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Back to Nature
 Helmed by Peter Lamas, Hollywood-renowned makeup artist, Nature Beauty unveils its latest offerings for achieving healthier and youthful looking skin the au natural way! Best known for its paraben-free and organic skincare products, the range has expanded its repertoire to include two fruity notes, Vitamin Cleanser and Pumpkin Polish. Congruous with its brand, they pack a mean punch of organic premium ingredients that will preserve skin’s youth and keep its hydration balance in check. Rich in pumpkin enzymes, natural fruit and nut acids from apples and almonds, the Pumpkin Polish is the perfect elixir for skin revitalisation and rejuvenation. It treats skin by gently polishing and removing dead cells and impurities, resulting in a smoother and even-textured glow. It also contains lingering undertones of pumpkin oil, soy protein, aloe vera and vitamin E to give skin the moisturising treatment it deserves. Going back to basics with the good ol’ C, the vitamin, that is, the Vitamin Cleanser is a makeup remover and a cleanser in one. It leaves skin looking brighter, fresher, younger and feeling softer by gently whisking away everyday impurities and makeup – without stripping the skin of essential moisture. Labels: Reviews UNMASK THE TASTE of French Summer!
On July 26, Kronenbourg 1664 brought the vivacious culture of French summer to the doorstep of High Society Mansion at Pacific Plaza. We helped celebrate the launch of premium wheat beer, Kronenbourg 1664 BLANC, courtesy of the lovely ladies from Sixth Sense Communications. While we are well acquainted with a lager or two, this was very much favoured for its refreshing taste of light and citrusy overtones.   As the temperature rises, it’s always a good sign when you’re greeted at the door with a chilled light beer to commence the evening. High Society Mansion, as the name suggests, translates luxury and opulence into life. A thoughtful combination of classic elegance and style, the soul-warming lounge boasts plenty of personality in its French styled décor: A deep red, black and white outfit, with plenty of marble, chandeliers and gold trim. High quality canapés were served to satiate the appetite of hungry guests, needless to say, along with free-flow bottles of Kronenbourg 1664 BLANC. And to cement that time-traveller experience of lavish masquerade balls in the 17th century, we were also given a Venetian mask to wear!     The angelic Brand Ambassadors of Kronenbourg 1664 were the highlight of the evening. Donned in a heavily sequined blue mini dress, coupled with a pair of angel’s wings, they were hard to missed as they went round the room to unveil the key ingredients that make up this distinct beer. It was revealed, the Kronenbourg 1664 BLANC is made from wheat, coriander seeds and orange peel. Aah… never has there been such finesse and nostalgia in one place.    Wooloomooloo Steakhouse
It’s no big secret that Hong Kong’s established line of Wooloomooloo Steakhouses has taken a distinct turn towards our Little Red Dot. Since its inaugural opening over at Raffles City Shopping Centre, fervent meat lovers, such as myself, have spoken of little else. Their promise: a new dining hub that serves “sizzling premium steaks and time-honoured grilled favourites with the freshest ingredients and passion since 2004”. A rare find amidst a sea of steakhouses in Singapore, I have my sights set on this one. A stunning window display of the restaurant’s prized beef cuts greeted us as we entered the impressive room of hardwood floorboards and full-length windows. As with the rest of Wooloomooloo, the gently lit room combines comfort and elegance, with an aboriginal Australian slant to its décor – the perfect setting for an intimate food experience. 
 
But it’s what on the menu that has put Wooloomooloo back in the spotlight. We started the evening with a delectable selection of Spanish Ham cuts, moving onto the Tuna & Spanner Crab Tartare, which much to my delight came on a bed of bursting flavours: avocado, orange, shallot and coriander. Coming up trumps was another ideal starter, the Jumbo Prawn Cocktail, which was easy on the eyes as it was on the tastebuds. For refreshments, we were treated to a house special, the Wooloomooloo Signature Martini, that was fresh and zesty. We were off to a good start and I knew that instant, my tummy was in for an appetizing ride.
The mains are where the restaurant really comes into its own. Turns out, the Australian Black Angus Tomahawk was really the star of the show. Specially prepared for two (or more), it would probably require you to bring your brand of culinary theatrics to this massive steak-eating ritual. For a more “civilised” approach, simply request for the chef to slice it down for you. Don’t let its humongous portion deceive you, the meat was served with the bone in and broiled to absolute medium-rare perfection that would please any meat-loving meal goer at the table. The USDA 12-ounce Prime Rib Eye and Beef Wellington were two other specials on the board, with the latter being my ultimate favourite. Albeit the layers of mushroom duxelle, Parma ham, Foie Gras and a delightfully crisp puff pastry wrapped over a succulent Australian filet mignon made it a little unwieldy to eat, but ooh – the flavours were spot on! The three handsome dishes were expertly paired off with Lyonnaise Potatoes, Mashed Potato, and Creamy Spinach as sides.
It’s hard to put a finger on a dessert when everything on the menu looks like a winning proposition. But we finally concluded the night with the sweet notes of their Bread & Butter Pudding and Apple Crumble. In the end, it was the Pavlova, served with Chantilly cream fresh fruits and passion fruit coulis that got it over the line.
Wooloomooloo Steakhouse is at 2 Stamford Road, Level 3, Swissotel the Stamford, Singapore 178882 WhatHeWants Summer Skincare for Men
Guys, we know that adopting a skincare regimen may be discomfited for the most of you. But with the sun’s harmful rays beating down on your skin all year round in sunny Singapore, you might want to make sure to slather on enough sunblock to protect your masculine visage. After all, there’s nothing more a girl loves than a guy being comfortable in his own skin (with the big chiseled chest not falling too far behind). Lucky for you, WhatHeWants takes on the sweltering heat in full swing, stocking a new range of summer must-haves on their shelves.  Give your skin a daily dose of SPF with Mr. Sun SPF 35 PA++ by Gatzmen (S$36.90) to replenish and regenerate skin from the damaging sunlight. Apply a dime-sized drop to fingertips and in circular motions, spread it evenly all over your face and neck.  Never leave home without TIO2 Sunblock SPF 30 by MenScience (S$65) if you want hydrated and youthful looking skin. Smooth on this 20 minutes before getting out that door to prevent aging and long-term damage caused by prolonged exposure to the sun.  You don’t have to be in a spray tan booth or under the sun to get a golden tan. Specially made for our beaus, the 4VOO Face and Body Bronzer (S$89) is swift to apply and it gives your skin an instant colour with a subtle hint of shimmer that keeps your glow going into our next summer season. To top that off, this silk-enriched product also contains 19 botanical extracts, vitamins, minerals and essential oils to ensure your skin stays soft and completely moisturised. WhatHeWants is located at: The Cathay 2 Handy Road #01-06 Singapore 229233 Tel: +65 6738 6903 Orchard Central 181 Orchard Road #03-30 Singapore 238896 Tel: +65 6634 0386 www.whathewants.com.sg Labels: Reviews Peony Jade Restaurant @ Keppel Club
Last week I took a breather from the daily grind for a much-needed appetite boost at Peony Jade at Keppel Club. A sleek and elegant interior greeted guests as they entered – a sea palette of red and black and draping lanterns, accompanied with simple oriental furnishings.  Taking a nostalgic hike down the streets of Hong Kong like it was 50 years ago, waiters were clad in the simplest of frocks to match the theme: a white T-shirt with knee-length pants, traditional clogs and a morning glory towel hung around their neck. And to cement that time-traveller experience, an old heavily dubbed Chinese film was screened at the back of the room, while guests have their meals. The essence of Hong Kong’s bygone era was restored momentarily in this glossy vision of the 1960s.  We were first introduced to a fine selection of appetising sweet and savoury teasers. This dish comprises of Sweet and Sour Marinated Assorted Mock Meat, Deep-Fried Mud Fish Ball with Clam Sauce, Pan-Fried Homemade Healthy 'Pi Pa' Soya Tofu, Pan-Fried Lotus Root Cake with Minced Pork and Conpoy, and Deep-Fried Dough Fritters Stuffed with Minced Prawn Paste. Seems like a mouthful but an ideal starter to get our taste buds rolling in.  What came after was a familiar dish to most. Served in individual bowls, the Fish Maw Broth with Conpoy and Chives was just enough to get us settled in before the mains.  A main of Stewed Homemade Soya Tofu with Mixed Seafood arrived in a large clay pot. I grew merry over a generous find of mouth-watering ingredients as I piled my plate with at least one of each kind. A handsome dish that comes in a wide palette of local flavours, the combination was generally quite traditional – perfect for a family reunion.  No doubt a personal favourite, the Braised Duck in 'Teo Chew' Style Combination with Steamed Ginger Chicken is said to be their specialty. It was heavily garnished but cooked to perfection in a wonderfully savoury base. This delectable dish used to be served only during special occasions, so we’re told, and I can see why. The flavours were spot on and a definite winner in my books.  Albeit the sweet and sour Fried Pork Ribs with Pineapples paled a little in comparison to the other dishes, it’s still as authentic as it comes. There’s something home-styled about it, just the way my Ah Ma used to make it.  The Beef Tendon Noodle Soup with 5 Spices holds up its end of the deal. A perfect end to all that’s savoury, the beef was oh-so-tender and simply bursting with flavours. At this point, dessert was already on my mind. We ended the day with the Homemade White Sugar Sponge Cake Combination and Homemade Healthy Soya Tofu. This traditional accompaniment has just the right amount of sweetness to neutralise our taste buds before stepping out. Grab your loved ones and sink into an ambience of traditional oriental indulgence. Peony Jade is at 10 Bukit Chermin Road, Keppel Club. Tel: +65 6276 9138 Tim Burton: The Exhibition
 One of the many perks of working for a magazine like Kluster is the freebies that comes with every review I write. So when I flew to Melbourne over the weekend last September, I was given 2 complimentary tickets to Tim Burton: The Exhibition. I was pretty stoked! With my "media pass" (hypothetically), I avoided the 45 minutes queue and jumped straight to the front of the ticket booth. Oh yeah... that feeling was pretty exciting. Anyhow, here's my review: Over 15 weeks, The Australian Centre for the Moving Image hosted a major retrospective of Tim Burton’s career. It marks the celebration of Burton's eccentric style and his love for dark absurdity that spawned the likes of Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow and The Nightmare Before Christmas. And thanks to the good graces of ACMI, we recently had the opportunity to glimpse into the whimsical world of the famed Hollywood director. For the past 14 weeks, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image hosted a retrospective of one of Hollywood’s most influential cinematic visionary, Tim Burton. He who has spawned critically acclaimed films such as Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow and The Nightmare Before Christmas, Burton comes to us as no stranger. Needless to say, when we received an exclusive invite to Tim Burton: The Exhibition in Melbourne, we were there faster than you can say “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice”. Direct from New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Tim Burton: The Exhibition charts and explores the many phases of Burton’s career as a director, concept artist, illustrator and photographer. This unique exhibition spans his life’s work, from Burton’s formative years as an introverted loner in Burbank, California to the multi-award winning luminary he is today. It is made up of over 700 rarely seen-before artworks from Burton’s own private and professional collection including drawings, paintings, photographs, puppets, costumes, films and storyboards.   Highlights include the Burtonarium, a gothic carnival style tent that exemplifies the director’s dark and imaginative twisted world. Die-hard Burton fans will fall weak in the knees as they journey through an eerie illusionary terrain of warped floors, bright fluorescent painted creatures, and a suspended glow-in-the-dark miniature carousel. There’s more: viewers are also treated to a once-in-a-lifetime display of props and costumes derived from the studio’s archives. To name a few, it exhibits the iconic hedge sculpture from Edward Scissorhands, a box of antique razors from Sweeney Todd, life-sized costumes from Alice in Wonderland, and who would have thought – a decapitated head of Sarah Jessica Parker from Mars Attacks!. That was definitely an experience I'll remember for the rest of my journalistic career. ;) Photos courtesy of the good folks from ACMI.  launch of final episode
 Hurrah! A spanking new online accessories store, Final Episode was launched on Monday. As the newest store on the Sydney-meets-world block, Final Episode features selections from established international labels Camilla Skovgaard, Opening Ceremony and Tristan Blair as well as emerging Sydney designer duo, Strummer. Final Episode prides itself on stocking cutting-edge and innovative designs and wares that span fashion, design and art. Not one to restrict herself to single-focus projects the brains behind FE, Seema Duggal – who is also founder and editor of Side Street Sydney - offers customers published art with purchase, in the form of an exclusive concept zine. For those residing in Sydney, this is for you. To celebrate the launch Final Episode is hosting a party at aMBUSH Gallery this Thursday night at 6pm. Works by high-profile Aussie artists Ben Frost, Jonathan Zawada, Lyn & Tony and Canvas Group will be on display on the night. aMBUSH Gallery is at 4 James Street, Waterloo, Sydney. To attend, simply RSVP via the Facebook page. jowell tan: creative writing class
 I'm always on a lookout for art and literary greatness, so when my friend Jowell Tan gave me a little insight about his blog, I got a little excited. The budding writer and photographer runs the Creative Writing Class blog, where he writes short fiction stories and pens his creative thoughts on music and photos. Boy, can he write! Jowell is also keen on critiquing any photos or music you may throw at him, so toss him a little challenge and start sending in your stuffs. Have a gander at his blog or pop in to say hello, you might just get inspired to do something on a whim. a stoner's guide to life
 The folks at New York's High Times magazine know what’s best when it comes to getting stoned. Enter: The Official High Times Pot Smoker’s Handbook a collaborative book of all things grass compiled by David Bienenstock and High Times editors. It's every pothead’s ultimate guide to the wonders of cannabis culture. TOHTPSH includes an entertaining insight into the history of marijuana, pot recipes, best ganja getaways, a list of 420 things to do when you’re stoned and much more. Sweeeet. The Official High Times Pot Smoker’s Handbook is available for sale at Amazon.com. View original post at Kluster Magazine. Labels: Reviews mushu - and no it's not mulan's dragon pet!
 Here’s what’s been on high-rotation on my iPod as of late: six synth-alternative pop gems from Mushu’s self-titled second EP. Hailing from Sydney, the quintet humbly cited Bob Dylan and Neil Young as their musical muses. Mushu create a lush and charismatic alternative sound with harmonies, reverb, synths and subtle distortion falling perfectly in place. The first serving off the EP is ‘Neap Tide’, its graceful acoustic intro slowly builds to a synchronized harmony, accompanied by the catchy highs and lows of distorted guitars. The soothing voice of lead vocalist, Simone Macarounas really shine through in ‘Carousel’, while Soldiers’ adopts a different style with snare drums making it a satiating track to close. Already hotly tipped, the band is polishing their good name to shine. Currently on an acoustic tour of the US and Canada, there is an LP in pre-production and heaps of shows to follow suit. View original post at Kluster Magazine.
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