Cynthia's Personal Blog

It was a great success on Valentine's day! Big thanks to all my staff and my friends, who came in and help out that day! Our gross was 3 times of our maybe busiest Friday. And I think people had fun, "the place's very festive and warm", said one of our customers!

It was a hard day for my staff, running a new demanding menu, 5-course classic and exotic chef menu with wine and sake matching. This is very new for them and with this demanding boss requesting them to provide a at least 3 stars restaurant service... They deserved a big round of applause!

Then here came my friends who all helped out again! Elizabeth started two days ago, testing and starting to make the chocolate ganache mini cakes. Tony started the night before and made the pasta, then came in again around 6pm on the day and became my assistant cook! At first he didn't quite know how to move around in the kitchen and was pretty much in everybody's way, but very soon he was on the stove already and was a fast learner, making pasta, quail, flank steak, soft shell crab, eggroll, and placing salad and ceviche! Wow! Did he do that much!?

As usual, there's Lourdes and all the beautiful flower arrangements. I'm sure everyone loves it. And when it got really busy, she was in charged behind the counter to play host and calculating all my tickets! She did such a great job and was able not to turn a single table away even some people has to wait for close to 45 mins! I had no idea this would get so hectic, therefore I had told Vivian to dress up and enjoy herself in the front and maybe help out in the dining room. What was I thinking? Our chef tables were splited into two since 5:30 and were filled at no time. I had to call her in to help me in the kitchen afterall. She and Josephine then in charged of the bar and made all the sake and soju cocktails and coffee.

During all these crazy actions, and at the peak of 8:00PM, a photographer from San Francisco Chronicle came in to do a photo shoot for our review! We were all so excited and couldn't wait until Friday to come when it would be published!

Nobody was able to leave before 12:30AM and for myself it was close to 1:30AM when I could finally locked the door while Tony was snoring on the bench.

I owe you all for this! Truly appreciated all of your friendships and all efforts from my staff! This was our first year, though it was not as organized and well planned as I wish, it came together at last, and it's all because of everybody had put their hearts into the restaurant!

Deep from my heart... THANK YOU! And love you!