Zip me off

A perfect combination of feminine and edgy styles. Guess, Fedran. Classic pumps with metal zipper detail outlining entire shoe. Zipper bow detail on squared toe. Covered platform.

http://www.zappos.com/guess-fedran-black 

 

Swirly Metallic Platform Shoe

John Galliano's retro inspired visions morph the past with the present and the old with the new. This overtly sexy overdesigned metallic platform shoes just caught my eyes...

http://www.johngalliano.com/

Emerging talents of footwear

Presenting a retail-ready collection, Sophia Grace Webster took inspiration from the intricate patterns seen on African butterflies' wings. Working in collaboration with a first-year print designer to create the signature print, Webster presented a well-executed collection of women's footwear. Symmetry was applied as the over-arching theme, achieved through seemingly hand-drawn "squiggle" heels and elaborately laser-cut wings applied to each shoe to create the illusion of a butterfly.

Contact: sophia@sophiagracewebster.com

Conceptual, edgy and beautifully crafted

Helen Furber redefined luxury with her collection, entitled Icica. She employed technologies and constructions that would be more at home in the sports-performance sector to redefine her product, and applied an enhanced design-sensibility to an eco-driven concept.

Contact: helenfelicity@boxfordpark.co.uk

Korean does French in the morning

Tous Les Jours... for breakfast. Look at this beautiful presentation for ham and egg sandwich...

http://www.touslesjoursusa.com/

Home made Jajangmyeon

Jajangmyeon (also spelled jjajangmyeon) is a popular Korean dish, derived from theChinese dish Zha jiang mian. It consists of wheat noodles topped with a thick sauce made ofchunjang (a salty black soybean paste), diced meat and vegetables, and sometimes also seafood.

Mojito at Bamboo in Venice

According to my friend Dustin, this is the best mojito in town.

http://www.bamboorestaurant.net/

Buddha's Belly

A huge Buddha statue presides over the patrons eating Pan-Asian inspired food at reasonable prices. Great veggie menu, and my fav. Shishito Peppers served with ponzu sauce, bonito flake http://www.bbfood.com/

Mummified shoes

Experiment with materials and processes and push the boundaries of conventional shoemaking? Here is the example...

http://chiclooks.blogspot.com/2009/09/chau-har-lee-shoegasm.html

Glass Slippers

Made famous by none other than Cinderella and brought to life by Maison Martin Margiela, the Brothers Grimm fantastical shoe concept now exists, albeit in limited quantities. Available at Maison Margiela Stores for HK$9,900 each or HK$19,999 for the pair. 

http://www.coolhunting.com/style/maison-martin-m.php

Coral Tree cafe

Yummy, healthy and BIG muffin. Their Corwl Tree drips are dark and rich. Perfect with BIG muffin!

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=coral+tree+cafe&find_loc=Los+Angeles%2C+CA

Home made Pho

Thanks to my sister for the broth and all the fresh herbes and noodles from Saigon market. OMG! Pho was goooooooood.

Alphabets for shoe design inspiration

Talking about inspirations... C-shoe for Camper by Maria Blaisse was nominated for the Dutch Design Awards 2009. Red, beautiful and “C” for clever...
http://www.mariablaisse.com/PRODUCTS.htm

Bows–Schutz

Bowed details have been around for a  long time to jazzed-up many pairs of shoes, but this time around designers are using different kinds of material and shape for new bow trend.

Lace up–Jorge Bischoff

Lace-up with overlaid straps, and mixed uppers in one sandal. Check out this fabulous Jorge Bischoff lace-up. http://www.jorgebischoff.com.br/

Chicken and shrimp with bean sprout and onions

Stir fry onions and add ground chicken and shrimps. Cook them until natural juice comes out. Add bean sprout and fully cook all. Sprinkle green onions and cilantro before serving.

New heel shapes–The wedge

The wedge has long been the most practical leg-lengthener. This season sees the wedge take on a geometric shape, resulting in a more directional aesthetic. As predicted in our super-stacked footwear report, the trend for the tall wedge is set to continue into spring/summer 2011. Beautiful Christian Dior wedges from SS 2010 runway.

Home-made steak salad with ginger carrot dressing

All organic and all home made... Even the tomatoes are home grown from the backyard. Fresh and healthy dinner...

New heel shapes–The block heel

For those still craving height, the block replaces the spike-heeled stiletto of past seasons, with many designers featuring examples of this heel in their collections, resulting in a wearable, practical solution. Louis Vuitton bowed block heels is classic and new addition for your Fall closet.

 

New heel shapes–Kitten Heels

Prada's vitello leather with patent leather trim in new kitten heels. Trend-setter? This is the pair that you want.

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod109290051&parentId=cat30700738&masterId=cat14860748&index=6&cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat000009cat000019cat5890735cat000011cat14860748cat30700738

Devon & Blakely

Does it make sense to have hot soup on a hot summer day? There’s this anecdote about a little girl who asked her grandmother why she drank hot coffee even on very hot days and she countered by asking the girl why she liked to eat ice cream even on very cold days. Italian wedding soup with meatballs at Devon & Blakely was just the thing for hot summer day in New York.
http://devonblakelydc.com/food-delivery/Devon-Blakely-15th-St-NW-Washington.4310.r?QueryStringValue=yQobTZvR44hy2JvHb98hdg==

Nobu 57 - Midtown West - New York

Yummy, yum, yum... Yellowtail in panzu with jalapeno. Melting in your mouth. 

http://www.noburestaurants.com/fiftyseven/index.html#362-402-724

Serendipity 3 in New York

OMG!!! I tried the best home-made style apple pie in New York, Upper Eastside. Serendipity 3 is a New York landmark. When in New York, you can’t miss visiting this restaurant. It might feel touristy at first, but it is famous because they have established themselves uniquely long ago when others have not thought about the “frozen hot chocolate” and other goodies. So, why not try it when you’re in town to check it out yourself?

My Burmise took me to Korean in New York

Visit New York this week. My Burmise Brendan took me to yummy Korean restaurant called "Kun Jip." http://www.kunjip.net/

Best part of Shabu

freshly made broth from Shabuing... And simply drop rice clear noodles. Nothing else is needed. omg!!!

Nooks and crannies

Multi-grain English muffin topped with an organic, pasture-raised egg, organic American cheese and preservative-free Canadian bacon. Just make it easy, and go organic...

Vanissa, Vanissa, Vanissa!

You've certainly got it goin' on. This five and a quarter inch heel, and super high platform from Steve Madden, makes this colorful suede and ruffley number sexy, smart, and a great match for slim skirts and dresses. Smooth suede upper. http://www.zappos.com/product/7681334/color/10909

Edgy studs? Yes, please

Lorissa peep-toe pump from Sam Edelman is on point. Sparkling stones interspersed with conical studs lend standout style to an edgy peep-toe pump. The With its snakeskin leather upper and bold metal spikes, this edgy pump is a sure show stopper.

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=479686&CategoryID=16961&LinkType=PDPZ1 

Victorian military

Keep ahead of the trends in these military-inspired suede platform ankle boots with functional metal button closure.

WARNING:

Fitted with a neat row of aged brass buckles and elastic loops, this polished boot makes dressing up a pleasure. The soft suede number sports an otherwise unembellished upper, with a gently rounded toe and side zip entry adding comfort and convenience. We especially love it with ankle-skimming skirts and cuffed trousers, but you can be confident that it'll flatter whatever you throw at it.

http://shop.guess.com/ProductDetails.aspx?style=GWOWENS&image=GWOWENS-DBLSU&mr:trackingCode=BE058CAA-4C81-DF11-A0C8-002219318F67&mr:referralID=NA

Marinated tuna bowl

Bring a 4-qt. saucepan of water to a boil. Working with 1 piece of tuna at a time, submerge tuna in water for 5 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, immediately transfer tuna to a bowl of ice water and chill for 10 seconds. Remove and pat dry. Repeat with remaining tuna. Place tuna in a plastic bag; add soy sauce, sake, and mirin. Seal; let tuna marinate, turning once, at room temperature for 30 minutes. 

To serve, remove tuna from the bag, reserving marinade, and cut each piece into 6 slices. Place 1 cup rice onto 4 serving bowls; top each serving with 6 slices of tuna. Garnish with ginger, nori, shiso, and thinly sliced omelette. Drizzle with reserved marinade; serve with wasabi.

Simple, healthy and delicious...

Potato Pancakes German Style

Grate raw potatoes into water to which lemon juice has been added. Place potatoes in a strainer or cheese cloth and drain off liquid. Drain well. Beat raw and cooked potatoes with egg, milk, and salt to form a batter. Using 3 T oil for each batch, drop batter for 3 or 4 pancakes at a time in hot oil in a large frypan. When firm on the bottom side, loosen edges and turn. Brown on other side. Remove, drain on paper towel, and keep warm. Continue until all batter is used. Serve immediately. NOTE: If potato cakes are served with meat, sprinkle with salt. Sprinkle with sugar if served with applesauce.

What's in the middle? Beer? ;p

 

Vegetarian or not...

Vegetarian with Japanese Eggplant. Add grilled chicken, please?

Mozzarella cheese, baby broccoli, grilled Japanese eggplant, roasted corn, sliced red onions, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and our tomato sauce. Also available with mild goat cheese. Recommended on honey-wheat dough. And my hubby & I add grilled chicken to non-veggitize this meal. :) So yummy... http://www.cpk.com/

Massamun Curry

Peel and cut up potatoes into big chunks. Cut up chicken and onion into the same size. Heat coconut milk and masaman curry paste in a pot over medium to low heat and stir. Break up the paste and mix well with coconut milk. Stir constantly to keep the mixture from sticking. When you see the red oil bubbling up (about 5 minutes), add the meat and stir to cover the meat with curry. Add half a cup of water or enough cover all the meat. Add the rest of the ingredients, except for potatoes, onion and cashew. Stew for 1/2 hour or until chicken socks up all the flavor. Add potatoes, onion and cashews. Let simmer for 20 minutes more. The liquid should be reduced and you should be able to see some chunks. But, if the liquid is very low, add more water.

I usually serve with my favorite; rice on the side! Massamun Curry

♥♥♥, and I'm so happy...

powerful and clear

How do they do that?

I know... I told everyone to everyone I don't like fried food. But this one always gets me. Asian style fried chicken! What's so different about it? Try and find out for yourself.

www.teastation.us

Chinese-Style Hot and Spicy Green Beans

In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and chili flakes. Set aside. Place 1/4 cup water in a large skillet and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the green beans, cover the pan, and cook until the beans are crisp tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover, and drain any water that remains in the pan. Add the oil, ginger, and garlic to the beans in the skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the beans are lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Don't let the garlic burn. Add the soy mixture to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and glazes the beans, about 2 minutes.

When a zebra's in the zone, leave him alone

Espadrilles are back in a big way. The cool canvas and natural jute details keep you in line with the season's tribal- and rustic-chic trends in Zebra print on chocolate. A slight platform makes standing and walking a cinch and the super-soft lining ensures a sexy stride. Very sensible sale price in $39.99.

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/

Perfect finger-food

Hand rolls (temaki) is a large cone-shaped piece of nori on the outside and the ingredients spilling out the wide end. A typical  is about ten centimeters (4 in) long, and is eaten with fingers because it is too awkward to pick it up with chopsticks. For optimal taste and texture, temaki must be eaten quickly after being made because the nori cone soon absorbs moisture from the filling and loses its crispness and becomes somewhat difficult to bite. My 3 top choices: spicy tuna, unagi and california hand rolls.

Have your Ancient Eastern feast

The omelette is commonly thought to have originated in the ancient near-east. The fluffy omelette is a refined version of an ancient food. Anyhow..., my husband loves anything with eggs in the morning, and this is what he will have to experience ancient East...

I ♥♥♥...

BCBG Runway knotted zip-back heel... Leather,  5" heels & hidden platform. I have nothing else to ask for.

http://www.bcbg.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3983401&cp=2939729.3425673&view=all&clickid=cat_leftnav_txt&parentPage=family

Aguadito

I’m going full Spanish today to celebrating Spain winning the 2010 WorldCup! This is yummy cilantro soup/green soup(I used to call) called Aguadito.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion, garlic, and aji; cook until the onion has softened, about 1 minute. Add the chicken, and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and cook for 1 minute. At this point you may wish to shred the chicken or cut it into bite size pieces. (Thighs and drumsticks make for a nice presentation whole) Pour in the chicken broth, potatoes, (carrot if you used it) and rice. Add cumin. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.

So greatest...

 

Huevos rancheros

Perfect breakfast...

Huevos rancheros means “eggs ranch-style” or “eggs country-style” in Spanish. The dish traditionally was served at the large mid-morning breakfast on rural farms where workers had a much smaller meal at dawn.

The basic version of huevos rancheros consists of corn tortillas fried lightly, and fried eggstomato-chili sauce. Slices of avocado, fried eggs top with cilantro.
Jacki Puzik

http://jackihits.blogspot.com/

Noodle with mix veggies & shrimp

Another quick and fun fix... Simply mix your choice if noodle with veggies and meats. Tonight, I have shrimps and cabbage, onions and cilantro. Little bit of soy sauce top with sesame oil will do the truck.

Told you to get a pair of boots...

Alexander McQueen... Oh how I love your design... This beautifully gilted black leather boots are to-die-for for this fall... Tweed body, leather trim buckle-down, zip-up ankle peep-toe boot with antique silver skull zipper and shearling trim. http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/

Parent-and-child in a bowl

Oyakodon - Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl. This literally means "parent and child in one." Chicken and eggs!!! Look at it. it’s so yummy and healthy. And for me, this is the easiest and simplest thing to make! What you need are... 4 cup steamed rice, 3/4 lb chicken breasts, 1 onion, 1 2/3 cups soup stock (dashi), 7 tbsp soy sauce, 4 tbsp mirin, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 4 eggs. This will serve good 4-6 people.

Cook steamed rice. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and thinly slice onion. Put dashi soup stock in a pan and heat. Add soy sauce, mirin, and soy sauce in the soup. Put chicken in the pan and simmer on low heat for a few minutes. Add onion slices to the pan and simmer for a few more minutes. Beat eggs in a bowl. Bring the soup to a boil, then pour the eggs over chicken and onion. Turn the heat down to low and put on a lid. After one minute, turn off the heat. To serve, first put steamed rice in a deep bowl, then place the chicken and egg on top of the rice. The greatest bowl!

Sushi for brunch

I love sushi for sure. Give me anything fresh from the sea, and I can have that for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Inaba's sushi for today's brunch was just too good to be true. Especially their Albacore tuna was melting in my mouth... http://www.restaurantinaba.com/

Jacki Puzik

Ox tail soup

my another favorite soup to make, ox tail soup. take some prep and time, but it's so worthy...

When is the NEXT?

NEXT is one of cool Mass brand I like from UK. I saw the cool "Knotted Platform Sandals" from their Runway collection. When are they going to sell these cool stuffs here is US?

Chicken and Smoked Sausage Gumbo

I made it, and I tried it, and it was gooooddddd...  My husband is so happy that he got his lunch for tomorrow. Jacki Puzik

 

I had to make my own...

1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup grape seed oil
1 pound smoked chicken sausage, 1/2-inch thick pieces
4 pounds chicken breast meat, skin removed
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon salt
1 cup chopped okra
carrots, tomatoes, green string beans, white rice

This would do "Chicken and Smoked Sausage Gumbo with White Rice."