Reminds me though, I have yet to cure my saffron curse. Must go back to Sage to fix that proper!

TNG, it was crazy rich though... definitely the sort of food I can stomach only if I'm planning to waste the rest of the afternoon away.

minchow said...

Quay Po Cooks, thanks for dropping by :-) Make sure you check the menu to see if they're featuring sorbet when you're heading there!

Sean, hormone replacement therapy? Like medication for menopausal women? I'd be willing to try a herbal alternative!

Paranoid Android, we must we must. It is such a delightful sojourn for a working day. The gem in the dreadry landscape that is Mid Valley!

Penang Pete said...

A sage and wise person such as yourself can overcome the rage within to share your experiences so eloquently.

Many thanks for sharing!

minchow said...

Penang Pete, thank you! Wisdom somehow only comes to me when I have inspiring food presented in front of me, which isn't very often. Your site looks promising - can't wait to see it when it goes live!

JoinMe said...

Hi minchow
Kindly be informed that this post has been reprinted on JoinMe.com.my, thanks. ^^
P/S: We have put your name and link credit back to this article.