It's time for another beauty review by this skinnyfat girl!

My friends all know that I'm obsessed with having a sharp and well defined face and I'm always complaining about how chubby my face is. I use the Clarins Shaping Facial Lift serum religiously even though I don't see much effect (my gfs say that it's because my face is already very small. MEH.) Anyway, i tried the Topical Hyperbaric Oxygen (THO) Therapy, a facial which promises to make my face smaller! Touted as the Madonna treatment (she swears by it), the temporary effects are similar to that of a facelift.

We started with a microdermabrasion treatment to remove the dead skin from the surface. One of my favorite treatments for sure. Then we proceeded with the THO O2 Rejuvenate therapy.

O2 Rejuvenate ($250) uses ingredients derived from natural amino acids, targeting expression lines and producing a firmer and smoother look. Chester added the Atoxelene serum ($120, added on to a THO treatment) for that extra firmness.

The facial treatment was way more relaxing than my first facial (no extraction! Read review of my first facial here). It works by directing oxygen to the vital fluids at the surface, and it helps to promote new cell growth to speed healing and aid absorption of the serums used. In layman's terms, the serums are vaporized and blown onto/into the skin. All i felt was a light cool stream of air on my face which was very refreshing.

So how's the effect? AMAZING. I'll let the pictures do the talking. First, the before picture. Focus on the jawline and the chin. Hello Miss Hamster Cheeks!

Now here is my sharp melon face after the treatment!!! My colleague said that I can cut fruits with this chin.

Firmer and smoother skin with reduced appearance of wrinkles and fine lines! More camwhore pics!

I couldn't stop smiling at myself in the mirror after the treatment. Haven't seen such a small face in a bit, thanks to all the eating and drinking. Woes of a food blogger. :( Don't tell me there's no difference to the before and after. There is really a difference! 

The effect of the Atoxelene lasts for about 3 days. That is what 'lifts' the skin. The glow however lasts for about 1-2 weeks. Now here is a picture after 3 days. Loving that glow. No blusher required! :)) 

This is definitely a facial to do right before an important occasion. Apparently the effect lasts longer if you do it regularly. That's probably how Madonna looks so young still. Certainly my hot favorite from DRx Medispa! Stay tuned for more delicious beauty treatments! 

The DRx Medispa
302 Orchard Road, #14-02
Tong Building (next to Paragon Shopping Centre)
Singapore 238862
Tel: +65 6223 1555
Mon to Sat: 10am to 8pm
Sun: 10am to 6pm

Our love for fast cars must have been picked up by the sweet Volvo folks for we were invited to take home a Rebel-blue V40 T4 R Design to test drive for the weekend. The sporty hatchback is rather perfect for young professionals looking for a fun luxury car with power (it generates 200 horsepower with direct injection turbo!)

The Passion Red version that was displayed outside the showroom got my heart racing with excitement but we were given the outlandish Rebel Blue. The racer blue drew us numerous stares which we weren't sure if it was the color or the car or us but we got used to that pretty quickly. So here is a his and her review on the Volvo V40 R Design! S will give you the technical boy aspect and me on the superficial girly stuff. Heh.

C: I was having fun playing with the bluetooth function which wirelessly connects my phone to the car, allowing me to play my favorite tunes and also receive and make calls without compromising on road safety. A USB port also allows for charging of my electrical devices, perfect for us digital natives. 

C: The leather interior was also very luxurious. I love the feel of fresh leather on my skin and couldn't stop touching the seat and panels. I was also glad to find out that the glove compartment doubles as a chiller for cold drinks! 

C: I'm used to being driven around and thus it was a little nerve wrecking for me to drive the car. However, i found the V40 easy to maneuver with its small turning radius. 

S: Having driven several Volvos, namely the S80 and the V60, i am happy to report that the signature volvo drive and feel is still intact, even in this compact package that is the V40.

S: The ride quality was firm and the steering assuring, though it bordered on being a little too light during low speed maneuvering. The digital display worked best in the Performance mode, with the speedometer rapidly racking up the digits under hard acceleration. The smallish boot was also able to swallow a full sized samsonite suitcase for an airport run.

S: We have also experienced the city safety system firsthand. This system is active at speeds up to 50km/h, allowing the car to brake automatically should the driver fail to react in time. I must emphasize that we were not in any real danger of a collision! Rather, the safety system kicked in when we were exiting an ERP gantry car park, and as the barrier failed to lift as we approached it at a low speed, the car ground to an abrupt halt. It is certainly good to know that the car has your back covered. :)

Our overall impression of the V40 would be that of a reliable, safe (Five star Euro NCAP rating) and sporty little hatchback.

Thank you Volvo Singapore for the weekend ride! 

For more information on the V40 R Design, check out the Volvo website or head on down to your nearest showroom to give it a test drive. 

Here is a quick summary on our ride. 

Model: Volvo V40 T4 R-Design (Polestar)

Specs: 1,596cc In-line 4 cylinder with direct injection turbo, 200bhp

Speed: We managed a 0-100kph sprint in 8.2 seconds.
Fuel consumption: Volvo claims a combined consumption of 6.1L/100km for both city and highway driving.
Price: S$174,999 with COE (UP: S$200,000)
Alternatives BMW 1-series Hatchback, Audi A3 Sportback

I would love a cafe in my hood that would allow me to satisfy any cake or croissant craving in the middle of the day without having to doll up and travel to the ends of the world. It doesn't have to be fancy or spectacular, it just has to be cooler (literally) than the coffee shop, and provides some fancy cake or pastry that i can't get at the traditional bakery. Maple & Market is one of the first few to recognize this sandwiched market and is sure gaining popularity with the Kallang neighborhood tai tais and lazy yuppies.

M&M is by no means indie. There isn't a need for that. Instead, they are comfortable being simple and homey as evidenced by the bare-bones furnishing; a long wooden table with an assortment of mismatched stools was all to the 'cafe'. To set your expectations right, it's not a place for chilling out for long.

M&M offers a variety of cakes and pastries.

Their butter croissants looked a little deflated imo but popular enough for aunties to come by regularly to grab some for what i presume is breakfast for their kids. For $1.80, i guess this is reasonable quality. Their pastries are also on the lower price point, ranging from $2 to $3.

Saw some bacon topped cake of sorts but the batter looked too dry for me to wanna be adventurous.

My $4 latte was strong and decent enough. It was a good complement to the 1919, a Gula Melaka cake with kaya cream cheese frosting and almonds ($5.50). I like cakes that are moist (who doesn't) but i took to this grainy porous one, though i agree that it could be less dry. The kaya cream cheese wasn't overpowering like the traditional coconut jam, instead it was a little more pandan. I would have loved it better if the frosting were creamier and less separated from the sponge. We had the cake a second time for a birthday celebration and that's when i was more aware about how dry the cake was. :/

Baking classes are available and they do teach you how to make pretty things. Not a bad way to keep the ladies in the neighborhood occupied.

Maple & Market makes the cut as a neighborhood cafe. I wouldn't mind popping by if i'm in the area but it's not quite worth the traveling for. 

Maple & Market
34 Cassia Crescent #01-82
Tel: +65 6348 8068
Weekdays: 12 - 10pm (Closed Tue)

Weekends: 10am - 10pm 

If you're suffering from cafe fatigue in Singapore, with the dozens of cafes that are like clones of one another, perhaps check out Cups N Canvas, an Arts cafe just off Orchard Road. Cups N Canvas has been quietly making waves in the Selegie vicinity despite the lack of publicity and hype on social media. S and i drove past this place so many times without even realizing its existence. We were surprised to see the healthy crowd it drew when we popped by one weekend. I guess these sneaky folks have been keeping this gem to themselves. How can!  

I decided that i like Cups N Canvas the moment i stepped into the place. It's chill, fun and very New York. Or perhaps Brooklyn. You'll know what i mean if you've been to NYC.

Cups is split into 2 sections, an art studio and the cafe. The art studio half will be closed when there is painting class going on, otherwise the space is available for food.

Nothing makes me happier than All Day Breakfasts. Even though Cups only has 2 items on their ADB, it was enough for people to go crazy for them, especially the Eggs Ben-Addict, which is served on a bagel. In fact, they ran out of it when i was there and i really couldn't wait for an hour for breakfast to be served. :(

Of course there were other yummy options. Their pastas are very popular. The Blanc Bacon, a garlic cream bacon mushroom fettuccine is their hot seller. S tried it another time during lunch and said it was fab. The Vermillion Prawn, a white wine garlic based linguine is another favorite.

Ok back to brunch, i had the Breakfast Canvas ($16.90), which came with bratwurst, bacon, sauteed mushrooms, roasted potatoes, grilled tomatoes, greens, toast and juice. This came with a juice (from concentrate). Buttery and wet scrambled, cooked to (my idea of) perfection. A thick and juicy herb sausage that was absolutely delicious and that crispy bacon rash was simply godsend. I would have loved for a toast that is denser and more substantial as the one served was too light.

The drink to have is certainly the Sweet Potato Latte ($4.80). According to the lady boss, this is the only place in Singapore that sells it. This is made from freshly pureed sweet potato and steamed milk and i could inhale 2 of these easily. Another interesting drink to have would be the Sticky Date Shake ($6.80).

Cups N Canvas is a simple cafe, but it works. It kinda proves the point that you don't have to be indie, or third wave or fancy schmancy or complicated in order to succeed. Check them out sometime. The service is awesome. 

Cups N Canvas
139 Selegie Road
Tel: +65 6884 6855

Tue - Thu: 9.30am - 9.30pm
Fri - Sat: 9.30am - 11pm

Sun: 10am - 5pm

A Kyoto autumn adventure under the bright reds, oranges and yellows koyo, led me to the doorsteps of a hidden jewel, Giro Giro Hitoshina. This unorthodox Japanese restaurant serves a 'modern' Kyoto Kaiseiki meal in a casual and cool converted warehouse by the obscure Takase-gawa canal. The floor to ceiling picture window panes, that replaced the original brick wall, presented diners with a charming view of the lush foliage as they partake in an exquisitely prepared 8 course meal determined by the chef. 

The energy given out by the young punkish chefs was electrifying. Reserve a seat by the counter of the open kitchen and you'd be entertained by the dynamic performance as they prepare course after course with finesse.

There is no burden of choice at Giro Giro Hitoshina. You only get to make a decision on your choice of beverage (sake in our case). The menu changes seasonally (by month apparently) so you'll never taste the same thing twice (unless you dine there every other week).

 

We started with Turtle soup, which was a cold and light fish soup (i hope!). 

An Asian style Sushi roll filled with stewed mushrooms and sundried tomatoes. There's also a mini Viet Rice roll with mint and persimmon. Beancurd skin and cucumber tossed in a sesame peanut sauce. Tempura dried fish and a light lotus with smoked pork. It was a mish mash of dishes and ingredients but the individual flavors were great. 

A pretty dish that captured the essence of Autumn with all the colors and flavors. The highlight of the dish was the tofu ball made with chestnut, water chestnut and a surprise chunk of fish roe. Tofu is a signature dish of Kyoto so make sure you do a tofu meal there. Arashiyama is a good place for that. 

A fresh red snapper sashimi with freshly grated wasabi and ponzu sauce.

My other favorite dish of Smoked Yellowtail paired with a grainy creamy lemon sauce and a side of potato salad. An absolutely divine dish. 

The Gratinated Clams was presented with great fan fare, blow torch, bubbling cheese and all right before our eyes. You can't go wrong with the combination of creamy potatoes with briny succulent clams.

I would have Japanese breakfast for dinner any time and this was a comforting dish that i wouldn't mind eating for the rest of my life. Japanese rice with seaweed, grilled mackerel, tamago with fish roe, silver fish and pickled vegetables. A simple Asian meal that warms belly and the heart.

We concluded dinner with an exquisite dessert. Pear w jelly, marmalade on cake, pumpkin ice cream and an Azuki jelly. 

If you think that the meal cost a bomb, it did not. You would be able to enjoy this for ¥3,680 per person. It is not wonder why the 2 seatings a night is insufficient to satisfy the hungry crowd. Book way in advance or you'll be disappointed. The only equivalent in Singapore is Teppei (read review here) but this is more haute and exquisite. 

Giro Giro Hitoshina is the must try if you're in Kyoto. This is certainly on my Favorites list. :)

Giro Giro Hitoshina
420-7 Nanbacho matsubara sagaru Nishikiyamachi dori Shimogyo-ku Kyoto
Tel: +81 075 343 7070
Daily: 5.30 - 11pm
Closed last Mon of the month

If you are looking for a place for Indian fine dining, rejoice in the fact that Tandoor Restaurant is back in the game following its recent face-lift (read about my previous review here). Not only has the decor been given a modern and classy revamp, the menu at Tandoor Restaurant, Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, has also been made more refined and delicate while retaining its traditional roots. I was even more impressed with their story telling concept as the waiters took us through the interesting history of each dish. 

S and I were invited to sample the Dinner Gourmet Set ($68). If you're not up for the full course, there is a smaller course at $48. Vegetarian options are also available.

We started with the Samosa Chaat, a light puff pastry shell stuffed with potatoes and chickpeas and topped with sweet yogurt and tamarind chutney. I love the creaminess and contrasting flavors of the dressing and was amazed at how light the puff was.

Next, we had the Pudina Murg Shorba, a chicken soup that was rich in flavors but again not overly creamy. We were told that much thought had gone into the use of the ingredients to cater to health conscious diners. A spicy scallop was served with our soup. Tip: try the soup first before devouring the scallop. The mint in the soup also helped to douse the fire from the scallop.

Next, a platter of kebabs. 

From left to right, Jalepeno Corn Kebab, Paneer Chupa Rustom and Malmali Seek Kebab. My favorite was the Paneer Chupa Rustom, a potato croquette stuffed with spinach and cottage cheese. It's like a kinder surprise! The minced lean mutton kebab was very flavorful and soft, perfect if you were a toothless Indian king (no kidding, that's how the dish came about). 

The Honey Dill Grilled prawns spiced with red chilies were great too, along with the Chicken Lemongrass Kebab which was surprisingly juicy and tender. 

On to the mains which were served with saffron rice or Naans. Here you see the Nalli Gosht- a lamb shank curry which was full of collagen bits. The Palak Paneer, a must order at any Indian restaurant. 

The Mango Curry was too addictive, a unique ripe mango curry from the Mangalore region of India. Chef's grandmother made this dish for him to get him to eat fruits. This sweet curry goes extremely well with the fluffy saffron rice. The other dish that i could not stop eating was the Murg Dum A Dum, chicken curry. Best mopped up with the garlic naan.

The Goan Fish Curry was our other favorite. The perfectly cooked succulent ocean perch was served sizzling in a tangy spiced coconut curry. I wished there were more of the gravy in this one. 
Last but not the least, we ended dinner with a trio of desserts. From the left, the sweetened carrot dessert Gajar Halwa which had the quality of a nutty rice pudding; a Bailey's Kulfi ice cream, and a Rose and Elaichi Panna Cotta.

Looks like a toadstool doesn't it? Cute presentation ftw. 

I have to say that Tandoor Restaurant really impressed us with its new direction. I enjoyed the food a lot better than i did the first time. Even S, who would frown on my Indian meal suggestions, enjoyed his meal and even indicated his willingness to have this again. 

Tandoor would be having its Diwali promotion from 15 October to 15 November 2013. Diners will hear intriguing 4-part story of Ramanyana from the wait staff as they feast on the dishes. Specially designed illustrated coasters will also be given to diners who purchase the Gourmet Trail Menus. 

Tandoor Restaurant
Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre
Basement 1

Tel: +65 6733 8333

Daily: 12 - 2.30pm, 7 - 10.30pm