ROOTS To Premiere On HISTORY Tonight & Help #BuyOutSlavery

Hi Huneybees,

There is onlya few more hours left before HISTORY’s seminal re-make of 1977’s ROOTS premieres worldwide in a four-part special at 10pm (SIN/HK) every night on HISTORY (Starhub Channel 401) from 31 May to 3 June.

Launching on the same day as U.S., ROOTS is developed by HISTORY, from A+E Studios, is a historical portrait of American slavery recounting the journey of one family and their will to survive and ultimately carry on their legacy despite hardship. Follow Kunta Kinte (Malachi Kirby) on his long walk to freedom.

Captured by slave traders while collecting firewood for his family’s dinner, Kunta Kinte was ripped from his homeland and brought to America where he was sold to a plantation owner in northern Virginia. Throughout the course of the series, we witness each stage of Kunta Kinte’s life, from teen to man to father to grandfather, following his legacy through the Civil War. This remake will introduce a new generation to this beloved story of family, dignity and the price of freedom.

ROOTS features a stellar cast -  Academy Award® winners Forest Whitaker (“Fiddler”) , Anna Paquin (“Nancy Holt”),  Academy Award® nominee and Emmy Award® winner - Laurence Fishburne (“Alex Haley”), Golden Globe Award® winning and Emmy Award® nominated actor - Jonathan Rhys Meyers (“Tom Lea”), Tony Award® winner - Anika Noni Rose (“Kizzy”), Grammy Award® winner - Tip “T.I.” Harris (“Cyrus”),  Chad L. Coleman (“Mingo”),  Emayatzy Corinealdi (“Belle”), Matthew Goode (“Dr. William Waller”), Derek Luke (“Silla Ba Dibba”),  Mekhi Phifer (“Jerusalem”),  James Purefoy (“John Waller”), Erica Tazel (“Matilda”),  Regé­Jean Page (“Chicken George”) and Malachi Kirby (“Kunta Kinte”).

“ROOTS will allow new audiences to experience this epic family saga with a new vision that is both inspiring and tremendously entertaining. We are  proud that HISTORY will be able to bring new life to this powerful story that remains as important today as it did when the original ROOTS first premiered.”  --- Paul Buccieri, President of A&E and HISTORY

For more information, please visit:
Homepage:  www.historyasia.com
Facebook & Twitter: HistoryAsia

 #BuyOutSlavery Movement

Sadly to say, with Asia’s penchant for fast fashion and cheap products, and more than 30 million people are still being enslaved to modern day slavery. To clip those chains of slavery, #BuyOutSlavery campaign – an online social movement that raises awareness for modern day slavery throughout Southeast Asia is launched.

HISTORY™ Asia, in partnership with the CNN Freedom Project and Not For Sale (NGO), have used the means of online shopping to controversially list their "slaves" as items on dozens of partnered shopping sites. 

You can show your support to the campaign by adding the product to cart and checking it out as part of your usual purchase, sharing the item and its message on Facebook. Clearly, slavery hasn’t been abolished. It’s changed with the times. We need to change for the better, and that starts by questioning the places we buy our products from. Inspired by the upcoming HISTORY™ Asia premiere of programing event, ROOTS, with over 100 online shops and regional celebrities have come together to aid in the campaign. Let's do our part too!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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Are You Craving for Noodles Now?

Hi Huneybees,

Whether be it Wanton Noodle, Mee Pok Dry, Mee Goreng or Mee Rubus, I am a sucker for all of them as noodle has always been my comfort food since young.

Recently while attending an event at City Square Mall, I had an opportunity to dine at a new noodle house on the block in Singapore - Face to Face noodle house (面 对 面). Unknown to some, Face to Face noodle house (面 对 面) is a 100 years old brand name with 30 outlets all over Malaysia and the outlet in City Square Mall is its first venture into Singapore.

A quick look at its menu suggested that it is a Malaysian Hakka-style noodle store with its exclusive use of Pan mee (Chinese: 板麺, pronounced as ban mian). It's block noodles from the Hakka's method of cutting the noodle into straight strands using a wooden block as ruler. Being Hakka myself, how can I not like these noodles eh?

Armed with an empty stomach, I ordered its signature Traditional Sarawak Noodles as well as one of its new Singapore creations Curry Chicken Pan Mee.

My verdict on the food? 

Size wise, I was glad to find the serving portion for both noodles were reasonable large for my hungry tummy and its char siu (叉燒)s and Curry Chicken were thicker and bigger than most noodle stores would serve in a shopping mall environment.

Traditional Sarawak Noodles

Curry Chicken Pan Mee

 
Taste wise, I found the Pan mee of Traditional Sarawak Noodles slightly overcooked and was kinda blend while its char siu (叉燒) were too hard and dry to my liking. I enjoyed the aroma of the curry from Curry Chicken Pan Mee but unfortunately it was a little too salty.

Like beauty, which is in the eye of the beholder, food is the same for taster; subjective. 
The battle of the noodle houses has just started and Face to Face noodle house (面 对 面) needs more than its 100 years branding from across the causeway to stay alive here. Before I sign off for my meal, I do suggest all non-halal Huneybees who have dined at Face to Face noodle house (面 对 面) in City Square Mall to share your unadulterated view with me.

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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Step Out Of Your House Clean & Freshly Pressed With LG's Latest Home Appliances

Hi Huneybees,

With technology improving out lives and LG staking its claim on innovation, the Korean giant recently introduced a different kind of closet you can walk out of, looking smart and sharp (just like Lee Min Ho does).

First appearing at CES 2015, I've already had my eye on this steam closet - LG Styler. A tiny closet that is 1850cm tall, 445cm wide, and 585 cm deep, weighing 180.8lbs, this is one closet where you hang your clothes in and it can steam away odors, remove allergens, and shake out wrinkles. 

The LG Styler can be part of your wardrobe combination in the bedroom or placed at the walkway or yor home's entrance. Literally it's so compact, you can have it anywhere! 

It draws water from a tank at the bottom (the user fills it up), generates steam using a heat pump, and then releases it onto clothing, that's the beauty of the LG TrueSteam™ technology. There's also replaceable dryer sheets for you to choose you favourite scent for your clothings. 

In addition to its steam spray capabilities, the Styler is also equipped with the Moving Hanger, which gently shakes clothes to remove wrinkles, leaving them looking crisp. When activated, the hanger operates at 180 revolutions per minute, eliminating any odors and also evening out the crease in the process. 

Meanwhile, the Easy Pants Crease Care feature on the back of the door, helps remove the wrinkles formed behind the knees after a long day, and leaving a perfect crease down the center of each leg. It's not 100% creasefree, but at least presentable enough to head on out the door.

The Styler has been designed with the consumers’ needs in mind, helping us save time, having to keep running over to a laundry store and also considering our limited living space, there is also the nifty feature - Gentle Dry with Inverter Heat Pump System. You can now gentle dry special-care clothing without worrying about shrinkage or damage. Its low temperature drying system is perfect for drying everything from towels to cashmere sweaters without the need for tumbling. While normal sundrying takes about 12 hours, the Gentle Dry feature achieves the same result within one-twelfth of the time taken.

And if you ever find yourself running out of styling modes, you can use the NFC Tag On feature to download specialized cycles to your smartphones and then upload to the Styler. In addition, the Styler is equipped with the Smart Diagnosis™ feature, which can help the user quickly and efficiently troubleshoot mechanical issues, and makes customer service visits shorter and less frequent.

The LG Styler will be available in white, retailing at S$2,999 in Singapore from June 2016 onwards. I find that the Styler might be on the costly edge, but if you are one that has sensitive skin or needs to sterilize baby clothings, soft toys and beddings, constantly in power suits for impressive image wow-ness, this is one to consider. =)

There was also a slew of washing machines introduced, from Top Load Washer (WFT1181DD) to Washer Dryer (F1408DC3W), my attention is drawn to the LG TWIN Wash™  machines. Allowing two separate loads to be washed simultaneously by combining a full-sized front loading washing machine with a mini washer in a hide-away pedestal below, not only prevents clothes from cross staining, but also allows bigger load of washes.

With our growing population, yet shrinking living space, we are constantly looking for efficient helpers whilst saving space. The LG TWIN Wash^TM machines are ideal for large families, allowing multiple loads of laundry to be handled simultaneously and thus save tremendous time. 

The powerful main washer handles the bulk of the laundry while the mini washer can be set to run a different wash cycle. Smaller loads can be washed when needed without having to wait for a full wash load, thus bringing great convenience to homeowners. The mini washer is also perfect for delicate or special items that require a unique wash setting, such as lingerie or baby clothes. The main washer can wash up to 21kg whereas the 3.5kg mini washer can be used for a lighter load. Also, the mini washer can be combined with existing model of WD-1279DD, which is a washer cum dryer that can perform up to 17kg of washing and 9kg for drying. It is like stacking Lego to your own needs here...

WFT1181DD (11kg) and WFT1081DD (10kg) bears LG’s new Damping System and tub design with improved stabilization technology that brings a compact washing machine with bigger capacity and saves space up to 18.4%. Both washers boast large capacities that can fit up to 11kg laundry and bulky items such as duvet and curtains. The size of the 10kg and 11kg washer has the equivalent size of the usual 7kg washers in the market. It also comes in a 10kg capacity (WFT1081DD) at a more affordable price, which is a great option for those who do not wish to have the warm wash feature which is available in the WFT1181DD.

Both WFT1181DD and WFT1081DD also have a new Quick Tub Clean feature which removes odor and dirt in the drum that could be accumulated after long term usage. The new ‘Quick Tub Clean’ helps to clean the tub before and after washing for daily usage in just 15 minutes.

LG has also equipped its top-load washing machines with Auto Pre-Wash. This innovative feature eliminates the need for homeowners to get detergent on their hands when applying it to each soiled article of clothing. Simply select the Pre-Wash course and wait eight minutes, after which the normal wash program will begin. Convenient and time saving! 

Prices for the LG Twin Wash machines are TBC, but are set to hit our markets in June 2016. Be on the lookout for the launch and I will update once I get more details...

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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Have You Had Your Italian Wine Yet?

Hi Huneybees,

Italian wines have been gaining greater appreciation in Singapore over the past few years, much thanks to the increased popularity of Italian cuisine (more than just pizza, pasta and parma ham...) among Singaporeans and Expats.

However, like Italian cuisine, Italian wine is just too diverse from region to region and hence didn't received the same recognition here (due to lack of education) compared to its traditional "Old World" rival of French wines or the more affordable but consistent wines from the "New World"of America or Australia.

Fortunately, there are both formal and informal Italian wine appreciation classes or roadshows conducted by several local wine merchants as well as Italian Chamber of Commence in Singapore (ICCS) for the benefit of wine enthusiasts here.

One such event is the Top Italian Wines Roadshow that was in town recently to introduce their exquisite, top notch labels to wine connoisseurs in Singapore.

Top Italian Wines Roadshow @ CHIJMES, Singapore. Photo credit Gambero Rosso

The one day stop-over at CHIJMES was the first of the three South East Asia roadshows, which included Thailand and the Philippines, organised by Gambero Rosso (www.gamberorosso.it), the leader in publishing and training in the field of Italian wine and food.

In its ninth edition of the worldwide Italian wine tour, visitors to the show were feted with tasting tables offering almost 300 wines from Sixty-five wineries, many came with famous and prestigious names.

Marco Sabellico, Senior Editor of Gambero Rosso

Lorenzo Ruggeri, the International Editor for Gambero Rosso was  at Master Class to introduce Italian wines with Lim Hwee Peng

On the education front, there were comprehensive program of seminars (aka Master Classes) led by the Gambero Rosso’s experts, namely Marco Sabellico (Senior Editor) and Lorenzo Ruggeri (International Editor), for the few lucky public who were keen to learn more about Italian wines that day.

There were 3 sessions of master class for wine enthusiasts to savour 20 signature wines, one from each winery.

All of the wines featured are rated with the Tre Bicchieri mark. The Gambero symbol of wine excellence, Tre Bicchieri (three glasses), has become the worldwide-accepted benchmark award, and an unquestioned reference point and a guarantee of premium quality. It has even been chosen as the criteria for access into some of the most important wine monopolies in the world.

Mine favorite? Well there were honestly many to my delight.

From the territory of Franciacorta is a section of the Province of Brescia in the Italian Region of Lombardy that I have discovered two fantastic sparkling wines : Franciacorta Brut Cuvee Prestige - Ca' del Bosco by Santa Margherita Gruppo Vinicolo and Franciacorta Animante Brut by Barone Pizzini.
It was difficult to find a winner between the two as both were subtly perfumed with fruits such as green apple and lime, while giving a dryer, slight residual sugar taste overall.

From Italy's northeast and borders Slovenia, I found a great white wine in Braide Alte 2014 by Livon, which also produced great red wine in Chianti Classico Lucarello 2011 Borgo Salcetino (DOCG).  
With its interesting blend of 5 different variety of grapes that included Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Moscato Giallo, Braide Alte 2014 (DOC) has more intensity and structure with taste of honey and a subtle typical fruit sense that could be enjoyed on its own without any food pairing.  

Let us all pray that this impressive Italian winery finds a local distributor soon to distribute these amazing wines here.

As for the red, Barolo del Comune di Barolo 2011 by Marchesi di Barolo and Amarone della Valpolicella Sel. Antonio Castagnedi 2012 by Tenuta Sant' Antonio were my top picks simply because they reminded me the taste of the pride of Italian red wines. Having said that, they are best to be consumed in the years to come under proper storage.

The biggest surprise for me was the Orange wine from Collio Ribolla Gialla di Oslavia Ris. 2011 by Primosic. Easily could be mistaken as a spoil wine via sense, this non-mainstream wine is not for everyone as it required an open mind and attitude to try something unique.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the organiser for the invitation to this roadshow as I have learnt a lot from both speaking to the passionate representative of each winery as well to Lorenzo Ruggeri, the International Editor for Gambero Rosso, for his detailed explanatory during media walkabout as well as at the Master Class with Lim Hwee Peng, CWE, FWS.

The Top Italian Wines Roadshow was truly a world class event not only to the local wine industry players but also served as an education platform to allow more people to understand and appreciate the beauty of Italian wine making. I am so looking forward to the tenth edition of this event in 2017!


About Top Italian Wines Roadshow and Gambero Rosso collaboration

Since 2007, Top Italian Wines Roadshow has become a well-established strategic platform
for penetrating emerging markets and grasping new business opportunities. Italian wine
offerings are so rich that they are often confusing for international consumers. This is
why the Gambero Rosso selections represent a guaranteed way for promoting
knowledgeable, attentive and curious development of Italian territories. The basic
framework is the extremely rigid selective criteria of quality used for decades by the
Vini d’Italia guide, now in its 29th edition. Every year, the guide evaluates over 40,000
national wines.

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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[Tried & Tested] What's Better Than Sex?

Hi Huneybees,

What's "Better Than Sex" than your favourite mascara boosted level up with a waterproof formula?! The Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara makes me blush everytime I whip it out, but this provocative beauty tool has been raved are a must-have in every girl's cosmetic bag (definitely part of mine).

The Better Than Sex Mascara has been plumping my sparse lashes, volumising them and lengthening them for my daily looks. But it's always falling short when it comes to lasting throughout theday under the sun, without smudging the undereye.

Porcelain Flower Extract and Omega Oil to moisturize and condition the lashes.

Thank goodness Too Faced have taken the hint and after 2 years, we can say hi to this shiny light-blue case with 3D water droplets - Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara. 

I've put the mascara to the test and wore full waterproof makeup with it for some night jacuzzi session. With the heat turned up and dipping in the pool, it's gona be like been out in town in Singapore's weather.

Mascara applied, water's bubbling and it's time to dip into the water...

After my 30 mins sesh, I must say I was impressed! I still look pretty, no black tears dripping down my cheeks, with minimal smudges. Thank you Too Faced for this great upgrade!

Before.

After, with a little smudges.

You can now cry happy tears and mermaids will definitely be approving of the all new Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara! Pop on over to https://www.toofaced.com or a Sephora store near you to give it a try. Sex have never been BETTER! =X

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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