SHANGHAI RESTAURANT WEEK - Bon Vivant

Last stop of the Shanghai Restaurant Week fine dining marathon is Bon Vivant by celebrity chef Justin Quek.  This modern French cuisine with Asian twist offers exactly what I was craving for.  

Here's what we had:

• Duck confit salad with green apple and chopped hazelnut X 2
• Grilled beef tenderloin with seasonal vegetable black pepper sauce
• Singapore king prawn laksa
• Opera cake
• Hazelnut mousse with caramel ice cream
• Americano coffee

I have to admit that I was also tempted to try their signature foie gras xiao long bao (steamed dumplings), but was craving for a light, crispy salad with duck.  And what a choice: the added hazelnut and green apple slices with just the right ratio of salad/dressing made this starter so appetizing!

Both mine and hubby's main dish were perfectly cooked and seasoned.  I think a little more, I would have licked my bowl...And our desserts ended our meal and the restaurant week on a sweet note!

HAIR INSPIRATION - Undone

Don't you hate girls who roll out of bed and complain about how they haven't washed their hair in days but look like this?!?  Are you kidding me?!?

To get that intentionally undone that is as sexy and careless as these takes a great amount of dry shampoo/texturizer/bobby pins, lots of practice and most importantly, good hair genes.

For the rest of us, maybe we can just start looking for a great hairstylist!

SHANGHAI RESTAURANT WEEK - Moon's

Our second stop of Shanghai Restaurant Week is at Moon's Steakhouse.

What we ordered from the lunch set menu:

• Deep Fried Beer Batter Monkfish
• Warm Goat Cheese Vol au Vent Salad
• Foie Gras Cheese Burger X 2
• Chocolate Lava Cake
• Fine Crispy Apple Tart

Although the restaurant's specialty is premium dry-aged rib eyes (which was offered for a small supplement), both Lung and I were unable to resist the mouth watering foie gras cheeseburger served with a generous piece of pan seared foie gras, sautéed mushrooms, crispy bacon and tomato chutney!

And surprisingly, I swallowed the whole thing and had room for dessert!

WINDOW SHOPPING - Zara

(Zara Fall 2012)

I was just walking back to our studio with my best friend/partner, Taylor, from lunch and came across this dress in the window display!

Ah...how I would have loved to wear this ZARA long sleeve lace dress with leather peplum instead of that basic Isabella Oliver to one of the upcoming events!!!  I mean I could buy it and hope it would fit perfectly in a year (or more realistically, in 18 months), but that wouldn't really make sense, wouldn't it?

In a hurry, I urged my friend to try it on, for my simple satisfaction...but she was too lazy (and didn't want to be tempted to buy another black dress).  Life is so unfair...why are all these beautiful clothes popping left and right when I can only window shop!

ps. I hate window shopping!!!

SHOPPING - Isabella Oliver

With so many upcoming events and my belly getting increasingly bigger by the week, I got this Isabella Oliver LBD as a back-up plan in case my original outfits start to rip from the sides the minute I try to put them on...  In any case, I love the wide boat neck and 3/4 sleeves: easy and simple enough as a blank canvas for me to accessorize from laid-back bohemian to urban chic throughout the whole pregnancy.

Best of all, I got it on ebay (their UK website has TONS of Isabella Oliver pieces) for less than $100 including shipping!  Can't wait to receive it!!!

OBSESSION DU JOUR - Black Boots

(Alaia)

(YSL)

(Alexander Wang)

(Givenchy)

(Miu Miu)

I know...I probably already own a dozen pairs of black boots...I'm not sure if it's because we're in September or because NY Fashion Week is just around the corner, but every fall, I feel the urge of getting a new pair of black boots!

Here are my top 5 picks:

• Alaia lace-up calf hair ankle boots - I've been looking at this style since last fall and love the new grey/black leopard print of this season.  With an 2" platform and rubber sole, these 6" heels seems like the perfect boots with any outfit.
• YSL Rita flat boots - I can't get enough of the gold metal tip!!!  These are so retro yet on trend!
• Alexander Wang ankle boots - Probably the pair that I'd be reaching for everyday this fall/winter.  With its cool cutout heels and sleek urban feel, this is definitely a favourite among my fellow bloggers!
• Givenchy fold over the knee boots - While the OTK trend is a little passé, these pull-on fold over are more luxe edgy than sexy mama.  Did you also noticed the metal shark tooth embellishment?
• Miu Miu glitter-sole ankle boots - Who cares about red soles when you can stomp around town in glitter soles?!?  These might be simple in design (and proven to be leg-lenghtening with tights or skinny jeans), but I just can't resist the peak of silver glitter while walking in the evening!!!

SHANGHAI RESTAURANT WEEK - el Willy

It's Shanghai Restaurant Week again (Sept 3-9th inclusively)!!!  And our first stop is El Willy, a widely popular Spanish restaurant that delivers traditional and contemporary tapas.

Don't worry...although I'm suppose to be eating for 2, I didn't actually devour all those dishes by myself!  It was all shared between hubby and I.

Here's what we had:

• Gazpacho "Andaluz" each (not in picture)
• 21 st century Russian salad
• Latin style seafood ceviche,wrapped in rice paper with mango and Coriander
• "Nido" served in brioche with tomato and sobrasada slow cooked egg
• Patatas pannadera, romesco, roasted peppers and confit tomatoes slow cooked egg
• "Zarzuela de marisco" with toasted garlic bread
• Confit, lightly smoked chicken thigh with orange rice
• Sexy dessert each (not in picture)

Sounds like a lot but due to tapas-size portions, I think my hubby was left still craving for a burger!?!   Well, I guess we can't really complain given the RMB 118 fixe price lunch menu (just under $20...and don't forget there's no tax nor tips here in China!).

OUTFIT DU JOUR - Windowpane

Looking at the view of Pudong from the Bund never gets old.  Especially if it's from the 5th floor of the historical building on South Bund 22!

Guess where I was having lunch today?

Top - Marni for H&M; Shorts - Club Monaco; Clutch - Barney's; Hat - Uniqlo; Necklaces - Marni for H&M; Watch - Hermes; Beaded bracelet - gifted; Clic Clac bracelet - Hermes; Bangles - Street Vendor; Flip Flops - A&F

J. MENDEL Fall 2012

(J. Mendel Fall 2012 Campaign)

That's why fall is my favourite season: the exotic leathers, the fur & feathers and still warm enough to wear silk & chiffon for added drama if needed.

The Cutest Punk on the Block

Just got home from my nephew's wedding and while waiting at the reception, I got a few snapshots of Ayden in his pink shirt, strip tie, suspender jeans and his new mohawk cut...he was definitely the cutest kid of that wedding (and I'm not saying that just because he's my son)!

However, he grew out-of-patience very quickly as all the cousins, aunts and uncles wanted to pose with him...aye...the side effect of being popular!