alfajor surprise

i was torn on whether to go home or head to K's place yesterday. i left it all up to chance and decided that whichever bus comes first, the one headed to my place, or the one headed to her place, would be the one take...and home it was!

and as my roomie is away i was left with an empty room with a sweet surpise...atop my table was this:




alfajor from argetina!! all that sinful caramel! sweet tooth heaven! what would a wandergirl be without tasting sweets from around the world now no?!? hehehe...as one good friend described i often have a salad and five courses for dessert meal...

anyhoo, the reason i was delighted...back in the philippines, one could only get alfajor from baguio..up north..which means someone you know should bring it back for you from a trip there...here's how alfajor from good shepherd baguio looks like...






as always, anything from the philippines is far sweeter than any variant available..
good bet would be alfajor landing in the country through the spanish conquistadores and their friends..then again this type of alfajor is more common in south america..oh well..bottomline is it's another trace of latino culture in the pacific islands!

ps. another surprise was finding the stove left open!! scaary...and unsurprisingly i burned my two fingers with the electric stove..i guess that's punishment for my caramel sin ;p

Viktor & Rolf at the Barbican Part 1

I must confess. I wasn't a fan of Viktor & Rolf before seeing their exhibition at the Barbican. And now of course I'm a convert! They are over the top without being costumey. The clothes are bold and in your face confident but feminine at the same time.

Excuse the pics (as photos are not allowed) and the quality (as they are not allowed I used my mobile...sneaky sneaky).

V&R dollhouse..oh how I would love a dollhouse like this one! Each doll is styled according to how the models were made up during the actual runway show of the garments.



I am not sure if all off Viktor & Rolf's runway shows are represented in the exhibition but it's certain there are enough for you to marvel at. The shows are played on video with life size mannequins (dolls rather because there are so coquette!) showcasing the best looks of the collections. Below is my fave. The Russian doll collection modelled by Maggie Rizer. Checkout the mannequin's hair ala Maggie!

What amazes me is the vision the two designers have. They have the ability to identify their inspiration for a collection that is unique and not dictated by fashion's pendulum often followed by designers in order to make it in the business. The interpretation of their inspiration is conceptual yet never literal. Also, the clothes are always so maginificent I do not blame the affluent couture ladies for buying them and not using them at all. They are works of art! Here's what they said on the Russian Doll Collection:

Russian Doll

In the winter of 1999 we appeared on the cat walk ourselves to dress a single model, Maggie Rizer, in nine layers of jewel encrusted dresses. After each layer, the small pedestal on which Maggie stood would rotate, giving the audience an opportunity to see a particular set on her before the next layer was laid on. When the final veil had been draped around her, Maggie was carrying approximately 70 kilos of richly decorated textures on her shoulders.

We intended this presentation as an ode to exclusivity and unavailability, the things that give fashion its aura. Once occluded by the next layer, the previous layer remained present on stage, but impossible for the audience to see.

As I am a new member of the club, what better way would it be to be inducted than seeing Viktor & Rolf this Saturday at the Barbican! As it is London Fashion Week, the duo are coming into town for a symposium and to announce the winner of an internship with their design house. Tickets are sold out but there will be some left at the entrance on the day itself. So rise and shine, and start fashion week with V&R! If you're not that lucky, just admire the exhibition which will be on show until September 21.

PS. Thought bubble while staring at the mannequins aka dolls...Their heads are too big for their long and lithe bodies! In real life you can't be stick thin with fleshy cheeks! Oh I guess that's all part of the fantasy...

christmas partaaaying in september

My first trip to Vodka Revolution SoHo was during my first and only pub crawl in London. I instantly loved the place! The drinks were oh so yummy and wiiild plus the bar was so clean..and of course the bartenders were so efficient! To add to that, VodkaRev always gives out vouchers (if you're on their mailing list..so register!) so drink prices are super affordable (for London). Cocktails can be had at around 3.25 pounds with vouchers. ;)

Yesterday was even better..as in 10 times better as I got to experience how a Christmas party is like at VodkaRev. With K, I went to their Christmas party showcase, where we were welcomed with...


the trees were VodkaRev guys! We believe they're there to serve as security for the girls...










...got a free night with champagne reception, mini cocktails, fork buffet...


...we loved the leek and cheese tartlet (which I thought was quiche)

... chocolate fountain dipped dessert...


...vodka ice luge trial which i looooved..


...and flavoured vodka shots for the road...i got toffee apple and K got after eight (mint choco)..they were yum!

In total, that could've been 30 pounds per person...who says everything in London is expensive?? You just need to know where to go...

PS. Although I didnt have any company Christmas party to plan, I do intend on going to VodkaRev for my berday drinks..which is equivalent to my Christmas party anyway ;)

simpson sunday

my usual sunday usually involves running from K's place to the tube station to catch the hammersmith & city line where im squished inside the train to picadilly then i finally get my breath of fresh air at knightsbridge before going to work...

this sunday was rather unusual as the tube platform was nowhere near crowded not to mention commuters where dressed fancily...i must say londoners are really tops when it comes to fancy dress...here's the best ive seen so far:


all out simpsons!! excuse the zoom quality...they were painted head to foot in yellow with outfits and accessories of characters taken into consideration...awesome! checkout homer's backfat! wehehehe...cant see it in the pic but maggie even had a feeding bottle! a different start to my sloaney sundays...

On GG's comeback...

First thing I did when I woke up today was look for a link to Gossip Girl Season 2's first episode, Summer Kind of Wonderful. What I was wondering was what would be left to see when I've seen 3 sneak peaks maybe equal to 10 mins plus the first 5 mins which was released. As always, GG didnt disappoint! Long live the Chuck and Blair witty word war! My favourite line would be from Gossip Girl though: Karma's a bitch, we know Blair Waldorf is. Ha ha ha!

What caught my attention was how Vitamin Water was extensively promoted during the episode! I wonder how much damage it left on Witamin Water's promotion budget! It was hilarious when Serena's grandma showed her invitation to Dan and you could see Vitamin Water logo...add to that Jenny asking for Rescue Vitamin Water. My favourite VW related scene would be the one below...with Chuck Bass drowning his Blair sorrow with alcohol...leaving bottles of Vitamin Water untouched in the background...what a placement! I swear if he used one to chase his alcoholic drink I would die! Well I just hope GG doesnt go too commercial given that brands are wanting to get the reach of the show. But hey, on the brighter side...that might lead to more budget for the wardrobe department! And that we will always enjoy :D

PS. I wonder..as always...girls wore headbands as Blair did...will we be seeing GG followers toting Vitamin Water bottles...I know I wont! Ha ha...xoxo