My ZUNY Zoo

I have recently started my Zuny collection. Bought a white hippo and a brown deer. Am planning to get more to add to my Zuny zoo. So what's Zuny? It is a range of handmade leather animal figurines that can be used as bookends, doorstops, paper weights, or simply as adorable decor.

Zuny is started by Glob.design. Comprising Stephen Chen, Amy Chang, Darren Liao, Print Wu, it is a design team based in Taiwan that specializes in product design.

Zuny products are categorized into Zuny Classic, Zuny and Zuny Cicci series. There's not much difference between Zuny Classic and Zuny, except the latter comes in limited quantity of 9,999 units, and every Zuny animal has its own name with individual ID tag. Cicci means "chubby objects" in Italian and the design style of Cicci is round, chubby and cute.

Bookend (1kg in weight)

Paperweight (0.25kg in weight)

Doorstop (2kg in weight)

Memo clip

Magnet

Keychain

I'm planning to add a white lion, bull and polar bear to my Zuny zoo.

For more info and view the entire collection, please visit www.zuny.info

Paris Report: The Kooples

I first wrote about The Kooples back in January. Click here if you would like to read the earlier post on The Kooples. I like the ad campaign and the clothes so much, I said I would check it out when I am in Paris or London. Fate has it that I was in Paris last month, and I happily went shopping at The Kooples!

Here's a quick look at the new couples (real people and not models) being featured on the new campaign. Freaking genius, me think!

I love The Kooples for its military-inspired elegance, perfect tailoring in the philosophy of Saville Row, fitted suits, and the edgy details such as skulls, crossbones and coat of arms. Here's a look at what we bought...

The perfect military trench coat

The detailing on this trench coat is unique and edgy. Faux leather under collar and piping. Tres chic!

Navy suit shorts with contrasting black satin trims. Love the scallop hemline.

Blazer with coat of arm

He bought this white shirt with skull embroidered logo. Love the black piping details on the collar and the sleeves. I was so devastated that they didn't have the same version for women.



I convinced him to buy this trench coat. So now we have his and hers trench coat from The Kooples.


For more information, please visit the official sites:
www.thekooples.co.uk
www.kooples.com

Paris Report: Le Georges @ Centre Georges Pompidou

Le Georges in Paris is not new, yet it is still a favourite amongst Parisians. Well, even Karl Lagerfeld launched the Diet Coke he designed at Le Georges in April last year. If it is good enough for Kaiser Karl, it is definitely good for me.

During my recent trip to Paris, I met up with two friends who took Laurent and I to Le Georges for a nice dinner. It was such a "pretentious" place that I thought I should act cool and not take pics of the food. Hence, I have no food pics to show this time. However, I thought I should still share my experience with you, so you can visit it the next time you are in Paris.

For those "old" enough to have watched the 2003 Hollywood flick 'Le Divorce' starring Kate Hudson and Naomi Watt, you probably caught a glimpse of this restaurant with its amazing decor and view.

Kate Hudson's character Isabel met the older Frenchman Edgar for lunch at Le Georges. It is definitely a restaurant to impress whoever you want to impress.

The Centre Georges Pompidou is France's national modern art museum. It has been a hip place since 2000, when Le Geroges opened on the top floor.


To access the restaurant's private entrance, you could either take the elevator or the escalators. I would suggest to take the escalators (the long tubular structure at the facade) so you could have a good view on the way up.


The restaurant is stunning and I whispered a soft "wow" when I walked in. I think it is a good place for both day and night.

If you are visiting Le Georges, my tip for you is to dress in your most fashionable and trendy outfit. The wait staff here look like models (and probably are or were some point in their life) and I read some online reviews that some guests found them snooty. Well, I wore my Dolce&Gabbana wool dress, a black coat with my Chanel brooch and my YSL pumps. Guess my outfit got the seal of approval from the door bitch and I had excellent service. We do live in a superficial world, so I just play by the rules. :)

I can imagine how nice it would be to sit at the terrace... day or night. I need to be back there soon!

Simple, stark, stunning. I like the clean white tables and chairs, with single long-stem roses in vases on each table.


After some research, I discovered that this trendy restaurant is owned by Gilbert and Jean-Louis Costes, the brothers who are behind the famous Hotel Costes. Ah, now I know why Le Georges has the staying power of being a hip venue even after a decade.

Dominique Jakob and Brendan McFarlane are the designers behind this contemporary restaurant. With the huge aluminium sculptures, Le Georges was futuristic looking then, and it is still now. This is a true mark of good design. As for the food, the cuisine is classic French and fusion, with heavy Asian accents. I went with low expectations of the food, thinking that it is a "pretentious" resto, but I was surprised by how delicious the food was.

I strongly recommend a visit to Le Georges when you are in Paris. My only regret was not having enough time to visit the museum. I plan to hang out at the museum for a day and have lunch at Le Georges the next time I am back in Paris.

For more info, please visit www.centrepompidou.fr

Kha @ Martin No. 38

I have been a fan of KHA since its early days at Hort Park. For those who have been following the dining scene in Singapore, you probably would know that KHA has relocated to new chic neighborhood... to the latest SC Global development named Martin No. 38.

There is no shortage of Thai restaurants in Singapore but I count only a handful as my favourites. The new KHA is definitely top of my list. Why? It offers modern interpretation of classic Thai cuisine without compromising on the flavours, and yet offers a creative and innovative approach to make the dishes exciting and unique. This is why KHA is in a league of its own.

Its interiors are designed by award-winning, Melbourne-based studio Hecker Guthrie, who wanted to create the ambience of a traditional Thai house but without being too literal. The use of special lighting creates a theatrical ambience... rather regal I must say.

I love the use of dark wood against an industrial lofty space. If you look around, you will also find decor items that add on to the authentic and vintage ambience that KHA is trying to resonate. A far cry from those Thai restaurants with kitschy decor.

The private dining room that can sit 10 pax.

Below are some of my favourite dishes...

Tom Yum Goong
Hot and Sour King Prawn Broth

Tip: I would recommend for you to order one portion to be shared among two persons. Tell the waiter that it is for sharing and you will get served two small bowls instead of a big one. You can also choose the spice intensity.

Saur Rong Hai
Thai Beef Salad of Seared Strip Loin

*Seriously, the best Thai beef salad I ever had!

Wok Fried Tiger Prawns with Crispy Quail Eggs, Sticky Tamarind Sauce, Fried Shallots, Lime, Dried Chili.

*This is a chef's special. If you love prawns, you have to try this dish. Each order comes with two king prawns. I also like the texture of the crispy quail eggs.

Kai Chiaw

Wok Fried Omelette Topped with Thai Herb Salad

Tip: You can choose the option of chicken, pork or crab meat. I LOVE this omelette with crab meat. I know it sounds like a simple dish, but it left me craving for more. It is a must-try!

Khao Neaw Ma Muang
Mango and Sticky Rice Drizzled with Coconut Pandan Sauce

*Mango and sticky rice is a staple in all Thai restaurants. What I love about Kha's version is the use of Pandan leaves to flavour the cocount cream sauce.

Thap Thim Krwap
Red Rubies with Coconut Jasmine Syrup

What makes Kha's version of red rubies stand out is the use of Jasmine flower and syrup. It gives it a touch of floral complexity.


Well, I love the food so much that I went back twice in a week. That says a lot, doesn't it? I will be back at Martin No. 38 next week to check out Kha's adjourning restaurant, the second outlet of GRAZE.

For more information about KHA, please visit http://www.kha.sg/ or its Facebook's page http://www.facebook.com/kha.martin38