DKNY’s New Cupcake Fragrance

Material: Courtesy of The Valiram Group

FOR the first time in history, the notes of a DKNY fragrance have influenced the creation of one of a kind cupcake recipe. Talk about a sweet sensation! Famed pastry chef and confectionery superstar Johnny Luzzini has partnered with DKNY Sweet Delicious Fragrances to whip up an exquisite cupcake inspired by the collection’s lip-smacking notes.

“For me, the creation of food and fragrances are one and the same. Our sense of taste and smell are so closely linked,” says Luzzini.

“Once I studied these scents and the key ingredients, such as kumquats, orange zest and rose, I just knew I had to bring the delectable flavors to life and create the world’s first fragrance-inspired dessert.”

Luzzini’s Sweet Delicious Cupcake in an innovative sugar-flecked masterpiece is definitely not your grandma’s homespun recipe but a gourmet spin-off on the simple baked treat. Picture a mini-sized almond cake infused with orange curd, piped with rose water meringue, topped with a candied kumquat and crystallized rose petals and sprinkled with fresh pomegranate seeds. It’s an aromatic and totally tantalizing treat for your nose and tastebuds.

The Fragrance Collection

Sweet Delicious Tart Key Lime
Who wants pie? This vibrant fragrance features a sparkling key lime pie accord blended with generous amounts of orange zest, bergamot, and mandarin with vibrant neroli. Equal parts tangy and smooth, it imparts a bright allure and irresistible delight. With tasty flourishes of basil macaroon and ginger wrapped in feminine violet leaves, this sweet-tooth favorite delivers an enchanting twist that elegantly captivates the senses. Dig in! 

Sweet Delicious Pink Macaroon
Delightfully girly, this scent is a delectable confection filled with mouth-watering notes and delicate florals layered over a sensual creamy base.  This succulent treat opens with a mixture of nectarine and kumquat, dipped in a layer of pomegranate, and rolled with a rose marzipan accord.  An infusion of rich woods and tonka beans creates an addictive foundation that’s sifted in soft ambers. The icing on top? A hint of fluffy flower petals provides the pretty-in-pink finale.

Sweet Delicious Creamy Meringue
Indulge in a decadent adventure! This scent has a cheerful personality with gourmet panache and bouncy freshness. The brightly colored fragrance reveals a vibrant radiance interlaced with femininity and a tantalizing allure. The yummy concoction begins with a zesty citrus blend of lemon cream, bergamot and a scrumptious ‘crepe Suzette’ accord. At is luminous center, a delicate pinch of yellow freesia mingles with a luscious medley of plumeria and passion flower. The final burst of sophistication is unveiled with dry cedarwood atlas and white amber drenched in a sensual musk.

All three fragrances are available in EDT 50ml priced at RM150 each. All prices are suggested retail. Available at all authorized DKNY fragrance counters nationwide from mid March 2012.

About Johnny Luzzini
Luzzini began his career in the pastry arena at 17. He attended culinary school and traveled through Europe where he apprenticed in some of France’s finest pâtisseries, including the famed Ladurée in Paris. In 2002, Chef and Owner Jean Georges Vongerichten named Johnny the Executive Pastry Chef at his famed four star name-sake, Restaurant Jean Georges, as well as its café, Nougatine. This distinctive honor elevated Iuzzini to the Global stage and has allowed him to dazzle the world with his newest and most inventive creations yet.

Winter Into Spring

Winter is gone and now spring jumps forth. The icy nights are forgotten as M. Ismail, one of NewsFlashMedia’s team members looks forward to the fresh blooms in spring. Arriving in the UK in late October this year and vacationing in France, she captures here the icy nights and the beauty of a French valley covered in snow.

SPRING is here, well one day ago that is and there has been a lot of sunshine of late, which makes me an extremely happy person. It still gets a bit chilly but that’s okay as I do a lot of walking. I have not seen a lot of flowers in bloom as yet but they are coming and when they do it will be such a pretty sight.

British Summer Time (BST) begins on March 25 and the clocks will go forward by an hour. If you are not familiar with the four seasons you’d be surprised to find that even when winter is over there’s every possibility of chilly winds and even snow. It happened in 2006 and it was predicted to happen this year as well. We’ll see but I doubt it, looking at the weather now.

There was snow in London but only a wee bit for some.

Before flying to UK I had kept tab of the weather and it did come to one point where some forecasts stated there would be heavy snow in October and that England will suffer a severe winter. There was none except for a bit of snow in February and even that did not last very long. Just a month or so before I left Malaysia, there was also news that it was going to be quite a warm winter. And after being here I would think so as I survived the three cold months, which I wouldn’t normally, which means it’s warmer than usual.

Isn't it beautiful to wake up to this?

After about three months in London I went to France to visit a friend who’s lived in Malaysia for a while and is now back in her home country with her family. They live in Bonrepos Riquet, in the south of France. According to the French, this is the warmer part of France and guess what? We had MASSIVE snow over several days that the road leading out from the valley to the town center was almost impenetrable.

It was such a breathtaking moment when I woke up one morning to find everything covered in white. The floors of the balcony and its banisters were all thick in snow, the trees, the garden and the entire surrounding valley. And the snow kept falling, so beautiful, exactly like a picture from a Christmas card.

That's me, all wasted halfway climbing the road up to the house and that's FreePui, the family dog (I think that's how they spell her name) making sure I'm ok.

On one of the days when the snow was down my friend and I had drove out to a zhumba class. It was a Saturday morning. The snow was heavy and we took a chance and drove the car down the valley and into the town center. By the time we drove home less than two hours later the car wouldn’t go up the hill where our house is. So we left the car at a neighbour’s garden and I think I will spare the words next because you can safely assumed what happened  looking at the photo I’ve posted here.

The snow was too beautiful to complain about. I just soaked everything in.

Lebanon's Finest Wines

Château Musar on March 28

* Material: Courtesy of Cuisine Studio Sdn Bhd

La vie en rose
Restaurant francais.bar.bakery.shop
39 Jalan Raja Chulan
50200 Kuala Lumpur

Presents

Château Musar
An evening of ‘vertical tasting’ of Lebanon’s finest wines
Wednesday, March 28 from 7pm onwards

RM 295 ++ per person
Prices are subjected to 10% service charge & 6% Government tax

By reservation only:
Enquiries: +6012 2905342 (Vicki) or +6 012  290 7645 (Alex)
General Line: +6 03 2078 3883
Fax: +6 03 2026 4188

The wines of Château Musar, established 1930, are unique expressions from Lebanon, a country with an ancient wine-making culture, as the vines have been cultivated from Lebanon’s high altitude Bekka Valley. The grapes used to make Château Musar red are Cabernet Sauvignon and Southern Rhône varieties of Cinsault and Carignan from long established mature vines.

Winemaking in Lebanon, started with the ancient Phoenecians 6000 years ago, pre-dates winemaking in France. While Chateau Musar wines have been compared with Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, the style is unique – call it out-of-the-box if you like, but there is never a dull moment with a bottle of Chateau Musar, which is not priced very high, is organic, and has a remarkable capacity for ageing.

Chef Jean-Michel, who has always loved the interesting wines of Chateau Musar, has paired it with a classic and elegant menu to show off the wines – and he has added Chateau Musar to his stable of French-only wines in the restaurant.

We invite you to discover Chateau Musar – one of the most written-about wines and promise you a memorable evening. Ralph Hochar, grandson of Chateau Musar founder, Gaston Hochar, will guide you through the tasting.

Menu

Château Musar 2001
Porcini soup and truffle chantilly

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Château Musar 2001
Cured Foie Gras, Château Musar jelly and cinnamon scented pear

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Cuvée Musar 2004
Crayfish ragout américaine style with parmesan cracker

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Château Musar 1999
Slow cooked veal flank with liquorice jus, truffled mash and petite ratatouille

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Château Musar 1998
Assortment of cheeses, sweet and sour green tomato jam

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Café gourmand
Mini tatin tart, frozen nougat and white peach mousse

Can I have some space here, please?

Angry Nerd
http://www.clker.com

By NOT SO FLAWLESS
 
STOP being in my face! That’s what I want to tell all those aggressive beauty sales assistants stationed at their beauty counters in the shopping malls. Not only are they a nuisance when they harassed shoppers to stop by and try their products they are also a complete insensitive, sour-grape who feed on a shopper’s less-than-flawless skin to get their attention. Is it really worth the money they make when shoppers buy their products just to get them off their back?

Without fail some persistent beauty assistant will approach me whenever I’m in the mall with a polite ‘call-out’ of “Hello, can I take a few minutes of your time?” Ninety-five percent of the time I would just brush them aside with a shake of the head, or give them a disinterested look, sullen at times and even resorting to quickening my pace. These reactions will stop them in their track BUT when I do the opposite, such as shaking my head and smiling politely with a “no thank you” it only encourages them to ‘pursue’ their sales tactics. I’ve done this many times before and I’m 100% sure it backfires every time!

Don’t they get it? I was just being respectful of their jobs! They have to work to earn a living to feed and clothe themselves and whoever else under their care. They will resort to all kinds of tactics to make a sale. Yes! I understand about ‘rice bowls’ and ‘choices’ and that sometimes in life we don’t have a choice on what jobs we take on due to limitations. And that is why most times us shoppers stay calm and polite to their ‘advances’. So once and for all try thinking about us, the shoppers, who is at the other end of their receiving stick! Shouldn’t we be allowed our freedom of choice, whether to let them feed us with the unwanted information or let off because we have been subtle and polite in rejecting them?

No, I don’t want to test their new skincare range to rid my face of pigmentation. And yes I do use make-up removers, cleansers, astringents instead of hard soaps when I cleanse my skin every morning and evening and after every session of stripping off my make-up. And yes I use scrubs and day and night creams and moisturizers. So don’t start pointing at my pigmentation and say “Have you ever heard of dead-sea salt?” What? You think I live under a coconut shell?

And you know what? Nothing stops their misplaced insistence. If they can’t persuade you then they will start picking on your other ‘flaws’. “Mam.” I heard that voice again. “You know those skin areas under your eyes, you …” I stopped him short and said, “Yes, they are there because I have not had enough sleep and not because I do not take care of my skin.”

He shuts up and I walked away. As I turned the corner I spotted the back of his hair. Aha! Now, where’s the pharmacy. I’m going to splurge some money on a hair tonic and give it to him as a present. That might help him think the next time he approaches a customer! 

Victoria Secret's Exclusive Launches

* Material: Courtesy of The Valiram Group

Victoria's Secret is the leading specialty retailer of lingerie and beauty products with modern fashion-inspired collections, prestige fragrances and cosmetics, celebrated supermodels and world-famous runway shows. A business of  Limited Brands (NYSE:LTD), its more than 1,000 Victoria's Secret Lingerie and Beauty stores, the catalogue and www.VictoriasSecret.com allow customers to shop the brand anywhere and anytime.

Victoria’s Secret Beauty & Accessories store at Sydney Airport

In January this year, Victoria’s Secret, opened its second Victoria’s Secret Beauty & Accessories store at Sydney Airport, in partnership with the Valiram Group. The store, which is accessible to both travellers and visitors to the airport alike, offers an assortment of widely popular Victoria’s Secret beauty products including prestige fragrances such as the iconic Bombshell and the newest fragrance, VS Angel.

Victoria’s Secret’s unique collection of accessories are exclusive to their Beauty & Accessories concept stores and are perfect for those looking for travel sized gifts. For that glam girl-on- the go, expect to find a wide range of bags, luggage, passport covers and travel wallets in both nylon and genuine leather to Cosmetic & toiletry bags, sunglasses, bangles and key rings.

The opening of the outlet at the Sydney Airport was followed with the launch of its first Victoria’s Secret Beauty & Accessories in China, again in partnership with the Valiram Group.

The launch, held on Feb 9 at the Victoria’s Secret Beauty & Accessories Store in Venetian Macao, marks the first foray of the celebrated brand in China, attracting a list of elites from the fashion and entertainment industry. The glamorous and sexy event allowed guests to experience an atmosphere of modern beauty and fashion set to a background of a gallery of iconic Victoria’s Secret Angel imageries.

Adding a glamorous touch to the event were renowned celebrities such as Lynn Xiong, Carrie Lam, Jeana Ho, Lisa Chong, Emily Kwan, Patrick Tam, Jessica Xa, Jason Chu just to name a few.

Music was provided by celebrity DJ Jeana Ho, played through the evening while guests were encouraged to experience different iconic Victoria’s Secret fragrances such as Bombshell, VS Angel and Gorgeous.

Aside from the wide assortment of beauty products, there’s also an exclusive collection of Victoria’s Secret-branded accessories, including small leather goods, bags, and luggage available in store.

COURSES@HTC - Chicken Dishes

WEEKEND LEISURE WORKSHOP

* Material: Courtesy of THE FRENCH CULINARY SCHOOL IN ASIA @ HTC in Asia Sdn Bhd

GLORIOUS CHICKEN DISHES

Date: Sat, March 24

Time: 10am - 1pm

Fee: RM200 per person

Come and join Chef Jean Michel to learn six fantastic recipes; Chicken a la kiev, Chicken cordon bleu, Chicken a la king, Chicken Maryland, Chicken a la crème and Chicken Cacciatore to delight your family and friends with.

VENUE
The French Culinary School In Asia @ HTC in Asia Sdn Bhd
8th Floor - Annexed Block, Menara IMC
No. 8 Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur

HOW TO GO THERE:
The building is next to Concorde Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. Please take car park lift to 8th floor.

ENQUIRIES:
Tel: +603 2026 9188
Fax: +603 2026 4188
Email: professional@htcinasia.com

Additional Details:
2012 LEISURE COOKING CLASS VOUCHER of:
5 Leisure Cooking Classes @ RM 850.00
10 Leisure Cooking Classes @ RM 1,500.00
Valid for leisure cooking classes only
Terms & condition: net price - no additional promotion - vouchers are nominative

•    Cooking Class Gift Vouchers - The above sessions are available for redemption using the cooking class gift vouchers or the De Dietrich Cooking Vouchers.

Eric's Fashion of the Goddesses

This week, NFM will feature Malaysia’s remarkable talent Eric Choong – his beginnings as well as his Bridal and Evening Wear Collection 2012 themed Goddesses of Olympus. In this second post we feature Eric’s beautiful collection that just hit the scene. Enjoy!

Material: Courtesy of Wedding Treasures Sdn Bhd

“I WAS introduced to Greek mythology after watching the movies Clash of the Titans and Immortals and since then I have been inspired by a pantheon of Greek deities.  All those handsome men and beautiful women, embroiled in drama after drama of love, passion and vengeance, from Heaven to Earth to Hell and back – what’s not to love?

Bridal and Evening Wear Collection 2012 themed Goddesses of Olympus.

This collection draws from the fascinating stories of Greek. Each piece conveys their unique personality. Women of today have generally been identified with the expressive personalities and mythical powers of the Greek goddesses. Following on, I wanted to extend the goddess metaphor beyond their spiritual and romantic lives to their dresses, from the sensual and alluring to the strong and serene. 

The collection is a play on soft and hard, rigid and fluid elements.  Silk chiffon and tafetta are my dominant fabrics and I infused many Grecian influences into my gowns; empire line, one shoulder, draping, transparency and braid.  Each piece modernised and made unique by texturing them with layers, ruffles and flounces, using additional fabrics such as lace, organza and tulle.

On all the pieces, I have also incorporated a hand-braided waist belt and/or straps inspired by the olive wreath worn on the hair of the goddesses symbolising peace and prosperity. The red palette of the evening gowns symbolises passion, courage, sacrifice and loyalty, inherent characteristics associated with the goddesses. To add a touch of opulence and sparkle, each piece is embellished with Swarovski Elements.

To pay tribute to the beauty and strength of the Greek goddesses, I’ve named each gown after the important and prominent goddesses- Aphrodite ( Olympian goddess of love and beauty); Athena (Olympian goddess of war and wisdom), Demeter (Olympian goddess of harvest), Hera (Queen of the Olympian goddesses and Olympian goddess of marriage) and Nike (goddess of victory).

This collection is very special to me as it commemorates my bridal and evening-wear label spanning 21 years today. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our business associate, JIMMY CHIA LUXURY, for designing and producing all the beautiful footwear to complement this collection.

I sincerely hope that you like the new collection and we look forward to seeing you in our store soon.

THE DESIGNER – Eric Choong

This week, NFM will feature Malaysia’s remarkable talent Eric Choong – his beginnings as well as his Bridal and Evening Wear Collection 2012 themed Goddesses of Olympus. In this first post we feature Eric’s background while in the second post readers can feast their eyes on the beautiful collection that just hit the scene. Enjoy!

Material: Courtesy of Wedding Treasures Sdn Bhd

FASHION, for Eric, is a calling. Growing up, he discovered a fascination for clothes and design while flipping through his mother’s imported magazines from Hong Kong and Japan. At seven, he produced his first sketches; by 13, he was a sought-after designer among his school teachers who got him to design outfits for their tailors to make.

Eric Choong with his models in his Bridal and Evening Wear Collection 2012.

Still, a career in fashion was by no means a choice profession for a Malaysian-Chinese boy back then. However, Eric’s mother was adamant that her son should be allowed to do what he loved and clearly had the talent for. Against her husband’s wishes, she supported his decision to study fashion design in Hong Kong. She was his heroine, muse, cheerleader and mentor, and remains to this day, his inspiration.

Upon graduating from the Hong Kong Institute of Fashion Design in 1986, Eric honed his design and tailoring skills in Hong Kong before returning to Kuala Lumpur in 1990 to start the Eric Choong Evening label.  Based on his philosophy that fashion should be an expression of individual style and personality, the label quickly gained a reputation among the fashion set for its impressive creations that transcend fads with timeless beauty. Eric also broke new ground with the way he integrates Malaysian cultural influences into his sophisticated designs.

Encouraged by the success of his eponymous label, Eric ventured into made-to-measure bridal-wear. Eric Choong Bridal was a natural extension given that his clients had started requesting he design their bridal trousseau. His penchant for the extravagant and luxurious translated into breathtaking wedding gowns sealing his reputation as a leading bridal wear designer.

Eric tends to his model during one of his many showcases.

The Cocktail and Corporate Design labels followed in more recent years stemming from his desire to extend similar standards of fashion design to a wider group. His concern about providing the best for his bridal and corporate clients also saw the expansion of the Eric Choong labels to include Eric Choong Flowers, an award-winning floral design service.

Since striking out on his own, Eric has received numerous awards and accolades recognising his talent. He was nominated by the Malaysian Tourism Board as one of Malaysia’s Top 10 Designers for three years running (1990-1992). From 1997 onwards, he was regularly invited to represent the country in fashion shows such as the ASEAN Designers’ Fashion Show (1997), Asia Pacific Young Designers’ Show (1998), Asia Pacific Bridal Summit (2001), Show of Asian Cultural Garments (Asia Annual Conference of Cultural Exchange, 2003), Swarovski Asia Fashion Tour (2004), Sydney Bridal Fashion Week (2009) and Pakistan Fashion Week (2010), to name just a few.  Over the years, he has actively engaged in fashion platforms and events involving China and batik.

Eric also collaborated with leading luxury brands and media titles in the likes of Chopard, Cartier, Bvlgari, Tiffany & Co., Moet & Chandon, CNN, Malaysian Tatler & The Star (Malaysia). In 2006, he picked up the Best Costume Designer award at the 19th Malaysian Film Festival for his work in the film 3rd Generation. The following year, he was named Designer of the Year at the Malaysian International Fashion Week 2007; his label Eric Choong Kuala Lumpur also won the Best Collection Showcase of the Year.

Eric’s personal and professional journey is documented in his autobiography In Full Bloom, published and launched in 2009. Conceptualised and authored by Eric himself, the book took two years to complete. The first release is in Mandarin; plans to translate the book into English are being considered.

Eric strikes a post with his models at a previous event.

Eric’s design philosophy is best encapsulated in the essence of the Eric Choong woman. In designing for the strong, independent and passionate woman with a sense of individual style, he favours creative boldness and rich fabrics, textures and colours, paired with impeccable technical acumen. Each creation is preceded by a careful study of fabric, drape and movement and an astute understanding of how these elements come together to dress and flatter the feminine frame. Vintage elements and heritage sewing techniques are seamlessly paired with contemporary details and interpretations.  The Eric Choong Kuala Lumpur labels epitomise global glamour for women with an innate fashion sense and appreciation for what looks and feels beautiful.

Wedding Treasures Sdn Bhd owns and manages the Eric Choong Kuala Lumpur labels comprising of Eric Choong Bridal, Eric Choong Evening, Eric Choong Cocktail, Eric Choong Corporate Design and Eric Choong Flowers, which are housed in a jewel box flagship showroom located in the upmarket and fashionable Bangsar area.

The full-fledged design house provides a complete range of fashion design services: made-to-measure, ready-to-wear, contract designing and manufacturing; as well as floral designs and venue decoration. Driven by artistic, modern and luxurious design and style, and a high level of customer service, the Eric Choong labels hold impeccable customer appeal.

The company collaborates with leading global and local partners in the wedding industry, and produces all collections in company-owned ateliers in Malaysia.

Wedding Treasures is led by Eric Choong, the Creative Director and Principal Designer, and Managing Director Ee-Ling Loo.