Sonar Ilish – Hilsa Festival at Sonar Tori

August 27, 2018

A wise man once said “If Bengali cuisine were Wimbledon, the hilsa would always play on Centre Court.” And he could not have been more accurate in describing what this fish means to Bengalis and Bengali cuisine. Every year, during Hilsa season, the city is swamped with Hilsa festivals that take place in practically every hotel and restaurant serving Bengali food. This year, I could go to only one of them – Sonar Ilish at the newest Bengali restaurant in Salt Lake, Sonar Tori. The place was on my wishlist for a long time and this festival seemed the apt time to pay a visit.

Sonar Ilish Festival

Sonar Ilish Festival at Sonar Tori

The menu is the brainchild of Bhaskar Dasgupta, Executive Chef of Sonar Tori and the name Sonar Ilish celebrates the irresistible combination of Hilsa and Shorshe (Mustard paste), which is used in most of the dishes in the menu. The festival is on till 2nd September and what is special about it is the availability of a variety of both East Bengal and West Bengal Hilsa dishes. There is an option to choose from either of two platters or à la carte. The platters are priced at Rs 1100++ and the à la carte dishes range from Rs 200 – Rs 750++.

Sonar Ilish Festival

When it comes to Hilsa, it is very difficult to choose a favorite but there is one dish that I have loved forever and that is Doi Ilish or Hilsa with yoghurt. When I saw that in the menu, I could not resist myself and placed an order for it and what came in front of me was perfection. A soft, perfectly cooked piece of fish in a yoghurt sauce that balanced the flavour of the Hilsa without overpowering it.

I also wanted to try something unique hence went for Laupata Ilish O Aamtel Bhaate which is Hilsa wrapped in bottle gourd leaves and steamed with mango pickle. The dish is served with rice and the pickled oil and with the fish, makes for a deadly combination. If you don’t mind your fish to be slightly tangy, definitely order this one.

Laupata Ilish O Aamtel Bhaate

As with its regular menu, the Sonar Ilish festival aims at reliving the culinary pleasures of old Bengal. You have time till 2nd September to go and romance the fish that is nothing less than a cultural icon to people of two countries.

Sonar Tori Ilish Platter

Sonar Ilish Festival Details

: Sonar Ilish Festival menu

What: Sonar Ilish at Sonar Tori
Where: Fourth floor, Block B, City Centre, Salt Lake
Timings: 12.30pm to 3.30pm, 7pm to 11pm

Pocket pinch: Rs 1100-plus for platters and Rs 200 – Rs 750-plus for à la carte (one piece of Hilsa per dish)

P.S – I was invited by the management to the restaurant. The pics with the watermarks are courtesy Ambuja Neotia.

What I Bought From Boots in London

August 19, 2018

Hey pretties, how are you all doing? Remember this last haul post where I said that I will do another one pretty soon? Well, here it is and this one mostly focuses on the skin and hair products that I bought from Boots in London. As you know, Boots is a huge pharmacy chain in the UK and other countries and in the shops you get a pretty big variety of makeup, skincare, hair and other products from both drug store and high-end brands. There is a Boots store just next to where my office is in London and every day I used to go there after work to check out what new products have arrived. Want to see what I got? Read on..

London Boots Haul

My Boots Haul

Skin care products

Nivea MicelleAir Professional Makeup Removers for Face and Eyes – This range just launched when I was there last month and the description quite intrigued me. I’ve been a fan of Micellar water for a few years now and my favorite brands are Bioderma and Simple. I picked up these products because they are supposed to contain not only micellar water but also dry oil which should make removing waterproof makeup very easy. Also, they were available at a very good launch price.

Nivea MicelleAir Professional Makeup Removers for Face and Eyes

Boots Tea Tree & Witchhazel Cleansing and Toning Lotion – The in-house range of skincare available at Boots is very good and their Tea tree & Witchhazel range I read is quite popular. Tea Tree is antibacterial and Witchhazel calms down skin so this product is supposed to deep cleanse and tone the skin and also fight acne and blemishes. I have been using it for a few days now and the product really works to make the skin squeaky clean.

Boots Tea Tree & Witchhazel Cleansing and Toning Lotion

Boots Tea Tree & Witchhazel Jelly Moisturiser with Berry Extracts – I needed an oil-free moisturiser to battle the extreme heat and humidity in Kolkata and this one seemed ideal. The range with berry extracts is new and this gel moisturiser is supposed to also give long lasting shine control and help prevent the appearance of spots. I’ve started using it and I love the refreshing formula and the fact that it keeps my skin hydrated for a long time without making it oily and greasy.

Boots Tea Tree & Witchhazel Jelly Moisturiser with Berry Extracts

Hair Care Products

Aussie Deep Treatment 3 Minute Miracle – Everywhere in London I kept seeing ads of the Aussie Deep Treatment products and when I saw that they were available in Boots for a bundle pack of three for 10 pounds, I had to get my hands on them. I kept two products for myself giving away one – Moisture and Colour variant. These are basically deep conditioning hair masks that promise super smooth, silky and hydrated hair. I am using the Colour mask but I don’t really find it extraordinary. It is not bad and it does make my hair smooth but my ends still get dry and the mask does not seem to work on that very well.

Aussie Deep Treatment 3 Minute Miracle

Makeup Products

Rimmel Mascaras – Rimmel makes some of the best mascaras out there that are really affordable. I picked up two this time – Scandaleyes Wow Wings, a new launch and Volume Colourist with a lash tint colouring formula. Yet to use either of them and will let you know my feedback once I do.

Rimmel Mascaras

Rimmel InstaFix & Go Primer & Setting Spray – I needed a setting spray and I did not want to spend a lot of money on one so got this Rimmel product which is supposed to be both a primer and a setting spray. Will share my review on it soon.

Rimmel InstaFix & Go Primer & Setting Spray

So that was my small Boots haul. Have you tried any of the products that I bought? If yes, do let me know your experience in the comments below.

Till next time, Ciao.

Secret Temptation Desire Body Spray – Own Your Temptation

August 2, 2018

Secret Temptation Desire

I’m every woman, it’s all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every one from A to Z…..

I can cast a spell, of secrets you can tell
Mix a special brew, put fire inside of you
Anytime you feel danger or fear
Then instantly I will appear ’cause

I’m every woman, it’s all in me..

Yes, I am every woman. I am proud of my femininity. Proud of my indomitable spirit. Proud of rising liking a phoenix every time I am pushed down. Proud of dreaming big. Proud of my desires. Proud of owning my temptation.

A few days back there was an event in Kolkata that saw the launch of a new brand identity of Secret Temptation from the house of McNROE with the tagline “Own Your Temptation“. The tagline was chosen because the brand wants to encourage and empower people to pursue their temptations. To not be intimated and work towards achieving their dreams till it becomes part of their identity.

Secret Temptation Desire Body Spray

I like the tagline. More so as a woman because owning our temptation is not something we are encouraged to do in our society. Women have to be submissive. Women have to be satisfied with very little. Women cannot pursue their goals aggressively but women have to support their men while they do that. Women have to be selfless. Women cannot have desires. Women have to be this. Women have to be that etc etc. These absurd archaic stereotypes need to be demolished. Women can be whoever they want to be. And it is time the world wakes up to women chasing their desires, their temptations.

On a personal note, I have always believed in doing exactly what I wanted and working hard for it. From proving my worth in a financial organisation with an arts background to sustaining a blog for the last six years without having any writing or blogging experience whatsoever. For me, owning my temptation means never having any regrets because at one point everything that I’d do would be exactly what I’d wanted 🙂

Secret Temptation Desire Body Spray

Secret Temptation Desire

Desire, the new fragrance from Secret Temptation is created for the woman who is confident, passionate and is not afraid of expressing her desire to achieve what she wants. A new entry into Secret Temptation’s existing range of perfumed body sprays, Desire is an intoxicating fragrance of Turkish roses, germanium and musk. The fragrance is feminine, elegant, sensual and super-wearable.

Desire is priced at Rs 210/– for 150 ml.

PR Sample

Lakme Absolute Matte Melt Liquid Lip Color Review & Swatches

July 28, 2018

Matte liquid lipsticks are my jam and you guys must be knowing how much I love them. It is tough to list my favourites because there are quite a few of them but in Indian brands, I really like the Chambor Extreme Wear Transferproof Liquid Lipstick and the Lakme 9 to 5 Weightless Matte Mousse Lip & Cheek Color. I like these products because of quite a few reasons – they don’t make the lips super dry, they are very well pigmented and they stay on for a very long time. Does the new Lakme Absolute Matte Melt Liquid Lip Color (Rs 750) range match up to these favourites? Read on to find out.

Lakme Absolute Matte Melt Liquid Lip Color

Lakme Absolute Matte Melt Liquid Lip Color Review

The new Lakme Absolute Matte Melt Liquid Lip Colors are available in eight shades and I have four of them, sent by the brand. The formula is more or less same as the Lakme 9 to 5 Weightless Matte Mousse Lip & Cheek Colors but the Matte Melts are thinner and slightly lighter in texture.

Lakme Absolute Matte Melt Liquid Lip Colors

From the 4 shades that I have tried, I’ve seen that the pigmentation is varied and that is the only issue I have with the formula. Mild Mauve and Crazy Tangerine does not go opaque in even 2-3 swipes while the darkest shade, Wine n Dine goes opaque in just one swipe. For Vintage Pink, couple of layers are good enough to get even, opaque coverage. I hope Lakme improves the pigmentation in the range soon enough.

Lakme Absolute Matte Melt Liquid Lip Colors

The formula feels very comfortable on the lips and the best thing is that the lipsticks don’t dry out the lips. They last for around 5-6 hours depending on how much you eat and drink in between. Overall, I would say a pretty good product from Lakme and they have come out with some lovely shades in the range. Mild Mauve and Vintage Pink are great for everyday wear, Crazy Tangerine is for the orange lipstick lovers and Wine n Dine is the perfect evening and autumn/winter lipstick. Take a look at the swatches.

Lakme Absolute Matte Melt Liquid Lip Color Swatches

Have you tried anything from the new Lakme Absolute Matte Melt Liquid Lip Color range? Which is your favourite shade?

PR Samples

My Kiko Milano Makeup Haul + Swatches

July 27, 2018

I’ve not done a haul post in a really long time so this is basically one. Earlier this month when I was in London, Kiko Milano was having a fabulous sale where they were giving two products free with two products on practically everything in the store. It was an opportunity I definitely did not want to miss so I ended up buying some stuff. If you are interested to see what I got, read on.

Kiko Milano Makeup Haul

Kiko Milano Haul

Kiko Milano Water Eye Shadow 218 Grapefruit Pink

Kiko makes some incredible eye makeup and I absolutely love their Water Eye Shadow range. These can be used both Wet and Dry and they have very good pigmentation and finish. It also helps that the shadows look gorgeous. They come in a sleek, black square compact and when you open, the eye shadow looks so pretty with its swirly wave effect.

Kiko Milano Water Eye Shadow 218

The color I went for is Grapefruit Pink (218), a gorgeous peachy pink with golden frosted sheen. It is kinda similar to MAC’s Expensive Pink eye shadow. The colour is excellent as an eye shadow for sure but it is also very pretty as a highlighter and that is primarily the reason why I bought it. You can also check no 219 Flamingo Pink which is similar but has more pink in it. Both these shades are really worth buying.

Kiko Milano Water Eye Shadow 218 Swatch

Kiko Milano Long Lasting Stick Eye Shadows – 20, 37, 11

My introduction to Kiko Milano was through their range of Long Lastick Stick Eye Shadows. These are very creamy, easy to wear, glide on smoothly with excellent pigment deposit and stay on for nearly the entire day without creasing or fading. I use these sticks both as eye shadow and eye pencil and absolutely love them. This time I picked up three shades – Black (20), Burgundy (37) and Teal (11).

Kiko Milano Long Lasting Eye Shadows

Kiko Milano Long Lasting Eye Shadow Swatches

Kiko Milano Smart Colour Blush 05 Coral

I picked up the shade Coral because the colour usually looks very good on medium to dark skin tones. It has a matte finish and while I have only swatched it till now, I am very impressed by the texture and pigmentation. It feels super smooth and colour payoff looks great.

Kiko Milano Smart Colour Blush 05

Kiko Milano Smart Color Blush 05 Swatch

Kiko Milano Full Coverage Concealer 06 Caramel

I was in need of a full coverage concealer, I saw this one on sale, I tried it in the store, liked the result so bought it. It is a cream concealer but is not greasy at all. I’ve not used it yet so can’t say how good or bad it is. Will share my thoughts later.

Kiko Milano Skin Tone Concealer 07 Caramel

This is supposed to be a “Fluid smoothing concealer with natural finish“. It gives medium coverage and is said to be perfect for everyday wear. I picked this up because I needed an everyday use concealer and also because I liked the description. In this range, there are two corrective shades as well -green and peach, suitable for all complexions. Will share my thoughts on this once I start using it.

Kiko Milano Radiant Fusion Baked Powder 06 Cocoa

The MUA in the store used this powder on me and I loved the finish. It gives a subtle glow to the skin but does not make it look too glittery or oily/greasy. It feels really silky and ultra-fine and goes on smoothly. The powder gives medium coverage but makes the skin look really nice.

Kiko Milano Concealer & Powder Swatches

Kiko Milano Haul

That was my Kiko Milano haul. One more haul post is coming up where I’ll show mostly skin and hair products that I bought from Boots so stay tuned for it.

Have you tried Kiko products? What are your favourites? I’d love to know.