It was a long debate before we finally decided to do celebrate my son's birthday (October 6th) in a hotel.I checked out just one hotel and finalized it. It was "The Apartment" at Park Hyatt, Chennai. I liked their concept of having different rooms and an open kitchen. That being said, I initially had problems with the lady (Ms. Jyothi George) with whom I was coordinating the event at Park Hyatt. I'm a person, who likes to complete work well before time, have it all planned, blah blah. So when I had to wait for information, it really irked me. After telling her or rather me screaming at her (Sorry about that :( ), things were absolutely smooth after that
Things I loved about Park Hyatt:
1. Ms. Jyothi George co-operated very well and made sure everything went as per my wish
2. The spread of the buffet was huge and super yummy food.
3. Brilliant Service
4. They were even sweet enough to give me a room from afternoon, so that I could tuck my baby to sleep and get him ready there
Things I dislike: Absolutely nothing. I loved hosting my party there and would recommend it to anyone
The theme of the party was Little Sailor. I got the invitation done privately. When I did enquire at leading card printers, I felt it was quite expensive. So got it printed at a DTP center and was quite happy with it. Also it costed me 1/3rd the price!!!
I was thinking a lot about whom to get the cake done from. I had narrowed it down to The Park, Adoniya, Cupcake Company and Sabeetha's Cakes. I'm actually glad I went ahead with The Park.
My Experience at Adoniya:
Sent her a mail and went and met her. She was to mail me with options but she never got back. I don't like it when people can't remember and I need to go behind them. There are so many other people to do the job.
My Experience at Cupcake Company:
Sent her a mail as well. She responded with options and price points. I was uncomfortable having such conversation over mail and wanted to meet her in person to discuss the detail. When I called her and informed her that this is regarding the Little Sailor party cake mail that I had written, to which she responded saying " You need to wait at least 24 hours before we can mail you back". It really put me off. Here I was trying to tell her that I would like to meet and when she would be comfortable for a meeting. When she responded after "24 hours", I did respond saying that I was not comfortable dealing with someone with whom I can't meet to discuss the detail. Plus she was charging me Rs. 21000 + tax for a 5 kg cake. Really??? Whoa!!! That's the highest I know in the city and is the cake that good??????? I've had the cupcakes at her store and it does taste good but it's not out of the world. I will definitely go to her store and have her cupcakes but I don't think I will ever order cake from her
Sabeetha's Cake:
I had seen her work on FB, but never really tasted her cake. I called and a sweet lady responded. I did mail her the detail but she took sometime to respond. In the meanwhile, I went ahead with The Park
The Park:
I have had "The Park" cake quite a few times and I know the flavour is super yummy. I spoke to Chef Santosh and mailed him the detail. Got the cake made in Chocoalte Hazelnut flavour. The awesome thing about "The Park" is, they don't take advance on orders. It costed me approximately Rs. 10,000 for 5 kg cake.
For the return gift, we ourself did it. We got a towel and made anchor with Swarovski crystals.
Shall write about the event management company in my next post
21 K for a cake !!!!! God !!!! I had a bad experience with Sabeetha though I have heard a lot of positive reviews :p The cake was yummm no doubt.. but didn't you try Nandini?
ReplyDeleteWhat happened with Sabeetha? I did try Nandini but you know she hardly responds. So just tried her number once.
Delete21k for a 5 kg cake seems ridiculous na. I understand its design and what not. I showed the same design to others and they all quoted half!!!
You know I do things well ahead and don't keep anything for the last min. I called Sabeetha for a cake to be delivered on 10th and she said she can make it. After that whenever I called her she was pretending as if it is the first time she is talking to me !! So every time I had to introduce myself !!! She never called up for any updates and I had to call her freq to know it myself. 15 days before the birthday when I called her she said there is an medical emergency in the family and she would be busy for the next 1 week. Though I was not very sure if I have to go ahead with her I waited for 1 week and there were no calls from her !! I didn't want to take risk so I called up someone else and they agreed to do the cake for me. This lady called up me (for the first time in 1 month) which is just 3 days before the birthday and says she is half way through making the cake and she had doubts !!!!!!
Delete1.Would anyone prepare a cake 3 days before the party.
2.All these days she was pretending as if she didn't know me nor did she save my no.. Now how she got my number and how did she call me back?
3.Will anyone wait for her till the last min without any confirmation from her? She calls me just 3 days before the party !!!!
My God!!! I now really have problem with the bakers. They take their own sweet time to respond like we have to wait till the last minute. I finalized his cake only 2 weeks before. Till then I was talking to people.
DeleteIt's ridiculous that people prepare 3 days in advance. 1 day agree.. But 3 days?? Good at least now I know
I guess from now I'll just go off to The Park. The rates are same as all other bakers and these guys are much more accommodating
The other day we wanted to surprise my friend for her birthday. Called up The Park at 5:30 pm and got the cake delivered by 10:00 pm. Since they take up instant orders, it makes sense to go there :)