I WAS somewhat taken aback when I read that Zhang Ziyi had been turned away by a boutique at the Hilton Shopping Gallery, with the excuse that it was closed.

I have passed by some of these boutiques and wondered how they could make money as their goods are costly and most of the time there are few customers.

To think that a customer like Ziyi could be turned away.

Incredible.

I remember whenI was running a restaurant at the Amara Shopping Centre, a regular customer came looking for food just as I was pulling down the shutters.
"Please, please cook something for us," the customer,an Indian, pleaded.

"We have just come from the airport."

I looked at him, his wife and two children.They looked famished,and compassion filled my heart.

I wanted to ask them to come to my home so that I could cook some food for them, but they wanted to eat at the restaurant.

My chef and cook had left for the day. So I told them: "If you do not mind my cooking, I can prepare your favourite bruschetta, salad and pasta vegetarian."

I took out all the ingredients and prepared the food, and they also ordered a tiramisu and a panna cotta.

My chef had never taught me to cook, but I had been observing him and had learnt the technique without even realising it.

"We can't tell the difference...The food is as good as the chef's," said the customers.

Though I was tired, I went home with a spring in my step and a song in my heart.
I guess this is what service is all about.

Kam Choo Choo

This article was first published in The New Paper.