Merchant's Lane 美真林 @ Petaling Street

Pssst. Guess who? :P Not Hilda, that's who! I am now announcing that I have hijacked my girlfriend's blog! *evil laughter in background* Nah, I'm kidding. Just gonna mooch off her fame and occasionally help her write some entries. :D

Those who know us well enough will know our love for food. That's why we're the fittest fattest couple around. Despite our never ending attempt to stay on track with our diet and workout regime, we somehow ended up making a trip into downtown KL today to visit one of the most talked about brunch places lately - Merchant's Lane. I must say, it was very well worth the trip!

Their very concise menu, all fitted into one frame :) 

You'll realize that the place has that truly vintage feel to it, like a place out of time.
We've also heard stories about how the place was a former brothel once upon a time, which is interesting to say the least.

Very comfortable rattan chairs and beautiful vibrant paintings for sale by some local artists.

Le girlfriend opted for the signature Rose Honey Milk (RM12). The rose contributed to the fragrant light floral scent and the milk itself was smooth and creamy. She loves it! 

Couldn't decide on a drink, so I went ahead with a regular Caramel Latte (RM12), which was also surprisingly good. The barista did recommend their Organic Matcha Latte, but I was a little reluctant to try. (he described it as having a grainy texture..quite off-putting really)

Service was rather on the spot, as my dish arrived just a few moments after placing my order. Oh and I ordered the Hongkie Beef Stew (RM19), which can only be described as an explosion of flavors in my mouth.

Look at those juicy and tantalizing beef chunks, sitting on hot homemade mash!

She ordered the highly recommended South China Sea (RM24) - grilled salmon topped with a tantalizing special salsa, sitting on some crunchy homemade hash, and coupled with a pair of poached eggs. Look at those colors! 

The dish itself had varying textures and was interesting, but unfortunately she remarked that the salmon was a tad dry, perhaps not the best batch they've served out yet. Fret not, we shall return to try their other dishes and this one again...just to be sure :P

A glorious and scrumptious meal indeed!

Seeing things like this makes me appreciate the building. Like we were trapped in some sort of time bubble that had remained in the far past. 

The rumours were true indeed! Every single corner in this place is very instagram worthy. In fact, you don't even need to do much. We've used a basic DSLR on manual settings at 100/200 ISO. The place is very well lit due to the skylight coming in from the top, so your food (and faces) will look naturally nice for the photos. :) Pretty girl sighted! 

Merchant's Lane can get very busy, so it's advised you make an early trip if you want to have a seat at the good spots, otherwise you're left with the long table to share with strangers inside. Which isn't too bad at all if you're comfortable with the idea. 

Don't you just love these classic olden days deco?

Spot their tagline? Mmmhmm...this is definitely the place to be!

Overall, we truly enjoyed our dining experience, save for the fact that we were kinda plagued by mosquitos, probably due to our choice of dining on the outer section where all the plants are.

Love that fact that it is only 5-10 mins of walking distance from Pasar Seni LRT, makes it super convenient to travel downtown without worrying about parking or traffic. You can even take your time strolling around the street (to burn some fats haha) after a hearty brunch. Searching for the cafe can be a little tricky; so just look out for this green door at the corner of a white building beside Advanced Tertiary College (ATC). The cafe is located on the first floor of the shoplot.

Merchant's Lane KL 美真林
No. 150, Jalan Petaling, Off Chinatown,
59000, Kuala Lumpur.
Contact Number: +60 3 2022 1736
Facebook Page: Click HERE  #merchantlane #美真林
Operating Hours: Sun - Thurs 10.30am - 6pm
                             Fri - Sat 10.30am - 10pm
                             Closed on Wednesdays.

[GIVEAWAY] Claire Organics Body & Skin Care

Having struggles in looking for the right skin care products for your sensitive skin? Claire Organics is a local brand that aims to provide the best, all natural, chemical free and environmental friendly products to their customers and I can assure you that all of their products are handmade with love.  They have a wide variety of body and skin care, ranging from their best-selling soaps to essential oil. Isn't that simply awesome? I have been a user of Claire Organic since last year, tried a couple of their product and was not once disappointed thus far. Thanks to the founder Louise, who is generous enough to let me try out their latest products; the Calming Lavender Face/Body Oil and Inspire Essential Oil Roll-On Perfume.

Calming Lavender Face/Body Oil -- RM56 

This body oil is designed to tame acne-prone skin and to lock the moisture in your skin for all day hydration. It creates a plethora of skin benefits, being a stress reliever, heroic healer as well as treatment for sensitive skin. Packed with powerful stress-relieving properties, it can be used to calm aggravated skin and exhausted mind caused by stress. This makes for an excellent overall skin tonic. Besides, it possess normalizing agents that enhances new cell growth and regeneration in damaged skin and wounds. On the other hand,  Lavender oil's natural soothing and gentle astringent properties is useful in many skin-related conditions such as burns, eczema and psoriasis as it has the ability to reduce inflammation, thereby minimizing breakouts and allow healing to take place. 

Ingredients: Lavender infused Organic Virgin Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Lavender Oil.

How to use: Dispense 2-3 pumps per application and gently dab it on your clean face prior to putting on your sunscreen or foundation. For night use, you can apply it before your moisturizer or you can even use it alone. To use in on your body, rub a small amount between your palms and glide it over your body. Pat it onto damp skin for maximum hydration.

Verdict: When I first heard of face/body oil, I was pretty hesitant to even try it and my first reaction was "Oil on my acne-prone skin?" That sounds like a terrible idea and there was absolutely zero chance that I was going to put it on my face. Little did I know that facial oils actually reduce the appearance of fine lines and nourish your skin with intense moisture as they have a locking and protective nature. So when I was given the chance to try out this Lavender Face Oil, I started to add it in into my daily skincare regime be it day or night, and I got to say I am loving it. It can be a great replacement for moisturizing cream and body lotion!

The texture is light and it was not as greasy as I thought. The oil absorbs almost instantly and it does not leave a greasy and shiny finish after application but rather a sheer glow. And ehem we all know, glow is good (; I can feel that my face is more luminous and even after a long day, I don't find my face oily. Apart from the nourishing and ultra-moisturizing beauty benefits, I love how soothing it smells. For my body, I tried applying this body oil on mosquito bites scar that have been irritating me for months, and it works amazeballs! The scar just faded off in a day or two.

P/S: However, face oil may not work the same on all skin types so be sure to read up more and test it beforehand. 

Inspire Essential Oil Roll-on Perfume --RM39 

Unveiling the latest addition to Claire Organic; their very first essential oil perfume oil! This special perfume oil is freshly hand-blended with juicy notes of Bergamot and earthy tinge of Lavender in a base of skin-loving Golden Jojoba and pure essential oil. Alcohol-free and fragrance-free guaranteed! The calming yet uplifting scent is sure to lift your spirits, providing a new energy and focus on fresh inspirations. The citrus blend also boosts the immune system and cleanses the body. The scent works really well for both men and women - citrus smells delicious on everyone!

Ingredients: Jojoba Oil, Organic Herbs, Essential Oil Blend and Love.

How To Use: Roll on area like wrist, neck area or back of your ears for a subtly scent or a quick pick me up.

Verdict: Its mini size is perfect to be put in your bag, at your desk, for travel, bedside or any other time when you need a quick and easy mood booster In short, this is aromatherapy in the pocket to keep your stress at bay anytime! One application and I'm hooked with the lingering and unforgettable scent! *sniff sniff Sometimes, all you need is just a short break from work and inhale the aroma-therapeutic benefit of the oil. I'm pretty sure you'll feel refreshed and calm your frenzied state in just a jiffy! Even your mind deserves some TLC, y'know?

Now that you've read to this very end; I shall end it with a happy note, no? That's right! Good news is I will be giving away two sets of Calming Lavender Face/Body Oil and Inspire Essential Oil Roll-On Perfume worth RM95 each courtesy of Claire Organics! Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below, you will have to complete ALL FOUR tasks to stand a chance to win! Giveaway is open for Malaysians only; ends on 12th July and two lucky winners will be picked via random.org. So good luck girls! 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!

Congrats Zurina Omar and Jiawen Carmen Loo! You both have won yourself Claire Organic products worth RM95, so be sure to check your email (:

They even provide personalised service from events door gifts and even your own breastmilk soap for nursing mummies (how cool is that?!) so for more details and updates, feel free to visit their Faceook Page https://www.facebook.com/claireorganics and Instagram  https://instagram.com/claireorganics/ or email them at claireorganics@gmail.com for any enquiries! They do have their products in some physical stores even in Sarawak and Penang, click HERE for more. I am definitely looking forward for more amazing body and skincare products from them in the near future!

Till then, have a good week ahead!
Disclaimer: All the products are sponsored for review purposes but it does not affect my judgement in any way, the review is based on my personal thoughts.

xx

Limabelas @ The Intermark, KL

Ohai, I'm back with another fattening food post :D please read on your own risk HEH 

I have never had the chance to try out this highly raved Nyonya Laksa at Limapulo that I have been hearing since forever until they recently opened a sister restaurant, Limabelas at The Intermark last November. Since the other fat half stays nearby, I decided to drag him along for  #kevdafoodadventure. 

Pai Tee (4pcs) --- RM12.00 
We had these for appetizers and it's actually my first time having Pai Tee so, it was something new for me. A thin and crunchy pastry tart shell filled with a mixture of savory and sweet paste as well as thinly sliced vegetables and prawn; yummmmeh!

Nyonya Laksa -- RM11.80

Introducing the award winning (don't play play, I tell you) Nyonya Laksa Lemak that really lives up to its hype *cough* despite looking less attractive than how it was being promoted *cough* I was trying hard to hold my urge to savage it while taking a few shots. This is the ultimate reason why I visited Limabelas; for this bowl of flavoursome goodness topped with shredded chicken, fishcakes, fishballs, fresh cucumbers and half an egg. Took my first big slurp and boy, I got hooked onto it immediately! Yeah, I may be exaggerating a little but it was that damn freaking good! Even typing this now makes me salivates already. I can even remember the taste that lingers...okay. I need to stop right here. And the portion is pretty decent too, perfect for a quick and simple lunch. Totally recommending it! 

Ayam Berempah Set -- RM11.80
Well, you can opt for this aromatic ayam berempah set that comes with white rice, omelette and side of vegetable if you're not a big fan of laksa. The gravy was lip smacking albeit a tad greasy; the chicken on the other hand was really tender and well marinated. Another dish that I would totally recommend!

Telur Cincaluk --- RM15.00 
Something interesting on the menu that caught the other half's attention, since he was craving for it so we decided to give it a try. I was actually expecting hard boiled eggs with cincaluk but it turned out to be a cincaluk omelette *facepalm* Sadly the cincaluk wasn't evenly spread among the omelette, so some pieces tasted extra salty and I personally think it wasn't worth the price. However, this dish has a rather unique tantalizing taste.

A tad too big hearty meal for two and it sure makes my tummy happy!

Cendol --- RM3.50

A meal wouldn't be complete without dessert right? I ordered this toothsome bowl of Cendol, which is made of shaved ice drizzled with fragrant and thick Gula Malacca (yet it did not turn out too sweet) and generous amount of the cendol; well I have to say that it is one of the best I've tried in KL. Definitely a perfect ending to my meal (:

So if you feel like  indulging in good and authentic Nyonya food with reasonable price, you sure know where to head to! I'm definitely going back to try their other dishes and to get my Nyonya Laksa fix some day. You can also visit their main branch at No. 50, Jalan Doraisamy for more instagram-worthy interior, cheaper menu and even the chance to meet the Legendary Uncle John; the founder of Baba Can Cook.

P/S: In case you don't know, Nyonya Laksa are only served on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, (be sure you are there early cause I heard that it sells out fast!) while Mee Siam is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Limabelas @ The Intermark
LC-01, The Intermark
348, Jalan Tun Razak
50400, KL City Centre
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel No: 012-2255365
Operating Hours: 11am - 9pm (Monday - Saturday)
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Baba-Can-Cook/635621076504974

And if you guys know any place that serves delish Nyonya food, do drop a comment below!

xx

Alchemist Dessert Cafe

I'm not sure if there is still anyone out there who would drop by to read my blog these days but heyyy peopleeeee if you are reading this! I know it's been ages since I've written a proper blogpost (I know I say this a million times) cause y'know I'm the number one certified lazybum. Well, I guess tonight is just one of those nights where I actually feel like blogging (how rare, lucky you HEH) so I decided to update one of the latest posts I have in my draft. 

Just a month ago, I was searching for new cafes to try out in Subang area with my sister and I found  this cafe quietly tucked in a corner of SS15; what attracts me the most is that they serve Belgian waffles and Shibuya toast. How can I say no to Belgian waffles, right?!

I love love love their vibrant exterior which makes it pretty easy to locate, just opposite Tryst Cafe.

The type of food they served on their menu may look limited but I like the extensive variations they come out with.

Ice Peach Tea (RM3.90) and Mango Tango Mojito (RM4.90 and it's non-aloholic just so you know) served in cool DIY glass.

Carbonara Pasta (RM11.90) Decent portion and taste.

Unlike the typical cafes out there, they do not serve any milk-based coffees but they do have this special blend pour over coffee (RM11.90).

Simple and hearty Alchemist Big Breakfast (RM15.90) that tastes as good as it looks. 

I ordered this waffle with scrambled eggs and sausage (RM10.90).
I must say their waffles are pretty good, fragrant and fluffy. I guess it would be better if they served it with a special gravy to make it even more savoury.

Honey and Ice Cream Shibuya toast (RM13.90)
Love this! Crispy outer layer but fluffy in the inside and it wasn't too sweet. 

Look at the melting whip creammmmm :9

Overall, I think their food and drinks are quite decent and reasonably priced. Definitely a good place to chill with your friends and family for brunch and tea break. Students can study or have their work done here too though the lighting is quite dim inside. I wouldn't mind going back anytime anyday for a quick fix of waffles if I happen to be in the neighbourhood. And oh, they have shisha daily as well, starting from 7pm. 

Alchemist Dessert Café
97 Jalan SS15/4C,
47500 Subang Jaya.
Tel No: 011-2851 0911
Operating Hours: Tue - Fri: 1:00 pm - 1:00 am
                             Sat - Sun: 1:00 pm - 2:00 am
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/alchemistdessertcafe

xx

Shine From Every Angle with Tsubaki

One of the best-kept hair secrets is Camelia Oil that is only available in China and Japan. Camelia Oil which also called Tsubaki in Japan is renowned among the asian beauties for its benefits and has been widely used in Japanese beauty and hair products. Rich in necessary vitamins such as A,B,C and E and various minerals, camelia oil is great as a scalp conditioner and healthy hair growth promoter. It's composed mainly of oleic acid (80%), one of the most penetrative and high quality oils, which allows it to hydrate and clean pores and follicles without greasy residue. Camellia is also a natural antioxidant that helps protect our hair from UV exposure and restores hair's natural sheen.

Introducing Tsubaki, a premium haircare brand in Japan that incorporates high purity Camelia Oil into their hair products. Tsubaki aims to make hair beautiful and shiny thus bringing out the beauty in every women inside out. Due to our daily exposure to UV light and heat, we are losing melanin in our hair that created holes which causes irregular reflection and loss of shine on our hair. Therefore, Tsubaki comes out with this new technology — Melanin Hair Reparative Ingredients, Arginine to repair hair melanin holes to allow light to penetrate hair shaft and to be reflected evenly in every angle for beautiful shine and luster. Camelia Oil, on the other hand comes with a shine sensor mechanism that protects hair to improve hair shininess and smoothness.

I have always had dull and dry hair ever since I first dyed my hair few years back. Not to mention split ends and frequent hair-fall too! I have been staying away from hair dryer and trying all sort of hair products to keep them at least smooth and tangle-free (trust me, I'm thankful enough) but somehow I still feel it is lacking something — SHININESS. So, I am really excited to try out this Tsubaki shining range products. 

Overall Review

I love how both the shampoo and conditioner (550ml each) come in durable and ergonomically designed pump bottle cause it sure makes my life easier. The texture of the shampoo is pretty similar to any other shampoo, white in colour and lathers up nicely. I require only 1-2 pumps of the shampoo to lather my entire head and I like the fact that it wasn't very foamy. The effect was quite instant I would say as my hair becomes less frizzy and more mosturized after a few wash. I can now run my fingers through my hair smoothly after every wash (: With the conditioner and hair mask, my hair feels healthier and fluffier! Not to forget the long-lasting heavenly and refreshing light floral scent that I really love, even the boyfriend noticed the change in shampoo HEH and I love how it doesn't dry out my hair so the shampoo and conditioner are definitely suitable for daily use.

The after photo are taken a week after I started using Tsubaki Shining Hair range products. As you can see, it is now less frizzy and dull and of course slightly shinier ✰˚✧₊⁎ヽ(*´∀`)ﾉﾟ⁎⁺˳✧༚✰ I can have more manageable hair, all thanks to Tsubaki!

And this was taken two weeks after (;

For true improvement in sheen, volume, texture and manageability outside of a salon, look no further! Tsubaki is the way to go :D Retailing at RM38.90 for each Tsubaki Shining Shampoo and Conditioner (550 ml), RM18.90 for each Tsubaki Shining Shampoo and Conditioner (220ml), and RM44.90 for the Tsubaki Shining Hair Mask. Slightly pricey but it's worth it! And I'm so glad I can get them practically almost everywhere here; available at all major retail pharmacies, Sasa, Cold Storage, Aeon Big and Tesco.

To shinier and more beautiful hair! *flips my hair*

In the mean time, feel free to check out Tsubaki FB page here for more details and don't forget to like their page too.

xx