Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle


Back when we were editors at this luxury publication, ShoeGeek and I would have the biggest dilemma come every social season. We would have to attend balls that revolved mostly around the same social set and while these ladies of luxury can afford to own many ball gowns, ShoeGeek and I alas were poor writers with a small budget. It would have been helpful to have discovered Designer Gowns HK during that time. Designer Gowns HK is a website based in Hong Kong that specialises in connecting buyers and sellers of brand new and used wedding gowns, evening dresses and other accessories. Think of it as the eBay of formal wear. If the item sells, you will be charged a transaction fee of 7% of your final sale price and the maximum transaction fee charged is capped at HK $500. Launched earlier this year, the stock is still slowly building up but there’s definitely a nice selection there so if you’re looking to get rid of some clothes or purchase something for a good price, head on over. The site is also hosting a special offer where if you sign up to become a member, you will receive a free travel size Mineral Care product. Until July 13.

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Numero Uno


Last week the lovely Jeff took me to Nanhai No. 1 at the top of Tsimshatsui's i-Square mall. Normally our "press lunches" devolve into a session of gossip and girl talk, sometimes at the expense of the food enjoyment, but luckily for this Chinese seafood restaurant, its excellent nosh made enough noise that it couldn't be ignored.

Nanhai No. 1 is undoubtedly going to explode as a tourist destination thanks to its fantastic views through ceiling-to-floor windows, and it's literally down the street from Aqua so shares almost the same stunning perspective, except that it also looks directly into The Peninsula's Felix. And, because the restaurant takes on a nautical theme, there are token-operated binoculars that may or may not allow you to look into Felix's legendary men's bathroom...




Gimmicks aside, Nanhai does really good Chinese food with a focus on animals of a marine persuasion, many of which are displayed through a glass window where the chefs work. Standout dishes include the crispy shredded yam (HK$38), a started that combines a crunchy texture with a lingering sweet tanginess that's quite unique; and the crispy and steamed rice served in lobster consomme ($128, serves four), a must-try. They fry crispy rice and pour it into the heated soup-rice mixture table-side, so you get to watch the sizzle, crackle and pop before you taste the pretty divine combination of rice textures drenched in that heavy, sexy consomme.

In the same venue but to the side, there's Eye Bar, the restaurant's cocktail area, which also encompasses a balcony that would have the potential to become the Sevva of TST, if only it were a bit bigger.


There are also a handful of private booths for small parties, which is nice, as well as round booths a la Wasabisabi.



And upstairs, for the really fancy, is the sister restaurant Guo Fu Lou, which is operated by a restaurant manager and chef who both worked at Fook Lam Moon for over a quarter of a century, each. It's much deeper and more muted and serious than its lower-level compatriot, with only a handful of tables but a dedicated wine cellar and nine private rooms with minimum charges of I think $8,000 (which really, is nothing for the typical Fook Lam Moon crowd). Guo Fu Luo is so cocky, they're not allowing press in to do shootings or tastings, which is really the way to go to establish a name -- good or bad. But my curiosity is certainly piqued. I'd go try it on my own dime, if I weren't still dreaming about that crispy rice soup...

Check out the rest of the food shots below.




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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Polly Wanna Cracker?


Last night, after pigging out on Hot Pockets and microwave deep-dish pizza (from city'super -- try it, it's good and only $40 for two personal pizzas if I am correct) I thought I was really full, and then I got bored and changed my phone wallpaper to an archive shot of cupcakes in different colours and flavours. Lo and behold, after looking at it for too long we crawled out of bed to make a snack of apple jacks and cornflakes in a generous bath of skim milk.

The reason I'm recounting this tale is because this necklace from Garnett Jewellery, as much as I like it, will undoubtedly only succeed in making me fatter. It's already making me hungry.

On a slightly non-sequitur note, Ritz crackers always remind me of Harrison Ford in Regarding Henry, painting boxes of Ritz crackers after he loses his memory, while he struggles to recount stolen encounters with his mistress in the Ritz Carlton. Oh you old dog.

EDIT: Did I just post a Ritz cracker necklace without realizing that FashionGeek just posted a potato chip necklace? How cosmically apt!

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Curiouser and Curiouser



The internet is a beautiful place. It’s one giant mall where I keep discovering new shops to venture into. I just stumbled onto The Curiosity Shoppe and am falling in love with the random items they have in stock. From the crayon rings that we profiled in the past to ceramic flashlight lamps, USB reading glasses, potato chip pendants, this shop is like falling into the wacky world of Alice. Some items that caught my eye after the cut.




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Monday, June 28, 2010

The Missing Links


It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a good pair of cufflinks. That's my belief at least, no offense to Jane Austen. So it's been the practice in my household to always keep a few pairs of cute but classy cufflinks lying around the house (new, of course) in case any gentleman's birthday catches me by surprise. I used to stock ties, but it's hard to find ties that really have great personality (I think the unworn Winnie the Pooh tie I bought my brother one year taught me a lesson about tie-buying). Cufflinks are a small enough detail that you can get really funky without deterring professionals from incorporating them into the work wardrobe. The styles in Hong Kong tend to be pretty vanilla, though... I usually gift Shanghai Tang ones; they're kitschy and colourful and reasonably priced, but Etsy is a great place to look as well, especially for something cool and vintage-y... where else will you find cufflinks emblazoned with drawings of an anatomically correct heart?

After the cut, we'll introduce you to 10 more options for every guy in your life.

For the karaoke nut, these microphones will act as power-ups, pumping him up and getting him into the groove before the next big "K" session.


For the lit nerd, these whale tails conjure up visions of Moby Dick defying Captain Ahab. Oh, snap, look who took Great American Literature? (And audited Literature by Women -- see first sentence.)


Alternatively, these dictionary-definition cufflinks will please the wordsmiths who subscribe to a more pacifist philosophy... Thomas More fans, perhaps? Or perhaps even, to stretch things a bit, Tolstoy diehards (they may not be as ubiquitous as Twihards but I'm sure they're out there somewhere.)


I don't know exactly what a bike ninja is, but I'm sure some comic fanboy would fall for these... Me, I just like the term.


Okay on a more serious note, I'm totally ordering these for my own snuggle-bunny. That's not a term I usually use to describe my better half (usually I use such terms of endearment as "stupid-face" or "drunk ass") but you can't really write on the blog that "I'm totally ordering these for my drunk-ass stupid face". But I do and will love my stupid-face snuggle-bunny forever, so these cufflinks need to be displayed on the sleeve as a warning sign to other girls who might potentially try to muscle in on my property. It's a tactic you should try too -- gift for your man, woman-repellent for you.


GEEK ALERT. For the computer nerd in your life. Not that a computer nerd would WANT a n00b sign, or a n00b would understand the true significance and geeky glory of having the n00b label. Irony, eh?


Say you know a Ross Geller, or someone kind of like the character Raymond Lam plays in TVB's Mysteries of Love, which sadly ended its run last week...


And say you know Andrew Hsu... you could buy these cufflinks (which I initially though would be customizable to your own initials but apparently are only available in A and H...)(Oh I made a pun! And totally unintentionally, for once.) Andrew, I know you're looking at this, I totally get to punch you.



When in doubt, I suppose, a handlebar moustache is the one-size-fits-all gift. Nothing more chic than a handlebar moustache, as I established last year in this post. In fact, these cufflinks and that necklace in tandem would be PERFFF.


Get them all at The Cufflink Maker.

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Bag Lady: Pauric Sweeney Metallic Python Shoulder Bag


When I saw this Pauric Sweeney Metallic Python Shoulder Bag, I immediately thought of ShoeGeek. I'm not sure if it's the python, or the fact that it reminds me of her bag that we affectionately call Le Zag but either way, it managed to capture my attention.

Available for pre-order at Luisa Via Roma

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Friday, June 25, 2010

Short Story


This feels like a "less words, more pictures" kind of Friday... Shorts. Lots of them. Like, a long list of short shorts, all available online. God, it was so easy to find all these shorts, why is it that my own closet seems to be filled with boring classics like denim cut-offs, black and navy specimens and boring J. Crew-type things? Need me those leather shorts, those fringed shorts, those... well just give me all of them. I'm greedy.

Above: Leather shorts and tiered shorts from Shop Cuffs.
Below: Yumi Kim floral skort from Gizzy & Nacho; Pret-a-Surf floral bloomers, Alexander Wang apron shorts, Dallin Chase shorts, Blue Life lace bicycle shorts from Shopbop; fringe shorts, butterfly-print shorts, polka dot shorts from ASOS.










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Mochichi


I don’t know if it’s the Hong Kong love of all things Japanese or if mochi is really that popular but I’ve yet to find someone who doesn’t like mochi, the short grain glutinous white rice treat. Maybe Nobu at the InterContinental Hong Kong feels the same way as they will host a special Nobu dessert cooking class on July 24th for a demonstration on how to make mochi amongst other signature desserts. Open to only eight people, the programme starts at 10:30am where participants will enjoy a light breakfast as they learn about the Nobu concept. Following breakfast, you will learn mochi cooking techniques along some signature dessert creations. Of course, then there will be a hands-on session to try your hand at making these delectable bites. After all that hard work, you’ll be able to enjoy a special four-course omakase lunch served with unlimited Nobu sake.

Inclusive in the class:
• A NOBU kit with the cooking class menu and recipes and a NOBU apron.
• Fresh bakery items with coffee/tea for breakfast.
• Unlimited NOBU Sake, served during the lunch.
• Special NOBU Omakase lunch with showcasing the desserts from the class.

Showcased desserts will include:
• Warabi Mochi - A variation of the traditional Japanese Mochi paste, covered with yellow bean (Kinako) powder
• Mochi with red beans or yellow bean paste - Another variation of Mochi, stuffed with the different bean pastes
• Yuzu jam - A tasty Jam made with the Japanese citrus fruit “yuzu”. The jam can be used to fill Mochi for a contemporary variation.
• ‘Goma E’ - Japanese “petit fours” made with white chocolate, Goma (black sesame) paste & cocoa nibs

Price : HK$788 + 10% service charge per person.
Number of Participants : Maximum 8 persons.

To reserve a place, contact the Restaurant Reservations Hot Line at tel: (852) 2313-2323 or e-mail: nobuhongkong@interconti.com

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Thursday, June 24, 2010

Private Sale: John Hardy


Interested in getting email alerts notifying you of upcoming warehouse sales? Sign up here.

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Whipped


I’ve never been a fan of whipped cream. It probably comes from being slightly lactose-intolerant so the queasy feeling I get after eating whipped cream does not endear it to me. However, back in college, I’d have friends who inhaled the stuff and would spray whipped cream directly into their mouths all the time. I’ve always thought the waffles we made were the side dish to the whipped cream and I can only imagine the delight of those same friends when I tell them about Whipped Lighting, alcohol-infused whipped cream. Taking it up to the next level, these Whipahols are grain-alcohol-infused products with flavours like White Chocolate Raspberry Whipahol, Spiced Vanilla Whipahol, Cinnamon Whipahol and Amaretto Whipahol. Oddly enough, they are labeled as alcoholic beverages and not food products. I guess enough people spray whipped cream directly into their mouths to justify this as being the next it drink? Currently only available in the US but I’m sure if you are desperate, you will find a way. US$10 a can. Check out the different flavours after the cut.




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SHOErotica: Gianvito Rossi Organza Ankle-Strap Sandal



Get them at Browns Fashion.

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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Bigger is Better


I like shopping so much, I'll buy anything -- even hype. So it's no surprise that when I'm with a big group and am craving some deep-fried deliciousness, I head to Butagumi Tonkatsu in Goldmark, Causeway Bay, home of the 16-inch pork chop. It's a den of sin, because the entire menu consists of various meats and seafoods, lathered in breadcrumbs and deep fried to a crispy golden perfection. Admittedly, the pork chop quality isn't the best (I prefer Tonkichi in World Trade), but in the battle between quality and quantity... QUANTITY ALWAYS WINS. At least when it comes to rapid, rampant consumption of high-calorie foods.

The 16-incher pictured here is tailored for two, but we normally order one between five or six of us, then supplement with regular thick cut pork, cheese filled pork chops (like chicken cordon bleu), oysters, prawns, foie gras with pork and fish filets. If you feel like your skin is lacking in pimples or your waistline could use a few extra inches, this is the place to go. Pair with Asahi and make a night of it.


Butagumi Tonkatsu is at 7/F, Goldmark, 502 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay. Tel: 852 3428 2862.

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A House is Not a Home


Remember, while I was ogling looks from the CFDA awards, I mentioned I want to sell my house and spend all my money on buying a giant PS1 to move into? It looks like the boys of Proenza are getting me one step closer to that dream with the mega PS1 from their resort collection.

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Score



This is purely a gratuitous post because a) who says no to eye candy b) Cristiano Ronaldo finally broke his two-year streak of not scoring for his nation in a competitive match since the 2008 European Championship c) I know this post is a day late as the match (7-0!!) was on Monday night but we schedule our posts so therefore you'll just have to deal with it. Oh and these are Armani ads for those who care. Much like these other Ronaldo for Armani ads.

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