alexis blogs: 2020

Eyebrow Embroidery Singapore Review 2020: Lonni Beauty Brow Studio at Yishun Wisteria Mall Singapore 768698

November 20, 2020

As some of you might know, I am a fan of having NOTHING on my face (esp. hate wearing masks, eurgh). In fact, I've gone to some lengths to achieve that with LASIK, braces and a good skincare regime (including using a silk pillowcase). And brows are an important part of that process, like I mentioned when I first started doing eyebrow embroidery in 2015. That's why it was a pleasant surprise to find out my brow therapist Lisa has now moved to a new location at Yishun's Wisteria Mall called Lonni Beauty Brow - and invited me to go back for a ~~touch up~~ redo.

Here's me on the way to the studio, brows undrawn! In fact I have no makeup on - only sunscreen. As you can see, my brows have faded quite a fair bit since my last touchup 3 years back! It is also reddish or even maroon in some light, which matches my brows somewhat - but not intended!

Here are the special first-time customer rates for LONNI Beauty Brow with Lisa. They also do other services like mole removal and eyebrow threading, but these are what they are known for. Prices are definitely super fair and at market rate. Most people will go for 3D or 6D - the key difference is in how fine the 'hairs' are. Powder gradient is something new - it creates a fade in effect from start of brows to end - which I experienced later with a combination of the 6D micro blading.

If you're curious about their eyelash extensions, here's the different types of eyelash grafting which Lisa is able to do as well, strand by strand! The difference in 3D and 6D is just how many 'branches' come out from each strand.

Here are the new, single-use and hygienic tools for both the powder gradient (needle, much like doing hand poke tattoos) and the 6D embroidery (blade). As Lisa explained, she had to correct the colour underneath with a green dye - hence she will need to do a powder gradient. Then the blade for the hair-like effect.

Here's me with the outline drawn - it looked bigger than the actual shape of course. As usual, Lisa took her time to really meticulously etch out the guidelines, since it is the most important and 'skilful' part of the process. It is also important if this is your first time - to consult with Lisa and come to a consensus on the style (Korean style is straighter, thicker vs natural) and shape! After all they are your brows and you have to be comfortable with them. It took about 20m for her to shape the brows for me this time.

Then she started, first by applying numbing cream and letting them sit for 20 minutes. After that she used the blade to scrape on the skin (not painful at all). Followed by the needle to colour correct with the green dye (against red, equals brown) and then the actual brown colour. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it - the hand poking needle method (powder gradient) was a little more painful for me than the micro blading (especially since Lisa said the skin on my eyebrows' quite thin, which is true). However, most customers are able to tolerate it well. Here's the finished result after about 2 hours so do allocate that amount of time.

Here's the brows the next day. I had to sleep with a towel on the bed because of the protective gel coating which I had to apply thrice daily for a week, and of course she didn't need to say it but avoid washing that area as well at least for the first 4 days. So I had shiny, dark brows for a bit. Haha. Here it is the next day. Skin's still slightly reddish.

They were still looking pretty intense on Day 5! But I noticed some peeling that started.

Here's them after a week. As you can see, the corners have peeled off and they were pretty uneven. It was alright though since I wasn't going out much and working from home.

A full round of peeling afterwards saw much natural brows, 2 weeks after. I could go back for a touch up if I wanted to but I'm pretty happy now at the colour and not eager to experience the pain again.

Here's a side by side comparison from before to after (day 19). As you can see the shape and colour is much more defined!

I strongly believe brows are the window frames to the soul, and I'm super happy I manage to get these redone! If you're interested to check out Lisa from Lonni Beauty Brow, drop me a DM on Instagram or email me at alexischeong@gmail.com and I can help to arrange the timing, style or answer any questions you might have!

lunch

Restaurant Week Lunch Review: Solo Ristorante at 45 Amoy St, Singapore 069871

November 06, 2020

Had my first Restaurant Week meal for a birthday lunch on Friday at Solo Ristorante, an Italian restaurant that's been around at the hip CBD area for a couple of years, but it has a new chef/partner since March 2020 and featured a refreshed menu. I saw it on a few of my foodie friends' Instagrams, and me being an Italian food lover - could not resist checking it out. The place was bustlin' - dare I say full? - on a Friday weekday lunch, but Chef Simone Fratenali here still managed to give me a double peace sign as I walked past! 😅

There are two sitting areas, the other being more casual. However, the downside of an open kitchen is we all ended up smelling a little like what was being cooked, so mind that point if you need to meet anyone F2F after lunch/dinner. But I found walking under the sweltering hot sun to be a good way to get rid of the smell after.

Here's the Restaurant Week menu for lunch. I figured dinner was too heavy at 4 courses so opted for lunch instead. Do note to go to this link instead of the Dining City one to get reservations!

For starters, I opted for the Crema di zucca while my friend chose the Foie Gras (add $12). The butternut soup was light instead of overly creamy with a tinge of herb flavour (from the oil). Perfect for autumn!

Then I had the pasta dish (of course). It's the handmade Strozzapreti from the Emilia Romagna region which according to Chef, translates to "strangled priest", along with sausages and mushrooms. I had thought it to be a carbonara-based dish but turned out to be tomato-based, which was great. The pasta was the perfect bouncy, chewy texture that went well with the bits of minced sausage. My only complaint was this is not a big enough portion!

My friends had the Barramundi instead which having tried it, I was not a fan of. It was too fishy. The quinoa had good reviews though! I'd stick to the pasta dishes if I go back.

For dessert, there was Tiramisu (which my friend got and was pretty decent) or the Limone Tart which me and another friend got. I was pleasantly surprised by the tart and how it was the right balance of sweet and sour. Apparently Amalfi lemons were used? Ah, Amalfi. Brings me back to my travels to Capri and the coast!

That's my quick review of Solo Ristorante, but it won't be my ONLY trip, so... not solo! I'll be back to taste the regular menu soon hopefully and can give a more comprehensive review.

Solo Ristorante

45 Amoy Street Singapore 069871

+65 6260 0762

Tuesdays to Saturdays lunch: 12pm to 2.30pm

Tuesday to Sundays dinner: 6.30pm to 10pm (10.30pm for Fri/Sat)

(Closed on Sundays for lunch and closed all day on Mondays)

gadget review

Gadget Review: The new Sony WH1000-XM4 ANC Bluetooth Headphones

November 06, 2020

food review

Restaurant Review: The Peranakan at Claymore Connect L2, Singapore 238879

October 17, 2020

I'm guessing most of you (including me) think that Orchard is basically ION, Wheelock, Wisma and Taka but if you take a bit of a walk down toward Palais Renaissance, there's more than meets the eye. Specifically, The Peranakan restaurant at Claymore Connect, opposite Orchard Towers at Level 2. Established since June 2016, it is helmed by Chef Raymond Khoo and the only Peranakan restaurant in the vicinity. I'm so grateful and blessed to be invited to review the food there so I could discover this gem of a cultural gastronomy in such a convenient and comfortable location (as opposed to traipsing around in Katong).

Right off the bat before getting to the food, the restaurant is actually surrounded by a small shop and gallery space (which is open for high tea and private events) so it's not just food you're ingesting, it's culture and heritage. Peranakan culture is such a unique blend featuring predominantly Chinese and Malay influences. For foreign visitors and local friends alike - there's a lot in there to learn about here.

The gallery has various artefacts and antiques on display that would warrant at least 15 minutes to browse through at the minimum.

The long table is perfect for hosting larger parties and events, esp. when we get into Phase 3 and more than 5 are able to dine-in!

The main dining area is well-lit with a comfortable vibe to it despite its decor, which you can see is very pretty.

OK so before we get to the food though, I also wanted to share that The Peranakan is not just a restaurant, but also a social enterprise with its community projects funded by earnings and donations. They donated meals during Circuit Breaker to healthcare workers every day - no easy feat at a time when most people were staying in - and I got to know Chef Raymond through volunteering at The Saturday Movement, which distributes bread/fruit to the disadvantaged at Lengkok Bahru and helped shift the Sungei Rd Thieves Market vendors to their new shop, among other things. You can help directly by donating on their website menu/order page while ordering some delicious food for pick up or delivery (via Oddle - $50 min. spend)!

Now on to the food... We had the Tok Panjang LKY (S$48 per pax, min. 2 pax to order) set which is basically a sampling of 13 iconic Peranakan dishes and desserts (like a best-of album compilation), handed down from generation to the next. One thing to note is each family will have slightly different renditions of the dishes and this is Chef Khoo's family legacy.

As part of the Tok Panjang set, diners can choose between the Bak Wan Kepiting (S$9), which is a rich bamboo shoot broth that contained crabmeat chunks and bouncy pork/prawn balls or Itek Tim (S$9) which is the steamed duck and salted vegetable soup. Both was really good (esp. since it was a cold rainy evening) but if I am forced to choose, I'd pick the paradoxically light and rich seafood-bamboo soup only because it is not something you get every day.

By the way we also learned that there's a Vegetarian / Vegan version of most of their dishes too using plant-based meat replacements like Omnipork and faux meat. How cool is that? It's already difficult to find good vegetarian food in Singapore... and here's they managed to do that with Peranakan cuisine. Double props. I think one of the most distinctive features of this cuisine is the heavy use of aromatics and spices - without getting into the hot spicy territory, except for maybe this sambal belachan (bottled for sale, S$2) here which packed a kick.

For starters, there's a Kueh Pie Tee each (S$20 for 10), along with the crowd favourite that evening - the tangy Nasi Ulam (S$17), which where ulam stands for salad. So it is actually not fried rice but rice tossed with raw herbs, vegetables, minced fish and salted fish. It was so appetising and moreish we couldn't stop having it. There's also the Prawn Ngoh Hiang (S$15) which was alright but not outstanding.

For the mains, there are 5. First, the fried fish aka Ikan Goreng w/ Sambal & Kichap Manis which I don't think is on the ala carte menu. Erm, I don't really eat fish with bones due to a childhood phobia, but it seemed tasty.

There's also these mains - I enjoyed the Nonya chap chye (S$15) the most, though both the pork satay (S$19) and beef rendang (S$19) was sooo flavoursome with their gravy and begging for a side of white rice.

The star of the show was the Ayam Buah Keluak (S$22) where the precious insides from 2 of the mysterious nuts were taken out, blended into a paste with other ingredients and then stuffed back in to the shell. A special spoon was provided for us to dig out the inky goodness that tastes almost chocolatey. A little bit goes a long way in flavouring some white rice, but the taste is quite intense and not for everybody.

As part of the Tok Panjang set, there's also a Chef's 4-Dessert Platter served together with a hot cup of Lemongrass Pandan Tea to round off the meal with APOM. Hur hur, pun intended. The Apom Bokwa (S$15 with durian and banana pengat) is the name of the rice flour pancake served with banana pengat sauce that we learned is actually a very rare dessert that not many make nowadays. The set also had Pulot Enti Durian Puree (S$6.50 but I think we got the premium D24 Durian Pengat priced ala carte at $8.80 instead) and Kueh of the Day, the Kueh Bingka (S$8) which is tapioca cake. In the background we see chunks of gula melaka in their original form. Presentation A+!

This is the Pulot Enti Kelapa (S$5) - the pretty blue pea glutinous rice with grated coconut gula melaka topping which I also enjoyed very much with the hot lemongrass tea.

Of course fans would also know that Chendol is a Peranakan specialty and this one is drenched generously with gula melaka to lend the rich caramel flavour in the shaved ice, red beans and pandan jelly, so we had to try it as well outside of the set :P

It won't be anything but a resounding two thumbs up for The Peranakan for the quality of food, service and dining ambience. Do check them out as soon as you have a craving for Peranakan food and support their business and community efforts with your wallet. At the same time remember to let more people know as well! Check out these promotions as well for October 2020.

The Peranakan
442 Orchard Rd, Level 2 Claymore Connect, Singapore 238879
Fridays to Wednesdays 11.30am to 9pm (Closed on Thursdays in October)
Reservations via theperanakan.com or call +65 62624428

Thanks to Chef Raymond again for inviting us to feast in your lovely restaurant!

invited review

Product Review: Ergotune Supreme to level up WFH in Singapore

October 01, 2020

So a local office chair company, Ergotune, reached out to me a month ago and asked if I would be interested to try out their ergonomically designed office chair, their new Ergotune Supreme. I suspected the WFH gods must be listening to my silent cry for help because my neck/back was not doing so well after sitting on an old armrest-free rolling chair for long hours, especially since I could be at my desk from as long as 9am to 6pm, with only a lunch break and couple of tea breaks in between during my online training. I've been testing the chair for 2 weeks now and you can watch my vlog (embedded below) or read on to find out my thoughts about the ErgoTune Ergonomic Office Chair!

First up, the details. This Ergotune Supreme office chair comes in 2 colours and normally retails for S$850 but for the launch month of October it is going for S$599 (free delivery) with a further $30 discount if you use my code ALEXIS30. A lucky person will also stand a chance to win a 100% cashback in their lucky draw also until end of October. Assembly can be done by them for S$19 or you could DIY in 20 mins - and I heard it is super easy (if you can IKEA you can chair). The chair also comes with an 8 years + 4 years (if you post a pic of the chair) warranty.

This was the instruction sheet plus assembly tools pack I received, plus further details in the PR kit. Which essentially contained even more details on the different seating positions and adjustments you can make to the chair to suit your needs. Now you might be wondering.. how would a S$569 chair feel and perform and if it is worth it?

Well my answer is a resounding yes - if you are planning to sit long hours at a desk at home and have some spare cash lying around - this is a good investment. Just the other day I saw a super normal chair at IKEA retailing at S$249 - and it was out of stock. Even though you could get 2 IKEA chairs for the price of this one Ergotune Supreme, this definitely has way more features and a better build. I'd say it will even last forever, judging by how solid it is with the DuraWeave™ Hybrid Mesh Upholstery material that will not peel, crack or sag. I really liked the ventilation it gave - which is important when I try not to turn on the aircon in the day.

What I really enjoyed most about the chair is the Auto Tuning Lumbar Area Support (ATLAS™) for my lower back as well because I can lean back comfortably and yet be supported there w/o having to prop up with a cushion (or not lean back at all). I suppose this really is the most ergonomic feature of all. Other adjustments include the recline (lock available), height, depth, armrests and headrest (height, angle). Whatever can be adjusted, can be done. The armrest can even be turned inward (in front of my stomach) so I can rest my arms on it for typing!

Anyway, I feel very blessed that I got to try and keep the chair because I feel so much more comfortable working from home now, even though the government has recently announced that 50% of our workforce can return to offices. I hope I can WFH most days in fact - I feel more productive with all that extra time saved from the commute - and able to focus better by controlling the elements around me (air con temperature! food/water/air!).

Here's my vlog review for those who did not bother reading :P

Thanks Ergotune for sending me the chair again, and for those who are thinking to buy the Ergotune Supreme, remember to use my code ALEXIS30 for a SGD30 off till 31 October 2020! Head to www.ergotune.com now to shop.

food review