Two Michelin Star Dining: Amber

Whenever I have the opportunity to go travelling, I will always try to find a nice restaurant to visit. In Hong Kong last year, I took the opportunity to make a reservation at french restaurant Amber, a two michelin star restaurant (apologies as I thought I had written a post on this but it turns out I had completely forgot... oops).

Amber is located at the Landmark, Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong and is listed as number 24 on the world's top 50 restaurants to visit. Although known for Chef Richard Ekkebus' inventive and iconic Hokkaido Sea Urchin with Lobster Jelly and Caviar, the restaurant also boasts ceiling to floor windows and amazing architecture.   

Unfortunately Chef Richard Ekkebus removed his signature iconic sea urchin dish in 2016, but you can try this dish if you decide to order the degustation.

We made a lunch reservation a month before visiting Hong Kong. I would highly recommend booking restaurants in advance to avoid disappointment (especially if they are popular).

We opted for a three course lunch and started with 4 different amuse bouche. The amuse bouche consisted of four different flavours which comprised of salty, sour, bitter and sweet.

For our entree's we had the duck foie gras with brioche and scallops with a butter sauce.

For our mains we ordered a line caught brill and red amadai (crispy roasted on the scales with pointed cabbage, seaweed puree and ginger broth) accompanied with home-made bread with a choice of salted and unsalted butter.

And of course, for dessert we ordered the Ethiopian Coffee (coffee flavoured ice-cream in a chocolate cage, topped with vanilla ice-cream and salted caramel) and 'Gala' apple (baked tatin with grey seasalt as a sorbet, creme fraiche caramel mousseline and salted caramel). 

We were also provided with petit fours and a complimentary chocolate cake from the restaurant. This was my first experience at a two michelin star restaurant and I was not disappointed. The lunch menu is relatively cheaper than the dinner menu and I would recommend eating at this restaurant if you're looking to try good food with amazing service!

Postcards from Paris

"Actually, Paris is the most beautiful in the rain" - Midnight in Paris

(Above: Pont Alexandre III)

The first time I went to Paris, I fell in love with the city and discovered that I had a sweet tooth for macarons. On this second trip, I got to explore the city slowly, learn and adapt to the Parisian life and appreciate parisian fashion.

(Above: Galeries Lafayette)

This was my first time travelling to Europe in winter and during the festive season. I have to admit, although the weather was gloomy, it was actually really beautiful. I think Paris has its own charm during winter and the fashion is amazing. I appreciated and observed how people dressed and it made me wish we had more of a fashion scene here back at home.

During the first week in Paris, we stayed close to Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann. It was the perfect location close to food, shopping and the Opera. If you're looking for places to shop, here are my top places to visit:

• Galeries Lafayette or Printemps: both of these department stores house all the fashion brands as well as local fashion brands. Even if you're not there to shop, the display windows are amazing and well put together. There's a rooftop at the top level which has a nice view of Paris from above and they have all sorts of pastries, macarons and dessert in their food hall.

• Le Marais: A chic neighbourhood with local brands and a great place to find vintage and boutique french stores.

• Avenue Des Champ Elysées: a well known and iconic shopping promenade which has a range of shops from Zara to Ladurée to local souvenirs. 

• Outlet shopping: if you're after a good bargain, the outlet shopping centres are just a 45 min bus ride away and has a range of fashion brands for everyone. 10/10 would recommend. If you're going there, I'd recommend staying a full day at the outlet to maximise all shopping time!

Also don't forget that you can claim up to 13% tax back for all tourists (more incentive to spend hehehe).

(Above: Eiffel Tower)

(Above: Palais Royal)

(Above: Lunch at Le George) 

Pastries and dessert in Paris is amazing. Whether its starting the day with a pain au chocolat or having lunch whilst people watching, the food is delicious. Paris has many michelin star restaurants and if you enjoy food, I would recommend at least trying one.

We went to the one michelin star restaurant, Le George which was located at the Four Seasons Hotel. The restaurant specialised in Italian food. For starters we had bread and shredded crab, vervena and red peppers. For mains we had the Guinea fowl ravioli Del Plin with truffle, Veal agnolotti and mushroom cream and Baked sea bream with white wine sauce. For dessert we ordered the Shades of Hazelnut and crispy mocha to share!

(Above: Laduree)

(Above: Place Vendome)

(Above: The Louvre)

(Above: Hot chocolate and lunch at Angelina)

(Above: Flagship Chanel store at 31 Rue Cambon)

(Above: High Tea at the Peninsula)

The best way to beat the weather and stay warm is to eat more food and sip on a hot drink. We tried the signature high tea at the Peninsula Hotel. Other great places include Angelina (best hot chocolate tbh) and macarons at Ladurée or Pierre Hermé.

Or even escape the cold by visiting museums or the opera. We visited the Musee D'Orsay and waited 2 hours to get in (so if you're going in winter, make sure you layer up). We also visited the Palais Garnier which was the inspiration for the Phantom of the Opera. The architecture is amazing and I would recommend visiting if you're a Phantom fan!

(Above: Palais Garnier)

(Above: Musee D'orsay)

(Above: Palace of Versailles)

During the second part of our trip, we stayed at Madeleine which was close to the shops located at Madeleine and Champ Elysee. Every morning we were greeted with a sunrise and the eiffel tower on our balcony and at night, we would watch the eiffel tower sparkle and do its magic through the window.

(Above: View of the Eiffel Tower from our room)

(Above: Dior store)

It's so easy to fall in love with Paris. The food, architecture and the history is amazing. I hope this has inspired you for your next trip!

All photos taken by iPhone X and FujiFilm x 100.

Autumn/Winter Trends

Although we are still amidst summer and high UV rays, Autumn is just around the corner (yay!). Spending winter in Paris in December/January really makes me wish winter was here. Here's my take on the trends that you might be wearing for the 2019 AW season.

Layering

Layering is all about playing with volume and textures and something everyone can easily do. Pair similar knits and colours for a classic look or patterns for a contrasting look. Balenciaga's 2018 Ready to Wear collection showed us how everyone should be layering their clothes this winter.

Above: Look 67 from Balenciaga Fall 2018 Ready to Wear (Image from Vogue)

Tweed 

The House of Chanel is the bible to how tweed should be worn. It's such a versatile material as it could be a Tweed skirt, tweed jacket, tweed top, tweed bag - the list goes on.

Knee boots

Put your best foot forward with a pair of knee boots. Whether its flat or has a slight heel, it can instantly make your outfit go from casual to going out. If you haven't invested in a pair already, I'd recommend getting one to add to your shoe collection.

One-tone dressing

Although it may take a few outfit changes to get it right, the best way to master one-tone dressing is to do it with tailored pieces - such as a matching jacket and trouser. Using layers of the same colour can create texture and a bold statement.


Right: Look 12 from Chanel Fall 2018 Ready to Wear (Image from Vogue)

The Trench
A timeless classic which gives just the right amount of warmth during Autumn and great for layering during the colder months. Burberry is an expert in this department and I think it's something that will always be used in your wardrobe!

Above: Look 7 from Burberry Pre-Fall 2019 show (Image from Vogue/Burberry)

Note: All images do not belong to me and have been credited and linked.

Travel Diaries: Hong Kong

Even though it's been a while since I was in Hong Kong, I wanted to dedicate a post from my holidays over the Christmas and New Year break. Hong Kong is definitely a buzzing city with lots of culture, food and shopping.

Don't know what to do in HK when you're there? Well here's a list of a few places to see and eat.

(Disclaimer: this post is based on my experiences from my holiday and does not contain an exhaustive list of what you should do)

 Hong Kong skyline 

SHOP

The Landmark - if you're looking for the high end designer goods, look no further. The shopping centre has such a nice layout and has all the stand alone luxury boutiques. Even if you're not going to buy anything, the shopping centre is still a nice place to visit.

Mongkok - want to find a good bargain? Mongkok has some great markets to find a good bargain. Try your bargaining skills or watch on and observe other people successfully make a good bargain. There's heaps of food and you can find all sorts of gems in this neighbourhood. There's also a lot of different types of markets such as the fish market. S and I visited the fish market and I thought it was pretty cool. 

Central - Looking for the largest Zara in Asia? I would be lying if I said I only spent less than an hour in there.... Central has stores scattered around the city centre with Topshop, Zara and Cos within the same vicinity.

Causeway Bay - known as the 'fashion district', here you can find one of the largest LED screens in Asia outside SOGO. Shopping malls and stand alone stores all within walking distance, with heaps of food options nearby.

Above: Tian Tan Buddha at Ngong Ping Lantau Island

Above: Matcha ice cream from Via Tokyo // Salmon platter at a Japanese Restaurant // Japanese fluffy pancakes at FLIPPERS

Man Mo Temple

EAT

Stanley Street - the street with all the cheap and affordable michelin star restaurants. Would recommend going to Yat lok (roast goose house), Tsim Chai Kee noodle shop and Mak's noodles! Tip: Go early to queue up for a spot if you can because I can guarantee there will be a queue for most places.

Michelin Star restaurants - HK has many michelin star fine dining restaurants - from cheap eats to fancy restaurants. S and I took the opportunity to visit Amber (located at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental) and it was amazing - honestly one of the best dining experiences I've had. It's on the World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2017 and if you have the time and want to try some french cuisine, this is a place I'd recommend. $$$ but worth it for a special occasion!

Desserts - egg tarts, Australian Dairy Company, Mammy's egg waffles, cheap bubble tea, hongkong style desserts... so much food. I was basically snacking every second hour and walking everywhere just so I could eat more...

Travel tip: share your food with someone so you'll feel less guilty when you eat more food (hehehe)

Dim sum - seriously so cheap and delicious. Stop by Tim Ho Wan if you can (typical tourist place) or any other store for dim sum. When S and I went to Tim Ho Wan (we went twice), go early or you will be queuing for ages OR takeaway your food and eat in a park or some place nearby. The baked char siew bao's are amazing and ridiculously cheap.

Above: Buildings at South Horizon // Salted egg yolk waffle from Mammy Pancake

Above (clockwise from top right): Egg tart from Tai Cheong Bakery // Ox Tongue at a Japanese Restaurant// Braised beef brisket noodles at Mak's Noodles // Dim sum at Tim Ho Wan

 Above: Noodles at Tsim Chai Kee

SEE/DO

The Peak - best views of HK from the top. Go at night to see the city sparkle and potential photo opportunities!

Ocean Park or Disney Land - amusement parks are always fun! I personally enjoyed both places when I went (on different trips), but I found Ocean Park to have more rides and a lot larger than Disney Land. The only downside was that the queues were so long :(

Tian Tan Buddha - note to future self - to avoid huge lines, don't go to tourist attractions on a Saturday or a few days after Christmas. Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend going on the cable car up to the mountains to enjoy the scenic views from the top.

Tsim Sha Tsui - the walk along the Victoria Harbour Front boasts breathtaking views of Hong Kong. Along the walk there are the Avenue of Stars, the Ferry (which is a great way to see the city) and shops!

Macau - if you've got the time, take a day trip to Macau. With only a ferry away, you can explore the historical sites, eat portuguese egg tarts and make a quick stop at the casino to win some $$$.

                              Above: Ocean Park

 Above: View from Ocean Park

Above: Roast goose and roast pork at Yat Lok (L) // Street markets (R)

Above: Displays at Times Square

I'm hoping this post inspires you on your next travel destination. Going through photos and writing this post has definitely made me miss holidays and all the cheap dim sum!

All photos taken on iPhone X.

Snow Egg or Easter Egg?

I'm sure everyone has watched or heard of the 'Snow Egg' from Master Chef and the fact that it is very hard to replicate or make. So when I had the chance to go back to Sydney a second time, I took the chance to eat at the Quay Restaurant.

The restaurant has panoramic views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House and we were lucky to get a seat next to the window with a full 360 view. We started off with some drinks while we perused the menu. In the end, we decided with the 3 course set menu.

Above (clockwise from top left): Beverages // Amuse Bouche // Congee of hand dived scallops, heart of palm & black vinegar laver (dish 1) and Smoke confit pig jowl, southern squid, shaved shiitake & sea cucumber crackling (dish 2) // Slow cooked quail with fermented mushroom custard, walnuts, brioche porridge and seed crackling (all entrees)

Above: Arkady lamb, barrette onions, ice plant, oca, lemon puree, roasted hemp seeds 

 Above: Roasted pasture raised duck, fermented wild rice, black garlic, orach, hatsuka radish

Above: Steamed Coral Trout, young almonds, heirloom radishes, sake, lemon

Entrees and mains were really good and well presented. The flavours and ingredients of the dishes were well balanced, as well as the size of the dishes. By the second course, we were quite full as there was plenty of food (especially with the home made bread and delicious butter) but obviously, everyone always has a second stomach for dessert.

 Above: Eight textured chocolate cake

Above: Snow Egg

The eight textured chocolate cake consisted of Valrhona dark chocolate with 8 different layers of chocolate. It was delicious and not too rich - perfect for those who love a dark chocolate dessert. When the snow egg came out, my eyes lit up because it looked so pretty. The ice was infused with peach syrup, the egg was just sitting there looking delicate and the presentation of the dish was perfect. After taking photos (as all asians do - but don't worry, I only took less than 3 minutes), I cracked the egg revealing custard and ice cream. Would I come back again - yes. Although I've heard the Quay is re-designing their menu and removing the snow egg (gasps), so go check it out before they take the snow egg out. Overall my experience at the Quay was pleasant and enjoyable and the snow egg is probably one of the best desserts I've had.

Would you choose a snow egg over Cadbury oreo eggs? (its a pretty hard choice tbh)

All photos taken on iPhone X.