How I wish Malaysia had a slightly cooler climate so we could walk around with light coats and pretty scarves. *missing england*

MNG, Topshop, ZARA, Forever 21 (to name a few) and shops at Sungei Wang offers a range of choices in various styles, colours and fabrics. Those Korean ones with cotton floral print with lace combo and bits on sides are so cute. Accessorize carries such pretty silk selection. Scarves are just a great way to jazz up any outfit.

Lurv Purple!

Crinkled Woven Scarf $7.80

Source : Forever 21 Site

Bright Florals are in for Spring

Left : Aloha Tropical Postcard Silk Square Scarf  £15.00

Right : Neon Paisley Pom Pom Silk Square Scarf £15.00

Source : Moonsoon Accessorize Site

Most of them are reasonably priced. The cottons ones are usually between RM29.90 to RM59.90. What if I told you I found one similar to the ones you would find at the shops mentioned, at a fraction of the price. Have I gotten your attention yet.. *grins*

I got this for RM8! Where? At Jalan TAR (near Sogo). You can find a lot of nice and pretty stuff for a steal at the Bazaars along that road if you look carefully. Have always lurved that place.

Dress it up any way you want.. with a dragonfly brooch.. :)

It is a light cotton material in purplish blue with green and blue floral prints. A combination of the scarves from F21 and Accessorize - Purple, Floral & Bright ;). I shall wear this to a place with strong air-conditioning (to avoid sweating..), maybe Pavilion. It can get quite nippy if you spend long periods shopping there. Or is it just me? Not enough meat. Lol!

Since the Chocolate Cats' Tea Party a few weeks back I have been asked numerous times where I got the dress I was wearing from. Well, I got it from Forever 21 @ Pavilion. :)

A few days before I got that dress I spotted this beautiful silk floral-printed dress, perfect for any tea party or daytime wear, from BCBG Max Azria boutique @ KLCC. Their dresses are always so gorgeous. But sadly for me the price tag on it was way too high. I'm waiting for it to go on sale. Lol!

Lurv the vintage-inspired dahlia print

Source : BCBG Max Azria Site

Source : BCBG Max Azria Site

I took it as a sign when I saw something similar at Forever 21. Not as pretty as the BCBG one, but pretty enough. It came with a thin white belt that looked really nice with the dress but was way too long for me. Alternatively I tied a black ribbon around the waist instead. Thought it was a nice contrast. The price was definitely much more affordable at RM119.

Neckline Pleated Detail

I have been told by some friends that the colour of clothes they have bought from Forever 21 may run after washing. I decided to send my dress for dry cleaning and lucky me it came back intact *phewh*.

My Saturday started at 1030 am with an express shoe hunt from Lot 10, Pavilion then all the way to KLCC. It is terribly difficult to get shoes for my ridiculously freaky feet. In the end I will always end up with something from Clarks. Oh please let some other brand fit me.. *sigh*

I read about a new pastry place that just opened, so I was quite looking forward to trying it out today. I am not naming the place as I refuse to give it free publicity that it does not deserve. Curious why.. Well when I got there it looked rather nice but I instantly realised it is not what it claims to be. When I went in to look at what they had to offer, I knew it was a bad idea going there. But I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and try it anyway. The first bite I took into one of the few pastries I bought, I thought to myself "Crap!! This was a HORRIBLE idea". OMG they also served instant coffee! Officiated by a celebrity, this place offers inferior quality pastries, disgusting beyond belief and an INSULT TO MY TASTEBUDS! Never ever stepping foot there again.. EVER! (I am still not naming the place.. lol!!)

Traumatised by the crap the earlier place offered, I headed to what I call my 'Safe Haven' to wash away the vile, toxic taste which still lingered in my mouth, Espressamente Illy @ Bangsar Village II (yup the same one in Pavilion). A long list of reviews have been done on this place so all I can say is, it is a place where you find great coffee and delicious sandwiches. Fully satisfied every time.. :D

Back : Greco All' Italiana - RM12

Our funky version of an iced latte.

Front : Caffe Fondente - RM12

A shot of espresso with chocolate & topped with milk.

Excuse the bubbling bits, I let the coffee sit too long before I took a picture.

It was suppose to be lightly dusted with chocolate.. :P

Foccacia al Pollo - RM18

Toasted Italian herb bread with grilled chicken breast, Portobello mushrooms, mozzarella, Kalamatta olives & tomatoes.

Tastes as good as it looks.. *droolz*

Amidst the fun, chatter and loads of food, I was busy scribbling down notes for the food review. Stellar posted a picture of me on facebook looking ridiculously serious at the Tea Party. Lol!

Smokehouse Set A - RM12 per person
This consists of Scone, Apple Pie with a pot of Tea or Coffee.

We were served Boh Tea

Scone served with Clotted Cream, Strawberry Jam & Butter - I found the shape of the scone to be a bit different from most scones I have had. It had a crisp outer layer, light texture inside and a buttery flavour. The flavour was not as rich as I would have liked it to be. There was also a slight taste of baking soda. The homemade Devonshire Clotted Cream was too light in colour and texture. It was not heavy enough for clotted cream. The homemade strawberry jam however was rather nice and refreshing, a generous amount of fruit, a good balance of sweetness and a thick texture.

Apple Pie - Generous amount of apple filling. The pie crust was a bit too thin for my liking, it lacked bite. It could also do with a bit more cinnamon to balance out the sweet and sour taste of the apple filling.

Smokehouse Set B - RM18 per person

Consists of Scone, Apple Pie, Cake, Brownies, Sandwiches

Orange Butter Cake - A good amount of juice and zest went into it as I can taste and smell the orange. Not overpowering though. Would be great if it could be richer with a bit more butter.

Brownies - A cake-like textured brownie. Slightly on the dry side. I prefer my brownies chewy and moist.

Rarebit (Beef Bacon, Cheese On Toast) - RM12

The very basic of snacks. Beef Bacon on toast topped off with melted cheddar cheese. The melted cheese will leave you wanting more.

Crème Brûlée - RM8

A rich custard dessert topped with a layer of hard caramel.

What can I say, this was smooth, rich, with just the right amount of sweetness. I recommend trying this.

Chocolate Mousse - RM8

This is a dessert that needs to be perfected. It did not have that smooth texture required of a mousse and perhaps a bit more semisweet chocolate to the mix.

Beef Wellington - RM48
(One of Smokehouse's Specialty)

Beef tenderloin coated with chicken liver pâté and duxelles wrapped in puff pastry and then baked. Served with baked potato and vegetables. A generous helping of homemade mushroom sauce completes this dish.

Good sized portion. Wonderful 'just out of the oven' aroma. The beef so tender and juicy, with a burst of wonderful flavours filling your mouth with every bite. The puff pastry was light and slightly crisp on the outside. The baked potatos, vegetables and mushroom sauce complemented this dish well.

Bombe Alaska - RM28

An ice cream dessert with homemade shortbread base topped with mixed fruits and natta de cocoa covered with meringue. Flambéd with rum.

Departing from the traditional elements of a Bombe Alaska, the Smokehouse opted for a shortbread base instead of a sponge cake. I would describe this as unconventional. As rich as the shortbread is, it does not complement the ice cream and meringue all too well. This did not have the certain level of sweetness a dessert should have. I am also not too sure about the nata de coco in a Bombe Alaska. It was however a treat to watch the flambé process.

Overall Experience

The Smokehouse is a great place to hang out with friends, in this case have a tea party. The service was friendly and Dennis the Marketing Manager was very obliging in answering my queries. I will definitely be going back to try out some of their other dishes. They also show football matches on Saturdays. ;)

Where

The Smokehouse

67-G-1, Jalan Telawi 3,

Bangsar Baru,

59100, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-22881510

Saturday, 3/04/10 - Walking towards the Smokehouse on Jalan Telawi, Bangsar I noticed some wierd glances my way. Maybe my fedora looked too cool! Lol!

The last time I stepped into a Smokehouse restaurant was ages ago when I was so much younger either in Cameron Highlands or Fraser's Hill. Stepping into the one on Jalan Telawi, Bangsar, does not only bring back childhood memories but also memories from my student days in England meeting up with mates in the pub around the corner from the university.

The decor is quintessential English and it also exudes that warm English charm. A comfy sofa in front of the fire place (no fire going on, the Malaysia's too warm) greets guests as they enter the restaurant, the pefect place for Jean, Doroshi and I to wait for Miu to finish setting up the Tea Party upstairs (we had the whole floor to ourselves).

The floor design looks fantasy enough..

Cosy fire place

Hosted by Miu, the Tea Party was "Alice" inspired. Which meant that all who were invited had to pick a character and dress up like the character with their own individual flare. I seem to be dressing up or be in costume quite often lately. *grins* Miu - The Cheshire Cat, Wing - The Other Cheshire Cat, Reiko - White Queen, Stacy - Part Alice/Part Red Queen, Doroshi - Avant Garde Mad Hatter, Masurin - Lolita/Cute Alice, Stellar - Pretty/Marc Jacob Alice, Jean - Sexy Mad Hatter and Me - The Strange Mad aka as my strange-self.

Wonderland/Underland Characters

Sliding around embracing my strange-self..

There was a twist to this Tea Party though, it was also a food review for the Smokehouses' Tea Menu. So while chatting with wonderful company and enjoying the sumptuous spread laid before us we had to keep in mind that we also had to properly 'taste' the food.  

Pretty centre piece!

Cute - Didn't know chessy could do that.. :p

Lurv this piece!

Keepsakes from Miu - Place card & Beautiful Star pendant :)

(The Lavand chocolate egg is yummy!)

Miu also slyly made us talk a bit about ourselves. Little did we know there would be a trivia after we had fed ourselves to our hearts content.

Basket full of goodies - Lotsa chocolates too.. :)

Winners get to pick prizes from the basket

The lost Alice found the Red Queen

& the Hatter just tagging along.. lol..

*The vote for Best Dressed went to Stacy! Lurv the make up!*

Strange Hatter can't seem to keep her hand off the hat

& The Cheshire Cat gazing across the room.. :P

Hat pointing Hatter & The Other Cheshire Cat

(Inspired by "The Other Boleyn Girl" Lol!)

A combination of Sexy & Strange ;)

The White Queen looking the part

Lolita Alice may give a whole new meaning to Wonderland! lol..

Had a great time with mad & wacky Wonderland characters plus lotsa food! Thanx Miu & the Smokehouse! :)

In Merry Ol' England..

Up Next : Food Review for The Smokehouse

Buy a cupcake and win!

Source: Gin & Jacqie Official Website

Remember the “Golden Ticket” from Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? The ticket (if found in your chocolate) could win you a prize. Taking both concepts of chocolate and winning a prize with a golden ticket, Bisou and Gin & Jacqie have come up with their own “Golden Ticket” give away. There will be one bag organizer to win every day.

Source: Gin & Jacqie Official Website

Throughout April if you find a golden ticket on the bottom of your Choco Dementia cupcake you will win an “Organize Jacq” (bag in a bag). There are no slogans to write and no lucky draw to submit to! Just show them your “Golden Ticket” and you will receive your “Bag in a Bag”!

Choco Dementia is Bisou’s ultimate chocolate lovers’ cupcake, a dark rich chocolate cupcake topped with a creamy smooth dark chocolate ganache.

 

So come along and eat as many Choco Dementia cupcakes it takes for you to find that Golden Ticket and win that “Organize Jacq” from gin & Jacqie!

For more information, log on to http://www.ginjacqie.com/ or http://www.bijoux.com.my/

* Source: Gin & Jacqie Official Website & bijoux bulletin.

Now here is something I love to talk about.. DANCE! I have decided to follow and comment about 8TV's latest reality show, Showdown 2010 (I'm assuming this is replacing So You Think You Dance).  

Showdown 2010 premiered over 8TV at 930pm yesterday. This first episode takes the audience through the auditions held in Pulau Pinang and Johor Bahru. Since the contestants were mostly either in their teens or early 20's the obvious choice of genres would be breakdance, hip hop, mainstream pop and bits of shuffling (Let me make this clear, I think shuffling should not even be considered a dance. It is senseless and ridiculous. But that's just me..).

*Note: I am basing my comments on the editted footage by 8TV for the show.

Auditions @ South Zone - Johor Bahru

Breakdance :  Return Crew. They were tight. Breakers. Obvious they put in effort into choreography.

Breakdance : Suka Hati Crew. 5 strangers who came together at the auditions. These people were all over the place. Having only known that there is tobe at least 5 people in a crew upon registering they jsut got together to form a crew.

Shuffle : JB Rockerz - They had costume. Joe Flizzow said they wanted to bring a Shuffle crew to the Battles so they got in. But I personally their routine was repititious and unexciting.

Auditions @ North Zone - Pulau Pinang

Breakdance: Parasite (Penang Ninjas) -  They were techniqually strong.

Shuffle: Hardstyle Shadow Wolf - What the huh?! They started singing! So They put in so much drama in their routine, they did not even get to the routine. The intro was like 5 minutes long.! Too long for a bunch of nothing.

Shuffle: HWCC - Repetitious! Dull. Try again next year..

Breakdance: Funky UX Force - They had some interesting moves.

Hip Hop: Blacky Wacky - Choreography was way too basic.

Breakdance: Metalloid - Basic. Choreography did not stand out.

Hip Hop: Collabozonk - Choreography did not stand out.

They did not show very much else. There may have been crews that were better but was not featured. I guess you will just have to wait until the real competition to find out.

Central Zone : KL Next Week! (I went to watch this one and blogged about it, so click here to check it out). Stay tuned..

*Note : Will try to get pictures for my next dance post.