Cuisine Crush Tallinn: Rataskaevu 16 in Old Town Estonia

March 3, 2019

Tallinn, Estonia

The real reason behind Rataskaevu 16 without the actual name is that the team getting bored of naming rehearsal, while our true purpose to visit the restaurant gastronomique, relying on that all 4 of us are curious foodies. After Miss Finlandia arriving Tallinn Terminal 2 before noon, we head straight to Rataskaevu 16 to first aid our roaring stomach. 

Stepping atop at the lime green door, passing through the wine tasting area, the rather more spacious master room surrounded with brick wall, and our reserved wooden table for 4 is next to the window view. The fresh maison-made full-grain dark bread is first served together with yellow butter, my order of fresh squeezed pineapple juice with slight amount of ice rocks refreshing the taste buds. Raw salmon and caviar salad is no doubt the best ice-breaking starter. With a thin slice of lemon, the dried baked white bread is more of biscuits. 

For the main dishes, we decided on ‘the little pig leg’ with artichoke and sour apple slices. The proportion between the fats and lean meat balances evenly, while the sauce with the traces of ginger and soybean, reminding our memories on the taste of Taiwanese traditional pig leg, which is much salty and greasy. ‘Chef’s choice of pan-fried white fish’ with marinated kohlrabi, lentils, raw beetroots, lemon-butter sauce is gluten free, the well chopped of scallion and leek are surprising matching the sweet texture of seafood. Our third main dish is beef tenderloin served with mushroom and truffle cream, roasted beetroot, ribbed celery, roasted tomato and red wine sauce. The fresh salad perhaps delightedly casual, while the softness of tenderloin dipped with rich and thick sauce is exceptionally exhilarating to our curiosity. 

We very much enjoy the rough and retro interior design, the friendly service, the transparent floor in the restroom, the good conversation and lovely friendship. 

P.S. The current menu may be differed due to the seasonal offers. 

Special Thanks: Daisy, Deer & LesLie

RATASKAEVU 16

Fashion Fun Tallinn! Vivienne Westwood Wool Wear & Balenciaga It Bag At Toompea Castle

March 3, 2019 

Tallinn, Estonia 

It is a surprise call from my Taiwanese friends to embark a mini trip to Tallinn, Estonia. With a bonus discount from Eckerö Line, the game of four departures from Western Harbour Helsinki; after 135 minutes, Miss Finlandia is arriving Tallinn Terminal 2 just before noon. 

The early spring offers the most beautiful sunshine but partly chilly wind once a while, so the outfit of the day in Tallinn is layering from Vivienne Westwood 100% cotton black ripped cardigan (purchased in Okinawa Ashibinaa outlet), Acne Studios Neve Face 100% wool black short cardigan and Acne Studios Raya Mohair 30% nylon, 30% wool, 28% mohair, 4% elastane long cardigan. For the outwears, Gina Tricot high waist light grey jeans, Vivienne Westwood 48% alpaca, 36% wool, 16% polyamide orange double-side scarf (also the great bargain in Ashibinaa outlet) and Acne Studios 100% virgin wool mini poncho. Finally, Mango 100% calf leather ankle boots and Mango 62% wool, 38% polyamide light pink coat have been always my favourite since March 2017. 

Balenciaga classic mini city tote is good for a medium wallet, a micro bag of essential cosmetics (5 ml mascara, 2 ml parfum, mini eyebrow liner, a Coco Rouge Ink, a tablet of contact lens, 3-4 dental floss and several rubber hairbands), an Elizabeth Arden 8-hour lip balm, key pouch, a box of plum mint and 2 iphones during the day trip. For the case of souvenir, a cotton tote bag is always useful, and it can be as the instant blanket if needed. The sunglasses is the only item I completely forgot to take with me, while the borrowed pair from Deer is amazingly perfect on the street style. 

The colour hues of outfit today are pastel grey, olive and pink, matching with bleak black and dark orange. Since the layering is composing with tender tones, an orange colour outstands at Toompea Castle. The whole earthwork was erected on the foundations of the crumbling eastern wing of the fortress built on this site in the 13th and 14th centuries. The castle with its late Baroque façade was constructed between 1767 and 1773, today houses the Parliament of Estonia. The pale stones, the old trees and grey pebble roads promote The Lord of the Rings touch, indeed, I am in deeply thrilled to take the fashion fun photos with Nazgûl! 

TOP TIP 1: Layering wear is the best way to cope with the chilly springtime in Baltic countries 

TOP TIP 2: Pastel colours are perfect with bleak black hues 

Special Thanks:Daisy/Deer Hsiao  

Accessories Accede: Okinawa Kawaii, Limited Only!

Q&A in Okinawa, Japan/Helsinki, Finland

Happy Holiday! Tell us about your new collection of various facial masks. 

Due to the need of moisturizing skincare products in Finland, I purchase the annual total quantity while traveling to Japan or Taiwan. Usually focusing on the multi-function—tonic lotion, beauty serum, facial cream, eye gel—composed upon on single sheet of facial mask, this time in Okinawa I would like to try on ‘Shisa’ mask, to become the funny guardian lion from Okinawa mythology for half an hour! 

How do you select the unique souvenirs produced by the locals?

I am a fan of organic skincare products, since I always believe the healthy glow of facial condition is the best make-ups; therefore we only need a few of essential cosmetics—such as a touch of blush or black mascara—to lighten up the best look of day. Hence the ‘local limited’ skincare will be my major shopping hunt during the travel, not only avoiding the similar souvenirs made by monopoly factories, but also an alternative act to support the local development. 

✔Balenciaga Mini Tote: Christóbal Balenciaga classic city mini leather tote has been waiting on my shopping list until this February at DFS Okinawa. The tonal studs, the crinkled leather and fringed zipper, combining gold tone of metallic spare parts and olive green lambskin, plus a cute mirror as attachment, this width 24 cm and depth 9 cm has braided handles and detachable should strap, super easy to carry at work or another weekend city getaway. 

✔Kosé Gel Mask: weak acidity, non-colouring with zero mineral oil ingredients, Japanese Kosé Clear Turn Premium gel mask contains sakura extracts and Q10 GL, which makes dehydrated skin 24-hourmoisturizing over day and night. While funny and cute Shisa sheet mask, made in Japan, consists of Okinawa seaweed Cladosiphon Okamuranus (沖繩エキス), is region limited, makes the skincare moments efficient and kawaii. 

✔Christian Dior Brow Ink & Mascara: Visiting my dear friend in Taipei and consulting with some makeup knowledge, then I realize a waterproof eyebrow ink is what I need. Lasting for 36 hours, a touch on the eyebrow mini brush, this brownish colour is perfectly matching with my pupil hue, instantly full and last-long effect; and the CD freebie over curl mascara, both light-weighted and professional function for my daily need.

✔Hair Rules: Written by the Japanese hair stylist Hikaru Kinugawa(衣川光), this self-educated paperback is the great reference for a change of hairstyle with penny a few; every page turn, the minimalistic design of clean-cut photography balance well with vary fonts, definitely my great hunt at Okinawa bookstore. Now I need only a hair curler, a comb, a brush, a hairpin and 2 black rubber bands to make myself over! 

✔Lycée Blanc Eye Drop: Japanese medicine Inc. Rohto again contributes the cutest eye drop ever! With Tetrahydrozoline to release the redness, sodium chondroitin sulphate to protect the cornea, B12 in order to relax the muscles and zinc sulphate to alleviate the inflammation of UV, the coolness lever 3 also soothes the tired eyes, is the best healthcare item before movies or bedtime. 

✔LOTTE Plum Snack: Produced from Wakayama, the mint is must-have after lunch at work, and jelly candy is my favourite chew while traveling on the road. Purchased from either at Lawson kiosk or Hundred-Yen chain stores, they are both good for everyday use or friendship treat. 

✔Chanel Hair Band: with imitation pearl carved with golden logo, Chanel accessory makes the hairstyle elegant and playful. Let’s take some hot tips from Hair Rulesby Hikaru Kinugawa!

✔Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder: Settles with velvet or satin finish but never a dead matte nor detect sparkles, Chanel loose powder provides a balanced oil control, and while the container is substantial, without a mess it is easy to tap excess off a kabuki brush into the lid. The Chanel puff is dense and reversible, suggested to apply the loose powder first with brush and press with the puff. 

✔Chanel IPHONE Case: Indeed nowadays is the universe of Plus smart phones, but this dark grey lambskin mini phone case is ideal for ID, coupons or credit cards; within between the zipped pocket is for coins, perhaps more of a splendid idea to become a mini cosmetic pouch. The inner layer made of grey suede is exceptional from other seasonal Chanel small leather goods. Love it! 

BALENCIAGA 

Cosmetic-info.jp 

@hikaru.kinugawa

Fashion Fun OKINAWA! Vivienne Westwood Crochet Sweater at Okinawa Art Museum

January-February 2019, Okinawa, Japan

During the family trip in Okinawa, we rent a Toyota hybrid to drive around the island, while brother suggests to visit mountain area with nephew and Joting, I decide to have a solo tour at Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum. An architecture constructed largely of local Okinawan limestone, is designed with the imagery of Okinawa Castle, opened in November 2007, it includes natural history section, the cultural department and Art exhibition. 

The Zen garden in front of the museum consists of reproductions of two traditional-style storehouses. The red ceramic roof-tiles with a number of shisa statues and the home built with Okinawan woods, are the perfect location to relax after getting lost in the museum, for an easy photo shooting moments. 

Okinawa reaches 25’c in early February, so my outfit of the museum day is the newly purchased VIVIENNE WESTWOOD crochet wool sweater. This Made in Italy, with 61% wool, 11% alpaca, 15% nylon and 11% polyamide owns the mixture of olive green and angel blue, knitted all-around, is perfect to wear black underwired contour bras to show a slight touch of sexuality. Together with Zara Premium ripped jeans, Chanel black lambskin sling backs, Vivienne Westwood pearl bracelet (purchased at Kaohsiung Outlet in 2018) and Chloé ivory white acetate sunglasses, Vivienne Westwood light weight wool ready-to-wear is easy-to-match. It is a pure luck that even Vivienne Westwood Women merged from Red Label and Anglomania, shrinking its collection, still a large amount of great bargains (this wool sweater is 80% off!) awaited at Ashibinna Outlet, Okinawa.

I kindly interrupt and ask a Japanese schoolboy (no doubt in Japanese), who wearing glasses, aged around 12, is sitting on a long bench playing his video games, to take some photos of me at the porch of Okinawa traditional house. He is patiently in soft-spoken tone, telling ‘one more shot, just a moment’ to make this shooting easy and delightful. It is a sunny day, a couple of free hours, Shinkai Makoto (新海誠) exhibition and me, a philosophical long walk at museum park.ありがどう, shy but skillful Japanese boy, please take my apology, that I even forgot to ask your name. 

TOP TIP 1: Crochet sweater see-through is sexy to play with black underwired bras

TOP TIP 2: Rock ‘n’ Roll Ripped jeans & elegant lambskin sling backs are the best match!

Fashion Fun Taipei! Zara, Chanel, Chao & Balenciaga Rock & Roll at Passage of Zhong Shan Neighbourhood

Taipei, Taiwan, February 2019

I was raised and educated in Taipei, always having the most unforgettable moments at arrival. The comeback for the delis at nearby late-night food stalls, the new discovery of Breeze Xin Yi shopping mall, the reunion with dear family members and the meetings with lovely friends provide both the thrills and calms to my inner thoughts of mind at the beginning of 2019. 

I used to take Bus 220 passing by Zhong Shan North Road to attend mathematics prep school on Saturdays during 1997, yet have never been strolling alongside this beautiful boulevard until during the Chinese New Year with my Finnish mate, who now is living in Taiwan. We started the city walk from the North Gate of Taipei Railway Station, and out of expectation, Passage 140 appears for our adventures of food, shops and street photography. The greyish concrete façade and the geometric window fences provide an old touch of Taipei, calm and carry-on. 

The outfit of the day are Yves Saint Laurent 70’s vintage black crop top, Zara tweet jacket, Zara Premium black ripped jeans and Chanel black goat skin sling backs. Besides my proudest bargain of YSL crop top (17 EUR at Helsinki Fashion Taivas), Zara tweet jacket produced with 73% of cotton, 27% of polyesters, produced with imitation pearl buttons and with two shallow pockets, is also one my favourite items in 2019. This Chanel look-alike piece can be worn full button closed as knitwear, open-up as mini spring jacket, both shows elegant but comfort city look. Within the snow-white threads in between the knit, it balances the mono dark tone of SL crop top, Zara 99% cotton ripped jeans and Chanel sling backs. 

Chanel Sling backs with low heels have been my focus collection since 2017, the Goat skin pair with patent toe design furnish the playfulness of new black hue, at the same time is easy to walk with during city tour. About the accessories, Chloé ivory white acetate sunglasses are my all-time essential, and Balenciaga Classic City mini tote in greenish grey is the souvenir from Okinawa DFS, Japan; its lamb skin materials and the colours capture my first attention, while the service is warmly friendly. As for jewelry, Chao & Eero Darling stud earrings and small pendant (40-42 cm) match the silver tone of Zara tweet jacket effortlessly. Handmade by Taiwanese jewelry designer Chao, Darling series are two hearts put together as a pair of butterfly wings, about to fly to the moon or future. 

NOW USING PROMOTE CODE Mindy15 TO GET 15% DISCOUNT at CHAO&EERO

TOP TIP1: Mix and match the outfit together with accessories with black, silver and patent leather 

TOP TIP2: Elegant tweet jacket balances the relax city look with ripped jeans

Special Thanks: Luna