A HOME away from Home - HOME Cafe, St Clair

HOME Cafe, St Clair, Trinidad

Well I'll never be a stranger
And I'll never be alone
Wherever we're together
That's my home. 

Billy Joel – You’re My Home 

 Home is not just the physical structure or place. Home is a feeling – a sanctuary, comfort, happiness, belonging. It is a place you yearn to be, and as I type this, I truly yearn for my home and everything that comes with it and which brings so much comfort at the end of a long day, a long week.

I luckily also had the chance to experience HOME – the HOME conceptualised by fashion goddess and Project Runway winner, Anya Ayoung Chee. On the gastronomy side of HOME, is HOME Café – a warm, open space where friends meet and catch up, wind down and rock from side to side with laughter together.

That is exactly what my circle of sistren (Kerwin duBois does not have a monopoly on the circle) did last weekend at HOME Café where not only did we enjoy amazing food, but where we truly felt that feeling that is HOME courtesy Anya and her mum, Michelle, and the excellent care and service from the HOME team, who made our Saturday lunch/ girls’ meet-up so special.

Menu – great price point and a nice variety of options. I am looking forward to experiencing a HOME breakfast now that I am embracing this 2015 Saturday morning breakfast concept more often. Baby steps.

Ambiance – very homey, pun intended. Clean, clutter-free open space, naturally lit and quiet. Very much a café vibe and very laid back.

The food – but of course, the food. I was impressed with my main, the Thai Red Curry w/ shrimp because I love me some Thai curry. Missed the coconut rice/jasmine rice, but it was delicious all the same. The dessert, though at first I thought it would be too much at first, was gorgeous. Not usually a fan of mousse but the triple chocolate mousse was amazeballs. I ate it all. My pants are tight this week.

HOME's House Salad - fresh and flavourful

Cream of Broccoli Soup at HOME

My girlfriend substituted fresh salmon for smoked salmon in this Pasta Carbonara

Thai Shrimp Curry - loved this!

At HOME with this Triple Chocolate Mousse. Hard to resist this one.

Loved it. Would do it again.

HOME Café, Scott Street, St Clair | Email cafe@home.co.tt for reservations or drop by 8-10:30am for breakfast and 11:30am-3:00pm for lunch

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Project Runway: Taking Fierce to a New Level

So I just watched last night's episode of Project Runway - The Unconventional Challenge - where the designers had to make a garment with materials bought from a pet store. Talk about fierce. I always love the unconventional challenges because it really brings the creativity to life. I said earlier this week that I have no crafty skills whatsoever but I do admire those who can bring life to the most mundane things - like pet stuff.

I must say, I really hated Bert's attitude last night. He won last week and thus had immunity from elimination this week and it seemed he was content to just coast on this fact. He sucked. You sucked, Bert.

Of course, I must highlight my Trini girl, Anya first. Her design was built from leashes and dog rope toys .

Anya's doggy design
Photo credit: Project Runway/Lifetime

It looked good but when I saw the top, I thought instantly of last week's design.  I just hope we see something completely different from her. But she is safe and lives to take part in another challenge. I love that I can watch my show and hear someone who sounds just like me.

My favourite though for this week, and he almost won it last night was Anthony Ryan's bird seed dress. I thought it was spectacular and if you did not know it was made from bird seed, you would probably want it. It looked great...amazing on the runway and was well executed for sure.

Anthony Ryan's bird seed dress
Photo credit: Project Runway/Lifetime

I also liked Joshua M's aquarium stone top and snake cage netting circle skirt, though I agree with the judges that his styling was just too much. The makeup was too garish, the shoes were hideous and the little tag thing hanging off the belt was unnecessary. But his design was gorgeous. I am amazed he made that pattern with the different coloured stones.

Joshua M's aquarium stone ensemble
Photo credit: Project Runway/Lifetime

The winner though was Olivier, with his blouse made from a dog bed and the skirt made from hamster cage filling. The model's eyebrows really did not work for me though. Looked very retro Star Trek.

Olivier's Pet Couture Winner
Photo credit: Project Runway/Lifetime

Next week the designers will work in pairs. Ugh. That can either make or break your design, depending on the person you are paired with. But what is also interesting, it is a fashion show featuring models on stilts so the designs are going to have be larger than life. Interesting to see how they use fabric and creativity to create a gorgeous, larger than life look.

Love this show. And does Heidi Klum ever gain weight? My God!

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Visiting the Queen and Rocking the Runway

In all the time I have been here, I had not yet been to Windsor.

Now you know I have a special relationship with the royal family, having been part of the royal wedding earlier this year. I loved Windsor and I had a great time. Being in London all the time makes you appreciate everything outside of London even more, especially a town as beautiful as Windsor. The tour of Windsor Castle was amazing, and though we did not meet the queen (we called ahead and she said she would be out), being a lover of castles, this was fabulous to me. I especially loved the Royal Exhibition celebrating Prince Philip's 90th birthday.  No photography was allowed inside the castle I'm afraid but here are a couple shots from outside.

Truly a lovely day out. The weather was perfect (it was actually warm!), the sights were wonderful, and the company was fantabulous. :-)

And after weeks of anticipation, Project Runway hit the tv screens last night and Anya Ayoung-Chee showed the "horrified" Tim Gunn and the sceptical Michael Kors and Nina Garcia that she can keep up with the fashion Joneses. Though she admitted she only learnt to sew after applying to be on the show, she showed that one can do anything if there is enough determinaton and commitment. She not only silenced her critics but she was one the designers with the highest scores this week. Trini power!

I was so proud of her - she did well and her outfit was totally fabulish!

Photo credit: Project Runway/Lifetime.com

Hope everyone has a great weekend planned? I will be dissertationing and trying to bring sexy back with a much needed visit to the salon. I may have to cut my hair off but anything is better than the dire straits it's in now - with hair falling out everywhere. Ugh. Depressing.

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Trini Fabulousity Hits Project Runway

Trini girl, Anya Ayoung Chee
Photo credit: Project Runway/Lifetime

One of the shows I would not miss when I was back home, was Project Runway. Loved the show. It was fashion, but without being annoying (can someone say America's Next Top Model and Tyra Banks? Wow...that Tyra was really in love with herself).

So to learn recently that this season, there would be a Trini among the 20 new designers - totally fabulish.

Look out for Anya Ayoung-Chee on Season 9. Anya represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Miss Universe competition in 2008, and then really focused on her passion for fashion, making a name for herself in Trinidad and Tobago with her own line, Pilar by Anya.

I am excited to see how she will translate her very unique fashion style and love for bold prints to this season. Very excited. Best of luck to her!

 The new season starts on July 28 at 9pm, on Lifetime.

• To see more of Anya's Pilar line you can visit here
• Check out her page on the Project Runway site, with photos and video.
• Follow her progress on the official Anya Ayoung Chee - Project Runway Facebook page
• And I raved about her collabo with Meiling on the awesome Carnival Friday night look for Fay Ann Lyons here. I still love that look immensely.

And I am just totally in love with the maxi dress she is wearing in her promotional photo. Oh...stop stop!

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