Monday's lunch!
Monday phase-2 lunch — home plate of rice, eggs, vegetables. Weekday lockdown routine continuing into the reopening phase.
Monday lunch at home — phase 2 reopening was rolling and the dine-in option was technically back, but BB and I still defaulted to home weekday lunches because the rhythm had become too comfortable to break.
Today’s plate:
- Hot rice base
- Fried egg
- Stir-fried vegetables
- Protein side
- Chilli sauce
The Monday lockdown lunch template was the most predictable meal of the week. Rice cooker timer pre-set, vegetables from the fridge, eggs in the pan, protein in the small skillet. 15 minutes from start to plate.
Hot rice base was the standard jasmine. Fluffy, properly steamed, the dependable starting point.
Fried egg was the M-style sunny-side. Crispy white edges, runny golden yolk centred on the plate. The yolk-break-over-rice move is the small ritual that turns plain rice into something interesting.
Stir-fried vegetables today were cabbage and carrot with garlic and a splash of soy. Crunchy stems, lightly seasoned. The colour contrast against the beige rice and egg.
Protein side was a small portion of pan-seared chicken thigh, salt-and-pepper seasoned. Skin crispy from the high-heat skillet, juicy inside.
Chilli sauce on the side as always.
The Monday lunch is the small ritual that anchors the start of the work week. Pre-pandemic this would have been a sad office canteen affair; during lockdown and phase 2 it became a proper sit-down kitchen meal.
Lockdown habits worth keeping after restrictions ease. Weekday home brunches and lunches were near the top of the list — the time, money and energy saved against the pre-pandemic restaurant-default rhythm was meaningful.
Overall: 4.2 / 5. 😋👍🏼 Reliable Monday home lunch — keeping the routine.
