Author: Anastacia

Chinese Fine Dining at Mr. Chow in Malibu

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If you’ve been in LA long enough or frequent celebrity-gossip blogs, you’ve probably heard of the fine dining Chinese restaurant,”Mr. Chow.” Asian-fusion cuisine seems to be a big “thing” in LA and I can’t say that I’m mad at it. Most people are familiar with the Beverly Hills location on Camden Dr. (parallel) to the famous Rodeo Drive. However, LA has two locations. I recently tried Mr. Chow Malibu which is inside of the high-end shopping center, Malibu Country Mart. The menu is very similar in both locations…delicious. The dishes are meant to be shared and served “family style.” One of the more popular dishes is the Mr. Chow Noodles. You can typically catch one of the noodle chef’s coming out in the middle of your dinner to demonstrate the process of making noodles to the entire restaurant. If you’ve never seen this before, you’ll be highly impressed with the precision that goes into it. Lychee Martini Mr. Chow Noodles Water Dumplings Drunken FishShrimp Fried Rice & Velvet Chicken*Additional favorite (not shown): Green Shrimp  

Poke Poke in Venice Beach

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I have always been a Hawaiian at heart. My mom was born in the Philippines and moved to Hawaii at the age 9 on the island of Oahu. Growing up I went to Hawaii frequently, my first trip being at the age 3. My Asian culture growing up was therefore a blend of both Hawaiian and Filipino. One of my all-time favorite Hawaiian dishes is Poke. Traditional Poke (if you are not familiar) is usually referred to as fresh Ahi ‘yellowfin’ Tuna seasoned with sea salt, soy sauce, green onions, maui onions, chili pepper and sesame oil. Of course, there are other variations and combinations of seasonings.  If you are a fan of sashimi or nigiri, this dish is right up your alley.  The sesame oil is the most prominent seasoning in Poke and is really what gives it a unique flavor. Poke is usually best served cold and with rice. I was so excited when I finally stumbled upon a place to get fresh Hawaiian style Poke in Los Angeles.  Right off of Ocean Walk …

Brunch at Faith and Flower

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One part of Los Angeles that I love but don’t visit often enough is downtown. The last couple of years, the hearty part of the city has done well at upgrading its restaurant scene. Faith and Flower is one of my all-time favorite dinner and brunch spots.  Not only is their menu eclectic, the decor and ambiance is glamorous with a 1920’s charm. This week the restaurant is participating in DineLA for lunch and dinner. It’s a perfect time to venture downtown and try this new restaurant (located down the street from LA Live at the intersection of… Faith St. and Flower St.) Whether you go for lunch, dinner or brunch, you will not be disappointed. Leave me a comment and let me know your favorite dish! *Please note: the menu is subject to change and some items shown below may not be available at the time of dining, but try something new! Picture of interior from website Bread Pudding Bone Marrow Waffles 62 Degree EggOxtail AgnolottiRoasted Mushroom PizzaBraised Bacon Carrot Cake Some of my favorite menu items (not …

My On-the-Go Breakfast Smoothie

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During the week, it’s very seldom I have time to make a big sit-down breakfast. Aside from that, my stomach usually can’t handle a big meal in the morning without weighing me down for the rest of the day. I like to start my day with a nutritious meal because it’s important to have fuel for energy and to kick start my metabolism. Below is my typical on-the-go healthy breakfast: Superfood Smoothie    Directions:  In a blender mix… 1 cup of blended frozen berries Berries are the lowest in sugar out of all the fruits which is why they’re my favorite to use. 2/3 cup of plain Greek Yogurt My favorite brand is FAGE Total 0% which I buy from Trader Joes. 1 scoop of Green Superfood There are several different flavors available at Whole Foods or on Amazon, but I use the ‘original’ flavor. If you’re sensitive to green “tastes,” I suggest using a flavored one. You can also substitute the Green Superfood for fresh vegetables like kale or spinach. 1 tablespoon Chia Seeds …

Crispy Chicken Sandwich at Honor Bar in Beverly Hills

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 Sometimes you just feel like a good sandwich and a cold drink…I stumbled across this delicious bar in Beverly Hills one day while Yelping lunch spots. The raving reviews of Ding’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich is what reeled me in. Tucked away on the corner of Beverly and Wilshire Blvd., the Honor Bar is a great local hide-a-way. The menu is simple, gourmet and to the point. I have been here a few different times and tried a few items on the menu. The burger is my second favorite to the chicken sandwich. It is large and very juicy. This place is small so you may have to wait depending on the time of day you go, but it is well worth it! Menu Here Emerald Kale Salad Honor Burger   Bon Apetit!

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

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Hey everyone, One of my new ventures in 2015 is stepping into the world of YouTube. I have always been a big fan of social media and the opportunities it can create. It is a great creative outlet and way to showcase the things that you are passionate about. Please take a look at a short trailer I’ve created and help support me by subscribing to my channel. It’s quick and would mean the world to me! Also, if you have a YouTube channel or Blog, please leave the link in my comments section and I would be happy to return the favor.

Highlighting with LORAC TANtalizer Baked Bronzer

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Staying classy is about being effortless…which is why I love Lorac’s baked bronzer. I have been using this product since college and the reason I bought it in the first place was simply because I thought it looked pretty (confessions of a shallow make-up consumer)! I had no idea how to use a highlighter and never thought I needed a bronzer. The Tantalizer is now a staple in my make-up kit and routine. If you’re familiar with the contour craze, you know that contouring creates certain  angles of the face. It looks great on camera, but can sometimes look over done in person. That is why I prefer this quick and simple alternative. Aside from that, it takes a lot of work and make up knowledge to contour. Time we don’t always have in our “on-the-go” lifestyle. I make a serious effort to be able to get ready in 30 mins day or night. Here’s how easy highlighting is using the LORAC TANtalizer Baked Bronzer. Watch my steps in selfies. Highlight in these 3 spots for a …

Shanghai Travel Guide

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Shanghai is by far one of the best cities I’ve traveled to, especially throughout Asia. Located in East China, the city is the perfect combination of old and new. The modern architecture makes you feel like you’re in a city of the future and the buildings are the most impressive I’ve seen throughout my travels. With over 24 million people, Shanghai is the largest city in China by population. I stayed in the financial district of Shanghai at the beautiful Grand Hyatt hotel. I highly recommend this hotel to first time visitors of Shanghai for its incredible 360° views of the city during both the day and night. There is an observation deck in this hotel called the “Jin Mao Tower” and also a popular bar at the top of the hotel. Finally, the Grand Hyatt Shanghai is in a central location and close to the metro station making it very easy to get around. View from the Grand Hyatt Restaurant Hotel Room ViewShanghai Center (brand new building) Nanjing Road – If you Google “Top 10 Things …

Clean Skin at Skin Laundry

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The newest addition to my beauty routine, Skin Laundry! It is a new laser and light treatment that vaporizes the impurities and dirt from your skin and gives deep cleaning to your pores. The treatment is 10 minutes long. You can book an appointment easily online through their website. You should not plan to wear make up after the treatment for the rest of the day or at least a few hours to let your skin breathe. If it’s your first time, the treatment specialist will give you a consultation to explain the process step by step. It is recommended that you do treatments close together to see the best results. The treatments help with acne, acne scars, skin pigmentation and overall radiance. They’ve also started doing teeth whitening in the Santa Monica location and soon all over. There are several locations throughout the Los Angeles area and one in Arizona which can be found here.

But First Coffee…at Alfred Coffee and Kitchen Melrose Place

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I finally got to see and sip the hype of Alfred Coffee & Kitchen on Melrose Place. This trendy LA coffee shop slowly began to coat my Instagram feed from bloggers, friends and co-workers. I have a Nespresso machine at home which I love, but my curiosity couldn’t help but wonder why is this place so good (other than the cute, “But First, Coffee” cups of course…)?! Well first things first, it’s in a great location. Somewhat off the beaten path on a street that’s safe to walk across in LA. I didn’t have much trouble finding parking on the street at 11am on a Saturday. The coffee shop, in between two cute boutiques, is two stories high. The bottom floor is where you place your order for coffee, pastries, sandwiches and salads. There is seating below, but it gets pretty crowded due to the ordering line. The line moves quickly and while you wait, you can shop through the truffle chocolate shop inside, Compartès. Since  it was a warm day, I decided to go with …