Swensens

Some places bring particular memories to when you were a child. There may not be exactly any standout moments, but you've come to known the place as somewhere you can always come back to. A particular restaurant i hold fond memories of was Swensen. Founded in 1948, the San Francisco brand rapidly expanded across the world, including 25 in the tiny red dot that is Singapore.

They serve typical American food from pizza, baked rice and tons of deserts. As a picky eater, whenever I used to go there, I would order the chicken baked rice...which was literally baked chicken rice with some cheese on top of it. And if dessert was ever allowed, it would be the sticky chewy chocolate ice cream with hot fudge,chocolate chips, whipped cream, chocolate-dipped cherry and wafer.

Unfortunately, such luxurious food was simply a childhood treat which I eventually grew out of. It would be a rare occurrence to go back the place even once a year. I wouldn't say that I missed the place, but simply more practical solutions like fast food took over my appetite.

Fast forward to 2020, and I receive an award for being the top geography student in my secondary school. What was the award? A 20 dollar swensen voucher. My parents were of course delighted and we eventually went back to Swensen during the December holidays. Once again, it was just the usual dinner, this time with spaghetti meatballs(which is now my fav) along with an entire gula melaka ice cream dessert all to myself.

But then came the 25th of December 2022, my 18th Christmas celebration. I was hoping for some festive dinner but was instead aw

oken to the news that there was no place scheduled to eat. Wanting to make an occasion out of it, I was pondering where to go, and you guessed it, I suggested Swensen. Reflecting about life as an 18 year old, as well as my incumbent military conscription in 10 days, made feel a sense of nostalgia for everything that has happened before, and I wanted to recapture some of the moments. And no other eatery better presented itself than Swensen.

I stepped into the restaurant and was immediately met with screaming children. I treated myself once again to meatball spaghetti, as well as this incredible smore ice cream with biscoff crumbs, digestive biscuit and marshmallows.[photo below]

But what is the key takeaway, is that over the years I continued to grow, on my own journey exploring different things and different people. Yet some places continue to remain the same. Oversimplified logos and fancy new dishes aside, the essence of the restaurant remains the same. Just as I used to make fuss around the restaurant(probably, parents continue to bring young screaming children here, unaware of their surroundings. The same food is served nonetheless, and the experience still remains the same. I don't know when i will come back here, if I even bother, but it was a memorable way to celebrate christmas. Merry christmas to you guys, and a happy new year