Shrimp-licious

"Life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you're gonna get."

The ever famous quote from Forrest Gump. Ever since its film adaptation from the 1986 novel, I've been hearing that quote over and over. And the thing is, I never really understood it. I mean, sure, maybe zillions of years ago, a box of chocolate is full of surprises, but nowadays the cover of the box always has pictures of each chocolate with a description of what filling it has; almond, cream, caramel, etc. Buuuuuut I'm running away from my point.

If you didn't notice, there's a new eatery at the Curve called Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. And yes, your assumption is correct, it does have a connection with Forrest Gump.

Bubba Gump is named after Forrest Gump and his army friend, Benjamin Bufford "Bubba" Blue. In the film, their plan was to open a shrimping business after the war but unfortunately, Bubba died during the war. Inspired by the 1994 film, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. came to life two years later in 1996, opening its first branch in Monterey, CA.

Now, finally, finally, FINALLY, after all these years, Bubba Gump has finally reached Malaysia. And I had the chance to taste its food about 10 days after it opened.

Their menu is unbelievable, in taste, size and..... pricing. They have an entire section dedicated to shrimp with delicious titles like Shrimpin' Dippin' Broth (shrimp in spicy broth with rice and bread), Chipotle Shrimp (shrimp in creamy Parmesan sauce) and "I'm Stuffed!" Shrimp (crab-stuffed shrimp baked in garlic butter). I had Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp, a supposed favourite dish of Bubba, served with Cajun Marmalade sauce and fries, which is quite delicious if you don't mind the taste of coconut flakes.

If you're allergic to seafood or simply don't like shrimp, don't fret, Bubba Gump's menu has other choices for meat-eaters. There's the typical Captain's Fish & Chips (this one is beer-battered in the US, not sure how it's cooked in Malaysia), burgers and sandwiches such as Texas Cajun Chicken Sandwich, and salads for the dieters. I had Mama's Southern Fried Chicken which had the best mashed potatoes with gravy, yum!!!!

Although their menu is halal, they do serve alcohol so drinkers won't be disappointed and the non-alcoholic drinks are quite a tasty selection. I tried a Peanut Butter Alabama Sweet Smoothie (if you like peanut butter, this drink is for you). Some drinks even allow you to keep the glasses they come in, but you have to collect it from the gift shop. Yes, people, Bubba Gump has a gift shop, right beside the restaurant. Choked full of t-shirts, key-chains, mugs and glasses, everyone can take home a souvenir.

Oh, yeah, I mentioned pricing, didn't I? Well, considering how pack the place is, you would think the pricing would be affordable, yes? It is, but I wouldn't exactly recommend it for those with a tight budget. Try it at least once, but the next time you go there, make sure it's for a special occasion. And make sure that there are at least 2 of you because, trust me, the servings are huge!!

Oh, oh, oh, one thing you must know before you go to Bubba Gump is the signboard. Signboard? Yes, signboard, or, ok, fine, we can call it plates. On each table, you will find two car license plates; one red with Stop, Forrest, Stop and one blue (or was it green?) with Run, Forrest, Run.

What's their purpose? Well, instead of waving your hand hysterically to get the waiter's attention, you use the plates. The blue one says "Everything's fine at my table" while the red one is used to motion a waiter to come over and help you. We didn't really know what it was for so we kinda tested it out and lo behold, it actually works. In fact, it works even better than holding up your hand. The customer at the table next to me was trying so hard to get about 5 waiters' attention (all of whom just passed him by) while all I did was flip the plate and zoom, the waiter appeared. It seems that they're trained to spot the redness that they seem to be blind to other gestures.

Oh, and why the phrase 'Run, Forrest, Run'? Well, for those who don't know, in the novel and the film, Forrest Gump ran across the country and became famous for it because he ran it several times, in over three and a half years.

There are many other things I haven't even touched on about Bubba Gump but I'll let you find out about it on your own. What's the point of having an adventure if you already know what you're expecting, right? :) Enjoy the food!!!