The lettuce looks like it’s trying to upstage the chicken.

The evening found me seated at a terrazzo counter under the warm glow of flickering candles. The air smelled faintly of spices and freshly steamed buns as the plate before me came alive with color and texture. Crispy chicken dusted with crushed peanuts sat beside a pile of greens so vibrant they seemed to hum under the dim light. A small dish of creamy sauce beckoned like an invitation to indulge. Around me, quiet conversations blended into the soft clinking of glasses and cutlery—a symphony of human connection in a corner of the world that already felt timeless. Each bite was deliberate, a reminder that even meals could be moments worth savoring.