Why Victoria Beckham Hardly Smiles

If you have no idea who Victoria Beckham is, you must be living in a cave (but with Internet access for some reason since you are reading this).*grins*

From her days as Posh Spice in the Spice Girls during the late 1990s, Victoria Beckham has carved a name for herself as an international style icon and successful fashion designer. Her most recent achievement: the Victoria Beckham label was named Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards 2014. She is married to the hottest footballer in the world, David Beckham and they have 4 children. Also known for her signature pout, she rarely smiles when posing for photographs.

Earlier last month, as part of Vogue magazine’s “73 questions” video series, Victoria was put through a round of rapid-fire questioning at her newly opened retail store in London where viewers got to see the quick-witted personality her fans know and love.

Here are some of the questions she answered including the one she absolutely hates: why she hardly smiles.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

I check on my kids.

Do you have any pets?

That will be Coco Chanel, the bull dog who lives in LA.

What’s one word your kids consistently ignore?

Don’t play football in the house.

What’s the greatest thing you’ve learned from your kids?

How to play football in the house and how to love unconditionally.

What is your favorite color?

Sunset orange.

What’s your favorite spice?

Posh!

What’s your secret talent?

I used to be able to juggle.

Heels or flats?

Both.

Harry or William?

You can’t make me choose!

What’s the best fashion secret you ever learned?

Less is more.

If you ran the world, what’s one law you would enact?

If? Do you mean when? When I run the world, I’m gonna make it the law that everybody has to do a little something philanthropic.

If you had to wear one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Knickers.

What’s one question you hate being asked?

Why don’t you smile?

Why don’t you smile?

I’m smiling on the inside. I feel that I have a responsibility to the fashion community.

What’s one piece of clothing in your wardrobe that David hates?

He loves everything in my wardrobe.

What’s your favorite food?

Japanese.

What is your idea of a perfect date?

A night in with my husband.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Absolutely.

At first sight what made you fall in love with David?

Duh!

At what age were you the happiest?

I’m really happy right now.

If you could have any super power in the world, what would it be?

I would be able to work out and sleep at the same time.

If you could bring back one look from your 20s, what would it be?

None, have you seen those Spice Girls films?

What’s the one word that you use too much?

Grey area and I know that’s two words.

If you could star in one movie, what would it be?

I starred in Spice Girls the Movie, and I’m still waiting for my Outstanding Achievement Award.

What phrase would define how you lived your life?

Positive energy and creative visualization.

What’s your biggest goal for 2015?

To really learn more and figure out what I can do to really help and make a difference.

If you could choose anyone in the world to live next door to you, who would it be?

Mr. Valentino lives next door to me and it doesn’t get much better than that.

If you could do something else with your life, what would it be?

I wouldn’t do anything else with my life.

To find out more of Victoria’s secrets, watch the video below.

Lotsa Luv

The Loaf - Love It or Loathe It?

Hi everyone,

How was the long CNY weekend? If you felt that yours flew by just like that, mine was exactly the same! Wish we could have another long weekend to recover from this one.*sighs*

To chase our Monday blues away, Liv and I decided to meet up for lunch at The Loaf in Avenue K. 

A lifestyle bakery and bistro

Well known for their range of premium bread and pastries, The Loaf also offer Western and Asian cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is a co-owner, so some of his favorite dishes are featured on the menu, including his much-loved breakfast staple, white bread with chicken or beef curry.

The interior

I’d been to the outlet in Avenue K twice before and on both occasions, I had the Lasagne which was absolutely the best in town. So guess what I wanted to have again? Lasagne! But I was in for a big disappointment when the waiter said they didn’t have any that day. So I thought maybe that’s a sign for me to try something different. 

When I asked the waiter for his recommendations, he looked a bit lost. So after scanning the menu, I decided on the Spicy Seafood Aglio Olio. But that one’s not available either! By now I was thinking that maybe we had chosen the wrong place for lunch. However, Liv didn’t face the same problem with her Fabulous Prawn Mee order so I gave up on the Western dishes and decided to go for something from Tun M’s Selection of Asian Cuisine.



Asian favorites

I’ve always enjoyed eating Ayam Percik, so I wanted to try The Loaf’s Signature Ayam Percik served with rice, acar rampai and papadam. But I was quite taken aback when my order arrived.







 I had expected the Ayam Percik to look like this

But this was what I got instead (RM14.90++)

The Loaf’s Ayam Percik looked a lot more like Ayam Rendang. Had there been a mistake in my order, I wondered. But that thought was quickly dismissed when I saw that the only Rendang item on the menu is Rendang Jawa and this is meat (beef?) served with sesame bun.

I took a bite of the chicken and bingo, it was definitely NOT Ayam Percik! It could have passed off as Ayam Rendang but only a mediocre one due to the lack of spices and “oomph” that one would expect from a Rendang dish. I was hungry, so I ate it anyway.

I wasn't too happy with the overall presentation of my dish either. The plate was smudgy, possibly from the papadam which looked like they had been drenched in oil.

As for Liv, her Fabulous Prawn Mee dish didn't turn out to be as fabulous as its name suggested. The presentation was not appealing at all - plain yellow mee and prawns in a simple gravy, served in a bowl that seemed too big for such a small portion. There wasn't much else in the dish either - there were no vegetables or fishcakes to give it that extra bite. The gravy resembled Maggi Curry Noodles gravy in taste and unlike other prawn mee dishes that Liv had tried before, this one lacked sweetness from the prawns.



The Fabulous Prawn Mee that wasn't (RM16.90++)

After our sub-standard mains, we were looking forward to end our meal with a nice dessert. Liv was super-excited to try the Hokkaido Honey Toast which looked really good in the menu.

Liv's dream dessert

To her utter dismay, it was unavailable as well, and all because they didn’t have any fruit to serve it with! How ironic is that since the MBG fruit shop is just right opposite The Loaf – "go and get the fruits from there!", we wanted to say. But we left it at that and Liv settled for the Brownie with Ice Cream.

The one that saved the day (RM13.00++)

Unfortunately the waiter had forgotten to serve the Brownie with a spoon. When Liv requested for one, he simply pointed to the untouched long spoon that came with my Latte earlier. Liv had to contain her annoyance and insist that he bring her a proper dessert spoon but he went away and came back with another long spoon! Despite this, we both agreed that the Brownie was absolutely delicious, the only thing we enjoyed so far.

For a meal that left us feeling unsatisfied and begging for more, we paid RM73.45, inclusive of a Regular Latte for me (RM13.50++) and Liv’s 500ml Bottled Mineral Water (RM5.00++).

The question is, would we be back to The Loaf for another meal? I think I might, if I could be certain the Lasagne is available on that day. I just hope that what we experienced today was a one-off incident. I'm sure they must be doing a lot of other things right 'cos each time I was there, the place was always packed with the lunch crowd. Perhaps their suppliers were on holiday due to CNY; that’s why the quality of the food we had was not up to par. 

The service level also required a lot of improvements and unless these issues are addressed promptly, The Loaf will stand to lose their loyal customers. Which would be such a shame really if that happens.

My overall verdict:

Taste: 5/10

Service: 6/10

Ambience: 7/10

Presentation: 5/10

Value for Money: 5/10

Address and contact details:

C-3, Avenue K
156, Jalan Ampang
50560 Kuala Lumpur
Tel :+603 2181 8991 

For more information, visit their official website.

Lotsa Luv

One of my favourites

Hi Everyone!

Dancing Fish is one of my favorite restaurant when it comes to Malay-Indo cuisine. My bestfriend and I always pick this restaurant for our regular catch-up session over lunch. I was enjoying my food too much that I forgot to take notes of the prices of the meals. So I shall keep this post brief and let you guys enjoy the pictures of the food instead!

Table Set Up and Menu

The restaurant

Appetizer - Emping Malinjo with Sambal Terasi

The restaurant is named over this meal - The Dancing Fish (deep fried Talapia with Sambal)

Gulai Pucuk Paku - They ran out of pucuk paku so they changed it to mixed vege, still yummy nonetheless!

Tauhu and Tempe Goreng

Caramelized Banana with Vanilla Ice Cream

Are you salivating already? The food is definitely super delicious and each meal is totally on-point! If you're a fan of Malay-Indo cuisine, I highly recommend this restaurant. Currently they have two outlets in Klang Valley - Bangsar Shopping Center and Setia City Mall. The restaurant usually runs full during lunch and dinner time so be sure to make your reservations to avoid disappointment.

For more information, do visit their official website.

Till Then, Happy "Dancing-Fish"-ing!

Liv

Lean is the new Mean

Hi Everyone!

Have you ever felt guilty for eating greasy unhealthy stuff through the weeks? Nasi Lemak Sambal Paru for breakfast, Mcdonalds for lunch and Mee Goreng Mamak for dinner sounds like your usual breakfast to dinner menu? Is your cholesterol level through the roof and you have always wanted to begin eating healthy but don't know where to start? Well, now you can order  pre-cooked and nutritious healthy meals and have them delivered to your doorstep!

Don't you just love how social media has made our lives as a consumer much easier? You can order things online and have them delivered right to your doorstep. You don't even have to leave your house to make a purchase! 

The Lean Canteen is a healthy-meal service that was created by food lovers for food lovers, who are also looking to stay healthy while keeping up with a busy schedule. 

It is important that the food you eat on a daily basis does not only keep you full but also provide good nutrition for your body. Good nutrition, coupled with regular exercise combat illnesses as well as will help you maintain your ideal body weight. It is basically your ticket to a healthy lifestyle.

The Lean Canteen works closely with a nutritionist and a qualified chef to ensure each meals average around only 500 calories. The meals are freshly prepared from a centralized kitchen, and are then delivered to dedicated pick-up point (at eCurve) or straight to your doorstep!

To order, you can contact The Lean Canteen via email or whatsapp. The contact details are listed at the end of this post. When I placed my order through e-mail, Aina, was very quick to reply and address all of my queries. They update their menu from time to time so be sure to ask for an updated menu. Pick out your orders and choose your payment options (COD or bank transfer). Do note that there is a minimum requirement of four orders to proceed with delivery. They deliver every Mondays and Wednesdays and aim to deliver to all customers between 10.30 a.m. - 1 p.m. and they normally charge between RM5-7 for deliveries around KL and PJ.

February Menu

There was a typo in the Fisherman's curry description listed in the menu above. 

This is the updated description.

As you can see, the price of the meals ranges between RM13 - RM18, very reasonable and affordable I must say. The food are vacuum packed to maintain its freshness and can last up to 6 days if you keep them refrigerated at all times. The best before date is displayed on the container. This is great for you to pre-planned your weekly meals in advanced! When you're ready to have your healthy meal, you can either choose to reheat using microwave for 2-3 minutes over medium power or using your conventional stovetop. They also provide clear re-heating instructions on the container.

Delivered in clear food container

Vacuum packed to retain its freshness

This is how "Tok Sambal" looks like after being re-heated

Fisherman's Curry

Fisherman's Curry after being reheated - A well balanced meal and only 362 calories!

I must say, the food was delicious, ingredients used were fresh and the portion is adequate to keep you full. Contrary to popular belief,  healthy food does not always have to taste horrible! Now, I am totally out of excuses to start eating healthy more frequently.

To order, you can contact Aina either via email at theleancanteen@gmail.com or alternatively you can whatsapp her at 012-2086440. For more information you can also visit their facebook or instagram page.

Till Then, Happy Healthy Eating!
Liv

Authentic Padang Cuisine Fit For A Queen

Hi guys,

How was your weekend? I was in the mood for Nasi Padang last Sunday, so I took the family to Restoran Sari Ratu Prima in Kelana Jaya for lunch.

In case you are wondering, Nasi Padang is the cuisine of the Minang folks of Sumatera, Indonesia. It is steamed rice served with various choices of pre-cooked dishes. The dishes are spicy and full of rich flavors due to the generous use of chillies and coconut milk.

Easy parking

Finding the restaurant was not difficult since I’ve been in this area a few times before. I’ve always wanted to check out the place and see how it fares to other Nasi Padang outlets in town. Parking was a breeze since there were ample spots in front of the restaurant.

Outdoor seating

When we arrived, the alfresco dining area was fairly empty but we chose to eat in air-conditioned comfort instead. As we stepped into the restaurant, we saw that a few tables were already occupied. There was also a sectioned-off area for private dining so we quickly made our way there.

Nice interior

The restaurant was well-lit, the floors clean and paintings of Minang traditional houses brightened up the walls.

Wall deco

The array of dishes available was enticingly displayed in a glass case and we were stumped for choice. It is common in a Nasi Padang restaurant for customers to take a look at the display, choose the dishes they prefer, return to their tables and wait for the dishes to be served.

Mouth-watering!

All the dishes looked so yummy and the glutton in me wanted a taste of everything but we finally settled on 5 dishes to eat with our steamed rice: Ayam Pop, Gulai Tunjang, Rendang Daging, Sayur Singkong and Sambal Hijau. Service was swift and within minutes the rice and dishes were presented on our table, ready for us to dig in.

Ayam Pop (RM8.50++)

The plain-looking Ayam Pop (short for Popular) turned out to be absolutely delicious! The ayam kampung (free-range chicken) was marinated, steamed and briefly fried. That’s how it became slightly golden on the outside but still juicy inside. It was served on a bed of blanched pucuk ubi (tapioca shoots). The dark sauce was a combination of sweet soy and chillies; a perfect accompaniment to the chicken.

Steamed rice (RM2.00 per serving)
Gulai Tunjang (RM20++ for 2 pieces of beef tendon)

The Gulai Tunjang or Beef Tendon Curry was my dish of the day. The curry went very well with the steamed rice; it was thick, flavorful with spices and not too oily. The beef tendons were also perfectly cooked and each chewy bite was packed with bursts of flavor from the curry.

Rendang Daging (RM15.00++ for 2 pieces of beef)

The Rendang Daging or Beef Rendang was cooked Minang-style which was almost similar to our Malay Beef Rendang, except that the Minang version was a tad more salty. The chunks of beef were tender and full of robust flavors from the thick and spicy gravy.

Sayur Singkong (RM4.90++)

Cooked with coconut milk and anchovies, the Sayur Singkong (tapioca shoots) was fairly tasty. The green shoots were neither soft nor mushy, which indicated that they were still fresh when the dish was prepared.

Sambal Hijau (RM3.50++)

The Sambal Hijau or green chilli sambal was a nice complement to the other dishes. I wished we had ordered some fried tempe or tofu to eat with the sambal since there was still quite a bit left over after we had finished the rest of our food.

Alpukat Juice (RM9.50++)

A meal at a Nasi Padang restaurant is incomplete without the Alpukat Juice, a drink that is made from avocados and drizzled with chocolate sauce. It is easy to go wrong with this drink but the one served at Sari Ratu had just the right amount of chocolate sauce added without overpowering the freshness of the blended avocados.

Es Teler (RM8.50++)

We rounded off our meal with Es Teler which is the Indonesian version of our Malaysian ABC or Air Batu Campur. Shaved ice topped with avocado, young coconut flesh, slices of jackfruit, palm seeds and pink sago, this sinful dessert was a perfect ending to our satisfying meal!

Meal for 4 (RM115.90)

Our bill came up to RM115.90, which was slightly on the high side for a Nasi Padang meal. However, if you are looking for authentic and delicious Padang cuisine in a clean and comfortable setting and don’t mind paying a premium for quality, then this is the place to go.

My Overall Verdict:

 Taste: 8/10

Service: 7/10

Ambience: 8/10

Presentation: 7/10

Value for Money: 8/10

Address and contact details:
Restoran Sari Ratu Prima

AG-10 & AG-11, Dataran Glomac,

Pusat Bandar Kelana Jaya.

Tel: 03-7806 4122

Till my next culinary adventure, 

Lotsa Luv

Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hi Guys!

As promised, today I'm gonna write about my first attempt at baking chocolate chip cookies. I am not a passionate baker but I do enjoy simple baking recipes from time to time. So, when my friends from uni suggested a meet up before I pop, I dread the idea of loafing around cafes or catching a movie (yes, now that I am heavy I very much prefer staying at home than going out) so I invited them to my place instead.

And what better way for four girl friends to bond and catch up other than baking cookies together! We had so much fun spending time together and the cookies turn out really delicious as well. I brought them to the office today and they were instant hits with my colleagues. Some even said that it's famous - amos like (I promise this was genuine compliments and I wasn't trying to flatter myself!)

If you feel like trying 'em out (Chinese New Year cookies, maybe?) , here's the recipe:

Ingredients: 1/2 cup castor sugar
1 cup  brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup cooking oil
1 whole egg
1 tbsp fresh milk
4 cups flour
A little bit of salt
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 cups semisweet chocolate chip (We used Hershey's)
1tsp vanilla essence

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 175C
2. Beat sugar, butter, cooking oil, egg, milk, and vanilla essence until the mix is thorough and consistent
3. Add in flour (part by part), salt, cream of tartar, baking soda, walnut and chocolate chip to the mixture
4. Once it is thoroughly combined, spoon the mixture into baking tray according to the size you like and be sure to keep some distance between the cookies as they will expand a little in the oven
5. Bake between 10-20 minutes, the cookies will be golden brown when they're done!

Be sure to space the cookies out as they will expand in the oven

Bake between 10-20 minutes - keep checking

Don't forget to cool them on wire rack before shifting them into your cookie jar!

There you go, easy peasy steps to making yummylicious cookies!

Till Then, Happy Baking!
Liv