Nahji Chu, owner of the Vietnamese restaurant Lady Chu in Potts Point, Sydney, has been instructed to modify her gag fortune cookies following a factory mix-up. Originally ordering personalised cookies for Valentine’s Day that contained humorous, profanity-laden messages, Chu was surprised to learn from her manufacturer that such language would no longer be accepted due to other customers’ complaints about the mixed messages in their orders.
In a spirited response, Chu contended that her messages were tailored for her clients and insisted that the errors were the factory’s responsibility. While her initial order was denied, she was offered the option to buy empty cookies and insert her jokes herself. This has resulted in a labor-intensive task as she prepares for February 14.
Despite the challenges, Chu is committed to preserving her signature cheeky tone, stating she would focus on creating funny yet non-offensive phrases. She remains loyal to her current supplier for pricing reasons, having spent close to $10,000 with them last year, and views the situation with a sense of humour, likening it to a scene from Curb Your Enthusiasm. Chu aims to continue delighting her customers with her unique brand of wit, albeit with a more censored approach.