Cakes at The Red BeanBag @ Publika

Photo credit: The Red BeanBag

A friend's friend introduced us to the Red Beanbag in Publika after a two hours hike through Gasing Hill in Petaling Jaya recently. The hike was exhausting but fun and we felt that after burning all those calories, we deserved a reward. In the form of cake.



Photo credit: The Red BeanBag

My friend's friend, Sher Lyn mentioned a friend's cafe in Publika that had the most amazing cakes. And that was how we ended up at this adorable restaurant overlooking the Square, near the Bee's and Plan B.


Photo credit: The Red BeanBag

We got there about lunch time and the place was buzzing with people waiting for a table. Fortunately we had the foresight to grab a bite at the food court downstairs which prevented us from salivating over the other customer's food. I heard people would wait 45 minutes to be seated, indicating the popularity of this place.

Pardon the poor quality pictures of the food as it had been an impromptu trip and I only had my phone with me. I had to steal some of the interior shots from their official facebook page here.

The interior design and ambience of the restaurant immediately reminded me of Australia and my friends from there quickly confirmed this, noting the cardboard menus and bottles of water to help yourself to on each table. The entire place, althought crowded, gave off a warm welcoming feeling that just invites you to come in and chill out for the rest of the day. Preferably with a cuppa and a slice of their yummy cake.

As soon as we were seated, I headed to the cake display to check out their cakes. Sher Lyn recommended the Rum and Raisin Mille Crepe cake (RM14.90) which was too die for! As soon as we dug in, we relapsed into silence to fully appreciate the smoothness of the cake and the mixture of sweetness with clear flavour of rum in it. It was slightly more expensive than the crepe cakes at Food Foundry but totally worth it! All of their crepe cakes are home made by Oneatezero and often sells like hot cakes!

 

 

I also ordered the Red Velvet cake (RM12.90) because I have been craving for one ever since trying the Starbuck's version. Sadly the Red Velvet was a disappointment as the cake was dry and crumbly while the layers of cream cheese were too thin and little. Perhaps it was because we had the Rum and Raisin before it which affected our taste buds but the Red Velvet was also lacking in sweetness.  

 

 

While we were there, Sher Lyn ordered a cup of coffee. It smelt divine! And that wasn't the only thing that smelt good there. The table across ours had the Mussels & Clams In Aromatic Wine Broth and the My Crustacean Cousin (Tiger Prawns, Scallops & Pipis Served With Freshly Pressed Tagliolini Pasta) that had us drooling despite our full tummies. We could smell the scents wafting through the air and we promised we would come again for a proper meal.

 

 

Service was prompt and efficient, I have no complains about that. The restaurant decor is just lovely and in the mood of Chinese New Year. The pricing of the cakes are slightly more expensive than what I am used to but the Rum and Raisin crepe cake is worth every cent and considering the location, I believe the prices are justified. I will certainly come back again, this time with a bigger group of friends, my trusty cameras and an empty tummy to try everything.

 

Aw, dammit. I've gotten hungry again just from writing this review. Oh and by the way, the Red Beanbag is also pet-friendly, ringing up another plus point in my books!

The Red Beanbag

Add: Lot A4-1-08, Level 1, (overlooking The Square)

Solaris Dutamas, Mont Kiara

50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +6 03-6211 5116
Hours: Tue-Fri, 10am-10pm;

Sat & Sun 9:30am-10pm,

closed on Mondays

 

Photo credit: The Red BeanBag

 



 *********

To all my readers,

Happy Chinese New Year!

Have a safe journey and happy eating!

Captain America's New Leading Lady

Rumour has it that Emily VanCamp will be starring opposite Chris Evan's Steve Rogers in the sequel of Captain America.

Who is Emily VanCamp you ask? (Have you been living in a cave for the past few years?) You may recognise her from Brothers & Sisters as Rebecca Harper and more recently as Emily Thorne in the hit TV series Revenge. If all talks go well with the producers, VanCamp will soon be making the leap from the small screen to the big screen with the very high possibility of playing Captain America's new love interest, Sharon Carter.

Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter?

In the comics, Sharon Carter is the niece of Steve's former flame, Peggy Carter who was played by Hayley Atwell in the first Captain America movie. As there's no possible way to bring Peggy back in the fold, it has been confirmed that Atwell will not be returning for the sequel. Sharon is also an agent of SHIELD which is probably where she and Steve will be crossing paths.

Bye, Peggy.

Personally I am thrilled that VanCamp might be starring in the Marvel movie franchise. She has been one of my favourite actresses due to her ability to portray the dual-facade of the elegant and lady-like socialite Emily Thorne and the harden, manipulative Amanda Clarke out to avenge her father's wrongful death. Did I mention she is not only the brains of manipulation but knows how to kick butt as well? If VanCamp can hold her own as the main character in a two-season series, her future is looking bright on the big screen.

I really do hope the directors and producers make Sharon a well-fleshed out character with an important role in the movie plot, not some damsel-in-distress like Mary Jane Watson. Peggy sure wasn't a damsel in distress and it makes no sense if her niece was. Of course, strong women will be plentiful in this movie as Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Robin Sparkles Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill have been reported to be reprising their roles.

The sequel is titled Captain America: The Winter Soldier which means, (if you follow the comic or the series) Bucky Barnes, played by Sebastian Stan will be making his return. The plot is kind of obvious for fans of the Avengers but it will be interesting to see how it all goes down. 

The sequel will also star Anthony Mackie as Falcon, a winged superhero who will probably be Cap's new sidekick. Now this new addition, I am a little 'um-meh' to accept but we'll see how the writers and director will weave their magic when the movie comes out next year.

That's right! Captain America: The Winter Soldier will only be coming out in 2014. Until then, we'll just have to contend ourselves with Iron Man 3 (May 3) and Thor: The Dark World (Nov 8). So female fans of Chris Evans/Captain America and guys fans of Emily VanCamp will just have to keep it in their pants for the time being.

"I make stars & stripes look cool.'

No biggie. *goes off to download all of Chris Evans' movies*

myBurgerLab @ Seapark review

Hey, guys!

 

I know I haven't been updating as frequently as before. My thesis assignment has begun and I am now mostly overwhelmed with terms like 'conceptualising', 'theory', 'feminist', 'content analysis' and 'methodology'. So please bare with me and I'll try to update as often as possible!

 

Now on to the food review.

~.~.~.~.~.~

I have been hearing a lot about myBurgerLab located in Seapark and decided to dropby to see what the fuss was about. As a regular visitor to Seapark for years, it was surprising that this location was picked for what will become a popular burger joint.

I got there on a Saturday evening at about 7pm and walked out with my burger at 8pm. Yup, it was a one-hour experience of queing up and waiting for the famous charcoal-bun-burger.

The long line outside of about ten people did little to deter me as I quickly found a parking space and joined the queue. The queue weaved all the way into the shop where it was was jammed pack with ravenous people happily munching away at their burgers. I should mention that the line was due to the popularity of the burgers, NOT because of inefficiency because myBurgerLab provides very efficient and helpful service.

Next to the "Order Here" counter was the blackboard menu written out in colourful chalk, like in primary school. Carnivores have the option of either beef or/and chicken while vegetarians can go for the vege burgers. There is apparently a secret menu that offers the Elvis burger. Intriguing, right? If you are uncertain of what to try, there is a friendly staff at hand to make recommendations.

I ordered two burgers, takeaway because there was no place to sit. There was a pickup counter where you'll find an African staff shouting out your names for you to pick up your orders. The diversity amongst the workers and teamwork there was impressive and highly recommendable. Maybe a certain government should take tips from myBurgerLab on how to unite a country.

Through a common love for food.

Speaking of love for food, I ordered the ala carte Say Cheese and the A+.

Say Cheese was practically oozing with sharp chedder. The entire patty was coated in cheese with a bed of lettuce and mushroom. The patty was tender, succulent and juicy. And the buns were fluffy, soaking up the sauce and cheese well.

The A+ was indeed deserving of its grade. The caremelised onions and shikate and enoki mushrooms added a sweet kick to the ever yummy patty topped with sharp chedder. I must say my favourite part was the crunchy cheese bits which I left for last.

myBurgerLab also offers Smooshie, a refreshing juice drink that comes at RM5. I ordered the mandarin orange and lychee drink with wolfberry bits inside, a seasonal special. Yummy!

 

If you order the set, the burgers comes with highly recommended oregano fries and a drink. Drinks are refillable by the way for dine-ins. Despite the one-hour queue, I would like to go back and try their other burgers there, especially the mysterious Elvis burger. But this time, I'll definitely come earlier to secure a seating place and a chance to fully relish their burgers with fries this time.

Details:
myBurgerLab
14, Jalan 21/22,
SeaPark, 46300 PJ,
Selangor.
Hours: Tuesdays – Sundays, 5.00pm – 11.00pm (closed on Mondays)
Contact them at their official FB page: https://www.facebook.com/myBurgerLab



Burgers, anyone?

Pet Project is back!

Mark your calenders and prepare to "get active to help save animals" because Pet Project Malaysia is back!

At a recent press conference at City Golf, BSC, the organisers of Pet Project in association with Expatriate Lifestyle Magazine have officially announced the return of the event with a performance by Sabrina Saw's own little Chicka's followed by a quick golf session with one of their sponsors, City Golf.

Pet Project Malaysia press conference.

 Here are your need-to-know info!

What is Pet Project?

Project Malaysia was founded by Sabrina Saw who wanted to unite her love for dance and animals for a good cause. In 2012, Pet Project succeeded in raising RM23,000 through a series of activities consisting of dance, fitness and sports, which was donated to over nine animal welfare NGOs. Now in its second year, this event aims to raise awareness and funds for animal welfare within Malaysia which can only be achieved with the help of the public.

Sabrina Saw and her event partners

Sounds like fun! What activities will there be?

Pet Project Malaysia will be bringing in the top international and local dance, fitness and athletic names such as Tony Stone and Suzette Ackermann as well as various sport clinics and workshops for football, golf, rock climbing and other sports.

If you're into dancing (like me), then you don't want to miss this event and a chance to learn from Tony Stone himself. Here'a preview of what he'll be bringing to  the table.

But I don't do sports. What other activities will there be?

For those who aren't into getting down and dirty with sweat, don't worry! There will also be a carnival, shopping bazaar, auction, F&B, arts and crafts, animal welfare booths and many more things for you to see and do. So there are plenty of ways for you to spend your time and money for a good cause! NGOs will also be bringing a few animals for adoption so if you're thinking of adding a furkid to your family, do drop by!

Cool! So how much money do I need to bring?

A coupon system will be used at the event for everything. For example, a master class could range from 5-10 coupons per session while a rock climbing is 2 coupons per climb. Coupon books will be available for sale at RM50 per book on the day of the event.

All funds collected from coupon sales will be donated to participating NGOS. Alternatively, you can also drop by the NGO booths during the event to make a donation and to find out more on how you can help.

Okay, I am sold! When and Where?

Mark down these details:
Date: 23 March 2013, Saturday
Time: 9 - 6pm
Venue: The British International School of Kuala Lumpur

What can I do to sponsor or volunteer? 

As Pet Project Malaysia is a non-profit event, they are in need of sponsors and volunteers to help pull off this massive event. If you can help out, do contact them.

Where can I go for more info? 

Check out their website for more details by clicking on the image below!

Last question. Will you be there? 

Definitely! Look forward to seeing you there!

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Movie Review

This is a fairy tale we all grew up with. A story about two children, Hansel and Gretel who were abandoned in the woods and came upon a witch living in a cottage made of candy. She tries to eat them and they kill her by outwitting her. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters continues this classical story with dark humour and lots of action scenes. Not to mention, a plenty of blood and gore splattering the screen almost every ten minutes or so.

Thanks to Nuffnang and UIP, I managed to catch the premiere screening of Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunter.

Gist
After their first witch kill as children, Hansel and Gretel have found their calling in life as Hawkeye and Buffy witch hunters for hire and rather successful ones at that. Although still suffering from abandonment issues, work is relatively easy for the orphaned siblings as witches' spells and curses do not work against them.

When the children of Augsburg, Germany (the country of the Brothers Grimm) are taken by the powerful sorceress Muriel (Famke Janssen), the mayor hires the siblings to find the children and to kill the witches. And from there, the witch hunt commences.

Jeremy Renner as Hansel.

Verdict
Admittedly I was a little skeptical about this movie seeing as there has been a trend of remaking classical fairy tales as movies in recent years. And I don't mean that in a Disney happy-ending-way. Just take a look at Amanda Seyfried's Red Riding Hood and Kirsten Stewart's Snow White. But because Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton were the titular characters and the main baddie was the former Jean Grey/Phoenix from the X-men trilogy, I placed Hansel and Gretel on my must-watch movie list for January 2013.

Gemma Arterton as Gretel.

Storyline was fairly predictable but the blend of humour and action keeps the audiences either laughing or flinching on behalf of the characters whenever they take a hit because the action scenes do not hold back on the beatings. Adds a sense of realism to the protagonists I suppose. As for the humour, it's not just in the deadpanned lines delivered perfectly by Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton but also in the subtle hints of popular cultural references throughout the movie that may or may not be making fun of other movies (or maybe that's just me).

Here are a few hints:
Edward is a troll.
The Blood Moon was also mentioned in another fairy tale-turned-movie.
A mother's love knows no boundaries (or movie-verse)

Famke Janssen as Muriel

Famke Janssen radiates badass as Muriel although I felt they overdid it with her witch appearence. Famke is a great actress and I think it would have added more dimensions to her character to play a witch in human skin instead of a blue-eyed, wrinkly banshee majority of the time. After all, she did play the most powerful character in the Marvel-verse (also decked out in leather, if I might add).

Would I watch it again?
Rated R for a good reason, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunter serves up an entertaining dark comedy action movie with eyecandy for both guys and girls. However I did come out of the cinema wanting more as it felt as though something was missing. It doesn't excite me the way the Avengers did nor did it leave me intrigued like Inception. I don't know what yet but when I do know, I'll let you know.

But yeah, I would watch it again because it is not often I come across a movie that doesn't hold back on the blood and gore and that stars Jeremy Renner.

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters hits the big screen on 24 January 2013.

Chef & Brew@Bukit Damansara

If you're looking for a restaurant for an intimate gathering of friends and family, then Chef & Brew, Bukit Damansara might just be the place for you. My friend, Celine decided to celebrate her xx (shh, it's a secret) birthday there. 

 

As we were there on a Saturday night, parking was no issue. The restaurant itself wasn't full but had a consistent crowd coming in and leaving throughout the night. I guess we were the noisiest group there that night with the exception of a family with a wailing baby.

The restaurant consisted of an outdoor and indoor dining area, both offering a cosy and comfortable ambiance for you to just sit back, relax and eat. Our group was seated by a wall of ingredients, liqour and random items, resembling the backdrop setup of G3, Bangsar (or is it the other way around?)

Celine had worked out a fixed menu with the restaurant to cater to everyone's preference and the menu was as such:

To kick off the dinner, we were served with toasted bread and butter. I prefer buns over bread when in a restaurant and this bread just didn't do it for me too. It was too tough when bitten into, indicating the lack of freshness. The butter was yummy though.

CNB's Chilli Lamb was a letdown because it was too spicy and soaked in oil. It was served on a papadum which had 'masuk angin' and had soaked in the oil from the lamb curry.

CNB's Chilli Lamb

Cheese wanton & deep fried sotong

The cheese wanton and deep fried sotong wasn't too bad although the sotong was a tad too rubbery. The cheese wanton was my favourite appetizer, filled with delicious cheesy goodness.

Grilled Chicken fillet with roast sauce.

I ordered the grilled chicken with roast sauce. The sauce was too salty for my liking but the chicken fillet was perfectly cooked. I liked it so much I stole my sister's share. My mom and dad ordered the fish and chips and the spaghetti turkey ham and wild mushroom olio which were just above average. Nothing really stood out from these two dishes. 

Fish and chips

spaghetti turkey ham and wild mushroom oglio

Once everyone had settled in from the main course, the birthday celebration commenced with cake(s), a lot of picture taking and friendly banter.

Photo time!

We're all crazy people!

 We had many many flavours of Secret Recipe cakes and as usual, their cheesecakes do not disappoint. By the end of the night, we were all so full, rounded and happy....

Thank you, Celine for inviting my family and I for this special celebration and 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 

The birthday girl and her plate of many cakes!

While we were there, I could smell the sizzling steak from another table which smelt promising. Chef & Brew carries an extensive menu of western and local dishes at reasonable prices. Despite this so-so experience, I wouldn't mind coming back to Chef & Brew to try its sizzling steak and its desserts as I have heard good reviews of their desserts. Any takers?


Details:
Chef & Brew 
1 Jalan Medan Setia 1,
Bukit Damansara, 50490
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 - 2095 9799
Hours: 11am-late

Schwarzkopf reveals its 2013 Ambassadors

I was recently invited for the unveiling of Schwarzkopf's ambassadors for 2013, held at the entrance of Aeon Big also known as Carrefour, Mid Valley. Hosted by the beautiful Julie Woon, dressed in a shimmering golden dress, it was a rather intimate affair with members of the media and bloggers present to find out who were the 10 winners of Schwarzkopf Ambassador Search 2012.
 

Throughout 2012, Schwarzkopf held road shows for six weeks at major colleges and universities in the Klang Valley and out of that, 243 young students participated. The ten winners were selected based on having a complete wholesome package of a fashionable style, charismatic personality and creativity in penning slogans that stood out.

The search officially came to an end with the announcement of the 10 Schwarzkopf Ambassadors. The winners were introduced to the crowd and were met with a scattering applause and flashing cameras. I could hear a lot of people remarking how pretty and cute they were.

Ooi Joshua

Loo Lynn Shia

Tan Xue Fen

Yap Foo Khiew

Shalini Nair

Lee Sing Yee

 To me, Lee Sing Yee stood out the most due to her drastic change from an Ah-Lian appearance to a classy 'Hong Kong-star' look as Julie had described her. It's amazing how the right hairstyle can make a difference to a person. Furthermore Sing Yee really knows her poses and facial angles as she strutted down the catwalk for the cameras. I wouldn't be surprised if a modelling agency approaches her after this.

Toh Han Ying

Tan Jia Tong

Nik Azrul Aimanshah b. Ibrahim

Schwarzkopf Ambassadors will be receiving a year's supply of Schwarzkopf haircare and styling products as well as will be appearing at future events and activities on behalf of the renowned hair brand.

"We trust they will be able to represent Schwarzkopf well." said Mr. Markus Daburger, General Manager of Henkel Beauty Care for Malaysia and Singapore at the ceremony.

Thanks, Isabel, Rabiatul and Jay Mee for inviting me along. To Cindy and Lisa, it was so nice to finally meet you in person. And thank you, Schwarzkopf for the hair products because my hair is in constant dire need of repair serums!


Schwarzkopf Products

Schwarzkopf retail products, which includes hair care products (Extra Care series), hair colouration products (Freshlight and Palette) and styling products (Got2b series), are available at prices that won't break your bank at all 26 Aeon BIG hypermarkets formerly known as Carrefour and selected supermarkets and pharmacies.

 To find out more about the Schwarzkopf, its products and its 10 new ambassadors, tune in to the Schwarzkopf Malaysia Facebook page.