Macau evokes an image of boys’ trips, gambling and returning home poorer than intended. What this stereotype doesn’t take into account is the sheer luxury on offer and thus its suitability for a girlie indulgence trip. Fellow Sassy blogger Ale and I decided to plan the ultimate day and night of girl’s escapism; we envisaged sipping cocktails between massages, delicious meals over a bottle(s) of wine and gossiping whilst wrapped in hotel dressing gowns… and our one night stay at the Wynn Macau delivered all of the above and more.

There was something exciting about rocking up to the Turbojet terminal on a normal Thursday workday. As we drew up to the Wynn and entered the impressive lobby of the Encore tower, we knew we were in for a treat. The Wynn, with its 1,000 rooms, delivers the garish but opulent décor you’d expect from a Vegas hotel but what sets the Wynn apart is the attention to detail and beautiful touches. Yes, the colours are bright and loud, but the beautiful embroidered butterflies on the silk wallpaper, the gold mosaic tiles lining the floor and the investment in Chinese antique artworks take this hotel from the tacky to the sublime.

Our room was no different, a Deluxe Suite with two double beds so inviting I couldn’t resist dropping my suitcase in excitement and jumping onto the bed. Floor to ceiling windows, rich red and gold fabrics and a beautiful view of the city beyond; we were in heaven. And yes, a quick check revealed the obligatory dressing gown and slippers would be waiting for us, but first we had a date with lunch. With four fine dining restaurants and four more casual ones, we were truly spoilt for choice on where to dine.

Having informed the hotel that both of us are gluten-intolerant, we were a little apprehensive about what would be served at Cantonese restaurant Wing Lei – thinking it either wouldn’t actually be gluten free or we would get food envy for all the dishes we would have to miss out on! Perhaps we should have had a little more faith in two Michelin-starred Wing Lei however, as every dish we were served was both beautifully presented and utterly divine.

Out of the appetisers, we were particularly fond of the marinated eggplant with barbecued duck, as well as the chilled sliced sea cucumber with spicy sauce. Moving onto the selection of dim sum, we were wowed by the beauty of the steamed turnip cake stuffed with fish paste and osmanthus, whilst the sweet delicate flavour of the osmanthus flowers contrasted perfectly with the saltiness of the seafood.

It was the two dishes that followed, however, that really made Wing Lei shine: the melt-in-the-mouth steamed codfish roll was incredible, stuffed with silky soft bean curd, swathed in a delicate broth and dotted with intensely flavoured preserved tree seeds. The crispy crab claw with crabmeat and egg white offered an amazing contrast between the light fluffy egg white and the fragrant crispy garlic flakes that coated the claw.

In fact, this contrast between delicate and intense seemed to be a recurring theme throughout Wing Lei, even in its design; subtle traditional décor is juxtaposed with Wing Lei’s centrepiece, an iconic flying dragon composed of 90,000 Swarovski crystals that fits in perfectly with the overall feel of Wynn, richly elegant yet still maintaining that sort of ‘Vegas’ style charm.

Feeling full and sleepy from our wonderful lunch, we did what any girls should do on a sunny day and wandered past the array of designer boutique shops, into the centre of the hotel complex, to the tranquil oasis of the pool, surrounded by tropical vegetation and only open to hotel guests. We favoured being pampered poolside princesses over gambling but the low ceilings, elegant chandeliers and smaller intimate sections within the casino made it feel less daunting and more personal than most others in Macau.

Afterwards we headed to the Encore Spa for our massages, and this was truly the most beautiful, aesthetically pleasing spa I have ever visited. With only 8 private spa suites, this is the ultimate private pampering and we each set off to our own suite, complete with an intimate dressing room that led through to our own steam/sauna/hydrotherapy baths. After half an hour of enjoying the facilities, my four-hand massage was expertly carried out in my private massage room by professional therapists.

Having had a wonderful day feeling like we were in an episode of The Hills, we glammed-up and headed down for a pre-dinner cocktail at Cinnebar before settling down at our prime location table at il Teatro, overlooking the spectacular fountain.

We had originally thought that a fountain ‘show’ every 15 minutes would start to get repetitive and slightly tacky. However, every time the amazing cheesy music such as Pocahontas’ Colours of the Wind and Always Look on the Bright Side of Life came on and the water began to dance in time to it, we wanted to wave our arms in the air and join in. The choreography of the water, the music, the lights and the FIRE was incredible and so mesmerising!

Everything about our six-course meal was pure perfection – from the outstanding service by our Maitre d’ Bhong, to the presentation, taste, and the incredible wine-pairing put together by the wonderful sommelier Michael.

Our first starter of buffalo mozzarella with Parma ham and melon consommé was a modern twist on the traditional classic Parma ham and melon dish. Here, the melon came in jelly form, creating a bed for the freshest mozzarella I’ve tasted in a long time.

Dish number three of pan-seared Sicilian red prawns over artichoke risotto was divine, made the more so by a sweet saffron Emulsion. Perhaps it boils down to chef Anthony Alaimo’s New York-Italian background, but the risotto was so authentic that we could close our eyes and be somewhere in Northern Italy.

The first meat and final savoury dish of the night was a Lamb Chop Scottadito. This translates literally to ‘burnt fingers’ due to their being so delicious that it’s hard to resist eating them straight off the sizzling grill, and I must say they fit their name exactly! The meat was so tender and bursting with flavour that I had to stop myself from picking them up and licking the bone clean! We ended the meal with a panna cotta with spiced pineapple and passionfruit sorbet – beautiful.

Our thoughts that we might try our luck at some slot machines were beaten by full bellies and sleepy heads and instead, we sank gladly into our beds. The morning was greeted with a delicious breakfast at Cafe Encore, where our gluten-free needs had been remembered; afterwards, like true ladies of leisure, we had manis and pedis to set us on our way!

The trip, although just 24 hours long, perfectly transported us into a world of pampering, indulgence and escapism. And all of this was a mere 60-minute hassle-free ferry ride away. I have now decided that girls’ trips to the Wynn will be an obligatory yearly occurrence. No other hotel could have so conveniently and expertly anticipated our needs, satiated our desire for pampering and spoiled us in the way that every girl should be.

Rates start from $2,688 HKD per night.

Wynn Macau, www.wynnmacau.com, +853 8986 9966

I love turquoise at the best of times, but there is just something about summer that makes me come over even more mermaid than usual! Luckily, it appears someone at Giorgio Armani feels the same, as their Summer Ecailles Collection is practically an ode to the ocean!

The star of the collection… or more fittingly, should I say the pearl in their oyster… is the Ecailles Luxury Eye Palette ($600), which I previously mentioned here. Limited to only 4000 pieces worldwide, I’m pretty sure I could pass this off as an “investment” to my accountant – the compact is layered with handcrafted black mother-of-pearl, which just looks absolutely stunning, even before you consider the beauties within.

The four shadows inside – deep sea blue, green algae, lagoon turquoise and shimmering crest-of-a-wave white – are pretty much all you need to create numerous variants on mesmerising mermaid eyes! The shades are soft but did not seem very pigmented when I tested them on my hand; however, on the eyes and over a good eye shadow primer, it was a different story!

I did a breezy summery daytime look mainly using the aqua shade, which is the most smoothly-pigmented of the bunch. I used this over my entire eyelid, then smudged the algae (which is more matte) in the outer edge, before applying the white all-over and on my brow bone for an extra cast of iridescence. If you wanted a smokier look for night, you could use the darker ocean blue and algae; to shimmer things up, get more liberal with the white highlighter shade; go extra dramatic like the model in the top picture… The options are endless!

In the photos, I am wearing it with a Gloss d’Armani lipgloss in No.512 Red Andradite ($250). This has super-classy packaging (I love the ‘GA’ logo which clicks into place), a skinny sponge doe-foot applicator and an interesting watercolour-like formula. This gives a translucent effect that’s pigmented but still natural, and it’s wonderfully non-sticky (it’s also quite long-lasting for a gloss, at around four hours wear time, although the glossy ‘wet look’ does fade faster). For me, Red Andradite is more of an evening colour – a grown-up dusky rose, that’s just about light enough to still be a nice neutral. However, for summer, I’d be tempted to go with one of the brighter vibrant shades.

If the palette offers just too many options, head straight for one of the new Eyes To Kill Ocean Jewels Eye Shadows instead ($250). If you’ve never tried this formula of eye shadow before – go go go! It gives the intensity of a loose pigment but with none of the mess, the mega-metallic glow of a cream with none of the creasing, the ease of a pressed powder eye shadow but with longevity to kill, and features a blend of colour pigments for a multi-dimensional effect and an amazing silky smooth texture that makes using them a total breeze.

My pick is the collection’s namesake No.22 Ecailles (top right in the group shot) – a mixture of shimmery seafoam-aqua and ethereal pale silver. As opposed to playing with a whole palette, this does all the blending for you, giving you silvery turquoise lids with just one quick swipe. I loved how delicately pretty this looked and it played into my mermaid fantasies perfectly; utterly unique and a definite must-have.

So if, like me, you want to make like a mermaid this summer and tap into your inner Ariel, look no further than Giorgio Armani’s Ecailles Collection – for classy quality aqua eyes that a mermaid would be proud of!

Giorgio Armani Summer 2012 Ecailles Collection is available at all Giorgio Armani Beauty locations now.

Giorgio Armani beauty counter, Lane Crawford Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 2115 9693. See all other locations in Hong Kong here.

We never exactly need an excuse for dessert… but when the mercury’s rising, nothing cools you down more deliciously than an ice-cream fix! We’ve got the scoop on Hong Kong’s top five ice cream and gelato joints to help make your summer sassier one ice cream at a time…

Trust me: if you’re ever in Sai Kung and in need of an icy treat, Bibini Nice Cream is the place to get your fix. With a selection of about 20 gelato flavours in the freezer, the continuous stream of people snaking out the door on to the footpath proves it’s worth working up a sweat and fending off the crowds for. Everything served is made by hand at the store and (we’re pleased to confirm) the scoops are a decent size! If you’re in the mood for something different, gelato flavours like mango nut, champagne, yuzu or durian might tickle your fancy. If not, rest assured you won’t be disappointed with standard faves like fresh mango, lemon, pistachio, strawberry yoghurt, stracciatella, and pistachio.

Bibini Nice Cream, Shop 11, G/F, Ko Fu House, 58-72 Fuk Man Rd, Sai Kung, Hong Kong, 6040 7278

If you thought Holly Brown was only good for a high quality caffeine hit, think again! The gelato freezer is packed to the brim and the flavour selection is sure to impress – and Team Sassy is already a noted fan (it made the list of our fave delicious desserts in HK!) Made with imported ingredients from Italy, Holly Brown claims its gelato contains 50% less fat than other premium ice creams. Delicious AND healthy?! We’ll take that!

If you’re craving something seriously indulgent, grab a friend and go halves on a honey toast gelato (it’s incredible) or a wafer cup with all the toppings! If you’re in the mood for something a little less intense, the blue vanilla gelato is a good option, otherwise grab some frozen yoghurt or a fresh fruit smoothie.

Holly Brown, 22 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2869 9008
G19, K11, 18 Hanoi Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, 3122 4016
Shop 1026 1/F, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2856 1201

If you find yourself wilting under the hot summer sun as you crawl along the pavement this summer, keep your eyes peeled for I-Scream. There is no disputing this gelato is the real deal and the proof is definitely in the pudding.  Made fresh each and every day under the watchful eye of who they claim to be Hong Kong’s only master gelataio, I-Scream has a legion of loyal dessert fans.

As well as rolling out gelato and sorbet by the scoop and tub, I-Scream’s authentic gelato cakes are world famous in Honkers. A cool dessert for birthdays or summer dinner parties, I’m guessing you’ll be pleased to know gelato cakes are a much lighter option than their standard counterparts (fat content of around 7% and sugar content of 17%).

I-Scream, Shop 1104, Podium Level One, ifc mall, Central, Hong Kong, 2234 7281
Unit A, UG/F, Shama Place, 30 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2605 3881
Great Food Hall, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong, 2918 0362
Il Bel Paese, G31 & 32A, Block C, DB Plaza, Discovery Bay, Hong Kong

 Peace, love and ice cream… That pretty sums up what Ben & Jerry’s is all about. All I can really say is, if you haven’t tried one of the amazing B&J’s flavours yet, stop surfing Sassy and go buy a double scoop PRONTO! My top picks? Cherry Garcia and Chunky Monkey… I’m in ice cream heaven just thinking about them! If you’re not in the mood for a cone, try sipping one of their milkshakes instead – it’s like magic in a cup.

Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop, Shop 5A G/F, 45-47 Cochrane Street, Central, Hong Kong
7/F Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
No. D Knutsford Steps, 1 Kimberly Road, Miramar Shopping Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
See all other Ben & Jerry’s locations in Hong Kong here.

If you’re in the mood to simultaneously titillate and confuse the heck out of your taste buds, look no further than the Ice Cream Gallery (a little shop with a stock standard name but a freezer full of CRAY-ZAY flavours). Nestled in a shadowy corner of the Repulse Bay Arcade, a variety of icy treats including French crème glacée, traditional Japanese ice cream, Italian gelato AND frozen yoghurt are on offer.

In terms of ice cream and gelato, flavours span from the likes of safe white chocolate cookies & cream through to adventurous options such as French Bacon & Egg (yes, you read that correctly)! Taking things to a completely different level, the deluxe range includes flavours like French foie gras, lobster, abalone, black truffle and ice wine.

Let me be straight up: this is gourmet ice cream at its finest (if you’re a vanilla kind of girl, steer clear). Although it’s pricier than most other joints, it’s worth the extra pennies.

Ice Cream Gallery, Shop G117, Repulse Bay Arcade, 109 Repulse Bay Rd, Hong Kong, 2838 8086

Keep cool and stay tuned for our top five fro-yos guide soon!

We all love a bit of animal print in our wardrobe… so why not carry over your animal instincts to your perfume too!

Roberto Cavalli is launching a fabulous new fragrance, exclusively available at Lane Crawford Times Square & Canton Road and the Roberto Cavalli boutique in ifc – and you can be the first to try it out thanks to Sassy!

This exuberant, sensual and sunny new scent is perfect for summer and designed especially for strong, confident, glamorous and independent women… and what better way to describe all you awesome Sassy girls?! It features notes of feminine orange blossom, vibrant pink peppers and addictive Tonka bean to make for an intoxicating scent that you just won’t be able to get enough of.

The shimmering curvy bottle looks as gorgeous as the perfume smells, with an ornate cap formed by Roberto Cavalli’s golden seal and a cool tiger-print detail that reminds us of the designer’s stunning animal-print dresses.

SASSY DEAL: You can be amongst the first to check out the new Roberto Cavalli scent when it launches thanks to a sweet Sassy special offer! Simply present this email at one of the Roberto Cavalli promotion stands at Lane Crawford Times Square or Lane Crawford Canton Road until 3 June to receive a free sample of the new scent.

What’s more, if you bring along something animal-print (we suggest something that fits into your handbag as opposed to flashing your leopard-print bra!), you can snag a Roberto Cavalli Eau de Parfum 5ml miniature for free too!

So it’s time to unleash your wild side this summer with the new Roberto Cavalli scent – the perfect complement to any outfit!

Roberto Cavalli scent is available at Lane Crawford Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Times Square, Causeway Bay, and the Roberto Cavalli boutique in ifc, Central.