Vol. 3 No. 2 I NOVEMber 29 - December 4, 2015
A SHORT WALK IN YANGON the GEOGRAPHY OF A CHANGING CITY
SERVING UP ‘SURPRISES’ AKIRA WATAnabe’s ‘OMAKASE’
BYTE-SIZED REVIEWS HIGH-END PHONES
THE IMAM FAINTED AN UNUSUAL EGGPLANT RECIPE
Editor's note Beautiful winking wonder For this month’s travel cover story, we return to Myanmar, a nation that our correspondent Duncan Graham first covered for JPlus in 2014. This time around, another one of our most talented writers, Sondang Grace Sirait, gives us her take on Yangon. A recent transplant to the capital, Sondang pitched to me a story about exploring Yangon – and I immediately asked her to write two more articles: “Yangon Confidential”, on what to do (and what not to do) in the city, and an interview with a local food blogger and two cookbook authors. I hope you enjoy them. Rudyard Kipling spent a few scant few hours in Myanmar, mostly in a ship docked near Yangon. It was a brief time, but enough for the famed poet to pen a letter about Shwedagon
Temple, an image of which graces our cover. The letter also provided the title of this editor’s note. While more local voices are finding their way into print, most of the work about Myanmar in English is written by outsiders. Of those books, a personal favorite is a tome I read in graduate school titled Colonial Policy and Practice: A Comparative Study of Burma and Netherlands India written by J.S. Furnivall. U On Pe acknowledged the importance of Furnivall’s (surprisingly readable) writings in a New Yorker essay on literature in Myanmar. Another standout is Guy Delisle’s charming graphic novel Burma Chronicles, which explores the time the Québécois spent raising his son in Yangon while his wife worked as a physician for Médecins Sans Frontières in Myanmar.
Check List
There’s also the remarkable Finding George Orwell in Burma, by Emma Larkin, in which she amusingly notes that Orwell actually wrote three novels about Myanmar: Burmese Days – as well as Animal Farm and 1984. Returning to JPlus, our next travel issue – slated for Dec. 27, pending our holiday printing schedule – will explore Oaxaca in southern Mexico. If you have questions for our planned “Oaxaca Confidential” article – or any type of travel questions, just tag us at #takemeawayJPlus on social media and we’ll include them in the next issue. Enjoy the weekend! Chris Razukas jplus@thejakartapost.com
mark my words
God, mom and child AND A CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM WORDS Ika “Keka” Krismantari
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More than ‘mohinga’
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Dining out Akira Watanabe's surprise
Myanmar on the Menu
JPlus Team Editor Christian Razukas Art Director Budhi Hartono Graphic Designer Hengky Wijaya Marketing & Advertising Sales & Marketing Director Ady P. Pamungkas
ady.pamungkas@thejakartapost.com
A recent study said – surprisingly – that kids from religious families were meaner than their peers from secular households. For some, especially devout parents, the study, which surveyed over 1,200 children in five countries, challenged the way they were raising their kids. For a secular mom like me, I admit that the study gave me a sense of relief, despite the controversy – especially since my parenting style doesn’t really conform to any specific religious teaching. I never really introduced the concept of God to my four-year-old daughter Senyum Pagi, and, unfortunately, her parents are the only source of information for her to comprehend the outside world because she has not yet gone to school. Thus, Pagi’s understanding of God is limited only to an image of Jesus – “a good bearded guy, who likes to pray” following our rare trips to the church. I am not really religious person. Well, I used to be, if you think that a routine weekly visit to the church and daily Bible reading makes you a devout Christian. But as I grew older, I questioned those routines. If God is so omnipotent and He is everywhere. I don’t need to go the church every week to meet the Almighty. I also believe that being a good person doesn’t always involve religions and rituals. Still, as a former church activist (at some point in my life) I cannot really deny that
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urge to be close with the Divine Creator. Therefore, I still go to church sometimes. Recently, I’ve gone back to my routine of reading the Bible and praying in the morning, after years of hiatus – if, of course, I don’t forget or am not lazy. Thus, you can call me a pragmatic believer. I will go to God when I need Him. Sounds hypocritical? Yeah, I know, but that is my religious life at the moment. My wishy-washy relationship with God may have been the reason behind my secular parenting approach. As a lost soul, I don’t feel I am adequate enough to teach her about religion. For example, how can I tell Pagi to pray if I am not doing it myself? Or how can I tell her to be religious when skeptical me doubts the need of religion in parenting, knowing the fact that religion can also be misused to conduct violence? I also want Pagi to choose her own beliefs, something that we think is everyone’s personal right. By giving her her rights, we want to avoid family conflict due to religious disagreements between parents and children, a case that frequently happens in Indonesia. This explains why we have not baptized Pagi, because we want her to decide her own beliefs, be they Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist or whatever. Despite an absence of religious teachings in our family, Pagi turned out to be a good kid. I can proudly say that she is a helpful,
kind and loving child and my family and close friends seem to also acknowledge this. In addition, Pagi, surprisingly has started her religious search very early. I remember one day, when she was barely two. Pagi put all her dolls next to her and arranged a big feast. Suddenly, she put her hands together, muttering a prayer. I broke into tears because I didn’t remember instructing her about that ritual. Once, I did tell her to say grace before enjoying her meal in the way that I know – the Christian way. Little did I know that she would take it so seriously. So it was quite a shock, as well as a slap-in the-face moment for me. This little girl is also my weekly reminder to go church. She “forces” me to attend Sunday mass, even though it is only with her friends in Sunday school. I know that Pagi still has a long journey in her pursuit of God, but I really wish I can partake in the process. During her search, I don’t want to be the one who knows more. I wish that we could be partners to help each other. Yet, learning from what she has done above, Pagi is actually my spiritual mentor, who keeps her clueless secular, pragmatic believing mom on the right track with her constant reminder “Pray first, Keka!” before we eat at the dining table. Mark My Words shifts focus between food, fashion, parenting and travel each week.
Marketing Executive Deasy Rasjid
deasy@thejakartapost.com
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ON THE COVER A golden sun sets near the Shwedagon Pagoda as hyperfocal camera lens flare circles the massive stupa Photo Stephen Shaver (AFP)
talk of the town Mulia grabs Conde Nast honor
The Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place, South Jakarta
Hotel Mulia Senayan, South Jakarta
ha+ agency
MILLIKEN-VIVERE MARK PARTNERSHIP
Global floor covering manufacturer Milliken RECENTLY launched its partnership with PT. Vivere Multi Kreasi, part of VIVERE Group, with a cocktail soiree at Level 8, The Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place, in South Jakarta, on Nov. 26. This partnership makes Vivere the exclusive distributor of Milliken floor coverings in Indonesia. With speakers from both companies, the event saw the attendance of respected guests from various walks of life. The celebration was made merrier with entertainment and art performances by Denny Darko, violin by Kamila and music by DJ Shawn Muljadi.
Galeries Lafayette’s Golden Night Pacific Place, SCBD
The readers of Condé Nast Traveler USA recently voted the Hotel Mulia Senayan, Jakarta, as one of the best hotels in Southeast Asia. The locally owned five-star luxury hotel, which also recently held the soft launch of bleu8, a poolside restaurant and bar, was the only property in Indonesia to break into the prestigious list. Meanwhile its sister property, the The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas in Nusa Dua, Bali, was named one of the top 25 resorts in Asia by the same readers' survey for a second consecutive year.
GRAND HYATT CELEBRATES ONFIVE REDESIGN Grand Hyatt Jakarta, Central Jakarta
As part of its month-long “Comic Christmas” celebration, Galeries Lafayette at Pacific Place collaborated with the acclaimed local fashion designer Tex Saverio to hold its Golden Night celebration, on Nov. 26. The evening, a fête for the curated department store’s loyal customers, featured a host of entertainment and events, including an adorable Moms-and-Kids Fashion Show. Meanwhile, the crowd was wowed by performances from the acclaimed singer Joshua Ledet, from the 11th season of American Idol, as well as from the venerable local crooner Andre Hehanussa.
Since it opened in 2008, the ONFIVE at Grand Hyatt Jakarta has become one of the most sought-after places in Jakarta for high-level business meetings and events. The hotel recently finished refurbishing this popular multifunctional event facility and celebrated the project’s completion with a housewarming party at the venue itself on Nov. 19. The facility, now called The Residence ONFIVE, now features four modern meeting rooms with natural daylight, a communal area with a show kitchen, a living room, two multipurpose cabanas and four terraces with beautiful and panoramic views of Jakarta, especially at sunset.
JPlus November 29, 2015
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good LIVING
Is This the First Jaeger-LeCoultre? An unassuming watch could be a missing piece of horological history.
Photos via bloomberg
Jaeger-LeCoultre is a key member of the pantheon of modern watchmakers, producing a healthy mix of easy to wear pieces, high complications, and gem-set watches, almost entirely in-house. This tiny perpetual calendar may be the first watch it ever made. Antoine LeCoultre opened his eponymous watch manufacture in 1833 in the Swiss village of Le Sentier, itself founded by a member of the LeCoultre family in the 15th century. French watchmaker Edmond Jaeger didn’t enter the picture until the turn of the 20th century, when he began licensing his designs for ultra-thin
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movements and for the legendary Atmos clock to LeCoultre. Eventually it made sense for the two to join forces, and Jaeger-LeCoultre was born in 1937. In the company’s official history, a footnote mentions a unique watch made around 1937 to celebrate the merger. All we know for sure is that it was a piece-unique rectangular calendar watch. When the perpetual calendar watch now being offered showed up at the Fellows auction house in London, the specialist popped open the caseback and realized that it was probably the historic watch. First things first: There is no way to prove that this is the watch, unless Jaeger-LeCoultre officially confirms it. The company will have kept the original watch’s movement and case numbers in its archive, along with notes on the watch’s appearance and features. While the brand has not commented on this watch’s history,
it has confirmed that it is genuinely unique and in proper order. The watch comes with an official certificate (an “archive extract” in watch parlance) from JaegerLeCoultre. The watch itself is small, solid gold. It has a rectangular shape with an arched crystal over the top. Packed onto the dial are day-of-the-week, date, and month indicators, in addition to the large seconds dial with the moon phase tucked in the middle. No brand name is marked; only the words “perpetual calendar” curve across the top. On removing the caseback, you see the lozenge-shaped movement (based on the movement in the original Reverso) engraved with the bold Jaeger-LeCoultre signature. Then comes the strange complication name on the dial – that it’s in English indicates that this was probably for the UK or US markets – and the name of the brand hidden on the movement. Whether or not this is the merger watch, it’s a special watch. You’re probably wondering at this point why Jaeger-LeCoultre confirms that this is watch is real and unique but won’t confirm or deny that it’s the special 1937 piece. The answer is simple: The company probably wants this important piece of Jaeger-LeCoultre history. If it hopes to acquire the watch for the company museum, it would be a bad idea to tell the world of its value before the bidding is resolved. Whatever the truth, I’d wager we’ll find out after the hammer falls. +Bloomberg
tech toys
LG G4 Dual
High-end phone
Photos: via LG
for emerging markets
As usual, LG chose April to launch its latest flagship phone, the LG G4. But to keep things interesting, LG came out with different versions for different markets. As prices drop and the phone becomes more affordable, let’s take a closer look at the LGH818P variant available here. Look and feel While a basic version is available in shiny gold, ceramic white or metallic grey;two premium (read pricier) versions come in leather black and leather brown. Yet the differences still are in the back cover, since the front is all black, no matter which phone you choose. The good news is that you can buy an extra back cover or the flip-cover window in case you want to change styles. While the LG G4 features a slim design – without physical buttons on the front or sides – the phone has a back button that doubles as a power switch and volume rocker. It’s easily accessible, but needs some adjusting for first-time users.
LG's latest flagship smartphone comes in different versions aimed at advanced and emerging markets. But the differences are almost nonexistent. WORDS Andry Togarma Hermawan
Performance Launching the G4 in April, LG decided not to use the latest and fastest processor available. Instead, the G4 is equipped with a hexa-core processor (dual-core 1.82 GHz Cortex-A57 + quad-core 1.44 Cortex-A53), which offers a balance between performance and efficiency. The heterogeneous multi-processing (HMP) technique used promises better performance, with the super-fast Cortex-A57 processor active only when needed. While doing ‘easier’ tasks, the slightlyslower-but-energy-efficient Cortex-A53 comes into play. Both do a great job in maintaining smooth performance, even with the QHD display that LG G4 is using. Pictures and Videos LG seemed intent on improvement in this area when designing the G4. The 16MP snapper on the back is fast, thanks to laser auto focus and an f1.8 lens. The camera is feature-rich too, suited for daily needs and more, since it has manual mode that can push
the ISO from 50 to 2700. Shutter speed is also manually accessible, ranging from 30 seconds to 1/6000 second to capture high-speed movement. And if you are thinking on doing some serious editing later, you can opt to save in RAW format, which gives you more freedom in manipulating images. As for video, the phone can shoot 30 fps video at up to UHD (2160p) resolution. Or, if you’re creative, you can try out the “slo-mo” feature which record in 720p at 120 fps and then play back at regular speed (30 fps). Extras One thing that LG kept from the phone’s last iteration is its IR (Infrared) Blaster. Replacing your remote at home, the IR Blaster is getting smarter, since it can learn from your existing remotes for televisions, audio systems, air conditioners, etc… – even if a specific make is not make is not on the phone’s out-of-the-box compatible list. Other features, like Dual Windows, seem like a novelty, since they’re not compatible with every app.
On audio, the speaker quality is great, but not impressive. Luckily, you still get a set of earphones, which helps. The lack of a fingerprint reader is compensated for by LG’s own knock-on screen code, something that most competitors have yet to catch on to. Battery life could’ve been better, although things might improve after an expected firmware upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow – or, thankfully, these days – you can still easily buy additional batteries for the G4 and swap them on the go. One notable feature for the version available locally is the addition of another SIM card slot for Indonesia. While the phone loses the ability to use Qi Wireless Charging, that’s nothing to be missed. Verdict For its price – around Rp 7 million, down from Rp 8.5 million at launch – the phone offers a superb camera and great daily performance, thanks to feature-rich capabilities.
TECH SPECS
PRICE: Rp 7 milllion PROCESSOR: Dual-core 1.8 GHz Cortex A57 & Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex A53 GRAPHICS: Adreno 418 RAM: 3GB INTERNAL STORAGE: 32GB (expandable with microSD) NETWORKING: 4G LTE (Dual-SIM) SCREEN SIZE: 5.5 inches (1,440 x 2,560 pixels) CAMERA: 16MP + Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS); 8MP (front) CONNECTIVITY: micro-USB, microSD slot, IR-blaster, Wi-Fi Dual Band + DLNA, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1, FM Radio, audio jack BATTERY: 3,000mAh
Byte-sized Review Lenovo Indonesia has launched its A6010, its latest affordable 4G-capable smartphone. Priced at Rp 2,099,000, the phone was made available for Rp 1,999,000 during a flash sale on Nov. 16. The 5-inch phone is equipped with a quad-core 1.2 GHz 64bit-processor and 2GB of RAM that are adequate for daily tasks and some HD gaming. Under the hood, internal storage of 16GB can be expanded with a microSD card. The A6010 also has 13MP camera on the back and 5MP version on the front for camera and video recording. Equipped with Android 5.1. Lollipop out of the box, the phone gives buyers performance at a discount.
Photos via bloomberg
Lenovo A6010 exclusive on Lazada
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The magnificent top of the dome of Shwedagon Pagoda
A female nun taking shelter from the heat at one of the smaller pagodas in the Shwedagon complex.
Falling in Love mysterious and captivating yangon
Photos by Sondang grace sirait, AFP
Words Sondang Grace Sirait
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Three young women pause for a selfie while making a pilgrimage to the revered Shwedagon Pagoda.
I
t took me three visits to fall in love with Myanmar, but our love affair is now stronger than ever. There’s something mysteriously captivating about the warmth of its people, many still clad in longyi (sarong-like tubes) and dabbed with Thanaka (yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark), teeth and gums red from years of chewing betel leaves. For many, the country formerly known as Burma may be a love-it-or-hate-it destination. But personally, it is an experience that has drawn me back, time and again. The scene is largely reminiscent of Indonesia in the early 1980s at the dawn of industrialization and rapid growth. However, a free-spirited push for political freedom, youth activism and volunteerism in Myanmar is a lot closer to our fiery democratic reforms of 1998. As any development expert will tell you, this former junta-ruled country is opening up and growing almost at an unrivaled pace. Along with that, there’s the issue of
Long, winding alley at one of the busiest areas in Yangon.
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income gap. In Yangon, the country’s commercial capital, the haves roll in their brand-new European luxury cars, brandishing high-end watches and sipping imported Italian coffee. Meanwhile, those in the lower bracket remain in notorious urban slums or lowcost housing. As the gateway to Myanmar, Yangon has become an eclectic mixture of foreign development workers and investors, as well local politicians and businessmen eyeing opportunities. Flights into and out of Yangon from within Southeast Asia, usually Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, are almost always fully booked, carrying suit-wearing types, laid-back NGO workers and mesmerized tourists. Regional airlines flourish, with an eye on the local market. It seems everyone desires to have a piece of action. Late last year, Indonesian state lender BNI opened its first-ever representative office in Myanmar, adding to the long list of major Indonesian businesses already
Yangon ABCs Apps Yangon Buses features all the bus lines, stops and places directory in a user-friendly interface, while Yangon Trains provides up-to-date information on the train network. Both are the works of a Singapore-based Myanmarian web developer and designed to help users navigate through Yangon’s not-sofamous public transportation. barS With a burgeoning drinks and dining scene, there seems to be a new place opening up every month, catering to the expat crowd. Located in a renovated historic building downtown, Japanese cocktail lounge Gekko Bar specializes in charcoal yakitori. Still in the area is the Western-style Union Bar & Grill,
located at the ground floor of the Red Cross building, on the historic Strand Road. Cool Simply have a drink or enjoy afternoon tea in full style, either British or Burmese, at the historic Strand Hotel. Soak in the elegance of the Victorian era while enjoying a scone or a classic Myanmar snack. +Sondang Grace Sirait
A Myanmar boy dressed in longyi and dabbed in thanaka waits for his dad to finish his prayer at a pagoda in Bago.
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Traditional seafood salad from Rakhine state in the Western coast of Myanmar.
investing there, from pharmaceuticals to consumable goods. Currently, Indonesia stands as the 14th largest foreign investor in Myanmar. Overall, foreign direct investment has consistently and rapidly grown, up to a record high of US$8 billion last year. Indeed, here in this land of thousand pagodas, there’s simply something for everyone. It’s as easy to land a plate of French cuisine, crafted by a native French chef, as it is to devour a bowl of mohingar (rice noodle and fish soup) at a local teashop. Accommodation too ranges from five-star international chain hotels to guesthouses. A little imagination is all you need to make the most of your stay. Here, sitting at a teahouse seems to be a
Paraphernelia bearing the face and party logo of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi can be found all over the city.
national pastime. From roadside stands to more exquisite teahouses, the options are endless. Chatting up a local while sipping Burmese milk tea has proven to be an effective way of looking into the culture. But ask any taxi driver of the number one place to go, without a doubt they’ll point to the Shwedagon Pagoda, a massive 2,500-year-old Buddhist place of worship decked in gold and gems. If you’re feeling adventurous enough, take a train up to the ancient city of Bagan, like Anthony Bourdain did, and enjoy the countryside. But if it’s the hustle and bustle of an emerging commercial city that entices you more, taking a long walk in Yangon’s Chinatown area or along the historic Strand Road will give you sights and sounds like no other place in the world.
Colorful traditional fabrics on sale at Bogyoke Aung San Market.
American chain restaurant KFC opened earlier this year and has been a major hit among locals.
Beauty is more than skin deep Buy 2 Elemis Products to beautify and revitalise your skin and get a free 60 minutes Balinese Massage. To book: call (62) 361 775 216 or email spa@mantrasakala.com Valid until February 2016 Jl. Pratama 95, Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua Peninsula, Bali 80363, Indonesia www.mantrasakala.com
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AFP
Yangon Confidential
Have questions about what lies over the horizon? We’ve got some answers, advice and expertise. Send your travel questions to us at jplus@thejakartapost.com or connect with us on Twitter (@JPlusSunday) or Facebook (sundayjplus). Tag your questions #takemeawayJPlus. Here’s our tips for Yangon – and next up will be Oxaca, Mexico in December. Words Sondang Grace Sirait
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huongviettravel.com What's the local favorite? That would be mohinga, the unofficial national dish all Myanmar's people are proud of. It looks somewhat similar to Indonesian soto, with rice noodles, broth and all. But unlike soto, mohinga is fish-based and sprinkled with deep fried fritters. Locals eat it for breakfast, but it’s really easy to find this Burmese comfort food at any time of day.
What’s the dining scene like? Eclectic and surprisingly cosmopolitan. Italian, Japanese, Thai, Korean, French are available – you name it. Just this year, two international pizza chains opened their first restaurants in Yangon, joining the ranks of Western fast-food franchises recently popping up throughout the city.
24 hours in Yangon irawaddy.org
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Go on a guided walking tour Freeyangonwalks.com hooks you up with fellow explorers and knowledgeable guides to learn more about the history, architecture and contemporary issues of Myanmar. No reservations needed. Simply show up at a predestined location in downtown Yangon and look for the guide wearing or holding a sign.
myanmars.net
What’s Yangon's hidden charm? Culture aside, I’d say it’s the architecture of its downtown area, which is home to the highest number of colonial period buildings in Southeast Asia. Some writers call Yangon a decaying beauty, with which I wholeheartedly agree, having seen the treasures of colonial era buildings that are both majestic yet crumbling at the same time. The most well-preserved ones are the General Post Office Building, Strand Hotel, the Custom House, City Hall Building, former Inland Water Transport Building, the former High Court, the Port Authority and the former Secretariat Building. What’s your favorite place? My favorite place to hang out is Yangon Bakehouse, a little café run as a social enterprise that employs and trains local underprivileged women. Their cinnamon rolls are the best I’ve had and their coffee is equally good. It also makes you feel good that the few cents you spend there go the extra mile in empowering those women. paksecafe.com
Courtesy: mmbiztoday.com
Where to shop? Get lost in time perusing antiques at Bogyoke Aung San market. Expect anything from the usual Buddha-oriented statues and figurines to old cameras, decorative items or jewelry.
Courtesy: flick
Courtesy: flickr.com
What’s the food like? Myanmar's food may not be as famous as the cuisines of its neighbors of India, China or Thailand, but local food has carved out a special niche. It is a mélange of Indian, Chinese and Thaiinfluences, although each of the many ethnicities in the country also possess distinctive tastes, when it comes to food. The Shans, for example, are well known for their noodles and the Rakhines for their seafood. That said, it’s very common to find curries, biryanis, samosas, naans and parathas. Thaiinspired tom yum and papaya salads are also popular, though in a slightly milder version.
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What's a must-do? Definitely Shwedagon Pagoda, whose majestic presence defines and dominates Yangon’s skyline. Open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Shwedagon is always packed with visitors and pilgrims alike. Legend has it that eight hairs of Siddhartha Gautama are enshrined here, lending an even more sacred status to an important religious site. Come nighttime, the pagoda is illuminated with multicolored neon lights and its dome, made from gold and topped with thousands of diamonds, rubies, topaz and sapphires, sparkles. It’s simply breathtaking. How to get around? Hail a cab off the street and negotiate a price, which could range from 2,000 to 3,000 kyats (50 US cents to $2.50) for a ride around the downtown area. But be warned: Yangon's red license-plate taxis are notorious. It’s best to book black licenseplate rental cars through your accommodations, or order in Courtesy: mmbiztoday.com advance from one of the few new taxi companies in town, such as Hello Cabs or Bee Taxi. Brace yourself for some seriously bad traffic.
SECRETS
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How to blend in? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Yangon, have a cuppa. Indeed, in this city where teahouses are at every corner, life evolves around their tiny tables and chairs, the endless conversations and banters. In the downtown area, one can’t go wrong with the Rangoon Tea House, where the waiters would gladly serve and enlighten you on the perfect combination of black tea, condensed milk and steamed milk.
Run at Kandawgyi Lake Park You can easily do a 10k at this huge manmade lake located near Shwedagon Pagoda. But more than that, the lake is pretty, serene and home to some really good and reasonably priced restaurants. The best time to go for a run here would be either early morning or before the sunset.
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myanmar on the menu MORE THAN JUST MOUTHWATERING mohinga WORDS Sondang Grace Sirait
Y
es, mohinga may be Myanmar's national dish, but there’s more than just the mouth-watering ricenoodle-and-fish-broth concoction that makes Myanmar's people proud when it comes to their
What sets Myanmar's food apart from its neighbors? We adore Burmese cuisine’s nuanced subtlety. Unlike neighboring spicy India, or hot and fiery Thai, Myanmar cooking is actually quite mild. Most flavor is derived from gently cooking onions, garlic and ginger, then using the resultant imbued oil to flavor dishes, from salads to frying meat. There is scant curry powder. The chili is closer to paprika. We’re amazed when we teach recipes at cooking classes overseas, especially the US and Australia, and everyone
salad, which is in many ways an anomaly, as most Myanmar dishes are rather delicate. As for Robert, I can’t get enough of the myriad vegetables served in salads, from cauliflower to green beans to tomatoes, bound variously with ground peanuts or chick-pea/ besan flour, depending on the local crop of the nearby region. Myanmar potatoes are tops in the region, so we love these any style, and they grow tiny chat or cocktails spuds which make for the most ambrosial curry. comments “We love these flavors, they aren’t demanding.” It is comfort food with flavor.
How would you describe the flavors of Myanmar? Allium imbued. Cooks contend that leaving onion and garlic in a dish causes those flavors to dominate. So instead, they add fried garlic and onion at the end of cooking, often as a garnish, then stir in at the table or immediately before serving.
I think versatility. Unlike many other Asian cuisines, recipes will often have surprisingly few ingredients, but we can turn those ingredients into something delightful.
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In contrast, Western cooks love a stew rich in onion, often sitting overnight for those flavors to get even stronger. It reminds me a bit of French cooking when, in the old days at Parisian cooking schools, I was taught to use only a knife point of curry to make a sauce à l’Indienne, or Indian style.
What's Burmese cuisine best known for? Probably ngapi (shrimp paste)! It’s said to run in our veins.
Is there any surprising element in Burmese cuisine? Texture is really important to us. A noodle dish might have soft but toothsome
What’s the one dish that never goes wrong?
Morrison adores tart and sour lemon
We always steer our tour groups to mohinga, a deliciously rich fish-andnoodle chowder (for want of a better name) garnished with fried fritters, hard-boiled egg and fresh coriander/cilantro. Then there is semolina cake, or shwe kyi sa-nwin ma kin, which is so deliciously sweet and enriched with white raisins or sultanas.
noodles, crunchy sour pickles, bean sprouts that snap to the bite, and rich, tender chunks of chicken.
Friendships are made and cemented over lahpet. It’s served to visitors, at the end of meals, and even at weddings.
What are some popular choices among locals?
What’s your own favorite dish?
What are your personal favorites?
Noodles are generally popular when eating out, like our national dish of mohinga. We’re also fond of fritters made of, for example, gourds, Shan tofu, or prawns, and we love pancakes, from thin crepes called mohnt pyit thalet, to fat ones called bein mohnt made of sticky rice. Salads are also popular. We turn anything into a salad, even flowers and samosas! Talking of samosas, Indian food is big. We love naan (with butter and sugar!), aloo puri, paratha.
MiMi Aye
What makes local cuisine stand out from its neighbors?
Cookbook Award-winning The Burma Cookbook: Recipes from the Land of a Million Pagodas, while London-based MiMi Aye is the author of NOODLE! 100 Great Recipes, as well as the blogger behind meemalee.com.
photos carmack & polinghorne, MiMi Aye
Robert Carmack and Morrison Polkinghorne
delicacies. JPlus spoke to household names and book authors on the subject of Myanmar's cuisine, on what makes food here special. Robert Carmack and Morrison Polkinghorne are the authors of the Gourmand World
Where's Yangon's best street food? Anawratha Road is thronging with street vendors from dawn till dusk. You can take your pick.
What’s a must-try, to-die-for dish? If you come to Burma, you have to try lahpet. It’s probably the best national delicacy, pickled tea, served with crunchy, savory garnishes or mixed into a salad.
Mandalay Meeshay. It’s a noodle dish that bursts with texture and salty, sour, spicy, sweet flavours. It’s the first dish my mother let me help her cook as a child and the first dish I learnt to make properly because I was desperate to recreate it when I went to university!
in the Spirit
The King via reuters
ofWines In Hungary’s Tokaji, wine by Louis XV of France gets ready for a makeover. Words Balazs Koranyi/Reuters
D
ubbed the "king of wines, the wine of kings" by Louis XV of France, Hungary's Tokaji wine is undergoing a makeover as the region hopes to regain fame lost in decades of mismanagement. Known for its exquisite sweet tipple, the eastern Hungarian wine region is clamping down on poor quality produce and establishing new standards as it tries to lure back high-end customers to arguably the best dessert wine in the world. But Tokaji has a lot more to offer than wine, with medieval castles, refurbished chateaux, fine dining and nature trails. WINE Start any visit in Tokaji, a sleepy town at the foot of the Zemplen hills on the Tisza River, an unusually prosperous area in what is otherwise a desperately poor part of Eastern Europe. In the refurbished town center is the family cellar Himesudvar. It is a littleknown brand but the family's passion and
innovation have yielded a unique Tokaji. Start with their fruity drys before moving up to Aszu, the region's trademark brand. On most days, the winery will take walk-in customers for a tasting. For more than 30 years, the family has been growing grapes and making wine. On its 3-hectare vineyards, Himesudvar produces around 10,000 bottles of fine tokaji wine annually or around 1,400 to 4,000 bottles out of each variety. They appear on market with numbered labels. Tojkai is a luxury product but its reputation fell into disrepute under 40 years of communism, and luster is not recouped easily. Just over a year ago, the region took a risky decision, forbidding low-quality wines to carry the Aszu brand and eliminating a complicated classification system that baffled foreign buyers. For a touch of old-style charm, visit Count Degenfeld's mansion near Tokaj. Stripped of their lands and titles under communism, the Degenfelds returned
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when communism collapsed and bought back their mansion, transforming it into one of the region's finest estates. The mansion also functions as a four-star hotel, offering fine dining, old-style luxury and wellness facilities. ACCIDENT Wine has been produced in Tokaji for centuries but Aszu, the legend has it, is a result of an accident. Fearing an Ottoman attack, growers went into hiding and did not harvest their grapes until November. Thinking their fruit had rotted away, they returned to find that a fungus, called botrytis cinerea and commonly known as noble rot, had attacked the berries, which shrivelled up, leaving them with highly concentrated sweet nectar. Russian tsars were so infatuated with Tokaji that for part of the 18th century they maintained a colony of soldiers and officials in town to look after their wine. The relationship soured when the Russians bought too much, pushing up
Minimum stay of 2 nights
prices and depriving locals of their wine. For a taste of a top producer, visit Disznoko, a unit of French insurance firm AXA. One of the earliest foreign investors after the collapse of communism, Disznoko built a huge operation, rehabilitating rundown vineyards while establishing top standards. It offers wine tasting along with a cellar tour. Though not strictly in the wine region, one nearby restaurant deserves a special mention. Anyukam Mondta – My Mother Said – is a hard-to-find gem with a reputation as Hungary's best restaurant. Run by brothers who trained in Italy and New York, the restaurant has a mix of Italian and Hungarian food and Tokaj's best wines. Os Kajan, at the other end of the region, is a French-influenced restaurant, art gallery and bed & breakfast. Featuring the artwork of owner Pascal Leeman, it is a hodgepodge of great food, modern art and a meeting place. Although sweet, Tokaji is best enjoyed with salty foods, such as goat cheese or foie gras. And even as you concentrate on food and drink, a few notable sights should remain on your radar. The 16th-century castle at Sarospatak is worth a visit and the 13th-century castle at Boldokgo is a wonderful side trip.
Rate per room per night in Indonesian Rupiah 1st - 26th December 2015 & 5th January - 31st March 2016
27th December 2015 4th January 2016
Luxury Pavilion Garden View
2,600,000
3,600,000
Luxury Pavilion Ocean View
3,250,000
4,100,000
Luxury Villa Garden View
3,950,000
4,850,000
Luxury Villa Ocean View
4,300,000
5,350,000
Luxury Garden View Villa with Private Pool
5,000,000
7,950,000
Luxury Ocean View Villa with Private Pool
5,500,000
8,350,000
Two Bedroom Ocean View Villa with Private Pool
7,600,000
13, 600,000
Royal Ocean View Villa with Private Pool
7,200,000
12,600,000
Room Category
Inclusions Daily breakfast for two persons and daily fresh fruits and afternoon tea Additional benefit for guests staying in a Villa: Enjoy a complimentary boat trip to Gili Islands for snorkeling and a picnic lunch.
JPlus November 29, 2015 11
Parenting
Free-range
Parenting Words Melissa Sim/The Straits Times (ANN)
W
hen parents Alexander and Danielle Meitiv allowed their children, aged 10 and six, to walk home from the park alone, they never thought it would lead to investigations of child neglect. But the Meitivs are not the only ones who have been investigated for letting their children roam free, with at least four cases in the United States over the last year. To some in the US, this is negligent parenting, which needs to be stopped, but to others, giving their children the independence to play and walk home unaccompanied is part of a movement called “free-range” parenting. The movement is largely regarded as the counter-balance to “helicopter parenting” where parents hover over their children at all times, caring for their every need. One advocate for free-range parenting is Lenore Skenazy, who wrote the book FreeRange Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry), said that the free-range movement “rejects the notion that children are in constant danger”. The mother of two boys, 17 and 19, started the movement after writing about her experience of allowing one of her sons –
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then nine years old – to navigate the New York subway on his own and find his way home. Psychology professor Louis Lichtman from Alfred University in New York points out that “what we call free-range parenting today, is what was considered typical parenting up until about the 1970s”. Over the last few decades, the trend has been for parents to fuss over their children, with many articles and books detailing how parents shadow their children on college campuses and even play a significant role in their college admissions process. Lichtman, who wrote the book A Practical Guide For Raising A Self-Directed And Caring Child, said the rise of the helicopter parenting trend could be due to a number of things, including a theory put forth by University of Georgia professor Richard Mullendore, who blames the cellphone. Said Lichtman, “It makes it very easy for parents to check up on their kids and for kids to ask their parents for guidance, rather
A new movement now encourages parents to let go and allow children to walk and play in the neighborhood without adult supervision. than figure things out for themselves.” Psychotherapist and family therapist Karen Ruskin does not think it is sensible to leave children aged under 10 unattended for long periods. They shouldn’t be allowed to find their own way home either. At this age, she said, a child “does not have the same riskassessment skills as a teen or an adult to navigate danger”. She said parents should not “abdicate their responsibilities” and assume that a child who comes into problems will work them out on his own or that there are other adults around to help him. Whether the authorities should get involved if a child is left to walk home alone, is yet another matter of contention. Meitiv, 46, a climate science consultant, was investigated twice by Child Protection Services (CPS) for neglect but has since been cleared of both charges. She believes the authorities should not have intervened when she allowed her children to walk home from parks which were about 1.6 kilometers away
photos: via afp
from their family home. In June, a policy directive issued by officials of Maryland state clarified that “children playing outside or walking unsupervised does not meet the criteria for a CPS response” unless there is information that the child is harmed or is at substantial risk of harm. Parents like Meitiv also believe strongly in allowing their children to fail on their own and grow in the process. For example, a child should be able to climb a tree without having his parents present to stop him, said Skenazy. “Our way of growing is we give ourselves scary tests,” she said. “If parents tell children something is too dangerous, they are telling their children who they are and who they can be, before they have even tried it.” Lichtman said his general parenting philosophy would be to “guide and then step aside”. “Parents should, of course, take into consideration how responsible their child is and be knowledgeable about risks associated with the area in which they are considering allowing the child free rein,” he said.
style COUNSEL
How to Tie Your Shoes AND HOW TO LACE THEM, WHILE YOU’RE AT IT. BECAUSE YOU’VE BEEN DOING IT WRONG. WORDS Stephen Pulvirent/Bloomberg
Y
ou think you know how to tie your shoes. You do it every day, right? Sure, that simple bow you use to fasten your criss-crossed laces works well enough. But you’re missing out on a much more attractive – and effective – system. Below, I have a simple guide for how to do it better. You probably learned to tie your shoes in kindergarten. As with so many things, this is where the trouble started. (Why did we stop taking midday naps, again?) Whether you do the “loop swoop
Casual Shoes Open laced shoes, where the quarters are separate pieces of leather from the front of the shoe, are one step more casual. Think wingtips, and the shoes you wear when it rains. Often they’ll come out of the shoe store with laces going horizontally over the top like the shoes above, but this is really too formal for shoes like this. You don’t wear a black satin bowtie with a cardigan, do you? Don’t answer that. A simple criss-cross lacing pattern is best here. Bring the laces across the center and thread them from the inside of the quarters to the outside. Just alternate laces as you work your way up the shoe so the same side is always on top and everything is symmetrical. The shoes will end up looking tidy but not too austere, and they’re easy to adjust on the fly.
and pull” or the “bunny ears,” you probably end up having to bend over on the sidewalk to retie your shoes more than you’d like. I haven’t had shoelaces come undone in years, and it’s because of one knot. Sometimes called a Windsor knot or a surgeon’s knot, it starts like a typical shoe knot, but you bring one lace over the other twice. Then, as you’re finishing, you take the loop and bring it over the top before cinching the laces tight. The end result is a small knot that sits flat and won’t come undone until you want it to.
Formal Shoes Formal oxfords have what’s called “closed lacing.” This means the front of the shoe turns into the quarters, where the lace holes are, not into the tongue. To do that, you use a method called straight bar lacing. This feeds the laces up the sides and then straight over the top. This gives you a series of horizontal lines straight across the shoe and nothing messy gumming up the space between the quarters. If you have an odd number of eyelets you have to cheat a bit at the end and send one lace diagonally, but the bow will hide this and no one needs to be the wiser. If you leave the laces as they usually come from the store, tightening your oxfords is a pain and throws the quarters out of alignment.
The Right Way to Lace “A properly laced shoe holds and supports the feet comfortably and evenly,” says Steven Taffel, founder and owner of Leffot, one of New York’s best men’s shoe stores. “I prefer the look and feel of bar or straight-across lacing.” You may need to re-thread your laces after you take the shoes out of the box – often they’re not done right. But you’re making it easier on yourself in the long run, so it’s worth it.
Sneakers For sneakers you want a lacing style that’s casual, easy to tighten and loosen quickly, and complements the sportier look of the shoe. Lace them up similar to how you would open laced shoes, but bring the laces over the top of the quarters and down through the eyelets (instead of inside-out). This means the V they form points down to the tip of the shoe, giving a more aggressive look. Easy, just like it should be.
Good Supplies Alright, you know how to tie your shoes and how to lace your shoes. But you need the right laces and tools to take good care of your shoes, too. These are the three things you don’t want to do without. Shoelaces: Laces from the drugstore will do in a pinch, but you want richly dyed laces with just enough wax to keep
them looking sharp without making them too slippery. Fort Belvedere stocks them in both round and flat profiles and in any color you can imagine. From US$9 Trees: Store your shoes on trees. Seriously. The cedar wood absorbs moisture and kills odors, and the form keeps deep wrinkles from ruining the profile of your kicks. You can get some pretty extravagant versions, but these basic cedar trees from Woodlore are some
of the best you’ll find anywhere. $35 Shoe Crème: Even if you’re not the kind of guy who needs perfectly polished shoes at all times, leather crème ensures your investments don’t literally crumble on your feet. New York shoe shop Leffot stocks Safir Renovateur, a French crème with mink oil that cleans and hydrates any kind of leather. $23
photos, illustrations via bloomberg
JPlus November 29, 2015 13
at your LEISURE
courtesy of AWkitchen
Akira Watanabe’s
Surprise THE FAMED CHEF OFFERS HIS TAKE ON OMAKASE, A CUISINE OF SURPRISES WORDS Kevindra P. Soemantri
H
ere in the big city, international food culture has found its comfort zone. As a city of gastronomy – or, if I might be excused the portmanteau of gastropolis – Jakarta has a developed a community of foodies with culture of appreciation for any kind of difference in cuisine. However, when we talk about Japanese food culture, the story only dates to the post-war era, to the 1960s, in Jakarta. At that time, there were only two Japanese restaurants in the city. One was Yoshiko, which is now already gone. The second, Kikugawa, is still striving on the small alley-like street of Jl. Cikini 4 in Menteng. In the 1970s and 1980s, many more Japanese establishments opened along with the birth of a host of new international luxury hotels in the capital. Fast forward to today. If you’re a gadget freak or social media occultist, you can see how some of your friends have tagged posts from some Japanese establishment with the word omakase. The word literally means “surprise” in Japanese – and that is precisely the idea behind the omakase experience. Lately, I visited AWKitchen in Plaza Senayan for an omakase dinner. The restaurant takes its name from Chef Akira Watanabe. In my childhood, the spot currently hosting a “restaurants row” used to be a cinema and a bowling alley – places where I
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spent most of the weekend with my family. When I visited AWKitchen, I couldn’t help but to recollect memories of the area. At the same time, I was also astonished by the transformation that has taken place around this spot. Of course. This is omakase. What else should I expect? Would there be an uni served above a foie gras? Or might there be a fragrant dashi soup with parpadelle pasta? Or even a risotto Milanese with a hint of grated wasabi? I had no idea as I took my seat at AWKitchen, and simply waited in patience and anticipation. Suddenly, I was given a plate that I could recognize as a carpaccio. I was beyond excited, because the server told me that the scallop was from Hokkaido, a region
famous for seafood with a natural sweetsea flavor. Nothing thrills me more than a fresh seafood carpaccio or sashimi. An avocado dipping sauce compensated for the sweetness and freshness of the scallop. The dressing was tangy and, yes, fresh. I think Chef Akira's idea for the first course was inspired by the concept of “freshness”. The second course was – don’t be surprised – a cake. Yes, you read that correctly, a cake. But no ordinary cake. This was a gourmet version, inspired by the arrival of autumn in the north – a season when truffles and other kinds of mushrooms grow. The cake served with salad of frisee, sautéed mushroom fricassee and cream sauce. I loved the idea behind this unusual antipasto cardo. The cake absorbed all the juices from the sauce and mushroom, which made it fluffier, tastier and robust in flavor. When the third course arrived, I
received the surprise that I was really hoping for: A dish made or served inside a cartouche or en pappilotte, a French term meaning “cooking inside a bag”. You could can see from the outside the prawn, squid and fish swimming inside what turned out to be a flavorful broth that virtually called to you by name to dig into this scrumptious seafood delight. As I slowly tugged on the ribbon that sealed the bag – as a groom might at his bride’s backlaces on their wedding night – an aroma of fresh seafood, broth infused in prawn shells, and green herbs teased my senses. Such delight for both the palette and the nose. With the third course that Chef Akira was clearly building on a foundation of Italian cuisine. For the fourth course, Akira played with his Japanese roots with steak – just a glimpse of it – served as a tender-asbutter wagyu prime rib with a classic gravy made from Japanese soy sauce. What I loved about the gravy was the umami flavor combined with an earthy saltiness appearing from the deep, dark soy sauce that worked very well with the exquisite steak. I have no idea of why my stomach was so full even before I reached the dessert that night. I tried hard to put myself at ease, getting ready for a Halloweeninspired dish, pumpkin pudding. Chef Akira understands very well the importance of thoughtful preparation before creating a menu. This notion strongly resonated in me: Akira wanted me to experience an omakase inspired by the windy fall. And yes, I did really enjoy every bite of the intense pumpkin pudding, which offered a hint of burnt caramel that gave just a slight bitterness compensate for the natural sweetness of the pumpkin and the caramel. I was quite satisfied by the overall experience of the omakase afforded by Akira Watanabe’s restaurant in Plaza Senayan. I wondered if maybe one day Chef Akira could show us his creativity with traditionally serene and artsy Japanese cuisine. Now that would be another surprise worth waiting for.
AWKitchen Plaza Senayan, 4th Floor Jl. Asia Afrika Senayan, Jakarta
tasteBUD
The
Imam Fainted A RECIPE FOR ‘IMAM BAYILDI’, A UNIQUE NAME FOR THIS EGGPLANT STEW WORDS AND PHOTOS THEODORA HURUSTIATI
O
nce upon a time, somewhere in the Ottoman Empire, there was an imam who wanted to marry the daughter of an olive oil merchant. The bride’s dowry included 12 bottles of the finest olive oil, which his wife then used to cook the imam a dish of stewed eggplant every day. On the thirteenth night, the wife told the husband that there wouldn’t be any eggplant, as she had used up all the olive oil. Upon hearing the news, the imam fainted, giving this dish its intriguing name. While the romantic might think that the imam could not bear life without the dish, the hapless husband might have passed out when thinking about his skyrocketing cholesterol – or the price of eggplant. I personally prefer to remain health-conscious while making and eating this dish, so I adapted it, using olive oil as parsimoniously as I could. Extra virgin olive oil costs a small fortune in Indonesia, so feel free to substitute vegetable oil – possibly peanut oil, with a higher smoke point.
Serves 2 to 4 1 large eggplant or, better, 2 long ones 1 large onion, thinly sliced 2 cloves of garlic, chopped 1 red chilies or ½ red bell pepper, sliced 3 ripe tomatoes, diced A small bunch of parsley,
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chopped Few leaves of mint, chopped ½ lemon 1-2 teaspoons of sugar 1 teaspoon paprika Pepper Extra virgin olive oil Salt
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Peel eggplant skin alternately to create zebra pattern. Divide into two parts lengthwise. Remove spongy center using a paring knife to create hollows on both eggplant halves for the filling. Dice removed pulp. If using long eggplants: leave whole, slit lengthwise in the middle without cutting through. Remove the spongy center and open them like a canoe. Rub the eggplant surface with lemon juice and sprinkle lightly with salt. The lemon juice will prevent it from oxidizing and turning brown. Leave to rest for about 15 minutes to give the salt time to draw out the slightly bitter liquid. Pat dry with kitchen paper and fry in 1-cm of oil for a couple of minutes on both sides until slightly golden. Transfer onto a plate lined with few layers of kitchen paper - with the cut side down - to absorb the excess oil. Remove about 2/3 of the oil left after frying the eggplant. Sweat diced eggplant, onion, garlic and chilies with remaining oil until fragrant and wilted. Insert tomatoes, chopped herbs, paprika, sugar and lemon juice to taste. Season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat until the tomatoes start to soften. Fill the eggplant halves with half of the sautéed “filling”. Continue to cook the other half for about 5-10 minutes until the tomato pulp is almost “mushy”. Place the stuffed eggplant halves on top of the “sauce”. Cover with lid and simmer over low heat for about 20-30 minutes until the eggplant pulp is tender and the color is translucent. Let cool. Garnish with fresh parsley and mint. Serve at room temperature with a dollop of Greek yogurt and some rustic bread to mop up all the sauce.
Jakarta-born chef Theodora Hurustiati, a 13year resident of Udine, Italy, was the runner-up in the TV cooking program La Scuola – Cucina di Classe (The School: Classy Cooking) in 2011.
JPlus November 29, 2015 15
trendDIAL
Looking for
inspiration? Enlightenment lies within
REPLICA – FRAGRANCE
Maison Margiela just announced the latest additions, By the Fireplace and Lipstick On, to its Replica collection for the fall. Inspired by a winter in Chamonix in 1971, By The Fireplace is comprised of hints of frosted accord, chestnut and wood. Meanwhile, Lipstick On is imbued with notes of iris concrete, galbanum, vanilla and tonka bean. The twosome brings the house’s perfume array up to 10 assortments, and will be available in 100ml eau de toilette for US$100. Pre-sales are available at Maison Margiela’s Isetan Shinjuku store, before rolling out to all Margiela flagships on Nov. 25.
SHINOLA’s MUHAMMAD ALI COLLECTION
To celebrate Muhammad Ali’s lasting legacy, Shinola has created The Ali collection, the latest in the Detroit-based makers’ “Great Americans” line. The exclusive series will feature a limited-edition run of 400 watches, complimented by rare photographs of Ali from the 1960s, signed by photojournalist Thomas Hoepker. The watches are available both for men and women and will be sold as part of a gift set. If you’re seeking alternatives, Shinola is also offering limited-edition boxing gloves, a Detroit Arrow bike, a special robe and a Cassius Clay sweatshirt (in homage to Ali’s birth name, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.). This upper-crust collection is available in-store, starting from $2,250 for the watch gift set.
SOTHEBY’S ROYAL JEWELRY AUCTION
Sotheby’s is set for an auction of multiple pieces of jewelry with a royal history. Among the highlights is the historic platinum necklace of Queen Nazli of Egypt, made by Van Cleef & Arpels and set with 217 carats of diamonds. This 1939 piece has remained in a private collection since 1975, along with many other important pieces from Nazli. There’s also a pair of white gold, chalcedony, sapphire and diamond cuffs from Duchess of Windsor’s collection that’s expected to go for around $600,000. In addition to the royal relics, an array of “exceptional” colored stones, ranging from a 25.87-carat sugarloaf cabochon Kashmir sapphire ring to a pair of unenhanced Colomsabian emerald earrings with 22.97 and 21.37 carats stones, will be auctioned, with starting prices set around $2.2 million. This deep-pocketed luxury preview will be open to the public in New York on Dec. 5.
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LEICA – M TYP 262
Calling all Leica collectors! The venerable camera maker has finally announced its latest: The Leica M Typ 262. This digitalrangefinder camera is a part of the Leica “M-E” family, but more basic than the current M Typ 240 flagship model. By removing video functionality from the new camera, Leica wants users to explore the idea of photography more deeply. The M Typ 262 is 100 grams lighter (and also less expensive) than its predecessor and features a lean menu that lets you get to the most used functions faster – reflecting the simplicity at the core of all Leica’s M Typ cameras.
FILSON KNIFE SET COLLECTION
Looking for a unique Christmas gift? Filson has recently released a Native-inspired series of accessories and knitwear for 2015, including candles, beanies, cardigans, gloves and other housewares. The most unique offering is a knife set that includes a hunting knife, a camp knife and a game skinning knife, all with custom engraving and leather sheaths. The intricate, Sheridan-style engraving on the blades brings artistry without compromising the high-carbon stainless steel bolsters. The knives are guaranteed for life and items from the series are only available at Filson’s Seattle store or online. Prices range from $88 for candles to $12,000 for the knife set. +Banyubening Prieta