Food: El Gusto De Espana @ The BAR°N Pavilion

For those who haven't heard of The BAR°N before, they are famous for their wines, small plates, mains and perfect ambience to relax or unwind. Recently, they introduced some new porky creations, none other than the The Finest Ibérico from Spain. 

This premium pork comes in different and distinct variants, namely the Carpaccio, Magro, Presa, Costilla and Jamon. The Iberico pork has its own story to tell. They come from the black Iberian pigs, bred in the Iberian Belt of Spain. In order to be classified as Iberico Pork, they have to be fed acorns to achieve 40% of their weight according to Spanish Law.

Ibérico Magro (RM38)

This exceptional boneless rib cut which emphasises on the rich flavour of Iberico. 

With its smooth texture and juiciness, you can really enjoy the goodness of Iberico premium pork with the Magro.

Ibérico Solomillo (Tenderloin) Carpaccio (RM48)

The Carpaccio is appreciated for its absolutely fine marbling and texture. It was made medium rare for our enjoyment. Funny how pork can be done this way as well, but because its Iberico pork, this method of cooking is possible.

For those who are a little bit skeptical, fret not, it doesn't even have a strong porky smell to it at all. Absolutely delightful!

Ibérico Costilla (RM68)

These ribs are heavenly. They are juicy, nutty and has that melt in your mouth goodness!

There are three methods to enjoy this:

- Served pure, the way Spaniards enjoy it

- Served with secret homemade sauce

- Served with secret spicy homemade sauce

For me, I prefer to have my ribs served pure, just because I don't like it when there are sauces to cover the original taste of the pork ribs. 

The Costilla in sauce

Ibérico Presa (RM58)

The Presa is similar to the wagyu of the porky world. 

It is a shoulder cut and the immense flavour of the Presa will tantalize your tastebuds. Finished with Spanish sea salt, to bring out the best of the Presa.

Ibérico Jamon (RM35)

This one is a special variant of the Iberico. 

It has been cured for a total of 36 months, this is the finest ham out there!

They have three outlets; 1 Mont Kiara, Pavilion KL and Gurney Plaza as well.

El Gusto de Espana – Porky Creations Featuring The Finest Ibérico from Spain

El Gusto de Espana is a Limited-Time Offer promotion at The BAR°N @1Mont Kiara, @Pavilion KL and @Gurney Plaza from 8 May till 15 July 2017. The promotion will feature five unique cuisine created with Ibérico de Belotta pork imported from Spain.

The BAR°N El Gusto de Espana EAT-ALL-YOU-CAN

Date : 7 May 2017, Sunday

Venue : The BAR°N @1 Mont Kiara

Time : 5pm – 9pm

Price : RM188+ with 3 glasses of beer or wine

To purchase entrance passes, call The BAR°N @1 Mont Kiara or The BAR°N @Pavilion KL.

The BAR°N @1 Mont Kiara – Ground Floor, 1 Mont Kiara.   Tel 03-6211 5620

The BAR°N @Pavilion KL – Level 4 Connection, Pavilion KL.   Tel. 03-2110 3223

The BAR°N @Gurney Plaza – Ground Floor, Al Fresco, Gurney Plaza.   Tel. 04-229 0763

Food: The Journey of Flavours @ Marco Creative Cuisine, 1 Utama

I enjoy fine dining meals but they have always been so expensive and it was always a form of luxury to me. Now, Marco Creative Cuisine @ I Utama offers this experience, only at RM 78. All the items on the menu are carefully planned and crafted specifically for an unforgettable dining experience.

The menu itself is rather extensive and there are many choices available for each of the categories such as entree, soup, mains and so forth. I will be showcasing some of the items I've chosen from the menu.

PALATE CLEANSER

Velvety Matcha-Lime Shooter

This was something unique which I've never tried before, it consists of a layer of matcha-lime foam at the top with chilled Lime snow inside. 

It was a very refreshing start to the dining experience.

APPETISER

Savoury Eclair

Gruyere Flavoured Pate a Choux decorated with Aubergine Caviar, Green Chile Pesto and Tomato Confit

A very unique appetiser with a soft texture on the top and a crunchy bite at the bottom. 

SOUP

Strawberry Gazpacho

Something sourish and sweet! This was  chilled cold soup of strawberries, garnished with dehydrated strawberries and microgreens. 

Being a huge fan of strawberries, I decided to order this as I have never tried cold soup before. It was definitely an acquired taste and I think I still prefer my hot soup. Fret not, there are other choices of soups on the menu if you are not a fan of cold soup.

ENTREE

Savoury Ice Cream Salad

Assorted Baby leaves, heirloom tomato, seasonal microgreens and violet flowers served with savoury ice cream

Very interesting flavours for this ice cream salad I had. In fact, the real truth is that, it isn't vanilla ice cream but rather just milk and salt!

I never could have imagined salad to be served this way, this one was something really out of the ordinary worth trying.

MAIN

Duck Breast with Orange Puree and Roasted Beetroot

Sous vide pan seared Peking duck breast served with Orange Puree, roasted beetroot and Varlhona Dark Chocolate. 

This was absolutely heavenly, it was juicy and had just the right texture, not too chewy and not too soft either. The serving was a generous portion as well.

DESSERTS

Creme Brulee with White Chocolate Sherbet

Lush egg custard accompanied by White Chocolate Sherbet and Meringue Kisses. 

I think honestly, this is one of the best creme brulee I've ever had, soft and eggy plus the caramel on the top isn't too sweet either.

DRINKS

Sparkling Iced Berry

MARCO Creative Cuisine

LotG146, Ground Floor (Old Wing)

1Utama Shopping Centre, 

1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, 

Petaling Jaya, 47800 Selangor. 

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday (12pm-10pm)

Food: Caffe Bene Mango Nutella Series

Caffe Bene Malaysia is back with our latest seasonal menu now made available nationwide!

Bringing both Mango lovers and Nutella lovers together, the Mangotella series is sure to capture dessert lovers heart. With 4 NEW seasonal items plus introducing 2 NEW Gelato flavors, Caffe Bene fans have much to rejoice.

The combination of Mango and Nutella is definitely something unique, and out of the ordinary. I love mangoes and the idea of some chocolate-y goodness with my favourite fruit is really interesting.

Mango Yogurt Bingsu (RM 29.90)

Mango lovers will be delighted to dig into sweet icy Mango Bingsu topped with juicy mango cubes and our Yogurt Gelato. This sweet dessert is perfect for the Mango Lover on a hot sunny day.

This was my favourite bingsu!

Mangotella Bingsu (RM 29.90)

Bringing the dream combination for both Mango and Nutella lovers with Mangotella Bingsu. Icy cold Bingsu with Nutella, Mixed Nuts and Cookies Crumble base before finishing it with sweet mango cubes and topped with our seasonal Nutella gelato.

Mangotella Waffle (RM 17.90)

Warm Belgium waffle topped with sweet mango chunks, almond slices and Yogurt gelato. This sweet treat made better when drizzled with decadent Nutella sauce.

Mangotella Smoothie (RM 11.90)

A smooth creamy drink with the unique combination of sweet Mango and indulgent Nutella.

Here's a great tip on how to enjoy your bingsu the right way. You will need to press the topping at the top and start mixing well from the center. Enjoy!

This menu will only be available up till June, so hurry up and try it!

Credits to Carmen Hong for the amazing shots :)

Beauty: Peripera Airy Ink Velvet Lip Tint (Latest Korean Rave Product)

I just recently return from my trip to Korea, the land of beauty, makeup and skincare! There were so many products in the beauty stores of different brands there and I was so tempted to buy all of them. Before heading to Korea, I had a shopping list of makeup items to purchase and lip tints are one of them. I am a big fan of lip tints, because of their long staying power and beautiful shades. Plus, lip tints are usually not sticky like lip sticks after applying.

While in Korea, I noticed that there is a new lip tint in the market from famous brand, Peripera. I have heard of the brand numerous times and have seen it in the shelves here in Malaysia as well. I heard that this is one of the best lip tints, but they are so pricey.

Anyway, there was a promotion for their latest and newly launched product, Peripera Airy Ink Velvet which haven't even landed in Malaysian shores yet. Since it was only 7,200 won (about RM 28), I was really excited to get one of it and try it out.

I chose the #3 Sold Out Red because I find that reddish tones look great with my skin colour. Light pinks never work on me somehow haha.

I liked the small and cute bottle it comes in. 

Packaging wise was great and you can just pop it into your makeup bag for touch up anywhere.

The brush applicator was soft and gentle on the lips. It's angled in a way for easier application.

As you can see, this is the box it came in and the shade I chose was #3 Sold Out Red.

Pros

- Easy application

- Lasts long, from morning till evening (even after food, as long as you don't purposely use tissue to wipe it away)

- Subtle fragrance

Cons

- A little thick on the first few application

This was how it looked like on my lips. I applied it on my inner bottom lips and just smacked it on to the top. 

Ta-da! I really like the end results, it was a very sweet red that helped brighten up my complexion greatly ;)

Beauty: Tried & Tested! Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil To Foam Makeup Remover

The latest Beauty Box from Neutrogena is finally here! So excited that I've got to try out all three products. 

Out of all three items, the one which I find most relevant to me, is the Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil to Foam makeup remover. Well, it's pretty simple, because I love testing out various beauty products and makeup! I can be your average girl next door for one day who loves her eyeliner and lip tint, or the adventurous one who tries out different styles of makeup the next day. But, as girls, we all need one thing in common. Well, that is none other than a good and reliable makeup remover. I have previously seen the Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil to Foam range, but frankly speaking, I have not tried, tested or reviewed it before. 

I have had many experiences with different makeup remover brands, but I have not had any which I am completely satisfied with. Well, for a start, I liked the idea that the Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil to Foam makeup remover has the dual cleansing function with just one wash. This is a very convenient feature for us girls who are always lazy to remove makeup after a long day. I know that I have to double cleanse all the time to ensure all traces of long wearing makeup is gone from my face, but sometimes, I find that it is very tedious and just skip double cleansing my skin. I've also heard that those who don't double cleanse after wearing makeup will have lots of clogged pores and pimples eventually.

So, being the paranoid person I am, I now make sure I cleanse my face properly after putting on makeup. With this makeup remover, you can just remove makeup and cleanse your skin at one go! 

Packaging 

The bottle came with the pump which I find was convenient and hygienic. It even comes with a cover, so don't worry of any spillage. I brought this to Korea during my recent trip as I didn't want the hassle of bringing a makeup remover and a face wash. Well, this was my Holy Grail for that whole week!

How do I use it?

All you need to do is dispense about 2 to 3 pumps on your fingers and massage it lightly all over your face to remove the make-up. Then, wet your hands a little bit and continue massaging your face and it will turn into foam. Finally, rinse off the layer of foam and your skin will be clean and fresh!

Here I did a video to show you how effective this product is at removing makeup. 

From left: my favourite lipstick, my favourite shimmery pigmented eyeshadow and my 24-h Stay Eyeliner.

As you can see, it is so spreadable and within a few circular motions, the make-up on my hand has been completely removed :)

How did I feel after trying it out?

Since the product is gel based and has a watery like texture, I find that it is easy to glide and massage it all over my face, even with heavy makeup on. I was amazed as it removes my eyeliner tattoo easily and also my mascara without much difficulty. 

I have always refrain myself from wearing mascara because my experience with previous makeup removers is that, I will have to apply the remover about three to four times before all my mascara is completely removed from my lashes.

Well, having clean and flawless skin requires hard work and effort, especially with the tonnes of beauty products we girls put on our face daily. Neutrogena has made our lives a bit easier by creating this miracle lifesaver, in the form of a makeup remover. Now, you don't have a reason to sleep with your makeup because you're tired and lazy to remove it :)

Food: Thai Galore @ DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur

From March 1 to April 30 2017, you can enjoy authentic Thai cuisine brought to you by renowned famous chefs from Conrad Bangkok and Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok. The Head Thai Chef, Chef Jib hails from a strong Thai heritage and has been serving up Thai dishes for the longest time now. These dishes are now available at the Absolute Thai Buffet Dinner@DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur.

Beautiful arrangement by Chef Jib

Splendid carvings for the Thai flavours

The whole set up for the night 

Som Tam

A papaya salad, loaded with dried shrimps, roasted peanuts and chilli lime dressing. 

This dish was a great appetizer with the crunchy cabbage and unripe papaya served together with long beans as well as cherry tomatoes.

Gung Che Num Pa

This was a dish with raw tiger prawn and premium Thai dip. I was rather skeptical about having raw prawns initially, but this one was great as it tantalizes your taste bud on the first bite. 

The spicy dipping sauce definitely brought out the sweetness of the prawns.

River Prawn Tom Yum Goong

I am a fan of tomyam and this definitely satisfied my cravings. Perfectly sour and spicy, it awakens your taste buds on the first sip. This soup was infused with galangal, lemongrass and kaffir lime.

Pla Neung Manao

One of my favourites of Thai cuisine is the steamed seabass with lime broth. This dish will whet your appetite as it is best eaten when served with white rice.

Nam Tok

Grilled Angus Beef Salad

Gang Kiew Wan Gai

Thai Green curry chicken dish and I find it amazing that they have this cherry sized Thai green eggplants which adds a different colour to this dish.

I find that the gravy for this curry dish goes well with hot white steamed rice.

Rau Muong Xao Mam Tom

Stir Fried Morning Glory with Chilli and Shrimp Paste

Khao Niew Mamuang 

Mango Sticky Rice

Tub Tim Krob

Red Ruby & Jackfruit in coconut milk

Sangkaya Fukthong

Pumpkin Custard

This Absolute Thai Buffet Dinner is priced at RM 135 nett per person from now till 30 April 2017 at Makan Kitchen, DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur. 

It is available from Monday to Sunday (6.30-10.30 pm).