Last entry....

I realise that I have been the worst blogger EVER! I haven't made an entry for a while and this will probably be my last *tear.

I am dedicating myself entirely to my obsession, hair care. I have created another blog called 'The Mane Loves...' this is pretty much a blog dedicated entirely to hair care products. I'll be testing them out some new products and some good ol' favourites.

Anyways, I hope that you have enjoyed 'Kat did whaaat' and I appreciate your visits.

Exposed brick and polenta chips!

I’m talkin’ Bloodwood in Newtown, a modern Australian restaurant which reminds me of Melbourne, but with brighter lighting. It’s a come-as-you-are, no bookings and tapas-style food with great service. I am told that on some nights there is a bit of a wait after 7pm, especially on a Thurs, Fri or Sat so be prepared!

When you walk in, you start to notice the incredible detail that local designer Matt Woods, has put into the place creating a welcoming space that exudes a warm and friendly atmosphere making digestion fun!

Speaking of digestion, here is what we ordered;

For entree
- Polenta chips with a gorgonzola dipping sauce: Seriously delicious and a definitely must-try for this establishment.
- Sourdough bread with dipping oil: The bread was soft and rustic at the same time, DELICIOUS!

For mains
- BF had the special, Steak with a side of kipler potatoes- When this was served to us the whole room could smell the impending eruption of flavour which was about to occur, it was a mixture of garlic, chives and grill time.
- I had the baked king fish with miso flavour, seaweed and radish salad with some snow peas- This was INCREDIBLE and my new favourite all time dish! The fish was moist and you could taste the subtle miso flavour in the fish. I almost cried it was THAT intensely flavoursome.

With all this food (which we pretty much shared) and 2 glasses of white wine, I was the epitome of full, I’m talkin’ a very noticeable food baby!

Now, many reviewers have said that it’s pricey, but maybe only compared to the $7 Thai/Indian/Vietnamese meals you can get down the road. For a place with a great atmosphere and amazing food, it is absolutely worth it!


Photo credit: From the designer man's blog http://mattwoodsdesign.blogspot.com/

Where is it? 416 King St, Newtown NSW
Phone number? 02 9557 7699

Cold and hungry?

So now that the weather has turned on us and we take out our winter blankets, it's time for warm winter dinners. Tuesday night was the night I tried a new potato bake recipe. It was a cold rainy night and it went down like a treat! The recipe is from the Australian Women's Weekly's Cooking on a Shoestring.

Here is what you need;
1kg sebago potatoes, cut into 5mm slices
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium brown onion (150g) sliced thinly
3 thin rindless bacon rashers (90g), chopped coarsely
1 cup (250mL) cream- I use Devondale's thickening cream just because the bf is a little dairy sensitive so it's the only cream he can consume safely
Half a cup (120g) sour cream
2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh chives
1 cup (120 g) coarsely grated cheddar cheese

Here is what you need to do;
1. Preheat oven to 200/180 degrees celsius fan-forced. Grease 2 litre (8 cup) ovenproof dish.
2. Boil/Steam/Microwave potato slices until tender
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in medium frying pan' cook onion and bacon, stirring until onion softens and bacon is crisp.
4. Combine cream, sour cream and chives in medium jug.
5. Layer a third of the potato slices over base of dish; sprinkle with half the bacon mixture. Pour a third of the cream mixture over bacon mixture; sprinkle with a third of the cheese. Repeat layering and finish with cheese.
6. Bake uncovered, in oven, about 30 mins or until browned. Stand for 10 mins before serving. Goes well with any grilled meat of your choice and steamed green vegetables.

TIP: Prepare the ingredients before you start cooking, it makes the whole process a lot easier and it also allows you to focus on one thing at a time, cooking can be overwhelming sometimes!

Best gift with purchase EVER!

I’ll admit that I am a sucker for a gift with purchase and until 23rd of May (or while stocks last), Clinique have an awesome pack (only available at David Jones and only when you spend $60 or more in one transaction).

How did I come across this adorable deal? It was during my search for a new foundation, since the cold weather has hit, my foundation and my skin decided not to get along anymore. So I hit the Clinique counter since they have affordable foundations which are of great quality. My friend Elise recommended the Even Better Foundation from Clinique new Even Better range, so I thought, why not! It is ideal for dry to combination skin (which is exactly what’s happening with my face right now) and it also had medium coverage, which is surprising for a light weight liquid foundation.

It also comes in a plastic bottle, which ideal for those clumsy bottle breakers out there (like me). There are 12 available shades and the benefits of using this foundation include covering and treating uneven skin tone, long wearing, natural skin-perfecting look and its mineral enriched.

The foundation cost me $49, so to be eligible for the free gift (spend $60 or more) I decided buy some lip gloss (gal always needs some gloss). So I bought the Full potential Lips Plump and Shine, because I figured sexy name, sexy lips! It does plump your lips and provided a lovely gloss, but it also very sticky. If you wait for the gloss to settle on your lips, it doesn’t feel that bad. I do appreciate the packaging as it comes with a lip wand (I am not a big fan of lip tubes).

So what was included in my free gift? Bottles of skin care awesomeness! This included Clinique's...
- Rinse-off foaming cleanser mousse 75mL
- 7 Day scrub cream 30mL
- Dramatically different moisturizing lotion 30mL
- Moisture Surge 30mL
- Aromatics Elixir 4mL
- Long last lipstick
- Blushing blush 3.1g
- High impact curling mascara in black
AND a super cute beauty bag!

Want to get fresh?

Fresh fruit and vegetables that is! I am very anti-supermarket when it comes to my fruit and veg, especially after a friend revealed to me that supermarket produce is often frozen for up to 2 years, before it is on display. Talk about outrageous and not-so-fresh! So I have been committed to finding fresh produce at a reasonable price.

Marrickville Organic Food market is the answer! Held every Sunday from 8:30-3pm, it is very vegan and vegetarian friendly. This place also has great market food. My vegetarian friends bought a vegie stack which looked delicious (I am a proud meat-eater so that says something). I had a spinach and beef gozleme which was perfect on a sunny day.

We also bought a massive bag full of organic fruit and veg for just $40! Which is how much I spend at the grocery store anyways. The markets also ended up being an educational experience as I learned that supermarket apples are covered in wax which helps keep the moisture within the apples. Although this wax is safe for consumption, I just don't like the idea of eating wax covered fruit... So I bought a bought a bag of un-waxed apples and boy were they crunchy!

So if you're in the area and have a hankering for fresh fruit and vegies, hit Marrickville's Organic Food Market.

When? Every Sunday from 8:30-3pm
Where? Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville

Ruby Smallbone. More like Ruby Big-Inspiration!

Yes I realise that Smallbone is more practical, but when I saw her models strut their stuff last night, there was a massive 'wow factor'.

I'm talking awesome hair and cool threads. I was actually thinking about cutting my hair and adopting the blunt bob look, but when I saw the wispy high buns on her models, I was mesmerised and inspired. The models looked casual yet appropriate for a black tie event. Even though the buns were high, they were also loose, which is great as they probably won't cause headaches (I have thick hair and a lot of it, so I am definitely a hair-ache sufferer).

The clothes were just as gorgeous. I mean pastels, prints and wearable fashion, OH MY! The pastels were creamy and seemed to compliment all skin tons (the seemingly Asian model and Samantha Harris assisted me with this conclusion). Ruby Smallbone made silk shorts look fun and flirty, she also had an incredible white dress which I fell in love with.

The show was no doubt a parade of inspiration.

A big thank you to Elise who let me be her plus one and Renee from Stellar PR for inviting us along.

Cold Wednesday= Bamboo Dumpling Bar= Warm Kat

As it was freezing on Wednesday, so BF and I decided to try out the Bamboo Dumpling Bar in Surry Hills (there is also one at Potts Point). It was just the perfect weather for steamed food.

As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the very friendly chef and the most adorable buddha statue wearing a fedora (don't blame him, his head must have been freezing). The dumpling bar itself is decorated with a bike on the wall, a pop art print with Chairman Mao and my favourite; a blowfish in a bird cage (about time someone put a blowfish in a cage). I love places such as this, where you can spot the little touches of care and thought.

So what about the food? Well, here is what we ordered and what we told about it...

Duck pancakes- They were served hot and were delicious, with just the right amount of sauce and duck.

Pork and chive dumplings- These were my favourite because they tasted exactly like my dad's. It was really creepy. I actually tried to see if my dad was cooking in the kitchen... suspicious if you ask me.

My main was the special for Wednesday night, braised beef with noodles- The beef had soaked up a lot of flavour and the noodles were great, but I did feel like the bowl needed a little more soup.

BF's main was the beef pho- They were ok, it was a great comfort dish.

Beef and lemongrass skewers- Usually I find the lemongrass over powers the beef, but this was not the case. There was a delicious balance of spices and beef.

Overall it was a good Wednesday night, the dinner for 2 cost us less than $50 (inc. tip), the service was good and the placed looked great. What more can a hungry person want on a cold night! I mean a hug would've been nice, but it wasn't on the menu....

Address: 140 Commonwealth Street Surry Hills

Phone:02 9281 1372

Hours: Mon-Sun, 12-10pm

Trying to give good face

I'm am currently 24 years old and I still struggle to give good face. You see I am Asian and I have a serious case of the "Asian eyes". I don't have a visible crease across my eyelid and my eyelashes are very short, in fact sometimes I wake up and freak out because I think they've all fallen out. On the plus side, it has saved me money on buying mascara (which, when I try to apply, there is more on my skin than my lashes) and eye shadow (when I attempt to do a smokey eye, it looks like a black eye).

So I've been trying to find a solution to my face problem and I think I am one step closer. I have discovered a book called 'Asian Faces: The Essential Beauty and Makeup Guide for Asian Women' by Taylor Chang-Babaian. It's a book that has been on the market for a while, but all the information is still relevant. It can also be very helpful for those who aren't Asian, the book doesn't discriminate!

Who is this genius - Taylor Chang-Babaian? She is Korean-American, a celebrity makeup artist and beauty author. She also understands that the way you look on the outside can make you feel good on the inside. In her book she simplifies the whole make up process with great images and a step by step guide to creating the look that she has created.

There is also a play-by-play of the tools you need, a guide to determining your skin type and then there's a whole section on fake eyelashes (yes it's an Asian girls dream!). Chang-Babaian also goes through the type of makeup you should use for your skin type. Something so obvious, yet I had been oblivious to, thus my struggle for good face.

So if you're like me and want to give good face, pick up a copy of Taylor Chang-Babaian's 'Asian Faces: The Essential Beauty and Makeup Guide for Asian Women'. I bought mine from Angus and Robertson for $40.95, but I'm sure you can get a copy from any leading book store.

Best coffee in Newtown!

Yes that's right... I said it. The best coffee in Newtown is Sole Espresso. Bf and I decided to try some new places for breakfast and so we stumbled upon Sole Espresso. For a Sonoma Organic Toast with Vegemite and butter it'll cost you $4.00 and it was so what my tummy needed for breakfast. On another occasion I had scrambled eggs served on organic toast with roasted roma tomato & rocket for $8.50. Yes yummy and affordable!

The service was ok, the staff are friendly, but the quality is really in the food. You can also take your dog down and sit outside. Also important to note, Sole Espresso is eco-conscious.

Sole stands for Sustainable Organic Local Ethical, the coffee beans are sourced from sustainable farms and roasted locally by Single Origin in Alexandria. The bf could not get enough of this coffee, when we left he wasn't on the usual caffeine high, we was relaxed and alert.

They also serve lunch and tapas, I'm talking about soft shell crab & rocket salad with herbed Aioli and Spanish paella with seafood and chorizo. So it's droola-licious! Photo credit: www.soleespresso.com.au

When are they open? Mon- Fro 6:30 to 5, Thurs-Fri 6:30-10, Sat 7:30-10, Sun 8-5.
Where are they? 13/330 King St Newtown
What if I want to call them? (02) 9516 0007

'Pho' I'm hungry!

While watching Masterchef the other night, Luke Nguyen was featured cooking in Freedom Square at Cabramatta, I remembered all the Saturdays I spent there shopping with the parentals. Going into the Asian bakeries and grocery stores, seeing the exotic ingredients that surrounded me.

So while house sitting in the area, we wanted to go to Cabramatta for some Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup). We had heard that there was a great place next to the Commonwealth Bank on John St and we were not disappointed!

We ordered some prawn and pork fresh rolls and 2 bowls of beef pho (with 2 cokes it cost us $33.50) The rolls were fresh and had a great balance of noodles, salad and meat. The beef noodle soup was just as awesome, it had heaps of noodles (just the way I like it) and the restaurant gives you the whole bottle of chilli and hoi sin sauce (both crucial condiments for Pho), you also get plenty of chilli sauce.

We almost had to be rolled out of the restaurant!

This is what we had:


What's it called? Bau Truong Vietnamese Restaurant
Address? 42 John Street Cabramatta
Phone? 9727 7099

I wish every Wednesday was a Cleo Bachelor Party...

Cleo threw one of the BESTEST events I have ever attended! And no I am not exaggerating.

The 2010 Cleo Bachelor of the year party was located at the Zeta Bar at the Hilton hotel. I was there with the lovely Stuff That I Bought blogger Elise, we were ready to let our hair down and party like it was 1999 (except do it millennium style). The mini-food was delicious (salmon with mashed peas and avocado tartlets), the drinks were flowing and the atmosphere is what you would exp

ect from a room full of women who knew that 50 of Australia's hottest and most eligible bachelors were going to enter the room (it was a hen's night times 10).

Elise and I were also playing spot the celebrity and avoid the cameras- a game which is surprisingly hard to do at the same time with a delicious drink in hand. The 'celebrities' (non-bachelors) we did spot were Vince Colosimo, Michelle Bridges, Sarah Wilson and Charlotte Dawson just to name a few (the few that I can remember and recognised). So after the audience were introduced to the delicious men in white shirts and black ties, they were set free to mingle in the crowd. The whole room seemed to need a cold shower. Elise and I were quite tame of corse, as we have our own spunks to go home to.

Then it was time for the big announcement and Firass Dirani, took the title. So the champagne was poured (yes more alcohol was needed to celebrate this incredible moment) and everyone partied a little bit more.

Best Wednesday ever!

Like your scambled eggs fluffy and delicious?

Scrambled, is the place you NEED to be, all day any day. This place is perfect for Sunday mornings, when your maybe not feeling so 'Carol Brady' (just a touch hung over) because chances are neither is anyone else at Scrambled. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed with many locals bring their dogs and babies with them.

I have taken many people to Scrambled with me and no one is ever disappointed, many in fact walk out with food babies (tummies so full of food it looks like you're 4 months preggo). The juice is also made fresh, so fresh that it tastes like the fruit had just been picked from the tree.

Now as someone who takes ordering a meal very seriously (I treat every meal like an important life decision), the specials board really makes you something to think about! So check out the special board yourself at Scrambled.

Address:205 Enmore Rd Enmore NSW (02 9519 5181)

Photo credit: www.bestrestaurants.com.au

Yummy and good for your tummy?

I am always on the hunt for good health and nutritional advice, whether it be from a magazine or book. Recently, I came across nutritionist Dr. Joanna McMillian Price's book, "Inner health, outer beauty", the title intrigued me because for some reason I never thought that looking good, could be attained by just eating right... could it be this simple?

McMillan Price says YES! Unlike other nutrition books, this one doesn't just tell you what you should be eating, but why and what's wrong with the crazy fad diets out there. I learnt that cutting out all carbs isn't necessarily the best for my body, it's choosing the right type of carbs to have. Yea for good carbs!

The information is also presented in big font and bright colours, which is a big help fause you don't feel like you're studying, you are indeed reading funsies! What also makes this book so darn enjoyable and realistic, are the recipes which consume half of the book. I'm talking about recipes like chicken with lemon and garlic and rosemary lamb backstrap with char-grilled sweet poatato with feta salad. Yum! There are also 15 minute meals, perfect for those of us who have had a really long day at work as well as lunches you won't get sick of. The ingredients involved are also realistic, they don't involve spices which was handpicked my monks from a country which sounds made up. s

The only minor annoyance with the book is that there are no pictures of the recipes. There are photos of Joanna with her dog, who is adorable! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great general overview of nutrition and also prove to many that food can be yummy and good for your tummy.

Retail price: $34.99
Available from Dr. Joanna McMillian Price's website or from leading bookstore

Din Tai Fung, translation... DEE-LICIOUS dumplings!

Din Tai Fung, is a Taipei-based global chain of dumpling houses that sees scores of people line up during their lunch hours. The restaurant runs like a well oiled machine, with workers in white hats and hygiene masks furiously working away in steam filled rooms.

This legendary establishment also prides itself on customer service, they actually have a service philosophy which I loved as they "meet customers expectations before they have even voiced them". Sounds crazy I know, but this is exactly what happens! For example, if they notice that you have hung a handbag on your chair, they come around with a fold out laundry-like-bag and stow away your handbag for you. Great! And that's just the service.

The food is also insanely awesome! The dumplings are made with such skill - each dumpling is made to the exact same size and thickness. There is also an art to eating these yummy dumplings. The first step is to create your own sauce with the shredded ginger that they provide for you. You mix 3 parts vinegar to 1 part soy sauce. When you pick up a dumpling, dip it into the sauce, then into your ladle. Use your chopsticks to pierce the dumpling so the clear broth pours out (this will also give you a good indication if it is too hot to eat), then 'here comes the aeroplane', time to put to the dumpling in your mouth and savour the parcel of deliciousness!

I highly recommend Din Tai Fung to anyone who is a fan of dumplings and Chinese cuisine, it is Din Tai FUN!


Address: World Square Shopping Centre, 644 George St, Sydney
Phone: (02) 9264 6010

Fancy a vintage find?

The Red Cross have opened a chic boutique charity store on King Street in Newtown called 359 King and every time I walk by, the window calls out to me to enter - for me, the retro jewellery and cute vintage skirts scream the loudest.

The store also carries new items like shoes, so various sizes are available.

What makes the store so chic is the styling of the mannequins and its' overall presentation - you don't walk in and think you are in a charity store. The store blends so naturally with surrounding Newtown boutiques and it has a cool retro feel.

I encourage those of you who love to rediscover fashion to enter 359 King and spend til the cows come home because all proceeds go to Red Cross programs all over Australia (which help those in need).


Photo credit: Red Cross

Big ouchie! Mouth ulcher ONE. Kat ZERO.

The last couple of days I have been suffering from THE worst mouth ulcer I have ever had. I realise that I might sound like I'm being dramatic, but the location of ulcer was right next to my back teeth, so whenever I moved my mouth it would irritate my ulcer and incite a stinging pain.

I had tried Bonjela and putting salt directly on the ulcer in the past, but it would take a few days to heal and putting gel in my mouth just felt plain weird, like eating Vaseline. No thanks! So I looked for an alternative... And I found it! Oral B's Amosan Mouth Wash, it was just sitting on the shelf of my local chemist, waiting to relieve my pain. It comes in a box with 20 sachets of the powdered mouth wash for $12. You dissolve one sachet in 2 tablespoons of warm water and swish it in your mouth after meals. It is recommended that you don't eat 20 mins after you swish and you should swish 4 times a day.

When I initially picked up the box and read the instructions, I was skeptical. Then after my first swish I was still a little skeptical because the smell and taste of the mouthwash was just like Macleans toothpaste. It was my third swish that I realised my ulcer was healing and eating was fun again!

Does your hair need a hug?

During one of my Priceline rampages I came across Andrew Collinge's salon treatment, it was in a sachet so I figured I can use it once just to see what Andrew has to offer. My hair was a little dull and sad, it was in desperate need of a hair hug.

So I opened the packet and to my surprise it wasn't like opening a chip packet and finding that you had just purchased a packet of air, there was at least 2 decent dollops of treatment in that one packet-my hair is shoulder length so it was definitely plenty for me!

You apply the salon treatment after shampooing your hair, I like to concentrate on the ends just to avoid any chance of getting split ends. Then I whack on a sexy shower cap (doesn't have to be sexy, but I like to accessorize in the shower) to just help with the process, it helps lock in moisture and replenish the hair. Then after 5-10 minutes (depends on what your hair needs) rinse with warm water and dry as usual.

The end result is a mane which has just had a big salon hair hug, your hair becomes glossy and so soft that you won't want to stop touching it!

How much? It's only $12.99 for a 150 mL tub

I'm just going to be blunt... What happened to THE CLARE?!?!?!

So last Saturday I went back to The Clare at Ultimo (after a long hiatus) - this place is pretty much a rite of passage for Uni students who have attended UTS or Sydney Uni or anyone who works/worked for the ABC.

Back in the day, when you walked in you would usually be slapped in the face by the smell of stale beer and a room full of students (who should be in class or have just failed a subject), you would sink into the 'much-loved' (and 'overly-loved) couches and the staff were aware of your exact drinking needs and would serve you with as many beers as you could afford (within the rules of RSA of course). The atmosphere would be filled with delightful banter, intellectual (and un-intellectual) debate and unknown, underground music filled the remainder of the space.

But now, the staff have become so disdained and jaded with the idea that they (the Clare) are 'too cool for school' and have begun neglecting the basic essences that made the Clare, 'the Clare'. Most noticeable was the vapid blonde who actively mocked customers (along with ignoring them) as she sat at the end of the bar with other staff members and 'friends'.

The staff failed to inform us that there was free pool on a Saturday night, after 6 games - it kinda would've been nice to know. Then there was the music - it was different to say the least - (I know I must sound really old right now reminiscing about the past, but seriously it's not like what it use to be). The DJ would play music from his laptop and then sit down and join the blonde for a chat at the end of the bar. YES people, and he got PAID to do this. And it wasn't the underground stuff from before, it was Beyonce and all your top 40 hits of today. Can you believe it? Maybe they should just put the radio on, or whack someone's iPod on instead.

This is just not right. Bring back the old Clare! And bring on staff that want to 'want' to add to the Clare and its' colourful history.

Where is The Clare? 20 Broadway, Ultimo
Photo Credit: smh.com.au

Salycilic acid it to me!

So I've had a giant pimple on my chin for the last few days. And i've tried all your typical MacGyver solutions; toothpaste, tea tree oil and other products which promises to zap my zits into oblivion 'instantly'.

So I hit the blogosphere and it seemed like any product with salycilic acid was the solution. This has changed my life. I purchased 2 products Garnier's Pure Pore Purifying Astringent (RRP $8.85) and Garnier's Pure Active Roll-On (RRP $12.55 ). The astringent is a pore tightening toner which removes surface bacteria and the salycilic acid dries out the pimple. The Active Roll- On reduces redness and drys out the pimple as it is 2% purifying salicylic acid, it also contains Herbasoothe which is derived from blueberries and helps heal the skin.

Available at selected pharmacies, supermarkets, department and variety stores.
Picture Credit: Primped

"Get in my belly!"

Last Saturday night I was invited to Ribs and Rumps, a steak house which I had never heard of, but they are popping up all over Sydney (and Africa). I was intrigued because as a serious lover of red meat I wondered what they had to offer my appetite...

So I researched (downloaded the menu and glanced over it for a week), yes this may come across as obsessive, but when you decide to go to a new restaurant for the first time you want to do it right, otherwise it will ruin your whole experience and you will never go there again.

Yes, I take my food seriously.

I went all out. I ordered the combo of ribs and rumps original. This includes beef, lamb ribs and a 250g rump steak with a side of chips for $40.95. It tasted amazing! It was covered in a delicious sticky sauce and they do not skimp on the food. I did feel like I was having a Flintstone moment as I was munching on giant ribs. This place is especially perfect for dads who love their red meat, with a side of red meat.

So go down to Ribs and Rumps for your "yabba dabba doo!" moment.