Black Momo

korean BBQ: Westender Korean Cafe vs. Kim Ga Nae

2010-10-08T11:44:00.001-07:00

I find it both humorous and annoying (I'm not sure which is more) when reading some of the comments on DineHere.ca regarding korean bbq dining experience. Particularly these ones;

"Raw meat is served to the table and you are expected to cook it yourself on hot plates. " on Westender Korean Cafe.

"Steak and chicken were not sliced for you (came in a big chunck) and I was told to use the scissors to cut it myself. Wow, I am paying $18 to cut meat?" on Kyung Bok Place.

Of course, I am one who is also quick to flip the switch on poor service, food not arriving, sanitation, etc. Nonetheless, there are several common sense pointers I would like to point out to these critics, whom I can only assumed were misinformed, regarding general norms for dining at korean bbq or any other less than fancy asian food joints.

1. I'm not sure why people are surprised that they have to cook their own meat. Maybe it's best to do some research before trying it for the first time so you have a general idea. When I went to Westender Korean BBQ for the first time, I witnessed the waitress told a caucasian couple at least 4 times that pork belly bbq is all they have, and if they are sure they want to eat it. Initially, I was probably as annoyed and baffled as the couple as to why the waitress had to ask them repeatedly. After reading some of the comments on the website, she probably just wanted to make sure what they are getting into with no surprises. Most bbq meat are served raw so you can cook it yourself at your own convenience at your own table. It is universal. If you can't handle the sight of raw meat being served and cooking it yourself, I would suggest not ordering bbq or hot pot, or even sushi/sashimi.

2. Yes, large pieces of meat are served at your table along side of a pair of scissors and you do cut them up yourself. The reason for this is because the meat will remain juicier if you cut them up after rather than before they are being cooked. It is unreasonable to expect servers to station at each and every single table in the restaurant, waiting to cut up each piece of meat for you. Again, if you find that appalling, I would suggest you dine at the Keg instead of trying to venture any new type of cuisine.

3. A lot of asian food joints reputation are all about quality of food, the price, or the value in general. Yes, there are some old ghetto places which if they are crowded, you can probably expect them to taste really good. Obviously, I never expect customer service from these places as I do at Cactus Club, or anywhere else higher end. I don't expect the servers to come over to chit chat, and constantly following up (those are luxuries). What I do expect are my food being served in a timely manner without mishaps, and nothing foreign is in it. I mean, you are basically there solely for the food, and not the atmosphere. Chances are if the restaurant is busy and under staff, you are going to have to fight for their attention.

Westender Korean Cafe

Barbecue pork belly for 3

For $10.95, the barbecue dinner comes with a spicy soup, 2 kinds of salads (western and korean), side dishes which include bean sprouts, daikon, and kimchi. A bowl of rice is extra $1.25. The place is a strictly pork belly place. There is no menu and they get straight to the point. I was content grilling my own pork belly slices (or having them grilled for me by others) until they are crispy. Then, garnishing the meat with pickles, wrapping it lettuce before dunking it in hot sauce and sesame oil with salt. Enjoy that over a bowl of rice. And as long as we keep getting refills, I couldn't possibly ask for anything more.

Kim Ga Nae

Lunch menu

Dinner menu

The dinner menu has kalbi and several more cooked items than the lunch menu.

Soft tofu soup

I was expecting spicy soon do bu tofu soup and was disappointed that it was a clear broth, quite different than what other people has posted on previous blogs regarding their dining experience at Kim Ga Nae. It was more of a chinese inspired taste. I didn't really touch it much.

Kimchi

I was hoping there would be more than just kimchi as a side. I don't feel the same way about korean barbecue without at least 3 side dishes sitting in front of me. There was pickled radish, but it wasn't spicy either.

Jab Chae

The jab chae was served cold as though it came straight from the fridge. I pretended it was some kind of noodle salad...

Spicy rice cake

The rice cake was chewy and that is all I have to say.

Pumpkin, onions and mushrooms

Barbecue meat

I have to say that they were quite generous with the portions of sliced beef and bulgogi. This picture shows one order of each meat item. The pork belly only comes in 2 pieces per order. The beef bulgogi and the pork ribs were my favourite as they were tender and well marinated.

Gyoza and sweet chicken (2 pieces/order)

Bi Bim Bab

The bi bim bab is standard. We finished it with the barbecue meat. What a filler. By the way, did you see the scissors in the corner? Yes, we cut our own meat!

Beef bone soup

For some reason, I found the beef bone soup to have the same flavour as KFC chicken. Again, I left it alone.

Overall the experience was average and the quality of food is average. I was disappointed with the lack of sides and the tofu soup. Even though it is a descent meal for a barbecue lunch, I'm having trouble thinking of reasons to go back again.

cheap sushi tour: Sushi Garden, Banzai and Samurai Sushi

2010-10-08T11:43:00.001-07:00

Sometimes when I crave sushi, it's all about instant gratification. While I value quality and taste in food, there are times when you just need to satisfy the craving without hurting the wallet.

Sushi Garden

Mentai Yaki Udon

Still, I haven't found a replacement for Zakkushi's mentai kimchi yaki udon. Everywhere else just seems so bland and mediocre compared to now extinct tasty dish.

Salmon sashimi $7.95, Toro $1.30

Salmon sashimi in fair sizes and thickness. I was happy they were fresh and not frozen or slimy (like at Banzai or Suishaya). The toro (tuna belly) sushi was also delicious.

Spider roll $6.50

You will begin to notice that I often order spider rolls. What can I say? I have a thing for soft shell crab.

B.C. Combo

The B.C. Combo for $7.95 comes with 1 tuna sashimi, 1 salmon sashimi, 1 BC Roll (BBQ salmon skin) 1 Alaska roll (salmon, avocado and roe).

Sushi Garden is always busy and, although I hear that the wait time can be long, I would definitely go back there again. In terms of quality and price it is my favourite out of the 3 places listed here.

4269 Lougheed Hwy
Burnaby, BC V5C3Y6

Banzai

When I think of Banzai and Samurai, I don't really associate the restaurants with authenticity, or (sometimes) freshness. Nonetheless, value wise, I still choose either place over McDonald's for sure. I'm from Edmonton where a typical Japanese meal usually costs at least $30 per person. Therefore, to say I went buck wild on ordering during the first visit Banzai in Richmond would be an understatement. No one had warned me about the sheer ginormous size of the sushi, sashimi and rolls. So, I opted to ordering a party tray which came with 44 pieces of sushi and maki rolls for $32 between 2 people to share. A mistake I shall never repeat and, needless to say, I ended up with more than I can chew.

Monstrous size assorted sashimi

After my first experience, I wouldn't probably order the sashimi again except if I plan on making Tuna Tataki later at home. The portion is huge as you can see, however, I prefer the sashimi to be cut thinner so I wouldn't feel like I'm chomping down on the flesh of a dead fish. The texture didn't do anything for me. It was mushy, and a lot of the pieces are frozen. I wouldn't recommend ordering the sashimi unless you want to take them home and make something else out of it.

Party Tray B - Futo maki roll, BC roll, California roll, tuna, cucumber rolls,

Party tray C - Tuna, Tai, Salmon, Ebi, surf clam sushi

Party tray C - tobiko and masago sushi

Surprisingly, their mackarel sushi is actually really good. Of course, it comes in a large piece. I usually don't eat mackarel sushi or sashimi because I find the fishy taste is too strong for me. At Banzai, there is hardly any fishy taste, it has a smoky and creamy taste that makes it quite delicious and satisfying.

Prawn tempura

The prawn tempura are made fresh so they are always hot and crispy. They don't coat them with too much batter and the prawn are not overcooked. For

My favourite rolls, spider roll and spicy chop chop roll!

As mentioned, the spider roll is my favourite and I was lucky enough to always get the freshly fried softshell crab each time at Banzai. When I'm running to the airport or on the go, I often get this combination. Their party trays are also good deals if you are having a function or throwing a party.

#40-8251 Westminster Hwy
Richmond, BC

Visit their website here.

Samurai Sushi

The restaurant has an extensive menu that is divided into categories and most at reasonable price.

Even bigger sashimi cuts - Tuna/salmon $11

Giant dynamite, spicy tuna and alaska rolls. Can't forget the spider roll!

Fraser location

6428 Fraser Street Vancouver

Downtown location

1108 Davie Street Vancouver

Visit their website here.

Zakkushi Disappointment

2010-08-26T12:53:00.002-07:00

I featured Zakkushi in one of the best izakayas to go to in Vancouver last year and have returned a few times since. This last trip I made, unfortunately brewed a small storm inside my heart. We walked in and the place looked a bit different. Fancier menu, brighter lighting, not as smoky, not as crowded, loud, or ghetto. Hmmm it's not quite the Zakkushi I remember, but that's ok.. I'm mostly here for the food even though I miss the ghettoness just a little bit. We ordered the usual skewers, daikon salad, and of course, the delicious kimchi mentai yaki udon smothered with cod roe. At first, the waiter informed us there was no more udon and if we wanted soba instead. He later revealed, that they don't make the dish anymore. Shocked and appalled, I demanded answers. I was there 4 weeks ago and they were still serving it. From what I know, the dish is one of the MOST RAVED ABOUT on the Vancouver food blog sites. And from what my friend told me, they were there last week, and they STILL got it! The waiter had no answers for us. He said the owners simply removed it from the menu. I told him the owners made a huge mistake. He shook his head in despair and simply told me to blog about it. So that was blow number one. FYI this is what the dish looks like:

Kimchi Mentai Yaki Udon

I believe this tuna rice dish is also now non-existent. What a shame, it also was really good.

Negi toro don

I came home and checked their website and it says their "Grand Menu Starts Now".
I appreciate it when restaurants try to up their scale but being innovative and changing up things. However, I don't appreciate the sheer negligence over the quality that sometimes comes after the menu/owner/chef changing. Such as the case at Wo Fung chicken wings (now 3 times smaller), Cattle Cafe (watery soup base), and Pied a Terre (salty steak frites and dismissal of Napoleon), and now Zakkushi charcoal minuscules.

New menu!

Back to the restaurant. After we delighted ourselves with the $9.99 Sapporo pitcher, we ordered the usual Kushi Set which comes with 5 skewers. Each time, the skewers seem to be shinking smaller and smaller. Did the change the chef? Did we come on a bad day? What has happened?

Before - Kushi set on July 31, 2010

After - Kushi set August 25, 2010

Tsukune December 12, 2009

Tsukune Aug 25, 2010

I looked over at the Japanese folks next table and, to my astonishment, their skewers were twice the size of ours. Due to legal reasons, I decided not to post their pictures with skewers. Of course these are not the biggest blunders for a restaurant and it is still as busy as ever. But to me, the wow factors for Zakkushi is gone. I have absolutely no reason left to go back there (unless for the $9.99 Sapporo pitchers).

Favourite Restaurant in Victoria: Bon Rouge

2010-08-23T11:44:00.002-07:00

If you are looking for best bang for your buck restaurants, Bon Rouge is a gem in each and every way. Located on the corner of Courtney street, the bistro outside decor is warm and inviting. The parisian style decor, the comfort food, and jazz music softly played have made Bon Rouge my all time favourite place to go for brunch.

Summer features menu

Two menus are offered, the summer features and the brunch menu.

The decor

The bistro is divided into 3 sections; the patio, the bistro interior, and the restaurant interior. Jazz music. Casual and relaxed. Friendly service.

Champaign cocktails - $5

Drinks specials are champaign cocktails for $5 until 4 pm every weekend and a glass of wine for $5 every wednesday. Martinis are $7.50 for 2 oz. and are exquisitely named after famous French figures; Coco Chanel, Yves Saint-Laurant, Bridgette Bardot, etc.

Freshly baked french loaf, complimentary

We were already excited about the french bread as its freshly baked aroma swarmed us. As we pulled the bread apart, we could hear the crunch and the softness of the inside dough softly pulling apart. Crispy on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. Wow.

Prawn crepe $12 - Pan seared with fennel shallot and garlic cream sauce

6 giant succulent prawns nestled inside!

I do mean it when I say the prawn crepe at Bon Rouge was the best crepe I've ever had. The giant prawns are cooked perfectly and in perfect harmony with sauteed vegetables in fennel and garlic cream sauce. We appreciated each and every single bite. For the sheer size and for only $12, it was truly amazing.

Croque Monsieur $12 - Baked ham and gruyere cheese on house made brioche loaf and mornay sauce, with a side of fennel soup

I've always been more accustomed to traditional Croque Monsieur with baked cheddar or swiss cheese on top. Instead, the mornay sauce, which is made up of half parmesan and half gruyere, offered a subtle texture that complemented the brioche loaf. It was light, creamy and not overwhelming. The fennel soup was aromatic but was a bit too salty. However, the intensity was brought down a couple notches when alternating between the Croque Monsieur or the french loaf.

French Onion Soup $8 - Gruyere on crostini

We were debating on what to order for the dessert but we kept thinking about the French Onion soup. Since I'm a fan, I knew I would have to try. So we ended up getting it as a dessert instead (lol). The broth was rich and, again, still a tad too salty for me. But if you are a cheese lover like me, you would really enjoy the thick layer of melted gruyere and added bread made up for it.

As we stumbled out of the restaurant an hour and a half later, though I may have easily gained 5 lbs, I was ecstatic and could not wait to come back again.

Visit their website here.

Hangover Busters for Girls: Look and feel as good as new

2010-08-16T18:57:00.002-07:00

The last thing I need after an all nighter of partying like a rockstar is to look like I was the next day. I'm also the type that will only get 4 hours of sleep max. with a hangover. Well, people have different hangovers they deal with but if you are girl like me, the evidence of partying can be quite overwhelming; the breakouts, the dark puffy circles.. And besides looking like shit, there's also feeling like shit too; the headache, absolute dehydration and constant need to vomit. Oh yea, don't forget about the calories and the toll on your liver. Therefore, to keep my stamina, detoxify, and steering clear from looking like a zombie, I've come up with a hangover cure regime. In order to look and feel as refreshed and rejuvenated as though one week of partying is just a dream, try out hangover busters.
Before you go to bed: Drink at least 3 glasses of water. Don't forget to remove the makeup!

When you wake up:

*1. Detoxify - Drink as much water as you humanely can. Forget the 8-10 glass/day rule, you are going to want to remove most of that toxin from your body. Drink one glass of water every hour and double with each meal. Rid yourself those bloated and nauseated feelings. DRINK IT!! DO IT!!

*2. Eyeball burstings headaches - If you forget to pop 2 advils before bed, it is probably a good idea to pop a couple once you wake up, even if you don't feel the headache coming yet.

3. Bags and dark circles - Cool pad pads, eye stick, eye cream... anything you got. The best treatment for puffy eyes and bags are probably using a refrigerated tea bags pressed over your eyes. The caffeine in the tea will elevate blood circulation, while the coolness of the bags will ease the swelling. I use Tony Moly 24 Hour Cooling Eye Stick coupled with Clinique All About Eyes.

*4. Eat carbs avoid fruits and dairy - this maybe the only occasion where it is better to eat more carbs than veggies as they tend to absorb excess alcohol. Fruits, veggies and dairy may make you feel more bloated or give you diarrhoea.

5. Hit the gym and do light cardio. - nothing intense or you might seriously hurt yourself. Just a quick 20-30 minutes work out on the elliptical or in the pool just to get the blood flow going, removing excess toxins from that hardworking liver of yours. Most of all, remember how much calories are in those drinks? They will eventually catch up to ya. If you have been consistently been going out, you probably will need a fixed daily workout schedule.

6. Hot tub - relax sore muscles, stimulate blood circulation. You will feel a 100 times better.

7. Spa treat your skin - Hit the steam room. After not having enough sleep and with access alcohol consumption, I breakout like crazy. To nourish my skin back to its health, I have to give it extra attention. The best way is to hit the steam room and open up those pores, detoxify for a bit. Afterwards, I lather on Balea sea salt clay mask for deeply cleansing pores and rejuvenate fresh skin turnover. Moisturize. After this treatment, you will look more refreshed like you just came back from a vacation than a week of binge drinking.

Kwang Loong to the rescue!

8. If you're still feeling puky... Last but not least, if you are feeling nauseated, you can either vomit and get it over with. Another option is to take medication. I have tried a small medicated drink and, after the first and last taste, I thought to stick with the hangover instead. A less painful alternative is to take Gravol. The downside is it will make you extra drowsy if you have to go to work. The last option, my favorite, is to take the aromatherapy path (aka grandma smelling ointment). My number one cure is Kwang Loong oil, a pain relieving ointment. It is made up of menthol, lavender and eucalyptus oil that will help clear the air path, making you breathe easier and feel less nauseated. The downside is your friends may make fun of you, but who really gives a shit at this day and age?

9. Green Tea - Free radicals from excess alcohol consumption can damage skin cells, leaving skin looking blotchy and leads to premature aging. Green tea contains polyphenols, antioxidant compounds, which combat free radicals and reduce cell degeneration. Drink up!

Warm Spinach Salad with Mushrooms, Zucchini and Balsamic reduction

2010-08-11T12:57:00.002-07:00

This comes in handy when you are in a rush or just in need of a quick bite. It's very easy to make and not time consuming at all.
Servings 2
Ingredients
- 2 cups organic spinach
- 1/4 cup of julienned zucchini
- 3-4 diced up mushrooms
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 Balsamic vinegar
- 2 slices of julienned salami prochuitto
- any of your favourite cheese, I used Emmenthal

In a pan, sauté minced garlic with olive oil at medium heat. Once the garlic is golden, add julienned zucchini, salami, and mushrooms respectively. Season with salt, pepper, and other herbs. Add balsamic vinegar and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Serve the mixture on top of spinach, grate cheese on top, and serve.

Cattle Cafe: no longer yummy

2010-08-06T00:23:00.002-07:00

I used to enjoy going to Cattle Cafe on Alexandra Road in Richmond. It was well known for it's ginormous noodle soup which you have to option to select everything from soup base, type of noodles, toppings, drinks and sides. I was more than excited to re-visit the cafe to indulge in a big bowl of laksa that seemed to pack with flavours and seemingly bottomless.

A lot of the restaurants, as they get more and more busy, I guess they often overlook or replace the quality of their food to cut costs. Or perhaps it was just the inconsistency of the kitchen. Either way, what used to be my favourite places in Richmond has become an abomination with this one last time visit.

Laksa noodle soup, still seemingly as big and looking just as delicious. But after tasting the soup, I wondered how many times they watered the pot down and reused the same broth over and over. Where were the flavours this time! I was pretty much drinking slightly flavoured water with oil drizzled on top.
To add an extra punch, that estranged strand of hair we found didn't improve the situation much. Remember, it's an asian place. Sending a plate back will only result in a look of disdain and you will still get the same plate back (with the hair removed with someone's bare hand).

We also ordered their recommended pork chop with demi-glaced onion sauce. It looked fantastic in the picture! Since it's popular, sure we would try it!

This is what came out.

At first glance, no, it doesn't look like anything in the picture. And I was expecting a demi-glace sauce to be more brownish and gravy like, not creamy and rose like. Kkkk, it's an asian place, maybe it's fusion right? Their own interpretation. If it tasted good, then all would be forgiven. We still had to bounce back from that last bowl of laksa. Although, this one didn't look promising either. And as we took a bite, our thought was unanimous "people "like" eating this?".....Really? I mean we were in Richmond where hundreds of asian restaurants compete on price and quality to stay on top. You're telling me that this dish that looked and tasted like it was made by a 10 year old girl is your best selling dish?

Needless to say, I am never going back again. Could it be one bad day? Maybe. The inconsistency, though, and that pork chop though, I just couldn't bring myself to forgiveness. So this is my goodbye. The quest for next best laksa ensues.

IT'S SKIN: Power 10 formula YE Effector serum review

2010-07-08T14:26:00.002-07:00

I tried out this "high-potency serum with Yeast extract to instantly hydrate your skin and help it to maintain skin's ideal moisture level". I'm not sure if yeast extract will have effects on oily skin but I tried to avoid my t-zone since (in my head) yeast + sebum might equal unpleasant side effect? Correct me if I'm wrong. Anyways, the clear gel glides on evenly. I do feel more elasticity soon after application. However, shortly after the serum dries out my face feels firm but sticky. I'm pretty sure I didn't over apply. So for the result, moisture and softness, yes. As for "perfect comfort", I don't really like the weird stickiness like I just smeared a popsicle on my face.

What to eat in Kamakura: Doria and Curry Beef Stew

2010-06-26T12:05:00.002-07:00

While my sister and I were travelling in Kamakura, Japan, a town famous for the great Buddha statue, Daibutsu. We were enroute from Kita-Kamakura station to Engakuji temple. Along the way, we stumbled upon a small cute cafe shop called Cafe Sakura. Starving and enticed by their photo of green tea mont blanc, we decided to go in and check it out. The shop is small but very cozy and inviting with outside patio. Decorated in white with lace and flower arrangements, there are few tables and they were all filled. I noticed very high customer turnover during the course that we were there. The shop does attract lots of passerby's on the street. There are only 2 women working there. I assumed they are co-owners, one works in the kitchen and one serves and helps out in the kitchen. There are only 2 entrees offered in the menu, doria (1,300 yen), baked rice in cream sauce and parmesan, and curry beef stew served with rice. In the beginning, my sister and I ordered one doria to share (as a snack before lunch) since we saw their portion is fairly big. While we were waiting, we couldn't help but glance over at the 2 ladies sitting beside us cleaning out their curry stew plate. As we observed more around us, curry beef stewed is ordered at every table. We realized what was needed to be done and ordered the curry.

We waited for about 20 minutes for each dish to arrive. As we looked over, we could see the kitchen and the ladies working hard to carefully craft each order. It was really nice to see much attention paid to each dish being served. Once the doria arrived, I didn't hesitate to dig my spoon in and taste the creamy, cheesy baked rice. It tasted just as good as it looked. The rice was well seasoned with the right cream consistency. I felt like I was eating risotto. The mushroom and shrimp added texture and complement well. I was about half way done with the doria when the giant plate of curry beef stew (1,000 yen) arrived. We were arguing that we have overdone ourselves.

I waited for my sister to take the first bite, and when she did, she was silent. Her eyes may have rolled back a little bit. "Well, how is it?" I asked. Her reply was "It's simply the best curry stew I've ever had in my life!" Of course, I jumped in and scoop a generous amount of rice and a chunk of beef in my mouth. My palette went into overdrive as savoury and bold flavours spread all over my mouth, blending in perfect harmony with Japanese rice. I'm not usually a fan of beef stew as they are often overcooked and have hard and chewy texture. This time, the beef was so tender and flaky and there should've been more on the plate. We ended up clearing both dishes in a short amount of time. As agreed, we ended our course with a green tea mont blanc (800 yen).

To be honest, we were both most pleased with the curry beef stew, then the doria. The green tea mont blanc looked very appealing. However, we couldn't taste anything else but sweet cream. The green tea flavour was very faint and there is more cream filling inside. I found that it was just too heavy. Perhaps, the original mont blanc would have been a better choice. Overall, I have to say that this little shop is a hidden gem in Kamakura. It is a great spot to take a short break from sightseeing just to enjoy a cup of coffee and delicious curry beef stew.

Battle of Mascaras: L2 De Guerlain, L'Oreal Telescopic, L'Oreal Voluminous, Benefit BadGal, Maybelline Colassal

2010-06-24T22:24:00.002-07:00

Separates and Extends:

L2 de Guerlain mascara $50, from Sephora. Double wands gives lashes extra length before separating them into chunks, which after many strokes can look very clumpy. Nonetheless, for its price and luxurious gold tube, it still does what it promises and the result is a very dramatic look. The mascara stays on too well. I have trouble removing it with eye makeup remover. Initially, I purchased the waterproof one but it was impossible to remove at all with makeup remover. I would've rated it higher, but since I find that I can achieve similar effects with average brands and it's so hard to remove, I give it a 4/5.

L'Oreal Telescopic mascara, $9.98 for 2 bottles and a liquid liner from Costco (approximately $3.30 each). This tiny wand gets around every corner the big wands couldn't. Lashes look fanned out and are extended just as long as using Guerlaine mascara. Although I feel like there is more control using the ball tip applicator, getting the bottom lashes can be sort of tricky and I have to be very careful. The downside is the opposite of Guerlaine, it smudges easily and doesn't stay on for long. Try coating with Clarins Double Fix mascara, no more smudges and runs! Oh, and every time I use this mascara, I have the biggest urge to bobble my head like this girl did here! 3.5/5

Voluminous and luscious:

L'Oreal Voluminous, $7.90, is by far the best for creating volumes and most affordable mascara. I've been using this product for years and still finds it is working right up there with the high end mascaras. Eyelashes look full and not clumpy. I have very short lashes so it looks much better if I curl them before using this mascara. It looks great for day or evening wear. I would call this a classic, or a pair of black shoes I always keep around. Good to have and worth the price. 4.5/5

Benefit BadGal Lash mascara, $19 from Sephora. It does a great job of volumizing, in terms of lengthening, I feel like it could do more. Very easy to apply but after too many sweeps it tends to clump. Otherwise, it lasts all day with minimum smudging. Removing it is not as painstaking as Guerlain, which I am thankful for. 4/5

Maybelline Colossal Volume Express mascara, $7 works the best when used with fake lashes or on bottom lashes. It makes eyelashes look fuller but not too the point that it looks very different or dramatic than what any other mascara can do. It also works way better on very long lashes since it is light and plumps up volume. However, for short eyelash folks like myself it is not the right tool for everyday wear. Removal is very easy. It comes right off. 3/5

Anything Barbie and Hello Kitty touch turn into gold

2010-05-31T21:02:00.002-07:00

Barbie may as well be the longest and highest selling face in endorsement history. Girl knows how to sell! and she is working it with all the collabs this year.

Barbie x Lady Gaga (sizzling)

Barbie x LeSportsac

Barbie x Samsung X-series

Barbie by David Dixon (s/s 10)

Barbie by Nicki Minaj

Meanwhile, Kitty over here is gettin' her grind on...as per usual.

hello kitty x Olympics 2014

hello kitty x New Era (FREH!)

hello kitty x Che Che

hello kitty x capcom's Monster Hunter

hello kitty x Wu Tang Clan

hello kitty x wine

Homemade Thai snack: Curry Puffs

2010-05-22T18:25:00.002-07:00

When I was in Thailand, my favourite nanny was gracious and patient enough to teach us her infamous curry puff recipe. Curry puff is a traditional, yet fusion, thai pastry. The filling is made of ground pork fried with diced carrots, onions, potatoes, seasoning, and curry. I guess it is a Thai version of samosa.
The curry puffs my nanny makes are amazing in so many ways. First, the pastry has many layers of crispy and is very flaky. Next, the filling is a burst of flavours. It is an intense blend of sweet and savoury with a perfect caramelized texture.

The first two tries were challenging even with her coaching me. I also discovered that I am handicapped at folding the dough to make the twists at the end. Now that I am back to Canada, I decided to give it a try and do everything on my own. It turns out that making curry puffs is a 2 day process for me. The filling is the easiest part, while the pastry is the hardest, and let me tell you why. There are two types of dough you have to make in the process. Eventually you wrap one type of dough which is more dry, over the more moist one. Then, you flatten the dough and roll it together like you are making a croissant. Afterwards, you flatten that rolled up dough again then repeat.

After chopping up the rolled up dough, this is what it looks like.

Then, you flatten that slice of dough again and put in the filling, close up the end by twisting around the edges. That is something I learned I can never do correctly or perfectly. I almost feel somewhat handicapped when everyone else around me has no problem doing it. Also, another problem is my dough is too dry so the pastry keeps breaking apart when I try twisting the end together. As a solution, I used a fork to press around the edges instead. So some of them are half twisted, and some look like chinese dumplings. You can probably also tell that they come in all shape and sizes.

Finally, the finished products. The pastry turned out crispy! Sure each looks different, and could have been more seasoned with salt and sugar. Same goes with the filling, no lustrous caramelization like my nanny's. I guess you should never be afraid of over seasoning, especially in Thai cooking. Anyways, they are not perfect but for the difficulty level and first trial, I'm pretty happy with the result.

Natural Beauty Blog

2010-05-20T19:50:00.002-07:00

Anarin , my latest beauty blog about Thai natural spa and skincare products as well as easy to make skin care treats! Online shopping for natural skin care products made from herbs and virgin coconut oil coming soon!

That perfect coverage, I found it...

2010-05-20T15:45:00.002-07:00

After visiting Asia this past trip, I was still in search for the perfect makeup that gives a natural coverage without looking too caked on. All I kept hearing about is the magical BB cream which was initially widely sold in Korea but now has become the biggest makeup essential all over Asia.

What exactly is BB Cream?
BB cream stands for blemish balm which was originally used as therapeutic moisturizer in Germany to treat irritated skin after facial treatment. BB cream becomes popular because mainly for its ability to conceal pores, blemish and acne while giving your skin a natural glow. Most BB cream only comes in one or 2 shades. BB cream has become so popular that almost every makeup brands have their own line of BB cream. Special functions are also added to cater to clients' different needs ie. SPF, anti-wrinkles, whitening functions etc. The prices for BB cream also range from $8 to over $50.

Picking out BB Cream
I was lucky enough to be shopping at the source of BB cream, South Korea. Myong Dong in Seoul is a shopping street littered with shops after shops of cosmetic brands. Picking and choosing BB cream with no prior experience or comparison can be quite overwhelming. Missha has a reputation of carrying the best like of BB cream, so I decided to test it out for myself. I picked out a tube of Missha M Perfect Cover BB cream in 23 natural beige. The price was around $13 which was quite reasonable. Once I put it to the test, I wasn't sure how much to use. It turns how that you only need very small amount. The texture of the cream is more like a lotion but you get more coverage than using a foundation and concealer combined. The cream also doesn't cake. It blends in naturally on to my skin and evens out the complexion. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it works. The BB cream gives my skin a flawless and natural glow. It looks like I was born with great skin!!! I have honestly never used anything as cost effective and has such great result!! The only downer about this is that to keep it cost effective, you'll have to buy the BB cream straight from Korea. Online websites obviously jacked up the price for something that are well sought after. But I guess if you are looking to try it out, it is definitely worth a try.

I will even post comparison pictures up between the $13 M Perfect BB cream from Korea versus the $50 Classified Era Airbrush foundation I bought from Beauty Junkie (which does the trick, but my face feels like I'm wearing a mask).

Hot girls at Shibuya 109

2010-05-11T09:29:00.002-07:00

The majority of the girls we saw at Shibuya fall into the generic category of "brown hair, big eyes, fake lashes" look. Having said that, I have to admit that many of them are pretty hot and props to their makeup skills to being able to stand out of thousands that are rocking the exact same look. The trend this spring became obvious to us after almost all stores at Shibuya 109 are selling almost exact same items. In almost every shop, sales and patrons are dressed in floral print tops with light colour denim, an oversized bow or do-rag headband, and caramel colour leather accessories. At the time, I felt a huge urge to conform and jump on the floral, big bow bandwagon. I ended up buying an outfit that looked like a school girl uniform out of spur of the moment. Maybe because I was in Japan and I wanted to get down with the fashion culture (Kogal?) and turn back the hands of time back to my youth. I will post the picture of the outfit later. The store I bought the outfit/costume from is called Scandals (....), a himegyaru store. I've always been intrigued with hime dolly looks, so it was sort of a part of the list. In the meantime, here are some info. on Japan gyaru fashion.

How to do gyaru eye makeup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcmVUftrM50&feature=related

Cheap and good places in Tokyo

2010-05-11T08:52:00.002-07:00

I haven't blogged on here for a while after my Japan/Korea trip and have been feeling a little bit lazy. So for a recommendation for drinking spot in Japan as already mentioned in my other travel blog, the "270 Yen Kinokura Jr.". All of the dishes and drinks (quite an array of selection) are less than $3. Food is awesome, drinks are good size, it just seems almost too good to be true. The best thing is, these joints can be found all over main areas in Tokyo, so it's real convenient.

Another convenient fast-foodish restaurant I really liked was the Tempura Tendon Tenya. It may be a chain restaurant but the one we went to at Nippori really captured my heart. For something that was simple and good, the prawn tempura there were fresh crispy. Best of all, it is served with plenty of sauce (and a bottle at your table if you want to really drench it), a poached egg, the addition which makes the dish for me. The set comes with miso soup, and udon soup for around 750 yen. So if you are looking for something that is convenient, cheap, and good, I recommend this one as the way to go.

Oysters anyone??

2010-04-15T19:02:00.002-07:00

I think it's fair to say I had a lot of oysters lately.

Shattering dreams: Intercontinental Brunch

2010-04-14T22:20:00.002-07:00

So ever since I have been in Thailand since December, I have my mind set on the legendary Sunday brunch at Intercontinental hotel in Bangkok. After seeing and hearing stories about the epic luxurious brunch with Moet champaign free flow for,*gasp*, $75, I kinda made it a mission for my visit. HOWEVER, 5 months later, still no such brunch due to conflicting schedules. Now that I finally have the time, the red shirt mob or the UDD have managed to prevent my dream from actualizing. The hotel is forced to close from the public indefinitely. Seeing how the civil unrest is going, I don't think the possibility of me going to Intercontinental hotel for a Sunday brunch and enjoying myself will happen anytime soon. Bye bye food.... Bye bye Moet.......

Where to eat seafood in Pattaya

2010-04-14T22:07:00.002-07:00

If you are traveling to Pattaya, Thailand and looking for authentic thai seafood restaurants that are cheap, delicious, and by the sea here are several hidden gems only the locals know about.

Preecha Seafood Restaurant
This huge open air restaurant is located right by the beach. Having been reviewed by many travel websites, it is best known for fresh rock lobsters, giant lobsters, salt and fresh water fish, and arrays of clams. You have the choice of how you would like them cooked (though they are mostly thai and chinese styles). I recommend rock lobster fried with garlic, fresh tilapia steamed or grilled with sea salt (the fish melts in your mouth!), steamed crab legs, and (huge) raw oysters. The view of the beach is tranquil (the sand is reddish for some reason), and the selection and price for the food is impressive. Of course, tables fill up fast during lunch and dinner.

Address: 200/9 moo 4 soi Najomtien 28 Najomtien Road Tambon Najomtien Sattahiep Chonburi 20250
Tel: 66 3870 9439

Rimhad Seafood Bang Saray
This place was a delightful stumbled upon as we were driving through Bang Saray beach, a district well known for fishing. I love the sea view where you see many fishing boats parked all along the sea with small fish swimming right below the deck I was sitting at. The best dish we had was the steamed crab. For only 450 bath ($12) per KG you get about 4-5 crab on the plate. You get blocks of wood to go savage and crush the crab shell yourself. The meat was so flaky, tender, and sweet, great with or without the chile lime dipping sauce. Another of my favourite was the deep fried soft shell crab with garlic and black pepper. The flavour and texture combined was just amazing. It had the right amount of seasoning and crisp. Another dish that we always get at all fresh seafood restaurants was the steamed clams. I was worried that they would be undercooked and bloody, or overcooked and chewy. However, I was rest assured when this place cooked them perfectly.

Address: 2 /18 Liabshaihad Road Bangs Saray Sattaheep Chonburi
Tel: 038-737181 , 038-737038
GPS:12° 45' 51.41" N 100° 53' 30.39" E

Cheap sunglasses damage your eyes

2010-03-13T18:32:00.002-08:00

As I am walking through the street markets in Thailand, I am bombarded with temptations to buy cheap fashion sunglasses at 50 bath ($1.50). Though they are super cute, I can probably only wear them indoor. Recent studies have shown that, wearing sunglasses without UV protection could cause more damage to your eyes than not wearing sunglasses at all!

Putting on sunglasses causes your eyes to dilate, letting more light in and in the case of sunglasses not offering UV protection, more UV rays as well.

UV radiation from the sun can damage not only the skin of your eyelids but also the clear outer parts of the eye — the cornea and conjunctiva. UV exposure also contributes to the development of certain types of cataracts, leading to burns, blindness, and increases the risk of cancer (Environmental Graffiti).

When you’re choosing sunglasses, look for UV protection details on product labels. Choose sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of UVB rays and at least 95 percent of UVA rays. This level of UV protection is in accordance with guidelines established by the American National Standards Institute (mayoclinic).

So spend a little more on the sunglasses and don’t risk your health for a good bargain!

J.Reyez & Tommy C - Wedding Dress (English Version).mp3

2010-03-13T06:52:00.002-08:00

Pretty descent lyric and remix. I thought it went well with the track. CCCCheck it!

Hulkshare.com J.Reyez & Tommy C - Wedding Dress (English Version).mp3

Barbie Exhibit @ Central World, BKK

2010-03-11T03:36:00.003-08:00

Originally uploaded by Meemzstarr

A wide range of Barbie collections featuring Thai designer collabs exhibition.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89856430@N00/

My latest crush

2010-03-02T20:41:00.002-08:00

I am absolutely digging this violet colour nail polish I discovered at my aunt's salon. It has just the right shade, hue, and gloss. It's not too flashy and not too light. I haven't stumbled upon this unique shade before. Unfortunately, it is from a no name brand which is leading me to a quest to find where exactly I can get more for myself! And another journey begins...

A&W Chicken waffle!

2010-02-25T05:50:00.002-08:00

It was such a delightful treat that I had to write about it! I was envious of my sister when she presented me with Harlem's famous chicken waffle photos. Little did I know that I would come across it at A&W in Bangkok, Thailand. In North America, the fast food joint is well known for their thick cut onion rings and family named burgers. But in Thailand, A&W is more known for their waffles! Served at any given time of day, their famous waffles are served with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, a choice of chocolate sauce or strawberry sauce, and a side of maple syrup. It is more of a sit down dish, of course. This time around, I notice chicken waffle is up on the menu along with other infused dishes like fried chicken curry with rice. For only 57 bath (less than 2 US dollars), you get a crispy fried chicken fillet sandwiched between 2 waffles. I was quite baffled by how crispy and well seasoned the fried chicken was. Coupled with spicy barbecue sauce with a hint of mayo, it is bursting with savoury flavour.

Bryanboy in Zara coat at Anna Sui fashion show

2010-02-23T20:38:00.002-08:00

Bryanboy rocked the house wearing faux leather jacket from Zara at Anna Sui Fashion show. I thought it was pretty rad in many ways: 1. He wasn't ashamed to admit that he got it on sale and from last season 2. He didn't have to always wear labels and high end brands to impress the top dogs and other fashionistas 3. People on the streets were in awe 4. People at the fashion house also loved it!

Way to go BB!

Check out the photo of the coat and the rest of the story here.