Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Lunch at Antoinette (Mandarin Gallery)

There's just something enticing about seeing rows and rows of beautiful cakes and pastries, isn't it? Such mouth-watering temptations.. And Antoinette, beyond any doubt, has got one of the most attractive cake displays in town!

Evonne and I decided to drop by Antoinette for lunch on a weekday, and thankfully, the crowd was quite manageable, thus we did not have to wait long to be seated in a cozy corner of Antoinette at Mandarin Gallery. I've heard that the queues are insane on weekends, so I'm glad we didn't have to fight those weekend queues!

When Antoinette comes to mind, I think of all the above: rich decadent cakes, delightful macarons, and everything sinful ever created. As I mentioned previously, I'm still on my "healthy diet" thing... so when Evonne first suggested Antoinette, I was like HELLO, DIET??? Hahahaha. And then Evonne went like, "You can eat salad there, lah!"

Right. Since I've always wanted to try the food at Antoinette, I acquiesced to her suggestion.. so say hello to my cute lunch partner with kitty ears haha! Act 一个可爱 but okay, pass.

Her stunning purple blue ombre hair has just been touched up by Stephanie at Salon Vim, and it is really incredibly gorgeous!! So jelly, but I know I can't maintain hair like that, because it's really too much of a chore!

We ordered quite a few dishes to share.. Ended up not being able to finish what we ordered because the portions are considerably large!

Country Style Mushroom Soup

We started off the meal with this hearty mushroom soup that was flavorful and chunky, just the way I like it! Really tasty, and isn't so creamy that you get sick of it after a couple spoonfuls.

Good Morning (Breakfast Tea)

My favourite tea is English Breakfast Tea, so I ordered this and had the entire pot to myself! Evonne isn't a tea drinker, haha. It has quite a mild flavour to it so I didn't have any trouble finishing the entire pot! You can ask for a refill of hot water, but only once.

Salade Antoinette

I really did order salad! And we were both surprised at how yummy the salad was! The Salade Antoinette contains a generous portion of crab meat, tossed together with fresh greens, boiled egg, tomatoes, pine nuts, giant pieces of toasted brioche and yuzu dressing. I loved the yuzu dressing because it was so light and fruity! Very refreshing on the palate, definitely recommended for salad lovers.

French Toast with Caramelized Banana

What Evonne was dying to try at Antoinette, the French Toast! This dish did not disappoint either, Every piece of toast was lightly caramelized and crispy at the edges, but had a soft fluffy centre. It was deeeeelicious!! Especially when eaten with the accompanying whipped cream and caramel sauce. Extra decadent and melt-in-your-mouth!

However, as the French Toast is pretty much soaked in oil, all three pieces might be a little too much to be stomached by one person alone. We gave up at two pieces and ended up doing a take-away for the last piece haha :X Didn't want to waste such delicious food!

Seafood Aglio Olio

I ordered this upon Evonne's recommendation! It's also one of the healthier pasta dishes around as it doesn't contain any creamy sauces which are calorie-laden, so it's a reasonable choice!

Fresh mussels, prawns. squid and scallop accompany the al dente spaghetti in a savoury white wine and olive oil sauce and I thought it was delectable! I used to dislike Aglio Olio becaue my impression of the dish is that it is bland and tasteless, but after trying some really good ones, such as the one at Antoinette, I have really started to enjoy Aglio Olio! Portion was huge as well and we couldn't finish it.

We certainly had an extremely satisfying meal, even without succumbing to the desserts! Although I was sorely tempted by the beautiful cakes and macarons, I managed to resist them this time. HAHAHA. Would really love to come back for more food, desserts included, the next time round!

The bill comes in a ornate silver box. Plus points for the lavish finish! Our meal for two came up to a rather pricey $80 odd, which I feel is fine for an occasional dining treat, the high quality of food considered.

On the whole, I thought the service was reasonable, but I don't really like the branch at Mandarin Gallery because it's rather cramped and tiny, although the furnishings are lush and luxurious. We had to share two ends of a sofa with another two ladies seated at the next table, which I thought was kind of strange! The lighting was very dim as well, which made me feel a little too sleepy. Haha.

Perhaps next time I'll visit the outlet at Palais Renaissance or Penhas Road!

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Antoinette (Mandarin Gallery)

333A Orchard Road #02-33/34 Mandarin Gallery

Singapore 238897 Tel: +65 6836-9527

Open daily 9am to 10pm (last order 9.30pm)

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Outfit:
Pretty in Crochet Sundress in Jade (Size M) from TheVelvetDolls
Rainbow Weaved Bag from Bimba and Lola
Nude Pink Jelly Wedges (one of my favourite pairs that's super comfortable and versatile!)

My girly and dainty get-up which I deem suitable for a nice lunch. Hahaha. It's been so long since I did an outfit picture like this, I feel like I travelled back in time two years ago to when I was noob modelling for TVD. Eeks.

Last thing: I am so super super super uber excited because I AM GETTING MY BRACES OFF THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!

*jumps about in glee* I hope my teeth won't look weird!!! So so so so looking forward to getting them off, after twelve months! (Yes, my amazing orthodontist managed to get all my teeth straight in just twelve months!) EGGCITES very much. Slightly apprehensive to see what the final result will look like too! Let's pray that all turns out great!

Keep y'all updated soon! :D :D

xoxo

Review/Giveaway: Ettusais Peeling Milk!

Many of us face the same issues when it comes to complexion woes, it's hardly anything new!

Blackheads, clogged pores, dull complexion, rough and bumpy skin.. I have them all! I conceal them well with makeup and with my best friend Photoshop, but there's no denying what stares back at me every night when I go through the ritual of getting my face clean of makeup. It's damn depressing!

As some of you know, I previously purchased the Clarisonic Mia, which is an electronic brush used to cleanse the face, and I think I got over-enthusiastic while using it, because I realised that I was getting bad breakouts on my cheeks and face frequently! Ughhh.

Google-ed and did some reading on forums, and it seems that the Clarisonic Mia causes initial purging for some, but in my case, it seemed that the purging never stopped but new outbreaks were constantly happening. Although my face felt so squeaky clean and soft after every use, I was getting large, angry pimples, especially on the sides of my face and my cheeks! As I did not implement any major change in my skincare routine at that point of time, other than the Clarisonic Mia, I believe that it was the Clarisonic Mia causing all these breakouts.

It was also then that my skin started to turn very sensitive, I'd get rashes on my face for no reason, and I attributed it to food allergies and dust allergies.

In retrospect, I believe that I was over-cleansing my face with the Clarisonic (which you're supposed to glide over your face gently, but I happily exerted quite abit of pressure because I loved how shiok and clean it felt after use!) thus stripping my skin of its protective layer, and causing it to become prone to sensitivity and breakouts. The first facialist that I went to during this period of time told me that I had over-exfoliated my skin, causing it to become "raw" and sensitive.

How terrible! :( I have since stopped using the Clarisonic for a few months, and I think my skin is gradually getting better, even though my cheeks are still very prone to outbreaks of acne.

My entire point of recounting the above episode is to emphasize on how over-exfoliation can be extremely harmful for your skin! Now, I steer clear from any exfoliating products that are too abrasive or could be potentially harsh on my sensitive skin. When using any exfoliating products that has micro beads in them, I use it very very gently and with care, for fear of triggering off more breakouts. It's really a tough lesson to learn, with the most horrible skin I've had in a long time, as well as the money spent on the Clarisonic Mia.

I might still give the Clarisonic Mia a second shot in the future, perhaps with the Sensitive brush head that could be more suited to my sensitive skin.

In the meantime, only gentle exfoliating products are allowed near my skin, and the Ettusais Peeling Milk is certainly top on my list when it comes to gentle and effective exfoliating!

The cute girls over at Ettusais invited Evonne, Juli and myself for a casual session, and this is where I was introduced to the Ettusais Peeling Milk: an exfoliating milk that's so gentle on the skin that you won't believe it!

I tried out the Ettusais Peeling Milk on the back of my hand, and I was really really pleasantly impressed.

After gentle massaging using circular movements for about 20 seconds, the milk texture of the Ettusais Peeling Milk changes into little clots (not unlike the kind you get from using Cure Aqua Gel), leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth!

In comparison to Cure Aqua Gel, it is really quite interesting: these "eraser dust" clots from using the Ettusais Peeling Milk are much much softer than the harder ones formed from Cure Aqua Gel, and this is attributed to the skin softening agent (trehalose and peony extract) and moisturizing agent (AC Control Oil) that prevents the skin from becoming dehydrated.

You can find out more about the Ettusais Peeling Milk as well as the ingredients used and how they work to exfoliate so effectively and gently from Ettusais Singapore's website here, it is really comprehensive and fun to navigate too!

In my opinion, this product left my skin feeling baby soft and smooth, and my favorite part is that it is so extremely gentle that my skin isn't complaining at all! Suitable even if you have sensitive skin like me.

Other than the Ettusais Peeling Milk (to be used 2-3 times a week), I have also been using the Ettusais Skin Version Up Extra, before applying my other skincare products. The Ettusais Skin Version Up Extra is a skin softener that helps your skin to better absorb the goodness from your moisturizers, serums and masks!

Both the Ettusais Peeling Milk and Ettusais Skin Version Up Extra are now available in mini versions, which are super travel handy and affordable, too!

Check out these adorable Ettusais 2013 planners! (From one person...)

Just camwhoring with the product standees, haha. (To two persons...)

So many Ettusais goodies, all in our hands muahahahaha!!! (And finally all three of us!)

Thank you to the lovely Ettusais girls for being so thoughtful as to provide little snacks for us, especially gluttony me. Can never turn down such cute mini pastries :X

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Say NO! to dullness, and YES! to dewy bouncy skin!

Ettusais Peeling Milk Mini is available at SGD10.

Ettusais Skin Version Up Extra Mini is available at SGD16.

I'm giving away a set of the Ettusais Peeling Milk Mini, Ettusais Skin Version Up Extra Mini and 2013 diary, courtesy of Ettusais Singapore!! :)

1) Simply "Like" Ettusais Singapore's Facebook Page here
2) Leave a comment on this blogpost with your Facebook name and tell me what you love about Ettusais! ❤

For instance, my comment would be, "I love Ettusais because the BB Mineral White is my favouritest BB cream of all time and I wanna try more products from Ettusais! :D"

The give-away ends November 23rd, and the winner will need to collect the set from Ettusais' office which is situated at Somerset! :) Good luck, everyone! :)

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And a quick update of the past few days, instagrammed! It's my favourite way of sharing on-the-go. Love instagram!

Evonne and I at Estee Lauder's flagship boutique opening at Tangs Plaza last Thursday!

They specially prepared a blue carpet with a line up of paparazzi just for the event, and boy it was really stressful to walk through a series of exploding light bulbs in your face! Captured this shot from the big screen where they were playing a slideshow of pictures during the event, and I thought that it was a surprisingly nice shot :X

My makeup for the day, and my hair was blow-dried to perfection by Stephanie because I visited Salon Vim for a hair wash just before the event! Centre parting, yay or nay?

Plus lots and lots of food porn.. According to my last body composition analysis at Amore Fitness, I've put on fat mass and dropped muscle mass ;__; Super sad!!!

Thus I'm keeping a closer watch on my diet now, and only eating food that's good for me!! This grilled salmon fillet from iSteaks Grillhouse was so tasty, and it's fairly healthy too!

My dinner on the same day (Saturday) Mixed Green Salad with Beef Patty, in Soya Ginger Vinaigrette! Low in carbs and high in protein and fibre! ^.^

Even went for a jog on Saturday night, though it was a slow one, but it's doing it that counts!

Sunday morning's healthy breakfast: Fat-free yogurt with berries, nuts and cereal, accompanied with a favourite read :) So enjoyable!

Whilst everyone was out at brunch and having Eggs Ben.. I enjoyed my eggs too, in traditional soft-boiled egg style! Shioks. And only for $1! Gimme this over Eggs Ben any day!

Today's run at Amore Fitness!! :D Managed to complete a 6km.. YAY! Proud of myself! :D Have learnt a new trick, (from Evonne muahaha) downloaded anime to watch and distract myself from running wheeeee!

Right after the run, I indulged in TCC's delicious Shroom Bites.. :X A little sinful but it was heavenly!!!

Yup, life has been quite simple lately. Hahaha. Been busy working most of the time, other than attending events and the likes! I'm sorry if I don't have anything "personal" to blog about :( Please forgive me!!! I am still a hardworking blogger! ;__;

Thank you so much for reading, and check back again soon! MUAHS.

xoxo

The Tiramisu Hero goes to Grammah!

Sir Antonio has certainly been busy of late!

I've been a fan of The Tiramisu Hero ever since I got the good fortune to try their tiramisu, and I was really delighted when Peggy told me that The Tiramisu Hero had gotten its very own little corner, in a shop at Haji Lane, at Grammah!

Peggy invited a few friends including myself, Jayne and Evonne down for their opening a couple of weekends ago, which was also the official opening of the shop Grammah. The two girls Peggy and Aileen have been working overtime to prepare for this new opening, and I have got to say that everything looks absolutely amazing!

Just look at the lovely set-up, complete with painstakingly hand drawn wall doodles! Aww! I really love it!

Incredible, ain't it? All the hard work and love for The Tiramisu Hero is so apparent in every little detail. I'm so glad for them because all the late nights and effort have really paid off! The Tiramisu Hero has come such a long way in a short time!

Specially customised MiniHero cupcakes! ^.^ It was supposed to be Grammah X The Tiramisu Hero but someone ate from the other box already so I didn't grab a photo of it :X

Grammah is a really interesting and quirky shop, selling vintage clothes, accessories, old-school snacks and other interesting knick-knacks!

Look at the hopscotch that's drawn on the floor, certainly brings back childhood memories for me, when my sisters and I used to draw the very same on void decks in colored chalk and be entertained for hours! I don't suppose kids nowadays play such games anymore ;(

There's also customization services available at Grammah, which I thought was really interesting!

Find all your old-school childhood snacks here.. Reminds me of the mama shop I used to frequent as a kid! Back when things were so simple, haha. Nag my parents for two dollars so that I could buy my favourite tidbits from the mama shop.

Upstairs.. There are more clothes on sale, as well as a customization room selling stuff like studs, buttons, iron-ons etc to DIY customize your clothes with!

Found out from the owner that a lot of the vintage stuff put on display are actually from her own grandmother and mother! Geez, my mother is anything but vintage, haha. How lucky to inherit such a rich collection of items with so much heritage and history!

Jayne's sister, Jasmine, with superrrr adorable little Jun!!! Hahaha he most definitely is gonna clinch most popular kid award, all the girls were cooing non-stop at Jun and trying to play with him! I don't have any particular fondness for kids and even I found Jun so so so cute! He's gonna grow up to be a heartbreaker!!

I told Jayne that next time when I give birth to a daughter, to please matchmake her with Jun. HAHAHA. And then Evonne went like, SORRY, I chope already! -_-

A shot with Pegs and Evonne, against the loveliest backdrop!

And one last one, with Jayne, Jasmine and Jun!! This Jun, really steal the show. Y SO CUTE ONE?

Congratulations again, to Peggy and Aileen!

Peggy was really sweet as to prepare some tiramisu for us to take home! And here's my Momma Hero extra creamy :P I like it creamy! Scraped up every last bit of it. Thank you Peggy!

And I did a little fan art of Sir Antonio too, haha. May The Tiramisu Hero huat big big!

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Grammah is located at 66 Haji Lane, 189259.

Tutti, Momma & NonnaHero will be made available at the store! (Only in standard recipe!) Customers can also now choose to pick up their orders at Grammah on only Mondays and Thursdays. Home delivery is still only available for direct orders through our website.

Stocks are limited at the store so do call them up at 6299 0384 before you head down!

http://www.thetiramisuhero.com

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Outfit:
Cut-out Shoulders Top in Black, and Tribal Knit Denim Shorts in Light Wash. Both are upcoming on TheVelvetDolls soon, and I kept both items in multiple colors! So so so easy to throw on for lazy lazy days!

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Just wore out the pink one recently too, for an event with Evonne and Jayne! The Skinperfect Primer SPF30 by Dermalogica has just been launched in Singapore, and I can't wait to try it :) Thank you Dermalogica!

For this outfit, the dream catcher necklace is from Diva, the leather shorts are from F21, and the shoes from Sœurs, Jayne's shoe boutique at Cineleisure #02-12!