It was a rainy Thursday night when I adjourned to a gorgeous enclave in Ara Damansara, aptly called Oasis. The occasion was… Secret Recipe’s Sweet 16th X WeChat party!

Ready for some delectable treats?

Like my new moustache? 😀

The party was an excellent kick-start for its latest promotion!

See the glorious cakes beckoning you? You know you want them.

Now, you can get two for the price of one! 😀

The view from Secret Recipe, Oasis’s top floor balcony.

How gorgeous is the vicinity?! I could get used to this. 

Another scene of the water feature and surroundings.

A very pretty place for a date with your perfect one, overlooking an even more perfect view.

My seat on the upper deck throughout the night.

I didn’t want to budge from as I was enjoying the breeze and the buzzing outdoors from way up here!

Okay, enough gushing over the view at Oasis’ Secret Recipe. So let’s begin the night, yes? 

Arriving punctually at 8PM – the traffic was surprisingly smooth!

In fact, I arrived at 7.45PM. Woots!

Walked up the staircase of the pretty garden-themed restaurant

Upstairs!

It took a while for the rest of the guests to come, but I was well entertaining myself with the galore of WeChat plushes strewn everywhere around Secret Recipe, snapping selfies with my bloggerbuddies and catching up.

So, it’s all good! I didn’t mind waiting. Traffic jams from different parts of the city can be tiresome. Tell me about it! 

Mini WeChat plushies! I even brought them home for myself.

But what really caught my eye were these enormous WeChat plushies.

I already have the medium sized one in my car; can’t possibly bring this home too!

Selfietime with buddy Yeeing.

Group photo with fellow blogger girlfriends.

Selfietime (and a photobomb by Ryan) with buddyAshley

There was so much merriment and mingling in the building!

Before we knew it, it was time to be treated with Secret Recipe’s mouthwatering delicacies. Brownies for me, please?

I think they heard me – Chocolate Brownies with Cheese!

Time to dig in. This is my favorite out of the rest of the cakes! Muahaha.

Always loved Secret Recipe cakes; I even grew up with one directly opposite my house!

I remember whenever it was mom or dad’s birthday, I’d sneak to Secret Recipe and buy them their favorite slice when I was in high school. I do have a few personal favorites, being the White Dark Chocolate Cheesecake (I can’t repeat this enough!)

Bought an entire whole cake of that for my previous birthday celebrations. 

Another one I absolutely cannot resist is their Espresso Cheesecake.

So you can probably imagine what music this brought to my ears upon hearing that all

WeChat users get a second slice for free upon buying the first slice of cake.

Which one would you pick? Too spoiled for choice, eh? 

With the bosses of WeChat and Secret Recipe – flanked by models of the day!

So what’s the fine print, you ask?

Just be a WeChat user (duh!) and follow Secret Recipe at – SecretRecipeMY – on WeChat to receive your ‘BUY 1 GET 1 FREE’ coupon.

Promo ends this 30th November. Final chance to go get your cakes before the end of this week!

Feel free to check out my review of a cafe called Nooks that serves delicious cakes and meals, right here.

**EDIT : 24th AUGUST 2012 **

I must commend Concorde Hotel KL for their excellent public relations regarding this incident.

After getting news about this blogpost, they have done the necessary (like forwarding the news to the respective departments and people in charge for investiagion) and responded to me via Facebook and a personal email.

Thank you, Concorde, for your beautifully crafted email response and professionalism.

Here is just a tiny excerpt (important bits) from the email received:

Please allow me to apologize for all the inconveniences you have gone through. We sincerely thank you and value your patience.

We know that good arrangement of services when guest in need is the utmost importance to our valuable guest but we at this instance have failed to provide the utmost to you. We must say that this should not be our normal standard of operations.

We are also pleased to know that Johannes has met or exceeded your expectation during the dining experiences. I will forward your favorable comments on to him as I am sure he will appreciate knowing that his service and professionalism were appreciated by you. Thank you. It’s our priority to put our clients before us and you have been a valued customer of ours and we appreciate your affording us the opportunity to serve you. 

We do hope that we are able to have another chance to serve you better in near future.

…and a short excerpt (important bits) from my reply :

Firstly I would like to thank you for your acknowledgement towards my written experience.

We are both very glad that you will forward our compliments to Johannes for exceeding our expectations, because he truly was patient and wonderful to us while we were angry/upset about the matter! We do look forward to seeing him again 🙂

Also, not to worry, I will not judge Concorde Hotel KL harshly based on what has happened… that is why I decided to end the blogpost on a positive note instead. As I do understand that ONE bad experience with ONE person does not represent the entire restaurant, let alone the entire hotel!

Thank you – and your team! – for handling the matter objectively and professionally

**EDIT : 24th AUGUST 2012 **

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Original post :

Here's something worthy of note that occurred a couple of days ago.

It gave me lots of insight after what happened so I decided to share some thoughts with the rest you.

Also, for the first time, this blogpost is written by the both of us.

During the weekend, theboyf and I decided to go for some late night bites.

We dressed up and headed down town to the city at midnight for a little Friday date 

Steamboat supper!

After much driving around, we decided to dine at the Concorde Hotel KL for their supper buffet.

We walked in and was ushered to a table. Picked our choice of food from the buffet spread and had a steamboat stove-pot sent to our table.

Enjoying our steamboat of TomYam soup x Plain soup

Apart from the steamboat supper, there were Nasi Lemak and desserts aplenty

Everything was fine and dandy until I found a fly/insect/6-legged creature which conveniently made its way into my soup for a casual swim. Uh-huh.

I was a little irked but shrugged it off as I thought it was *fairly* normal and understandable to have a bug land in your meal sometimes.

You know those little creatures. They wouldn't know any better.. right?

I then removed that darned insect and continued with my meal.

Minutes later, I found another one.

….and another one.

………AND ANOTHER ONE.

Just happened to take a photo of my bowl way before I discovered any bugs

The final straw was when I found the last one wedged amongst my noodles; on the block of my tofu.

I picked up the entire tofu, and asked theboyf to have a look.

He spent a solid minute staring at it.

It had creepy legs, wings, a thorax and a head (albeit 4 times smaller)

I wish I had taken a photo of it, but I was too disgusted to even think of photos at that point of time.

We didn't know what to do! I completely lost my appetite after discovering my bug-infested dinner.

Some could even be in my stomach already.

Who knows?

We decided to signal for someone in charge; one who we trust is able to rectify the situation.

Called upon a restaurant supervisor whom we saw, was wearing a suit.

His name was Maurice

I showed the tofu in question (with the bug sitting right on top) to him & told him it was the 5th bug I found.

He analyzed it, nodded in agreement & grimly said "Yea looks like a bug" and walked away with my tofu

We were a little perplexed but theboyf and I naturally assumed he went into the kitchen or to report the incident to someone of higher authority.

So we waited for him to get back to us – with either an apology, a courteous feedback or an explanation of some sort.

NOTHING. He didn't come back to us!

We waited.

And waited.

AND WAITED…………….

Eventually, we saw him walking past us/our table. And again, and again. He ignored us! 

Walked past us without uttering a word and didn't give us a second look at all

My face.

We still waited… for a response, at the very least?

We were not even expecting any compensation like a discount on our meal, a meal voucher for our next visit or even for him to replace our entire meal.

All we wanted was either an acknowledgement, an explanation, an apology or just getting back to us with some positive response.

For example, ANYTHING along the lines of  –

"We are really sorry about that. Thank you for informing us. I have already reported it to the kitchen.

We will see that it does not happen again. We apologize for the incident"

would have been sufficient.

But nope, nothing. Not even a word. Not even a look. No acknowledgement whatsoever.

Are you really going to just walk away like that knowing that there are bugs in the food of your guests, not do anything about it but instead leave them hanging waiting for you to get back to them?

We were visibly dissatisfied with the service and theboyf suggested we approach another supervisor.

His name was Johannes.

We explained the situation to him, how we'd found bugs in the steamboat, and how Maurice had failed to even apologise to us, let alone do anything to rectify the situation.

Johannes then asked Maurice to clarify. To which he said –

Maurice : Yeah, there were bugs.

Johannes : Then what happened after that? What did you do about it?

Maurice : I took it to the kitchen to tell the people there already.

Johannes : Then after that?

Maurice : …..

When he came to the point about apologizing to us, Maurice drew a blank.

All of a sudden (I assume, due to embarrassment/awkwardness) he had the nerve to interject and ask us –

"So do you want the bill for this now?"

He had the goddamn audacity to ask if we wanted the bill, which indirectly felt like he was shooing us away to leave the restaurant.

Johannes quickly stopped him, humbly apologized to us and that they will get back to us.

I immediately told theboyf that I am thoroughly disappointed

and will never come back here again!

Not just due to the fact that there were bugs inside their food (hygiene!), it was also due to how we were spoken to/treated nonchalantly by the earlier restaurant supervisor. 

I would also not hesitate to blog about my unpleasant experience when I got home!

It's image/impression to me, collapsed just like that.

I felt indignant, offended and dissatisfied.

A while later, Johannes came back to apologize again for the error on his restaurants behalf and for Maurice's response (or lack thereof).

He went along the lines of –

"We are very sorry that this has happened.

I have already told him that he cannot take the bug away and not

come back to you both with a response or an update.

Sometimes, bugs fly in without us knowing.

But I understand it is not a small thing – a big matter in fact..

And for that we apologize. We hope you come back to dine again.

As this is our mistake, I shall waive today's bill off for you – FOC.

Really hope to see you both in our restaurant again okay? "

His very words (and expression) rendered me speechless.

Not only that, he added that we were welcome to some dessert if we had any appetite left. 

Unlike the first supervisor, Johannes was obliging, understood the situation very well & handled it so professionally!

His pleasant, polite and friendly demeanour also upturned our frowns.

Like I mentioned above, we did not expect any form of compensation but he put our bill on the house.

Just for us. Because he genuinely felt bad about the incident and wanted to make it up to us

Johannes. is. a. champ. We also small talked thereafter.

Theboyf and I both agreed that he single-handedly saved his restaurant.

His damage control was superbly done and his professionalism? Two thumbs up 

I had so much respect for him regarding how he handled the matter.

I was initially flabbergasted and fuming but he managed to change my mind about the experience with the very essence and sincerity in his apology.

Two very touched and cheered up customers 

Before we left, we shook his hand and commended him on his impeccable service

How he managed to change this blogpost from a negative review of Melting Pot @ Concorde Hotel KL into an eternal shrine honoring his professionalism and name is beyond me. 

This dude is amazingly deft at his job. He should be promoted, take our word!

This whole experience made me realize some things.

Here's a good pointer to anyone in the service industry! 

Shit happens… even if it is beyond your control. Thus, upset customers MAY be hard on you, but it doesn't mean you're doomed or to blame. 

No matter who's mess it is or how bad the shitstorm has brewed, it's never too late.

YOU can fix the problem with the best you can to ensure they walk out your door and leave with a favourable impression & image of your premise/outlet/restaurant/company, as word of mouth (especially social media) spreads like wildfire!

Thank you Concorde Hotel KL (and Johannes!)

for making our night a wonderful one

Okay so last night at Phuture @ Zouk was another night of mayhem!

My best friend and her other circle of friends were in the city yesterday, and we definitely hit Zouk again for some all-out partying 

(photos up tomorrow!)

Calvin and I was supposed to drive back after partying but obviously we were too intoxicated to drive all the way back, and even IF we did make it safely back, we would fail the breathalizer test again 🙁
 

So all of us bunked over at Doubletree Hotel by Hilton nearby. Beautiful rooms and king sized beds too! But that's besides the point.
 

The POINT that I'm trying to make is this – what would you do for the sake of friendship? Till what extent?
 

So the very next morning, I woke up with severe gastric while everyone was hungry too. But unfortunately, we were only provided TWO complimentary buffet breakfast for two from the hotel.
 

Obviously, my gastric rendered me eligible… and the rest (although hungry), weren't as hungry as Calvin.
 

So off Calvin and I went down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast.
 

But we felt bad because we got the chance to go for a sumptuous buffet breakfast while the rest of our buddies didn't 🙁
 

So they asked if we could help sneak back a wee bit of food for them, just so they don't die of morning starvation and hangovers.
 

We agreed. Just for them!!! 😀
 

Here comes my PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT. Figured it was so funny after it all, I just HAD to share!
 

So I took lots of food back to our table on the pretext of having to eat it all, but instead, I dropped them stealthily into the Zara shopping bag. So Rambo style zomg!!
 

Puff pastries, croissants, muffins, pancakes went into the bag one by one – when no one was watching of course.
 

But that was what I thought 🙁

While I was taking the food to-go in a clandestine manner, I was vary of my surroundings.  My eyes darted from side to side ala criminal in the making to be sure I wasn't caught red handed by the waitresses.
 

Look, I had to! My friends have to eat too, right?
 

Besides, the hotel had prolly too much food to worry about a silly girl taking back a tiny bits and pieces for her friends. Well, as a matter of fact, I *could* and *might* have that big an appetite of 4 people too, right right? 😀
 

Anyway, in the midst of doing that, I failed to realize that a Japanese lady was watching me in confusion the entire time!!!!!!
 

HOLYYYY SWEEET MOTHER OF GOD.

My face turned red of sheer abasement and I sunk into my chair with a deflated ego.
 

I guess I portrayed an image of "a greedy Malaysian who steals back food to her room for herself to eat even after a heavy buffet" Oh goodness gracious no!! 🙁 Either that, or I might've been mistaken as a "typical Asian with a kiasu attitude in having everything all to herself"
 

So I couldn't take it anymore and made Calvin finish up the embarrassing task 😛 😛 😛 YOUR TURN!!!!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIPnaEJA1aE

Well at LEAST he had some credit in assisting me!
 

For the love of God and my own reputation I swear I'll never return to that hotel again.
 

Not forgetting the fact that I was clad in nothing but smeared mascara and a hotel bathrobe! I couldn't possibly wear last night's tight fitting cocktail dress to a MORNING BREAKFAST. It would be highly inappropriate.
 

BUT THAT WAS NOT ALL

(Sorry honey, just figured this photo of you with my hairbow befits the caption) 😛
 

Shrouded in embarrassment, it didn't help that Calvin and I spotted a CCTV strategically pointed directly at us FML caught on camera in a 5 star hotel doing very comical things ohnoes hahahaha
 

LOOK GIRLFRIENDS, YALL BETTER APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR YOU OKAY!!!!

JOYCE, CHIAU YIN, RHENHUEY AND CHANSEY!

This is my first and LAST time doing this ridiculous thing! Ugh! hahahahahahaahah
 

And on another note, NORWAY IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AIN'T IT