Tone Tee Review

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Frostie

A revolutionary new body toning fit wear specifically engineered for men, which shapes, sucks and slims. Male shape-wear has traditionally always been unappealing, bulky & unattractive, not to mention embarrassing.

Tone Tee’s super-slimming secret is its specially-designed 360 degree Tone Technology – precision core stabilising compression panels which target key problem areas for men, such as love handles, beer bellies, back fat and sagging pecs, leaving nothing behind but a smooth and sleek silhouette. With athletic design, special built-in temperature control breathe-in-technology. But does it work? We got a writer to test it out. This is what they said:

“This is comfortable. It was weird when I first put it on as it is ridged. It works in a similar way to spanx, smoothing things out and giving a better silhouette. It does smooth things out and the fabric feels nice. It works on paunches and moobs but won’t make you look stones lighter than you are. Still impressed though.”

RRP: £19:99 for two Tees Stockist: www.highstreettv.com and here.

Will you be trying it?

Father’s Day Gift Guide

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Frostie

Haven’t got your dad anything for Father’s Day yet? Fear not, we have some excellent suggestions. It’s on the 15th of June so read on and hurry up!

The Wild Geese whiskey collection comprises four different variations to suit the whiskey novice or discerning Dad.

Classic Blend Irish Whiskey (£19.50) is a great entry-level whiskey and ideal for whipping up a Father’s Day cocktail such as an Old Fashioned or Amaretto Sour. Rare Irish Whiskey (£34) and The Single Malt Irish Whiskey (£54) can be enjoyed straight up or on the rocks and the Limited Edition Irish Whiskey (RRP £44, 70cl). We reviewed this whiskey (hard job but someone has to do it) and can confirm it is amazing, top-quality stuff. If your father has been especially good this year, get him some of this.

Game of Thrones Dragon figures £40

A must-have for supporters of the House of Targaryen, choose from baby Drogon, Viserion or Rhaegal, or collect all three! Each dragon figure is amazingly crafted and finely handpainted, standing at 11.5cm high.

Dragon – Baby dragon, Drogon tail raised, lifts his wings about to take flight

Viserion – Viserion reaches his head to the sky

Rhaegal – Craning his neck in interest and featuring a curly tail, this baby Rhaegal is both cute and menacing at the same time!

From www.hboshopeu.com and Tresor Paris

Beluga Noble Russian Vodka is a particularly good Russian vodka. We tried it, we liked it. Available here.

This Wasgij Original Puzzle combines games and sport. Perfect for dads. It also includes a free Wasgij football wall chart.

Wasgij Original 21: Football Fever! offers two 1000-piece football themed puzzles in a single box, sure to bring Dad hours of entertainment in preparation for England’s kick off this summer in Brazil.

In addition to piecing together the image on the box of a family cheering on their beloved national team, the second puzzle follows the Wasgij Original concept of piecing together what the characters in the box image are looking at.

A FREE football wall chart is also included so you can track the progress of all the teams participating in this summer’s international football tournament.

This is a revolutionary body toning fit-wear specifically designed for men who want to look slimmer. This Tone Tee is comfortable and gives all-round compression. It works on paunches and moobs. Women have spanx and now men have Tone Tee. It has 360 degree tone technology and has built-in temperature control breath-in technology. Our male writers who have, erm, overindulged recently loved it. From tonetee.com

Trivento Malbec Reserve for wine-loving dads. We reviewed this and it is a very good red wine. Plum and rasberry flavours combine elegantly with vanilla notes from the oak. Well balanced exhibiting sweet tannins and a velvety finish.

Steaming to Victory: How Britain’s Railways Won the War is a brilliant book about how Britain’s Railways won the war. Excellent for dads who love trains or history.

Amazon Fashion Men’s Oxford Circus Handkerchief These pocket squares are perfect for fashionable dads. They come in a range of different London landmarks. Cool and unique.

Converse Accessories have launched a collection of bags inspired by the football World Cup. The Prem Sport range is available in a selection of colourways that support footballs’ most iconic international teams ahead of the World Cup finals in Brazil next month. With a retro styled Converse logo emblazoned across the bag, the range celebrates some of the world’s top national teams including England with a bold red and white colour combination as well as colourways for rivals Germany, France and of course the green, yellow and blue of host nation, Brazil.

Stockists for this collection include Next, ASOS, and USC. Perfect for sporty dads and those who love Converse.

Fossil Men’s Aeroflite Watch

A really beautiful watch. Perfect for the main man in your life.

Stockist: www.WatchShop.com

What will you get your dad?

Karpo… A Restaurant of Choice

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

Deep in the heart of King’s Cross, right opposite St Pancras Station is Karpo brasserie, the ideal place to rest, relax and recharge in an unpretentious setting… everything a restaurant should be. Draped in an anti-camouflage montage of colour, this restaurant is no shrinking violet.

Serving cuisine with a global influence, the standards of service are uncompromising, with a highly developed sense of noblesse oblige, each and every customer is valued as a welcome friend by Massimo, the front-of-house manager. The light streams in through a roof window onto a vibrant wall of foliage creating the perfect backdrop to the non-conformist tables and chairs, different styles and textures, refreshingly breaking up the dining area with slices of beautifully turned wood and marble… there were no ‘bad tables’.

Karpo have created a pleasingly uncomplicated menu that discards unnecessary fripperies , keeping to the bare essentials in terms of ingredients and cooking processes. We were tempted with the brunch menu offering a selection of superb egg dishes ranging from Benedict through to plain and simple poached egg, but the deep fried cod cheeks and polenta with wild mushrooms came a close second to our choice of confit duck leg, sausage and lentils (£12) and Cumberland sausages, mash and gravy (£10). It was pleasing that Karpo chose to ignore the zeitgeist of listing every supplier on the menu, just occasional references of where the menu was taking us.

The duck was cooked to perfection with the sausage and lentils adding a twist of colour and texture, an adequately-sized portion, nicely washed down with a glass of house wine (Chardonnay, £4.75 glass). The Cumberland sausages, mash and gravy were presented in an uncomplicated way, you just can’t sex this dish up, the taste reminiscent of good ‘ole home cooking… but better. I rounded my meal off with lemon posset with handpicked lavender (£5), daintily presented but with a potent citrus kick! English breakfast tea was served… properly. The tea was presented and a healthy amount of tea leaves were allowed to brew in a teapot instead of the usual ‘coquette of the teabag’ ritual most restaurants resort to. Attention to detail was uppermost and it was reflected in the taste.

It was refreshing not to be asked ad nauseam if everything was ok, the well-mannered hosts discreetly sashayed around the tables keeping a close eye but not interrupting the quiet intimacy of the couples or the vibrant interactions of business people wooing clients in an appropriate setting.

And this is the defining point about Karpo, when we visited, customers looked relaxed as if they genuinely wanted to be in this establishment rather than ‘this’ll do’ as a need to just ‘grab a bite to eat’. People brought people to eat here… and that’s good enough for me.

Karpo Restaurant
23-27 Euston Road
King’s Cross
London
NW1 2SB
Bookings for up to 8 via email: reservations@karpo.co.uk
Website: www.karpo.co.uk
Telephone: 0207 843 2221
Facebook: karporestaurant
Twitter: @karporestaurant

Open for breakfast 7:00am to 11:am Monday to Friday
Neighbourhood brunch: 8:00am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
All day menu runs from 12:00pm to 10:00pm weekdays, 5:00pm to 10:00pm Saturdays/Sundays (till 9:00pm Sundays)

Imagery by Shane Finn at Visual Devotion

Kirin Ichiban Beer And Feng Sushi: A Match Made In Umami Heaven

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Frostie

This June celebrate one of the original and healthiest fast foods with International Sushi Day on Wednesday 18^th June with a luxury sushi platter from Feng Sushi alongside an ice-cold Kirin Ichiban beer.

We were thrown at just how amazing the platter was. The sushi is amazing, high quality with something for everyone. The salmon was amazing, there was a great mixture of avocado and sushi and the salty edamame beans were also a joy. The platter retails at £29.75 and we thought it was a bargain considering how many people it feeds -2-to-4- and just how delicious it was. Now that we know just how amazing Feng Sushi in Fulham is, we will definitely be wanting more.

This is what the men had to say about the beer because, cliche alert, none of the women like beer: “The beer was pure, smooth, crisp and of the highest quality. It was a delight. One of the best beers I’ve ever had. I would highly recommend trying it, I will certainly be buying some more.” So it is safe to say we are fans of both the sushi and the beer.

Beer is a fantastic match for sushi as the pairing emphasises umami, the mysterious fifth flavour that adds a moreish savoury note. Soy sauce, seaweed and the fish itself are all sources of umami, which are heightened by the crisp, pure notes of Kirin Ichiban, acting as a palate cleanser to tone down the spicy wasabi kick. The beer’s rich flavour and deep, smooth finish also complement the delicately flavoured sushi and salty edamame beans.

Kirin Ichiban is the world’s only 100% malt beer produced from the unique Shibori process where just the first pressing of the ingredients is used, unlike other lagers which are pressed and re-pressed. The result is one of the world’s crispest, richest and purest beers with a rich flavour and no bitter aftertaste. The beer shows citrus aromas with an initial, crisp refreshing bite, leading to a surprising depth of flavour and an intensely satisfying, clean finish.

Feng Sushi’s classic patter comprises of 30 pieces of fresh sushi, including mean spicy tuna roll, MSC king prawn tempura roll, salmon mizuna and chive roll, salmon nigiri, seared salmon sashimi and salty edamame. The platter is available to order online for £29.75, with two bottles of Kirin Ichiban for £7.50.

· Kirin Ichiban is sold in Tesco, Ocado and www.thedrinkshop.com in 330ml bottles, RRP £1.49 per bottle

· Feng Sushi’s classic platter serves 2-4 people and retails at £29.75

· For more information on Feng Sushi, restaurant locations and to order online visit www.fengsushi.co.uk

Wedding Planning For Dummies | Book Review

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

It is well-known that planning a wedding is hard. But it is not until you actually plan a wedding that you realise that it is even harder than you thought it would be. And then some.

The mixture of organisation, planning, ideas and different family members is quite a toxic mix, making even simple decisions seems insurmountable sometimes. I am planning my own wedding at the moment and it is rapidly approaching. So when Wedding Planning For Dummies dropped through our letterbox I was incredibly happy. I am that dummy and I need that book.

Before a relative reads this and panics about how close the wedding is, it is mostly done, I am just worried I will forget something. Not so with this book. It is thorough and fun to read. What’s more, it taught me things that I never even knew. It may be a ‘For Dummies’ book but, like all in the series, it leaves you feeling very competent in the end.

It has lots of tips on how to not pay too much, tips on finding the perfect venue, ideas for making your wedding personal and suggestions for the invitations. Actually, it just has every basis covered that you will need for your wedmin.

It even tells you the different types of marquees you can get and I loved the section on how much alcohol to order depending on how many guests you have. It really was invaluable. Brilliant book, a must read for those planning their wedding. The authors really know their stuff.

Wedding Planning For Dummies is available here.

Fushi Argan & Amalaki Shampoo And Conditioner Review

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Frostie

Fushi Argan & Amalaki Shampoo is a gorgeous smelling herbal shampoo.

Here is what Fushi say: ‘A hair reviving Ayurvedic herb rich shampoo blended with Argan and Camellia oil to boost lustre, shine and strength to the hair. This innovative botanical blend contains Argan oil, Camellia oil and Brahmi herb extract to revive and restore hair to a lustrous shine and bounce. While uniquely combined with Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry) and Biotin to help replenish dry hair and scalp and promote hair health. Amalaki is known for its rich source of vitamin C and helps to keep the hair follicles strong and nourish the hair from the roots. While Brahmi and the renowned Argan and Camelia oils are is known for their wonderful hair rejuvenating properties. Fragranced with the Tahitian Gardenia, to leave your hair feeling fresh and fragrant. For the complete treatment experience use with Argan & Amalaki Herbal conditioner.’

This amazing shampoo for permed hair and conditioner make hair soft, smooth and shiny. It leaves hair hydrated. The smell is not only gorgeous but is also relaxing. It doesn’t weigh hair down and revives dull hair too. We like.

Fushi Argan & Amalaki Shampoo and Conditioner are available here.

Yves Rocher Rouge Brillance Vegetale Lipstick Review

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

I love lipstick but always have to wear lip balm too. Not so with these amazing 100% cherry oil lipsticks which are also rich in Omega 6 and 9.

This is what they say: “The Yves Rocher Research Institute has selected cherry oil for lipstick, because of its extraordinary power to shine and refract light. It is also rich in Omega 6 and 9, natural sources of protection and nutrition.”

These are amazing lipsticks. They are natural, made by an environmentally-friendly brand and come in 18 beautiful colours. You don’t even need to add a lip balm to your beauty routine.

The two I tried were Rose Grenadine and Iris Mauve. You can see how beautiful the colours are below.

They look beautiful on and are really good to lips, acting more like a beauty product than makeup. I am a fan. They are expensive but I will indulge if I want to treat myself.

Comes in 12 shades inspired by nature, £18 at www.yves-rocher.co.uk

Available now.

Frost Mascara Special

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Frostie

We reviewed four inexpensive mascaras, because looking great doesn’t always have to be expensive.

George Volume Lash Mascara

This was a little runny the first time we used it but afterwards was fine. The one we tried wasn’t waterproof and by the end of the day we had panda eyes. It only costs £3.50 and is good for the price. Available from ASDA

2True Pro WOW Mascara

This mascara is not just excellent for the price, but is just excellent full stop. The waterproof version was on Watchdog for being good. We tried the non-waterproof one. It gives supercharged volume and an amazing WOW effect. It doesn’t clump or flake. Good stuff. Available from Superdrug for only £3.

Pur Big Look Extreme Mascara Waterproof

This mascara is very different. It is made with Argan Oil, a revolutionary ingredient, loaded with lash-loving omega fatty acids, vitamin E and antioxidant. It says it has a clump-resistant wand but when we put it on the first time it was quite clumpy and awkward. It is waterproof but doesn’t seem smudge-proof when you first put it on. It is fine after a while though, so just don’t touch your eyes.

George Volume Lash

This is a brilliant mascara. It only costs about £2.50 and it is as good as very expensive mascara brands. It coats mascara from root to tip and gives great volume. It is clump free and very black. We’re a fan.

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