Thursday, July 29, 2010

Birthday dinner @ Biba's Cafe, Mandarin Oriental

For my birthday dinner, hubby has decided to bring me to Mandarin Oriental Hotel for their buffet. It's not like we have heard or was informed that the buffet there is fabulous... He picked the place because it is some place new and we wouldn't have to travel far on a Friday evening.

Biba's Cafe @ Mandarin Oriental Hotel

I called in a favor to Amanda and asked her to help book us a place. They only start at 6.30pm, and when we arrived at 6.35pm, we were not their first customer! Yup, there was another table occupied already.

Deco @ Biba's Cafe

We settled down and got our sofa seat. Hubby ordered a bottle of red wine for us to celebrate the occasion. A Merlot Chile red wine - Just perfect!

Merlot red wine

Whenever we go for buffet, the waiters will just bring us to our seats and just leave us to it. But in MO, the waiters actually served us with bread as appetizers. Yes, there is a counter at the buffet table for us to grab ourselves, but they served it to us anyhow. Great service! And their bread is very fresh!

Bread

To start, we have the Lamb Soup. We only took a bit cos we have to save the space in our stomach for the rest of the food.

Lamb Soup

This section offers raw marinated food that the cook will grill for you. They have fishes, lamb, beef, prawn, vege etc. I like the Lamb Satay!

Grill food section

This is one of my favourites - Steamed Giant Pomfret. I love steamed fish, and this is absolutely yummy! Fish is fresh, and the chili dip is the perfect thing to go with.

Steamed Giant Pomfret

Some of their food from the Chinese food section:

Lamb, Fish & Dim Sum

The mini Red Bean Pau - delicious!

Red Bean Pau

Then, it's the Japanese food section. Check out their offerings of seafood. I didn't try this cos I don't think I can anymore.

Seafood

L-R: Katsu Chicken, Tempura

Very fresh raw food!

L-R: Sashimi, Fresh Oyster

They also have an Indian food section, which I didn't touch at all. Kinda regretted not trying this out though.

Indian food - Naan Bread

My first time seeing this in buffet - Middle Eastern. I tried their Kebab, which is just tasty!

L-R: Kebab, Middle Eastern Bread

Then, it's my favourite part - the DESSERTS! Yummy!

MO definitely has a huge selection of desserts! I don't normally pay any attention to desserts offered in buffets, but MO has proved that I should never neglect desserts!

These are only some of the desserts that I've taken picture of. I don't remember what they are are call, but do check these out. Their desserts are totally recommended! All of them that I've tasted are just delectable!


Hubby got this when we came back from his round at the desserts section - Marshmallow dipped in Chocolate. Very sinful! I tried it and it tasted utterly savory! The chocolate didn't taste like those cheap melted chocolate. I couldn't help myself and went over to the chocolate fountain to take some pictures, and also some more marshmallow LOL!


As we enjoyed our food, I felt a lil cold and was yearning for something warm. Hubby said he saw a coffee machine somewhere near the dessert section and when there to get me a latte. He returned in just a short while. Apparently, the waiter will serve the coffee to our table. Fancy!

Cup of latte

Just as we were chilling and relaxing, we saw the hotel's saxophonist walked passed our table and into the kitchen. We were quite puzzled but none of take too much attention to it.

Then suddenly, IT came! The sounds of a saxophone at a birthday song's melody. At first, I was wondering who else is celebrating birthday, and then it hit me! The song is for ME! The waiters were all with the saxophonist and they were singing birthday song to me! What a surprise! First time I have a saxophonist for my birthday!

MO's saxophonist and waiters

I got a cake on the house! Wee~~ It's not like I can eat it anymore, but hey! I'm very touched with the gesture! I looked at hubby and hubby said it's not him... He didn't arrange this. He is as shocked as I am. Then I know who arranged this. It must be AMANDA! I called her immediately and she said she did arranged for the staff to bring the cake for me, but she didn't know anything about any saxophonist! LOL Anyhow, I thank her very much! Such a sweet gesture!

Me and my birthday cake

This is the birthday cake courtesy of MO. It is a rather huge slice. Obviously, none of us can take it anymore. I can't even take a small piece. We could only stare at the cake LOL!

My birthday cake courtesy of MO

I guess the waiter must have noticed that we were really stuffed, so he offered to keep the cake in the fridge and have it packed so that we can take it home with us. What a professional person! My, MO's staff's professionalism is without a doubt, the bestest best so far!

Packed birthday cake

So happy with all my birthday celebrations this year! Really really good surprises that I really treasure and am so touched with!

Us @ Biba's Cafe, MO

As we were leaving the cafe, the waiter gave us a piece of chocolate each. Although I really can't fit it anything else in my stomach, I really can't resist this beautiful chocolate. Took it and it was just sinfully delicious! Yummy! Hmm if only I can have more LOL!

Chocolate

Luv the surprise, and the service level by MO staff is more than satisfactory! I really don't mind coming back here. One thing they could improve on is their variety and amount of their food. Then, it will be the best buffet place!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Birthday gift from colleagues

Thanks so much to my bunch of colleagues!! They got me my birthday gift! So shhwwweeeeettt!

Rock Chic passed it to me at 5pm sharp and left immediately. LOL her face was damn pai seh and dodgy! She "threw" a paper bag to me and said "Nah! Happee Birthday!" and left.

So I took a look inside the bag and saw this:

White digital watch

LOL! Yes I need a watch cos both my watches were battery-dead for more than 6 months... And I was basically watch-less for 6 months. Apparently, hubby helped Rock Chic out and let her know that I need a watch.

But take a look at the watch they gave me!! Hahaha the thoughts that ran in my head at that moment was "When am I gonna wear this? Fridays?" and also "What clothes should I match this with?"... I was really thinking hard.

Then I looked in the bag and saw this card:

Birthday card

It was definitely a cute and very meaningful card! I love it so much! So much words and wishes in the card. Am so touched!

I was supposed to meet hubby in KLCC to go for birthday dinner. As I was walking to KLCC, I saw this other envelope in the bag:

The REAL gift

Yes, check out the message: "Ini barulah hadiah betul!! TIU!"

Hahaha I was tricked! I thought the white digital watch was the pressie but then again, it was just sneaky gimmick they played on me.

Now what is in the envelope?

Isetan vouchers

The real pressie is Isetan gift vouchers!! Why?! Because they gave me this so that I can purchase the watch that I like and want from Isetan myself. The thing about vouchers is that it gives you the freedom to buy anything you fancy. Instead of spending money on buying something that the birthday person might not like, vouchers actually eliminate this from happening.

Since I was in KLCC, I went to Isetan straight to check out the watch section. Truth be told, I've already kinda know which one I want because I really needed a watch. So I went to Isetan and they were having sale. Why wait?! I bought it straight!

Esprit watch casing

Ta-da! My new Esprit watch! I got a strap-watch and it's brown in color. I didn't want something fancy or anything bling-bling. Just need it to be big and simple... And I found it! I can now tell the time without referring to my phone or asking anyone.

My new Esprit watch

Of course, I still keep my white digital watch! It's very useful to be worn to clubs because it will light up when you press a button! Fancy!

Thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks heaps to my charming colleagues and ex-colleagues! I really treasure the effort and all the wishes! Me luv you all! *sob sob*

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Trésor in Love

This is a pressie for myself for my birthday this year - Lancôme latest perfume, Trésor In Love


Adapted from the official Lancôme website:

Twenty years ago, Lancôme created a unique perfume which became a Legend of Haute Parfumerie: Trésor. Today, Lancôme reveals Trésor In Love and writes a new story;the treasured moment when everything starts, a liberated spirit of romance conveyed with floral notes... Both luminous and vibrant, sensual and radiant, Trésor in Love is a soaring hymn to love. The heroine of Trésor in Love lives her love story with a desarming spontaneity. Just like the mixed feelings of a young woman in love, when the infinite sweetness of the meeting becomes confused with the intensity of the feelings, the juice of Trésor in Love was made with many constrasts: a new irresistible floral, composed of a touch of nectarine and wood of cedar, a characteristic rose and a bright jasmine. Object of desire with slender lines, the bottle of Trésor in Love delivers a resolutely modern energy, like an essence of today. A black satin rose adorns the bottle like a lucky charm around the neck.


I LUV LUV this perfume! This Trésor In Love perfume is a touch of nectarine, and wood of cedar. A characteristic rose and a bright jasmine compose this irresistible floral fragrance.


Hubby got his aunt's help to obtain the staff price for this perfume. This 30ml bottle is a limited edition and I got 30% discount. From RM165, I got this baby at RM115! LOL!

The word Trésor means "Treasure" in French. Now, this little precious is my treasure. I'm so in love with my Trésor!

Monday, July 26, 2010

July babies birthday celebration

Last Friday, my colleagues arranged a birthday lunch for me at Madam Kwan's, Pavilion. Kudos go to Rock Chic as she's the host (lap you!). Since we have very strict lunch hour to abide to, not much pictures taken. These are just some of the food pictures taken.

Lunch @ Madam Kwan's, Pavilion

At about 4.45pm, we have the July babies birthday celebration. We have this custom every month whereby we celebrate the birthdays for that particular month on one of the Fridays in the month.

I found out that my colleague, Pi Yen's birthday is exactly the same as me! She is the first person that I've met who's birthday is the same as mine! And to top it off, we are in the same team. Woo-hoo! What a coincident!

L-R: Joanne, Pi Yen, Za, Michelle

3 candles for 3 July babies. Myself making my wish for all my loved ones.

~ Make a wish, make a wish ~

The cake that was brought. The bill goes to boss, obviously LOL!

July birthday cake - Blackforest

Group picture time. Only the researchers were available to have picture taken. Fun fun fun!

The researchers gang

Thanks for the birthday lunch and cake peeps! Me luv you all! Muaks!