US Potato Culinary Festival Kuala Lumpur 2015

Don’t just think about french fries and mashed potatoes – it’s time to take the world’s favourite comfort food to all new heights of taste and glamour in the US Potato Culinary Festival Kuala Lumpur 2015!

Held for the second time in Malaysia after a highly successful run two years ago, this bi-annual culinary fest will offer up a month long smorgasbord of dining delights to whet the appetites of both potato aficionados and the spud-curious.

Organized by the US Potato Board, the US Potato Culinary Festival will run from 1 – 30 June 2015 at a total of 13 top dining venues around the Klang Valley, each of which will feature a mouthwatering assortment of unique and fusion dishes that elevate the versatility, nutritional benefits and superior taste of quality US potatoes.

The restaurants participating this year include popular hotels and restaurants such as

1.    Best Western Hotel, Petaling Jaya

2.    Big Hug Burger

3.    Burger Factory

4.    Jibby & Co.

5.    La Bo Ca Latino

6.    La Risata

7.    Maria’s Steakcafe

8.    Naughty Nuri’s

9.    Rendezvous Steak Garden Restaurant

10. Secret Of Lousinana

11. Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

12. The Daily Grind

13. The Roulette Bar

Quintessentially French Perfume - Lancôme La Nuit Trésor

Lancôme Malaysia launched their latest perfume - La Nuit Trésor with gorgeous Neelofa and her fans in a small exclusive meeting not long ago. The lucky fans not only got to meet and great Neelofa but they also stand a chance to win an exclusive Lancôme beauty box which worth a thousands ringgits.

Congratulations to the lucky fan!

Back to Lancôme La Nuit Trésor, It is born out of a fascinating enigma. An infinitely poetic tale of two stars irresistibly attracted towards each other to the point of collision. This rare phenomenon, occurring just once every 100 years, is said to create a shower of particles that regroup on contact with the atmosphere to gradually create a substance known as black diamond. Rare and intense, magnetically coloured, this incomparably beautiful gem of pure mystery is born out of a stellar thunder clap. It’s no wonder it is so deeply desired and intensely inspiring for the world of jewellery. Endowed with a mystic aura, it is even said to contain substances found nowhere else. Admired for millennia, today, this legend inspires the most captivating of fragrances.

The face of Lancôme La Nuit Trésor - Penélope Cruz

A man and a woman. Two stars of perfumery united by Lancôme. Christophe Raynaud, the master perfume-maker who loves to enhance the complexity of floral notes by challenging them with modern elements. And Amandine Marie, a fragrance designer who won her reputation by revisiting the most famed of flowers – the rose – with extraordinary verve and who excels at enhancing the most sublime facets of raw materials in order to reinvent them. Utterly complementary, these two stars’ talents were destined to collide. Together, they are able to transcend the olfactory wealth of each and every noble raw material with unrivalled skill. The duo have transformed the symbol of Lancôme into a mysterious black rose, cut like a raw diamond set in a case of wild vanilla orchid, with all of its mouth-watering and leather-tinged sensuality. “A distinguished black rose swathed in an enigmatic halo, illuminating all the enchantment of night,” explains Amandine Marie. “Dressed in mystery and potency, constructed petal by petal,” reveals Christophe Raynaud. In unison, they have written the most addictive of olfactory love stories.

Review: CRES Wellness Time Release AquaCell Yoga Visage Facial

I visited CRES Wellness Metro Prima for my monthly facial again few weeks ago. I had chosen Time-Release Aquacell Yoga Visage facial this time because my skin was dry and dehydrated after working overtime every day for the past few months.

According to CRES, Time-Release Aquacell Yoga Visage facial is a high-performance treatment that reinforces skin architecture to provide a complete and thorough solution for skin hydration. Skin is highly moisturized and last for days after this facial. It uses Yoga lymphatic drainage that stimulates the effective absorption of the rich moisture infused. The osmotic regulating features and reinforced hydrolipidic layer provide a time-release mechanism for continuous moisturizing that last for days.

The unique method it uses was Yeast ferment mixture containing various metabolic stimulating substances, which are produced by stressing live yeast cells with ultra-violet light during their growing cycles and it will produce a water-soluble cell substance called Biodynes®. Yeast has been used in baking and fermenting alcoholic beverages for thousands of years. It is also extremely important as a model organism in modern cell biology research, and is one of the most thoroughly researched microorganisms.

In recent years through ultra-violet exposure, yeast has now been found to be an excellent source of nutrients such as peptides, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Biodynes, a cosmetic grade of live yeast cell derivatives, provides calming, smoothing, soothing, and moisturizing properties.

It promotes cell renewal and skin radiance through increased metabolic activity in the growing skin layers providing more rapid de-pigmentation to reduce discoloration and brighten skin.

My result after the 2 hours Time-Release Aquacell Yoga Visage facial? Smooth Glowing and lifted skin instantly. My wrinkles are also less obvious with the facial. I especially love the face and shoulder massage as the beautician uses a different pressure massage technique that is really relaxing and soothing. It replenishes essential moisture to my skin and manages skin hydrous balance for a week plus. I would recommend this facial to those who have dry, wrinkles and uneven skin tone concerns.

Coffee Appreciation Night at Caffé Crema

I have been looking forward to visit Café crema at Plaza Mont Kiara since they opened last year. And I finally did my first visit 3 weeks ago on a raining and chilling evening.

We got to know more about coffee and the different types of coffee from the man behind Café Crema that evening. When Elvin first learned to love coffee, he frequented a popular chain. “I have to be thankful for the commercialization of coffee chains in Malaysia,” he says. “That’s where my education began and I eventually went on to explore the entire coffee culture and how subjective this beverage is in the minds of drinkers. It’s very polarising how one can enjoy a certain brew while another individual may hate it.” He has since travelled extensively to discover only that the perfect brew is all in our taste buds and mind.

Years later, the founder of Caffe Crema is still discovering that there’s much more to be absorbed and imbibed. In particular, filter coffee that is fast making a comeback – despite it being viewed with disdain by British drinkers as unsophisticated. “Filter coffee has more caffeine,” he explains.

We have also seen how the coffee beans were grind; how to prepare the water with correct temperature, and how to filter our coffee. We also found out some interesting facts for example that ratios are the fundamentals of making a good cup of coffee, and coffee taste different on how you grind the beans.

Elianto Long Wear Eyeshadow Stick Review & Swatches

My current obsession to eye makeup goes to Elianto long wear eyeshadow sticks. It helps me in creating the key beauty trend this Spring Summer 2015 with sultry eyes and contemporary edge.

On this season’s runways next to classy, timeless smoky eyes in intense shades of brown and black, a few flamboyant fashion designers took the look a step further. On earthy shades, grey and silver metallic accent made for an unconventional, striking take.

Brigh shades, bold strokes and definitive lines. Play with brilliant colours. Smoky eyes traditionally came in shades of charcoal with a slept – in vibe. This season the multiple vibrant hues and forms give the smoldering look a modern touch, either in monochrome or a kaleidoscope of shades.

Elianto long wear eyeshadow sticks offers the simplest Smoky eyes application. Just apply, glide and go.

The German-made, wax-based formula is not only long lasting, its texture allows for effortless super smooth gliding and blending. The waterproof and smudge-proof cream-to-powder compound feather light on lids. What’s even better, it has really excellent colour payoff. Just one stroke will give you the intense colour on your eyes.

Swatches of Elianto Long Wear Eyeshadow Stick

After blending

They are really waterproof

I used Elianto long wear eyeshadow sticks in brown, purple and black in this look.

I used Elianto long wear eyeshadow sticks white and blue in this look. The pigment stays on my eyes for more than 12 hours as you can see on this picture.

10 minutes after application

12 hours after application.

It comes with an in-build sharpener, and it can be used either as a delicate eyeshadow or a determined eye liner. Containing Jojoba Oil, Elianto long wear eyeshadow sticks is both dermatoligically and ophthalmologically approved. It is also Free of Mineral Oil, Paraben and Preservatives.

Available in 6 shades – White, Brown, Blue, Navy, Purple and Black. My personal favourite shades would go to Blue, Purple and Black.