CnC Living Recommends: {Restaurant Review}: Mozaic, Bali, Indonesia

A place has got to be pretty good it if greets you with this right?

Bali shouldn't be known for just its beaches and markets, it should also be known for this restaurant.  Eating at Mozaic was one of my most unique and fun restaurant experiences to date (and in Pellegrino's World's 50 best restaurants).

If you're a foodie, eat the chef's (ahem, Michelin starred) table tasting menu here.  It'll be a good time and possibly your best meal in Indonesia and among the best meals in your life (this coming from someone who was getting over food poisoning in Bali but ate almost every tasty morsel here).

The chef's tasting menu was a Chic 'n Cheap Living experience - you sit in a private room with other patrons while the chef guides you through the dishes and offers tips along the way in a shining and enviable test kitchen.  It cost ~$100/person which was worthwhile considering the level of cuisine and personal attention from the chef.  This restaurant was memorable not really solely because it had good food, but because it provided such an intimate and personal dining experience.

A sampling of our courses:
Langoustine tails in a citrus ceviche

Foie Gras two ways - chilled with nashi pear and seared with candied kumquats and chocolate

Whipped celeriac ice cream with black truffle espuma (yes truffles can be eaten for dessert)

Chocolate truffles - mmm

These pictures and more uploaded to my Flickr photostream.

What was your last great restaurant experience on a vacation?

CnC Living Recommends: October Breast Cancer Month shopping finds

Cool items + proceeds for a great cause = perfect time to shop!

October is breast cancer awareness month and a great time to indulge your love for pink.  Many retailers have created exclusive items this month that are not only styling, but also contribute funds for breast cancer research.

Here are some favorites:

Sonia Kashuk "Circle Around a Cause" brush set - love the pink bristles, and her Target line is know for its great quality!

$19.99 here

Ralph Lauren stretch cotton polo - the site has a great selection of apparel and accessories with funds going towards breast cancer

$49.50 here (as opposed to $125 for other polos) - use code RLGIVE2010, save 25% and they'll give 10%!

Pink lemonade lip balm - yum and anyone can use it!

$3.49 here

Estee Lauder pink lipstick trio - what lovely shades!

$25 here

Loft Kara Ross bracelet - cool geometric shape!

$39.50 here

OPI Pink of Hearts - what a great neutral shade!

$8 here

Do you have any favorites from these designer Breast Cancer Awareness items this month?

CnC Living Recommends: Websites for affordable art prints

* Remember to enter the Night Owl Paper Goods giveaway for your choice of wooden or letterpress stationary here*

Are you constantly decorating or searching for ways to spruce up your home (or is that just me and my super slow home shopping ways?)

Art prints are a Chic 'n Cheap way to build and enhance your art collection.   Look for prints that are laid out on archival paper, use quality inks, and have fun discovering new artists or uncovering old prints.

Here are a few favorite websites and images:
Poster Cabaret

Runaway Girl by Robert Lee, $30

20x200

Sugarcoat by Michelle Hinebrook, $20 - $1000 depending on size

Thumbtack Press

Life by Adonis Werther, $69.99/set of 4

Yeehaw Press

Jazz Poster Alphonse Mouzon Letterpress print, $35

Renegade Handmade

Lucky Bear Wall Hanging, $60

Etsy of course has a huge variety of great print shops as well and you can always search eBay if you're looking for a specific print.
Here's a great list of a few more websites for great prints.

Where do you get your art prints?

Photo Love/CnC Living Recommends: Appreciating a view at the Getty villa

 Shouldn't a great museum foster seeing before all else?

Mark Stevens

See a few more pictures from Southern California on the Facebook page here!

We did indeed see a gorgeous recreation of a Roman villa that was both dazzling and intimate at the Getty Villa.  The site hosted an array of Roman and Greek artifacts indoors while also boasting lovely architecture, gardens, and pools outdoors.  I loved the small size and different interactive exhibits (e.g. the process of making mummies) and am glad we got to visit.  Sometimes museums can be large and overwhelming, but we really felt that we got to see and appreciate the antiquities and views here.

The admission was free and there was only the $15 charge for parking (great for at least 2 people); admission is via timed slots so the museum never gets too crowded.  The Getty Villa was a wonderful stop in Malibu. Next time you're in the Los Angeles area and want a break from the beach, do drop by!

Have a lovely week!

CnC Living Travel Log/Recommends: Balinese Beaches and Restaurant recommendations (Part 1)

My fondest memories of Bali all took place on the beach - or more specifically, dining while looking at the beach (and in one case, on the beach itself!)  It is simply idyllic.  They skies were almost always blue, the temperature just right and a constant breeze cooled things down (this also made the water too rough for swimming, but didn't hurt the view!)

Here are my favorites.  Check them out if you're in Bali!

La Lucciola - Seminyak

This seaside restaurant has a great view at Seminyak as well as great Italian food (though a tad creamy).  It was still very tasty!

Everything tastes better with truffle oil. Mmmm.

Ku De Ta - Seminyak
The place for sunset lounging though it gets really crowded; you're outta luck if you don't have a bed or table reserved and will be standing by the beach.  It's still lovely though as you see below.

Jinbaran Bay
Having fresh seafood ON the beach itself is something everyone should try.

Jinbaran Bay is an area of beachside restaurants - a long series of them line the coast and the tables directly face the ocean.

Lobster was quite expensive (~$6/100 grams and most lobsters were 2 kilos) but the other seafood was reasonably priced.  Transportation is also included with your meal so you get free car service to and from the restaurant (great value for us since we were 45 minutes away!)

Hu'u - Seminyak
I love going to a quiet, chic place for lunch.  Throw in a pool, daybeds, and sofas and it's easy to see why we stayed here for a few hours.

My more traditional Indonesian meal - loved all the sides!

Too many restaurants to list, but these were lovely and will include a part 2 when I return to Bali ;)
Look out for a post on one of my favorite restaurant experiences ever (Michelin 3 star chefs know what they're doing!)

What is your favorite view when you dine?

CnC Living Recommends: London Sunday UpMarket w/Bahn mi, Ethiopian vegetarian snacks, Thai curries, custom clothing, and vintage

Food (Mexican, Thai, Sri Lankan, Japanese and more!), handmade jewelry, cool clothing, and housewares?  Yep, this would be why markets containing all of the above are one of my favorite activities in London.  Snacking and shopping are always a winning combination.  Here is a quick list of markets if you're interested in exploring different ones.

Sunday UpMarket is my favorite London market because it's a medium size, has some unique vendors, and an amazing international variety of food.  It's also got a little bit of an edgy vibe as evidenced in the items you'll see for sale.
 
Food
There's so much to choose from, but here are my quick hits of the favorite places we've tried.
Mon Me Banh Mi is one of my favorite Banh mi places in London.  I was their first customer!  I found them in my internet quest for banh mi and their flavors (great pate and sauce) and meats didn't disappoint though I would have liked a crisper baguette.  Unfortunately I haven't seen them the last few times I've been to the market so hope they're still there!

Aren't their shirts cute?

This was a favorite Thai place.  Their green curry was awesome though I saw last time they seemed to shred chicken into the curry at the end (not the same, if you ask me).

I thought it was funny that the Mexican stand prominently displayed Old El Paso.  Though Old El Paso has done very well in the European and Asian countries I've visited.  This stand was always jumping and had fun music.

I actually tried a Brazilian pastry, coxinha, a chicken croquette and practice my limited Portugese at the Brazilian booth here.  Unfortunately I didn't get pictures, but it was a tasty treat for £2 and every Brazilian I've met is fun to talk to so check it out!

Mr. Spend 'n Chomp also likes the Ethiopian food here (the vegetarian stand, not as much the other one).  They have great seasoned, stewed vegetables and fresh injera (sour spongey bread). 

Picture from here since my picture didn't come out.

Clothing
Options range from funky suit jackets to t-shirts and vintage pieces.

One of our favorite vendors was Reggie Flippo who makes the coolest blazers.  Reggie also makes blazers with contrast stitching and fringe detailing.  My husband owns this pinstriped blazer with a hoodie and it was pretty reasonable at £75.  He gets compliments on this blazer constantly so of course he wanted another blazer when we went last week but Reggie wasn't there.  Come back!

There are also a number of t-shirt stalls with celebrities or the artist's own signature logoes/icons (I wanted my husband to get one with a panda wearing headphones, but he deemed it not masculine enough, sigh!)  Like the baby hanging out with the rock star, super model t-shirts?  Nice right?

The entire first floor is now devoted to vintage clothing and accessories.  I didn't find anything, but it was nice walking through.  There were quite a few fun pieces from the 1950s and 1960s.

Housewares/Decor
There are lovely stalls ranging from lighting (£18 - 45)...

...to paintings (sorry didn't catch the prices)

J

Jewelry/accessories
Small vendors sell lovely fascinators on the spot, handmade brass plated jewelry, fresh water pearls, and other goodies.  Alas, no pictures here either but definitely some nice options!

I'd definitely recommend Sunday UpMarket in East London for great food and a few shopping finds!
91 Brick Lane
London E1 6QL