Welcome To Shirley's Luxury Haven!

Contest: Win A Trip To Japan!

Luxuryhaven — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:11:26 GMT

Now is your chance to win a trip to JAPAN! Simply paint them a picture or tell them a story by 30 Nov 2009 & you could win a free trip.

The Visit Japan Year 2010 Contest is open only to legal residents of United States who're thirteen (13) or older, except for residents of Maine, who must be eighteen (18) or older to enter.

Write an essay or take a photo expressing "Why I want to or should visit Japan". Your Entry must meet each of the following requirements:
- Essays should be no more than 2,010 characters, including spaces.
- Photos must be submitted in JPEG format, must be no larger than 1MB in size & may have a caption that is no longer than 201 characters, including spaces.

Click here to submit your entry & ALL THE BEST!

Encounter With The Deadly Japanese Delicacy

Luxuryhaven — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:10:42 GMT

Fugu is the Japanese word for Pufferfish or Blowfish, the most delicate, dangerous & expensive fish in the world. Because Fugu is lethally poisonous if prepared incorrectly, it has become one of the most celebrated & notorious dishes in Japanese cuisine.

The symptoms from ingesting the lethal dose may include dizziness, nausea or difficulty in breathing. For 50% to 80% of the victims, death follows within 4 to 24 hours. The victim remains fully conscious throughout most of the ordeal, but cannot speak or move due to paralysis & soon cannot breathe & subsequently asphyxiates. If the victim survives the first 24 hours, he or she usually recovers completely.

In Japan, discerning gourmets pay tremendous prices for a dinner of Fugu, ranging from about US$100 – US$200 per person. Fugu is extremely expensive & only prepared by trained, licensed chefs who know that one bad cut means almost certain death for a customer. In fact, many such deaths occur annually. Hence, the fish is sliced very carefully to obtain the largest possible amount of meat without the poison. A special knife called Fugu Hiki, is traditionally used to slice Fugu.

Each year, these incidents led to between 34 & 64 victims being hospitalized & zero to six deaths. One of the most famous victims was the Kabuki actor & "living national treasure" Band Mitsugor VIII who requested 4 servings of Fugu liver (the most toxic part) & died after eating them. Although Fugu is much celebrated by connoisseurs, the ‘forbidden fruit’ is the only delicacy officially prohibited to the Emperor of Japan.

Because of all these notorious facts, plus I ain’t a fish lover, it took quite a while for me to take up the challenge & to accept my Japanese friend’s invitation to this popular Fugu restaurant, Tora Fugu Tei, at Ginza. I’m glad I’d the privilege of surviving the ordeal & live to tell the tale & not writhing on a hospital bed with convulsions.

Eco-Friendly Performance Bedding

Luxuryhaven — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:22:54 GMT

Going green? Concerned about ecological products that are both safe & friendly? I was on a mission to "take green to the next level" & stumbled upon ZiaSleep.com that strikes me as a great resource for both tips & green bedding.

A healthy bedroom is one that allows us to rest, heal & rejuvenate in a space free from environmental stresses & connected to the healing properties of nature. There is nothing more worthwhile than investing in a nice comfortable mattress as the body requires proper sleep to be able to regenerate for the next day. I was totally taken in by ZiaSleep's array of Eco-friendly mattreses, such as the Eco-Memory Foam Mattress, which is perfect for the sensitive sleeper. Read more....

Chocolate Wonton Kisses

Luxuryhaven — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:01:47 GMT

As promised in my An Evening With Celebrity Chef Bob Blumer, here's my 1st demo on Bob's creation - Chocolate Kiss Wontons but I prefer the name Chocolate Wonton Kisses.

I've made some changes to the recipe. The original recipe calls for Hershey's caramel chocolate but I found them too sweet so I've substituted with Meiji's Melty Kiss instead.

Also, I've used chunky peanut butter for extra crunch instead of the normal ones. I omitted using powdered sugar for dusting too but you can add these if you've a sweet tooth. Click

here

for recipe...

Contest: Win A Free Trip To Asia Now!

Luxuryhaven — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:34:14 GMT

Japan is sponsoring Discover Asia Now Campaign & one Grand Prize winner will receive a trip for 2 people to Asia!

From bustling modern metropolises, to pristine beaches & ancient world heritage sites, Asia caters to a myriad of interests. A vacation in Asia is an adventure unlike any other, where rich cultural diversity, stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, vibrant festivals & exotic food enchant visitors & meticulous service & warm hospitality lure travelers back time & time again.

* Eligibility: Sweepstakes is open only to individuals who are (i) legal residents of the United States & living in one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia & (ii) are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. View terms & conditions .

Click here to enter sweepstakes now & Good Luck!

An Evening With Celebrity Chef Bob Blumer

Luxuryhaven — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:09:21 GMT

He’s funny, friendly & extremely charming. It’s Bob Blumer’s 1st trip to Singapore & I was one of the lucky few who attended the 'Surreal Surprise with Bob Blumer', the host & co-creator of the adventure television series Glutton for Punishment on Saturday evening!

And I also got this lovely flower mug, courtesy of Discovery Travel & Living. Oh, & I got to keep the signature 'Cooking Up A Storm' apron.

Besides displaying his culinary skills, Bob constantly engaged the crowd with his food adventures in his TV series. He also entertained the audience with his juggling skills as shown in the pix below. It was an incredible gastronomic evening with the ‘no-rules’ chef, giving a culinary experience like no other. Read more @ http://luxuryhaven.blogspot.com/2009/07/evening-with-celebrity-host-bob-blumer.html

Visit To The Nanking Massacre Site

Luxuryhaven — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:24:58 GMT

Most of my trips abroad are for food, shopping & sight-seeing. But my last trip to China served another purpose – to visit the Nanking Massacre site. I couldn’t help but started planning for the expedition after reading “The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II", a bestselling 1997 non-fiction book written by Iris Chang about the 1937–1938 Nanking Massacre.

The book intrigued me for a long time. I don’t know why it took me so long before finally picking it up to read. The “story” was stomach-churning, tear-wrenching & thoroughly riveting.

"If the dead from Nanking were to link hands, they would stretch from Nanking to the city of Hangchow, spanning a distance of some two hundred miles. Their blood would weigh twelve hundred tons, and their bodies would fill twenty-five hundred railroad cars. Stacked on top of each other, these bodies would reach the height of a seventy-four-story building." - from the Introduction of The Rape of Nanking.

It was said that Chang succumbed to her battle with depression after the book & finally took her own life in November 2004. Apparently, the Nanking book “had made Iris sad".

My 10-day China trip covered Nanking, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi & Shanghai. I’d mixed feelings as I’d no idea what to expect of Nanking, one of the oldest 7 cities in China. I’d a fantastic guide who'd prepared us mentally before reaching the site cause we’d be seeing skeletal remains of massacre victims etc, he explained. I’ll not be displaying these gruesome pictures here. Read more.......

Promotion: Ascott Int’l Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Luxuryhaven — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:28:06 GMT

Enjoy a special 25% off Best Available Rates* at Asia Pacific’s first branded serviced residences in over 25 cities worldwide, plus a special gift^ in appreciation of your support.

What's more....... Every night’s stay at any Ascott Int'l serviced residence until 31 December 2009 entitles you 1 chance in their 25th Anniversary Grand Lucky Draw & Monthly Lucky Draws.

Hurry! Choose from any of our participating serviced residences worldwide. Book now & be on your way to FREE stays* for the next 25 years!

Ho Chi Minh City
» Somerset Chancellor Court From USD 113++. Located within Ho Chi Minh city’s prime commercial, diplomatic & major shopping districts.

London
» Citadines London Barbican From GBP 64++. Just a few steps away from the Museum of London & the Barbican Centre, one of Europe’s largest cultural centres which houses the London Symphony Orchestra.

Lyon
» Citadines Lyon Part-Dieu From EUR 72. Located in the Part-Dieu business district close to the shopping centre & the railway station.

Manila
» Ascott Makati From PHP 5,365++. A prestigious & luxurious serviced residence in the heart of Makati City’s prime business district.

Paris
» Citadines Paris Louvre From EUR 140. Housed in a magnificent historical building dating back to the 1900s, Citadines Paris Louvre is just opposite the Comédie-Française & the Palais-Royal with its gardens, art galleries & restaurants.

80th Birthday, Ageing Gracefully

Luxuryhaven — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:02:03 GMT

The age of 80 is a major milestone in life. To reach that age is something to be thankful for. Not many people get to live 80 fruitful years & yet still stay strong & healthy. Life has a nasty habit of making things ironic. Just when you’ve so many memories, you begin to lose them one by one. Most people at that age find memories very elusive. They tend to be forgetful & some even develop Alzheimer's disease.

It’s hard to admit but when you reach 80, there’re probably not many birthdays to come. I’m glad my mum’s 80th Birthday Bash was a great success, all owing to the lively guests who’ve made it all possible. (Birthday card drawn by my teenage son)

Most would probably dread attending an 80 yr-old birthday party unless of course, you belong to that age group, the youngest guest there being 55 & above. I mean, how interesting can a senior citizen party be, especially in Asia, where we’re a conservative lot compared to the west?

Many would think nothing more than just sipping Chinese tea at the party & simply sitting at their respective tables chatting among themselves. But not at THIS Birthday Bash. These old folks were sipping red wines, karaoke-ing & grooving to the music. This event has definitely proven me wrong & I’m glad I was there to witness this party, which I’ve enjoyed as much as the guests. Read more...

Bottega Veneta Women's Early Fall 2009 Collection

Luxuryhaven — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:36:10 GMT

The name Bottega Veneta calls to mind a unique aesthetic, one that is classic yet effortlessly modern. Noted for its handwoven leather bags, check out their latest double-faced woven collection.

The Pied De Poule Medium Cabat at a price tag of US$5,200. Limited to only 500 pcs in the US.
Size: 15.6 x 6.4 x 9.8 in. Store in-store for details.

How To Prepare A Live Lobster!

Luxuryhaven — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:25:55 GMT

Crustacean lovers! Check out how to handle a live lobster, plus a Recipe for a Mouth-watering Lobster Tail.

There’re 2 different types of lobsters – Maine & Spiny. The Maine or Clawed lobsters contain more meat while Spiny lobsters, also called Rock lobsters, have no claws. Hence, almost all of the meat is in the tail & there’re about 45 different species of Spiny lobsters all over the world.

Confronting a common culinary fear is the humanity issues of cooking a live lobster. Well, research indicates the lobster has no central nervous system to register stimuli, thus the crustacean will most likely feel no pain.

Method of preparation before cooking:

It's gonna be a challenge if you haven't done it before. Putting the lobster in the freezer will do the trick, if you’re afraid of being “slapped” by the lobster. Temporary freeze it for about 10mins for easy handling. Do not leave it in the freeze for too long as meat will toughen & you do not want to kill it at this point.
Use an oven glove to pick up a lobster, grab it by the back just above where the tail connects to the body. The shell on the underside of the tail has some sharp edges & may cut you if the lobster flips its tail. *Remember: The lobster is only temporarily immobilized, it’s still alive & may move anytime.
Prepare by inserting chopsticks into the tail of the lobster to let “veins” (urinal thread) out.
Clean thoroughly in cold water.

Boil, Steam or Grill, but Don't Overcook! How you cook a lobster has no bearing on how you remove its meat. But if you overcook it, the meat will be tough & tasteless instead of sweet and tender.

It’s highly recommended to cook your live lobsters on the day you receive them & never place lobsters in water to try to keep them alive. Boiling a lobster is probably the easiest way to cook a lobster but I prefer steaming as the meat is more tender, especially with larger lobsters. Steaming preserves the true flavour of the lobster because it does not penetrate the way water can. Besides, I don't have “gallons” of boiling water to waste & clean up after.

Read more.......

My Lobster Affair!

Luxuryhaven — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:10:06 GMT

I had 2 live Spiny lobsters – Bamboo & Spider, freshly delivered to my place for dinner & I’m gonna show you how you can prepare 3 dishes with these lobsters.

What is the nutritional value of lobster meat?

Not only is lobster meat lower in fat, calories & cholesterol than beef or even the leanest chicken, it’s also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are helpful in the prevention of heart disease & hardening of the arteries.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not particularly difficult to cook a lobster. The only thing that may put you off is the fact that lobsters must be cooked fresh, which means buying it live & taking it home with you or alternatively, have it delivered to your home.

Of course, you can avoid the chore by buying cooked & chilled lobster meat or even frozen lobster tails, but the meat is not as fresh & the texture is compromised. However, if you want to rustle up something spectacular in order to impress your dinner guests, presenting a whole cooked lobster, would certainly be an excellent & innovative choice. Today, I’m using Spiny lobsters for:

Amuse-bouche: Bloody Mary Lobster Cocktail

Soupes: Classical Lobster Bisque

Crustacés: Steamed Spiny Lobster

Besides lobsters, I’ll also be using Celery for all the 3 courses. Celery has a rich source of vitamin C & it’s a remedy to lower blood pressure & aid in the fight against cancer.

Read more!

How To Take Care Of Your $500 Shoe

Luxuryhaven — Fri, 22 May 2009 08:39:21 GMT

Shoes, shoes, shoes……. one of my favourite topics. Needless to say, I’m a shoe fanatic. I’ve a weakness for shoes, to the extent that my hubby had to limit me to a max of 3 pairs at one go during our regular shopping trips when we first got married.

I remember my very first pair of pricey sandal was a red pair of Scholl which cost me more than S$50 in the early 80s when I was in my sweet sixteen, using my own pocket money. It looked somewhat like the one in this pix except that it’s wider & completely flat with a lighter shade of orangey red. It was a fad at that time. Soon, I graduated from Scholl & progressed to Charles Jourdan, then Ferragamo to Chanel etc. When someone's buying expensive shoes, he's usually paying for the brand name, as well as for quality craftsmanship. But after immersing yourself in the most luxurious designer shoes in the world, don’t you think you’ve to pamper them?

This is a pair of Chanel ballerina flats that I’ve bought from London some years back @ about S$700 & this sophisticated lady is still resting elegantly in my shoe wardrobe. So what are the rules to keep your shoes in condition as good as new?

Read more......

Louis Vuitton: The New Monogram Multicolore Collection

Luxuryhaven — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:56:02 GMT

Dearest Louis Vuitton fan, check out another ingenious collection by Takashi Murakami!

The casual & functional Insolite wallet is fashioned in Monogram Multicolore canvas with sharp details. It can be held as a clutch or slipped into a bag:

Monogram Multicolore canvas, grained leather lining, golden brass pieces & rivets
- Zipper & double press stud closure
- Two inside zipped pockets
- Two flat pockets for papers
- Twelve credit card slots
- Leather zipper pulls
- D-ring to attach the wallet to a bag with an optional golden chain

At a price tag of US$710, you've a wide range of colours to pick from: Figue, Raisin, Citron, Litchi, Anis, Grenade & Pistache.

Note: The canvas may slightly fade with time, revealing the canvas background. However, this phenomenon does not deteriorate the quality & durability of the product.

Enjoyable Steamboat/BBQ on Mother's Day

Luxuryhaven — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:48:50 GMT

I'd a belated Mother's Day celebration as I was attending a full-day training yesterday. It was a wonderful Steamboat/BBQ dinner with my family & my dearest 80 yr-old mum.

I woke up early & went marketing with my son this morning. It was really sweet of Jon to accompany me. You know how teenagers are these days, not many will wanna go to the market with their mothers. We planned to have Steamboat/BBQ & Jon helped me with the preparation after returning from the supermart.

Tonight's meal mainly consists of seafood as my mum has difficulty chewing meat. While I was preparing the stock for the steamboat & marinating the seafood, Jon helped with the skewers.

(Steamboat)
Stock: Chicken bones, Fish Maw, Corn

Vegetables: Tiensin cabbage, Watercress & Enoki mushrooms

Sauce
BBQ: Japanese Goma Shabu
Steamboat: Soya sauce, red-cut chilli, slice garlic, seasame oil

(BBQ)
Beancurd Pouch (TauPok)
This is another family's all-time favourite. Fill the pouches with your fave ingredients:
6 Taupok
1 Chinese sausage
1 fish cake
1 hard-boiled egg
Parsley/Spring onion
3 tbsp mayonnaise

Dice all ingredients & mix well with mayonnaise. Slit open the pouch & stuff fillings.

Seafood:
Prawns
Remove shells & devein prawns. Marinade with crushed lemongrass & pinch of salt.

Squid
Remove skin & insides. Cut into rings.
Spicy: Mix squid with chopped onion, chilli, garlic & lime
Non-spicy: Mix squid with soya sauce, pepper, sesame oil

Fish Slices
Marinade with salt, pepper & sesame oil.
Skewers
- 2 types of fish balls + Cherry tomato
- Pork ball & quail eggs
- Pork with Lady Fingers & Shitake Skewer
Marinade pork with oyster sauce, Chinese wine & pepper. Butter the lady fingers & wrap them with pork slices. Butter the shitake mushrooms. The Steamboat/BBQ idea was a good one as there were lots of interaction going on at the dinner table. Most importantly, there were laughter, fun & warmth.

I really had a great time bonding with my son today, both of us having fun in the kitchen. I also treasure the time spent with my mum since she's not living with me. I hope you've enjoyed your Mother's Day too