A shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. What are you loving this week? Send a brief description of your latest favorite thing, where to find it and how much it costs, along with your name and contact info to features@staradvertiser.com.
Emotional Brilliance colors her world
Lush, the company that built its success on fresh handmade body care products, has entered the cosmetics world with its Emotional Brilliance line that matches mood and color. You can visit its Ala Moana store or go online at www.lush.com/emotionalbrilliance-us and spin a color wheel to determine which eye shadow, eyeliner and lip colors are for you, but it’s just as easy to choose by sight from vivid blues, reds, pastels and metallics, or by name, such as the fierce reds of "Decisive," "Ambition" and "Power" lips. Just as with the bath line, all the cosmetics are vegan, and the packaging in glass dropper bottles ($22.95) is intriguing. Liquid eye shadows, applied with a sponge wand or your fingertips, are completely blendable so they can be as subtle or dramatic as you want. I especially love the lip colors, with jojoba oil for moisture and candelilla and rose waxes for a smooth, even finish, with pure pigments that wear like the color you see through the glass.
— Nadine Kam
Shrimp eater gets his from Crawfish R Us
For whatever reason, 2012 is shaping up to be the year of the East Coast seafood boil. You know how it goes: Once is a fluke, twice a pattern and three times a trend. With the opening of Kickin’ Cajun and Raging Crab in the Keeaumoku Street area and Crab City on Waialae Avenue, townies have discovered the joy of eating shellfish cooked with special seasonings and varying degrees of spiciness. But a trip to one of these restaurants can get expensive pretty quick, not to mention the waiting involved just to get a table. Avoid the hassle at Crawfish R Us, a food truck offering a number of the same items available at the sit-down restaurants. Sure, a food truck isn’t going to offer lobster or crab legs, but a half-pound Louisiana crawfish plate ($10) should hit the spot. I’m more a fan of the shrimp plate ($9), especially with Crawfish R Us’ spicy Hurricane CLG (Cajun, Lemon Pepper and Garlic Butter) seasoning treatment. Side orders of red potatoes, corn, various styles of french fries and crab Rangoon are also on the menu. Keep up with the truck’s appearances by following Crawfish R Us on Twitter (@crawfishrus) or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Crawfishrus. Call 383-2596 for catering orders.
— Jason Genegabus
Fledgling company delivers ono mochi truffle
Just when I think I’ve tasted every variation on mochi I can imagine, someone else imagines something new and delicious. Created by Bentos Mochi and Delectables, the White Chocolate Burnt Cream Daifuku is like creme brulee stuffed into a mochi ball. The combination of crunchy bits of burnt sugar swirled into creamy white chocolate and wrapped in soft, fresh mochi stopped me in my tracks as I was cruising through the Ala Moana Farmers’ Market. The new family-run company sells its handmade truffle mochi ($3) and sampler bentos ($5-$10) at the market from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Visit www.BentosMD.com for a full menu.
— Donica Kaneshiro
T-shirts to dress your body and mind
While walking along a trendy section of Nuuanu Avenue, I spied a T-shirt in the La Muse shop window with a message that hit home. I mean, who hasn’t at one time or another lived on "dreams and 10-cent noodles"? The shirts, made of silky washable cotton in men’s ($32) and women’s ($38) styles, are by Love Nail Tree of Los Angeles. Boutique owner Julia Chu says, "They make things that are artistic, not just for the eye but for the mind. I like the way they think." Closer to my heart was a second shirt with an image of an old-school manual typewriter and the words: "This machine kills fascists." La Muse is at 1156 Nuuanu Ave.; 536-0818.
— Christie Wilson
Desert trek requires stylish protection
There’s an apocalyptic element to preparing for Burning Man, which I’ll be attending at the end of the month along with 60,000 other souls in the Nevada desert. It’s dry and insanely dusty, with temperatures rising above 100 degrees in the daytime. To prepare for the intense exposure, I stopped by the Ease Collection in Kakaako to pick up reusable "fashion masks" ($15.99-$22.99) that mute the survivalist vibe with colorful island patterns and perform double duty as protection against germs while traveling. I also bought stretchy arm covers ($18) made from a moisture-wicking bamboo blend that’s cool in the day but can also keep a camper warm at night. Find Ease Collection at 831 Pohukaina St., Suite E; 380-7555; ease-collection.com. (I’ll be blogging my adventure in the desert; search "Burning Man" at HonoluluPulse.com to follow along.)
— Elizabeth Kieszkowski
