Sunday, November 29, 2015

Second Review of ASUS ZenFone Selfie (ZD551KL)

I had done a recent review of ASUS Zenfone Selfie (ZD551KL), focusing mostly on its selfie functions.  Check out the first blogpost at http://elaineheng.blogspot.sg/2015/11/my-secret-to-perfect-selfie-photos-asus.html

I love its apt tagline, "See The Prefect You", as this smartphone delivers exactly what it promises.  With the beautification mode, everyone can take amazing selfies.  Isn't this awesome? 

Besides the much raved beautification mode, the actual secret lies in the PixelMaster 2.0!  What exactly is this and what does it mean?


Let's start with ZenMotion... It is actually part of ZenUI, which has an exquisite visual design plus a wide range of new features — including ZenMotion, SnapView, Trend Micro™ Security and ZenUI Instant Updates — that enhance usability, ensure security and privacy, and deliver a seamless user experience.  My two favourite features of ZenUI gotta be ZenMotion which I mentioned in my first post on the handphone review and also Snapview which allows me as an entrepreneur to separate work and personal life by independent spaces , with cross space notifications to manage both spheres.

ASUS Zenfone Selfie(ZD551KL) has the most amazing cameras both front and rear. With a full-resolution 13MP right in front of you, with an f/2.2-aperture, five-prism Largan lens with 88-degree, wide-angle framing, and a dual-LED Real Tone flash to create natural lighting, there is no reason why you can't take a great selfie, which you can post on your social media platforms to show your current or latest look, makeup, hairstyle, mood and etc and keep your friends updated.


ASUS also ensure that the rear camera has an f/2.0 aperture and laser auto-focus for light-speed shots to meet the needs of both amateur or professional photographers. With 4X-sensitivity low-light performance, backlight (Super HDR) mode may brighten darkness and shade by up to 400%, and modes for all moods; anybody can shoot like a pro and snap great selfies everytime!

Another wonderful feature that I like is ASUS ZenFone Selfie's macro focus right down to 6cm, which allows me to get closer to the subject and show more details than ever before.  I was invited to a few food tasting sessions and this handphone definitely came into handy when taking photos of the delicious food.

Just look at my delicious lobster dinner... it looked even better in photo... yummy!



ZenFone Selfie is meant for anyone, even those who do not know how to take good photos can churn out wonderful photos as it is loaded with intuitive shooting modes for every scenario. With 17 instant presets for both front and rear PixelMaster cameras, configuring ZenFone Selfie for the best shots is as swift as selecting the mode that matches the mood!  All you need is to choose the mode and press the shutter button... it is that easy!




I promised to share the wonderful discovery with my friends in my previous post so what I did was to go around, asking people to either take selfie of themselves or take selfies with me to test out the camera of the smartphone, as well as some group photos.

First person to oblige me was Mr Errol Pang, King of Beauty Queens as quoted by the media. The man who organises Miss Universe Singapore pageants and will be organising an international pageant.  Who else is more qualified to assess the photos taken, besides him?  
A selfie with Errol!
Tony Seow, Founder and ex-owner of Purple Sage, award winning entrepreneur, trying out the beautification mode.
Warren Kok, luxury lifestyle instagrammer, testing out the ASUS ZenFone Selfie at an event 
Bumped into Andrew Lua, Fly Entertainment Artiste.  The world is so small. I was going for a television commercial casting while he was on his way to do a voice-over for a commercial.  He's an accomplished stage actor and appeared in many television commercials and drama serials and we co-starred in a short film called 'Nightmare'.   
A selfie with Nat Ho, actor and singer
Selfie with Hazel, founder of Bloom PR
Selfie with my Korean master hair stylist, Soo Bin from Kenjo Salon.  She's so gorgeous!
With Juliana, my cute unFranchise business partner.  We are forever 21.... with the help of the beautification mode of the front camera... lol.
Wefie with a group of entrepreneurs at The Entrepreneur of the Year Award gala dinner organised by Rotary-Singapore and ASME.


 Some selfies to test out the ASUS ZenFone Selfie at different locations and it exceeded my expectations. :)





 Those interested to get the ASUS ZenFone(ZD551KL), you can click here to find out where you can purchase this amazing gadget, one of the best selfie camera for smartphone in the market!

Love,
Elaine
www.elaineheng.com

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Monday, November 23, 2015

Furama Hotels International organised a Christmas Media Party on 21 Oct 2015, Wednesday and I was extended an invite, together with my awesome blogger friends, William and Gerald, to try out some of the dishes in the Festive Menu offered by both Tiffany Cafe & Restaurant at Furama City Centre and The Square@ Furama at Furama Riverfront.


When I walked into the function room where the media party was held, I was greeted by all these gingerbread men, designed by the Pastry Chef.  Ain't they cute?


There was also a turkey kebab station set up whereby a chef was on the standby to make delicious kebab rolls for the media.


Juicy tender meat on the way!


The wonderful people at Furama Hotels International invited the media to try our hands at decorating our own gingerbread men and we had lotsa fun doing it!


A showcase of the gingerbread men decorated by the media.  Just look at all the creative ideas!



 This is the gingerbread man which I designed.  How's my design skill?


William trying his hands on decorating his gingerbread man.






 Initially Gerald didn't want to decorate a gingerbread man but both William and I persuaded him to do so.




 See how serious the guys were in designing their gingerbread men.. hahaha!



While the guys were busy making their gingerbread men looked as handsome as them, I went around taking selfies.  I was trying to capture kebab station but ended up with the chef in the background.


Christmas came early for me this year... See the yummilicous chocolate log cake in the background.


These were the two tables set up by Furama to host the media.  I love the cozy and intimate setup, with the right Christmas-y feeling.



 This cocktail which was served to us is called "Celebrations".  It was concocted with apple syrup, orange juice, pineapple juice and topped with soda water and a dash of cinnamon powder.  I was impressed by this cocktail as it felt refreshing without any clogging sweetness.  The cinnamon powder gave a nice balance to the fruity taste without being too over-powering.



Let's take a look at the menu for the Christmas media party.  I was so grateful to be invited to be part of the media to try out some of the dishes offered in the festive menu by both the hotels,before they are launched.




First up is Santa Hors d'ouvre Collection which comprised of Salmon Roulade with Apricot, Seafood Royale Infused with Bonito and Sichuan Turkey Breast Salad with Cucumber & Black Fungus. (from left to right)



I absolutely loved these three dishes presented in tasting portions for the media.

I am a fan of salmon due to its high content of omega 3.  The chef who created this, used the right type of condiments to bring out the freshness of the salmon.


This dish was so smooth that it glided down my throat.  Wonderful!


Normally, I would avoid turkey meat during Christmas party as it is usually too tough for my liking.  But this dish was different.  The meat was so tender that I wondered how the chef prepared it.


After the appetisers, we got to enjoy Christmas Pumpkin Soup with Almond Brittles.  I loved my soups to be thick yet smooth so this worked for me.  With every mouthful of soup, you can taste the sweetness of the pumpkin.  I also liked the fact that this soup was paired with almond brittles which was like a biscuit.  It tasted wonderful especially after you dipped it into the soup and munched on it.


Next up were the entrees.  Oh boy, we were very pampered by Furama with the samples of six different dishes.  I think I need to lose weight after this meal.. hahaha!

The first three dishes...


We tried the Braised Chuck Rib with Wine Tomato.  It was awesome cos the rib was so tender and the tomato was super juicy.


Yet another fantastic creation called Grilled Sea Cucumber and Gluten with Ebiko.  I loved sea cucumber and most of the time, my mum would cook it in soups so it was great to try another style.  Sinking my teeth into the thick slices of sea cucumber was heavenly.


For those who loved fried food, this would be the dish for you.  Crispy Prawn with Salmon Skin & Wasabi Mayo in Yam Basket... yummy!


The remaining three dishes...


This dish was called King Oyster Mushroom Confit.  I think oyster mushroom is not easy to handle as  it must be cooked in the right temperature and seasoned properly but the Chef nailed this perfectly as showcased in this dish.


Another dish with salmon... yeah!  This was named as Salmon & Crabmeat Cylinder.


Lastly, we have Russian Baked Cod with Pickled Cucumber.  OMG... the cod was so soft that it melted in my mouth with every bite.


How could we forget about the desserts?  We ended our meal with Sweet Pleasures which comprised of Mixed Berries Crumble in Jar, Mini Rainbow Velvet Cake and Chilled Tau Suan Pudding.




This was my favourite amongst all the desserts.  I fell in love with the vibrant colours of the cake, even before I tasted it and true enough, it tasted as good as it looked.



 A final look at all the sample dishes we tried that afternoon.





Festive Feast at Tiffany Café & Restaurant

Peeps, if you want to enjoy the the wonderful food by Tiffany Cafe and Restaurant at Furama City Centre, gather your loved ones and friends during this jolly season and enjoy their Festive Menu, which is an extensive international buffet prepared in a Malay Kitchen, starting from 23 November 2015 to 01 January 2016. 

Indulge in a lip-smacking festive fare crafted by award-winning Executive Chef, Alvin Yeo featuring an array of sumptuous mains including Salmon Wellington with Chives Cream Sauce, Baked Giant Clam with Prawn Aioli and an Asian take on the turkey with Rotisserie Asian Spiced Turkey. Making a debut to the range of log cakes, end the meal on a sweet note with mouth-watering Chocolate Hazelnut Log Cake.



 Durian Pengat Log Cake


Chocolate Hazelnut Praline Log Cake





Maple Glazed Baked Chicken Ham-front


Oatmeal Christmas Cookies


Passion Mango Log Cake


Roasted NZ Beef Strip Loin


Rotisserie Asian Spiced Whole Turkey





Pricing


Buffet Lunch: Adult-S$59.80 ++  Child- S$28.80++

Buffet Dinner: Adult S$69.80++   Child S$28.80++
* Child is between 5 and 11 years old.


The above prices for Tiffany Café & Restaurant buffet lunch and dinner is applicable from 23 November 2015 to 1 January 2016. All prices are applicable to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes.


Opening hours

Lunch  (Mon Sun) 12.00 pm to 2.30 pm    Dinner (Mon Sun) 6.00 pm to 10.30 pm

1-for-1 promotion with major credit cards for buffet lunch and dinner

Enjoy double the joy from 23 November 2015 till 01 January 2016 with 1-for-1 promotion with major credit cards excluding 24, 25, 31 December 2015 and 01 January 2016.

Early bird promotion

Make your reservation before 11 December to receive an Early Bird Discount only for 24, 25, 31 December 2015 and 01 January 2016.

For reservations, please call 6531 5366 or email tiffany.citycentre@furama.com


Log onto http://furama.com/citycentre/ for more information!

Festive Takeaway Delights

Immerse in the festive revelry in the ease of your home with their festive takeaway delights which ranges from savoury treats including Maple-glazed Baked Chicken Ham, Roasted NZ Beef Strip Loin and not forgetting sweet delicacies such as Christmas Log Cakes available in three different flavours and Oatmeal Christmas Cookie. 

Enjoy 15% off takeaway delights with major credit cards.


To place an order, you can approach the friendly staff at Tiffany Cafe & Restaurant or call +65 6531 5366.  Alternatively, you can log onto http://furama.com/citycentre/ for more information.

Festive Retreat Package

Furama City Centre is also offering a festive retreat package with an exclusive rate for 24 and 25 December 2015.  Featuring a warm and cosy charm, the Deluxe Room is going from $188 Nett per night onwards with an American-style breakfast for two. 

Check out the other rates with its perks on http://furama.com/citycentre/Promotions. For more information, refer to http://furama.com/citycentre/. Other terms and conditions apply. 


How about the  promotions at Furama RiverFront?  Continue reading to find out more.

Furama RiverFront Celebrates a Homey Christmas 


Fun & Joy Weekend Staycation
Spend a fun and quality weekend with beloved family and friends at $80nett per person* per night in the Superior Room with complimentary WIFI and breakfast for two. Children below 12 also enjoy their stay and breakfast is on the hotel. Dine at The Square @ Furama or Kintamani Indonesian Restaurant to enjoy 1-for-1 with selected credit cards. (Not applicable on 24 (dinner), 25, 31 (dinner) December 2015 and 1 January 2016)

Promotion details
Room Price: $80 nett per person* per night (Minimum 2 adults per room)  
Room type: Superior Room  (Accommodate up to 3 adults or maximum two adults and two children per room)

Upgrade to Deluxe Room at $40 nett
Upgrade to Executive Club Room at $80 nett

Booking Period: Now till end of December 2015

Stay Period: Friday, Saturday and Sunday only in November and December 2015

Reservations/Enquiries: Visit furama.com/riverfront/, email reservations.riverfront@furama.com or call 6739 6464
*Applicable to Singaporean, Permanent Residents and Employment Pass Holder only.


A Christmas Affair
Share the delightful moments with your beloved family and friends while relishing in the gastronomic Christmas buffet spread with savoury dishes including Salmon and Crabmeat Cylinder, Russian Baked Cod with Pickle Cucumber, King Oyster Mushroom Confit and more at The Square @ Furama. Keep little ones between 5-11 years old entertained with various activities available at the new children play area, Tykes @ The Square.

Price: Lunch & Dinner  $68++ (Adult) $20++ (Child)
Promotion Period* : 24 (Dinner), 25, 31 (Dinner) December 2015 and 1 January 2016 Credit Card Promotion  3-for-2 credit card promotion is available with major banks.
One child dines free with every 3-for-2 promotion confirmed.
Early Bird Deal Be the first 100 to make reservation for lunch or dinner during promotion period* before or on 30 November 2015 to enjoy 10% additional off total buffet bill.
Bring home the Chef’s Signature Chicken Pie with a minimum of six persons and maximum two chicken pies with reservations of 10 persons and above.

Reservation/Enquiries Visit furama.com/riverfront/Promotions, email square.riverfront@furama.com or call 6739 6468 

You can also celebrate Christmas with a twist with authentic Indonesian cuisine such as Beef Rending, Cumi Cumi Goreng and more delicacies specially prepared by the Balinese Chef at Kintamani Indonesian Restaurant. 

Price: Lunch $50++ (Adult) $16++ (Child)     Dinner $55++ (Adult) $20++ (Child)

Promotion Period*: 24 (Dinner), 25, 31 (Dinner) December 2015 and 1 January 2016.
Credit Card Promotion  3-for-2 credit card promotion is available with major banks.
One child dines free with every 3-for-2 promotion confirmed.

Early Bird Deal Be the first 50 to make reservation for lunch or dinner during promotion period* before or on 30 November 2015 to enjoy additional 10% off total buffet bill.  Enjoy a complimentary serving of Tahu Telor Surabaya with minimum 6 persons and maximum 2 Tahu Telor Surabaya with reservation of 10 persons and above.

Reservation/Enquiries Visit furama.com/riverfront/Promotions 
Email kintamani.riverfront@furama.com or call 6739 6463 

Countdown in Harmony
If you like to do countdown, join the Christmas (24 December) and New Year’s countdown (31 December) as the hotel usher in 2016. Enjoy 3-for-2 promotion on all housepour labels, spirits & wines by glass and draught beer.
Promotion Period: 24 & 31 December 2015, 5pm till midnight

Reservation/Enquiries Visit furama.com/riverfront/Promotions 
Email waterfall.riverfront@furama.com or call 6333 8898 ext 538 

Yuletide Treats




Tantalise your palate with the all-time crowd-favourite roasts and sweet delights. Christmas “must have” roasts include Traditional Roasted Christmas Turkey with chestnut stuffing, roasted potato and festive vegetables served with cranberry sauce, Boneless Honey Baked Christmas Ham with pineapple sauce and mustard, Roasted Striploin with traditional brown jus and mustard, Chicken Pie (serves 4-6 persons) and Pork Rillettes, a rustic pork pate best served with toasted French or Country bread. 

Pork Rillettes

Roasted Striploin


Traditional Roasted Christmas Turkey
Boneless Honey Baked Christmas Ham with pineapple sauce and mustard
Chicken Pie
Christmas is not complete without log cakes; savour the rich Chocolate Ganache Log Cake or
the newSea Salt Caramel Gula Melaka Pandan Chiffon Log Cake for a local twist on the traditional log cake.

The goodies are available for takeaway at 15% off. For larger celebrations or as gifts, the Christmas Festive Sets will brighten any home or office festive celebrations. 


Promotion Period 1 – 31 December 2015. Reservation/Enquiries, visit furama.com/riverfront/Promotions, email waterfall.riverfront@furama.com or call 6333 8898 ext 538 

Love,

Elaine
www.elaineheng.com

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twitter: Elaine Heng
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