The End of the Long Hiatus

Hi all,

As you might have observed, the blog has not been updated for quite a while.

The last few months has been very, very busy with work and life stuff. However, dining has not stopped although frequency has been decreasing slightly.

To be frank, I now have slightly more time to try and taste unique and delicious stuffs.

I will start to update the posts again with some great stuff within the following months. There has been interesting stuffs that we have visited. Trust you will love them and your tongue will be pleased!

Tim Ho Wan - A Dim Sum Experience

For those who are up-to-date with the culinary news around Jakarta, you might know that Tim-Ho-Wan is already here for quite a while. You might also have heard that it holds a Michelin Star Award in Hong Kong. Being a Dim Sum restaurant, it is a rarity to receive such award which has been known to be given commonly to Western fine dining. 

Now the question is, would it be bringing all of its quality from Hong Kong to Jakarta? 

The restaurant is located at Pantai Indah Kapuk, Ruko Crown Golf. While there are a lot of places in PIK to eat, this one is specifically located near Ikkudo. If you still don't know where it is, simply go to PIK and go straight, and go left at the huge roundabout near Yayasan Tzu Chi, and go straight to the parking lot. It will be located near the end. 

In this long Lebaran Weekend, we decided to give it a shot and theorize that we might not have to queue. We were wrong obviously. Typically the restaurant opens from 8.00 AM in the morning, but due to Lebaran, it starts to open from 11.00 AM, and people actually queued from 10.30. Now that's a bit crazy. When we come at 11.00 AM, we have to wait for almost and hour.

We decided to take a picture of the menu just for an easy reference for everyone. 

Pay a Close Attention

Keep in mind that the portioning is typically 3 pieces per portion, therefore if you're that picky about sharing, we suggest just order more. 

To start, we ordered the Kue Lobak / Radish Cake. It is nice and delicious, but might not be for everyone's taste as the taste of radish might put a few people off. For those who like it, it is both crispy and rich at the same time. 

Rp 31,800

Next is the Cheong Fun with BBQ Pork. This taste exacrly like Cheong Fun and Pork, so I don't know what else to describe. It tastes OK but portion is definitely on the smaller side. The plus side is, it is so full of meat unlike what we commonly find in other premises. Again, quite pricey for it's portion.

Rp 36,800

The weirdo of the day would probably the Baso Goreng Udang Seafood w/ Saus Apricot. Now, I am kinda lost with the exact location of the seafood, as this is mainly made with Yam / Talas and the filling makes me wonder what is it exactly, being white and colourful and stuff. Personally I thought this is too bizzare. What a shame.

Rp 38,800

Of course, Dim Sum would not be complete when you're not ordering Siomay and Hakao. 

One of the thing that we notice from both of them is that Tim Ho Wan is really generous with the filling, but still it does not taste way better than other places we have tasted. Somewhat pricey as well.

Rp 38,800

Rp 43,800

Another interesting thing is the Hakao with Prawn and Spinach. This is  one of my favorite - very tasty and rich in garlic. The spinach is really fresh. 

Rp 26,800

We also ordered the fried and steamed Prawn Lumpia. I personally liked the steamed version better as the fried one is a bit too dry to my liking. Again, not too different with what you'll commonly find in other upscale Dim Sum places.

Steamed Lumpia, Rp 33,800

Fried Lumpia, Rp 33,800

Now, the champion of the day, is obviously the famed BBQ Pork Bun / Bakpao Babi BBQ (just imagine how many B's are there). The crust of the bun is rich, flavorful, crispy, and moist at the same time. The inside is also very, very delicious, tasty, and full of flavor. We ordered two of these simply because they're amazing.

Rp 43,800. Amazing stuff. 

Their service is really, really fast. Our food was served less than 5 minutes of ordering. It seems the staffs are well-trained to handle such crowd, so I can safely say you won't wait for too long to get your food ready.

Price wise however, it's quite expensive for a Dim Sum, and there are many other options in Jakarta where you can get similar or even better experience with less price.

 The amount of crowd will also make you less likely to have a nice, quiet time to enjoy your food, as the seating is very tight and environment is noisy.

It's a nice little clean place however, and it seems to be managed well, so for me that's a plus point. Kindly note that you cannot make reservation, so be ready to queue. 

We're not really sure on the overall verdict, because again there are better options in Jakarta with lesser price. Feel free to give it a try though. We would probably only go back for the BBQ Pork Bun.

Tim Ho Wan

Ruko Crown Golf, Blok D No. 8-10

 Bukit Golf Mediterania, Jl. Raya Marina Indah, 14470

[TRAVEL SERIES] South Korea - Amazingly Delicious and Healthy Food PART 2

Now, I will continue posting about several good stuff from Korea.

Before leaving Jeju Island, we had the opportunity to enjoy the Samgyetang, which basically is a ginseng soup with rice-stuffed chicken. Back in Jakarta we can easily find it in authentic Korean restaurants and more chains start to have it too.

 What makes this one so special is that typically in common Samgyetang we found in Jakarta, the soup is somewhat bland and you will need to add more salt according to your liking. This one however is already delicious on its own and the chicken has more meat than rice. Totally worth it! You also get some noodles to accompany. 

[TRAVEL SERIES] South Korea - Amazingly Delicious and Healthy Food!

As promised a few months ago, I will be posting all about what we ate in Korea.While Korean food has been very popular in Indonesia for quite some time, it is a unique experience to enjoy the authentic experience firsthand.

Korean food is a combination of pleasure and healthy eating at the same time. That is probably the best description I could think of, and you will see the reason why below. Upon arrival, we had the opportunity to taste the bulgogi stew, or in Korean is called Bulgogi Tukbegi. This little corner in Seoul probably

Typically in Indonesia bulgogi is associated and served as grilled meat. However, in Korea eating it as a soup during cold months is very common. Savory and delicious, it also warms your body. Should you go to one of those authentic Korean restaurants, try asking for one of these. 

Bulgogi Tukbegi

Ya Rae Hyang - Senopati [Revisited] (somewhat)

If you guys still remember, we visited Ya Rae Hyang, a Korean Restaurant in Gading Batavia around half a year ago - check the post right here. 

This time, we visited the other place in Senopati, which is located very close to Mu Gung Hwa - A Korean mart that sells Korean food ingredients (a very cool place, you should check it out). 

Finding this place in Jalan Senayan No.16 is a bit difficult - it is situated right next to a clinic or some sort but there is no very large sign of it. Simply put - if Mu Gung Hwa Korean supermarket is on your left - you have passed it and need to turn around. 

Our objective this time was to simply eat Jajangmyeon - to see whether the taste and quality is consistent, and as well to fulfill our craving at that time. 

Serene little place

Otel Lobby - Rasuna Epicentrum

One of our latest experience were quite close to home, and it was on Valentine's day .

Otel Lobby has been here for quite some time but we haven't got the chance  to actually visit and try. We'd been told that the place is expensive, but again sometimes there is a price to pay for quality food (as we have proven from time to time) and this time we're giving this place a try.

Why the suitcases, though?

This place has quite a nice ambience to it - ideal for hanging out and chilling. Would work perfectly for a date night out, although we predict this place could be more crowded in certain days.

Sisterfields Cafe - Seminyak, Bali

What is special about Bali nowadays is the fact that there are lots of places where you can enjoy delicious brunch, especially in Seminyak.

One of the coolest place that we've visited is called Sisterfields Cafe. It is a very cozy place, comfortable, and with ample of space which will never give you a very crowded feeling. It is like a mix of a diner and cafe in my opinion. It is already been quite famous as one of the must-visit place for brunch, so of course we decided to give it a try. 

Incoming - Korean Food from South Korea!

Surprise surprise!

The Tongue Pleaser will be heading towards South Korea in a month with one goal : Trying all the delicious Korean street foods.

Wish us luck and a big stomach! Tongues will be pleased, for sure. 

Biku - Seminyak, Bali

Being tea freaks, we always look for an opportunity to have a wonderful tea time together. However, we couldn't have imagined that such opportunity would come up in Bali, where you would expect people to enjoy overpriced western food or very spicy rice dishes.

Biku is conveniently located in Seminyak (where, as you know, is the trendiest place in Bali as of now) and it is decorated with such an authentic Balinese feel. There is no air conditioning or whatever, but still enjoyable. 

When you enter, on the left hand corner there will be a small classical bookshop (which I think is intended for you to buy and enjoy the book there). Going further inside, and there is a tarot reading desk,and I heard that you have to make an appointment for the tarot reading.

Tarots aside, we decided to try their tea set. We ordered the Traditional Afternoon Tea, with Biku classic tea as the tea of choice. The restaurant offers a various range of teas, so you don't have to worry about not finding one that won't suit you. 

The tea set is accompanied with a set of small bites that are definitely simple and godly : sandwich with ham, cucumber, and smoked salmon as the savory bites, and two pieces of scones and a few other sweets on top. All of these cost Rp 105K, but definitely worth it. It gives a slightly different experience compared with TWG. 

 Furthermore, another must try would be the Signature Beef Pie. The size of the pie is large enough to leave you fulfilled in the afternoon. The taste is very fresh and delicious, the filling is perfect, and the crust is having just about the right thickness. While eating with ketchup doesn't sound to classy, you should probably try it. This little gem here costs you Rp 60 K as of 2014. 

Of course there are other things to be tried, however we didn't have the stomach capacity. Definitely will make a revisit once in Bali.

Warning : Do make reservation the day or two days before. It is always full even when it's not on holiday season.

Biku Bali

Jl. Petitenget 88, Kerobokan

0361-8570888

Cafe Bali - Seminyak, Bali

Staying in Seminyak can only result in a very interesting culinary adventure. 

There were plenty of western food options around Seminyak, and it's not possible to actually visit them one by one unless your budget is virtually unlimited. Thus, during our latest trip to Bali, we decided to simply try a few most recommended places there. 

We started one of our days by having a brunch in Cafe Bali, Seminyak. It is a very pleasant place and relatively quiet - a somewhat serene place amongst the Seminyak crowd.

We were the first few visitors in that rainy morning - and the place does seem more enjoyable when it's quiet. 

Let's get started with the meal. We had a very simple breakfast which only consists of Eggs Florentine (one Salmon and one regular), Croissant, and Fricadelle (Pork sausage). 

The croissant is..just wow It is what you would expect from a good croissant - very soft, texture is just right, and the taste is close to perfect- Rp 15K for the croissant and think it's a relatively good value considering the size and the taste. 

Sausage was just sausage though, and it was not too fancy .However it's quite delicious and also worth a try although the portion is relatively small - quite pricey for Rp 43 K. 

The eggs florentine is delicious and the eggs were poached perfectly - with enough hollandaise sauce to compliment the bread and the eggs. Simple and fulflling breakfast yet very delicious - we do  recommend to try the florentine. Regular florentine costs Rp 25K and the salmon one is Rp 45 K - not bad I guess. I'd rather order another florentine than the sausage though. 

They also have much more variety on their menu and their breakfast is pretty much all day - you won't miss a single minute. 

Address : Jl. Laksmana, Seminyak, Bali

Phone : 0361736484

Warung Satria - Bali

In the last few months, we decided to up our game in terms of our culinary experience. Being a culinary traveler like we always do, we ended up having more pictures of our food than of ourselves. Doesn't matter though!

We would like to start with a very down-to-earth place called Warung Satria, Bali. Originally, we wanted to come to one of the more popular ones. Instead, we were suggested that this one is worth a try and might be better suited to our taste, so we were like, why not?

 Besides, it is said that this place has been around for decades, so we assumed that they must be serving good stuff!

When we came, this place was not crowded - in fact we were the only guests. That however didn't stop us from trying the Nasi Campur Bali in this place. In fact, that was the only thing that we ordered (we have no idea whether they sell anything else or not, and to be honest, we didn't care). 

Jamie's Italian - Vivo City HarbourFront Walk Singapore

We went to Singapore a month ago and decided that this trip shall be a trip for culinary purposes - thus we decided to forget about weight loss for a while and have a go with anything delicious. 

One of the few interesting places that we visited is Jamie's Italian in Vivo City Mall in HarbourFront. We've just finished our exciting trip in Universal Studios and, after spending a long time walking and queuing, we decided that it is a good idea to enjoy a nice food once in a while. 

It's a very interesting place located just next to the harbor with a very nice view of the surroundings. Definitely the kind of environment you'd like to enjoy to chill out - and a nice place for a cup of coffee. 

However, it is clear that we are not here for any coffee at all - we want something Italian!

We ordered one appetizer and two pasta since we were relatively hungry at that time.

We start with the Baked Mushrooms - which is Swiss browns with crispy “music bread” & smoked buffalo mozzarella as explained in the menu. 

The mushrooms taste relatively fresh, however the bread underneath is somewhat soggy and the overall taste is somewhat bland - too bad.

One of the pasta we ordered was the Truffle Tagliatelle. Now, this stuff here is very amazing and rich in flavour. The truffle gives a very extravagant flavor and aroma, with just enough sauce to make it tasty and moist. This is a definite must-try when you're visiting the restaurant. 

Next is the Pappardelle with Meatball. The pappardelle is rather unique with a wiggly shape - which actually gave it a rather interesting texture once eaten. The sauce is rich and fresh, and the meatball is also quite juicy - this is also a must try in the restaurant. 

All in all, we spent around 80-90 SGD for the whole experience and will definitely return there. While eating we saw other delicious meals, and we might just want to give some of them a try in the future - after all, this is Jamie Oliver's restaurant.

Address : 1 Harbourfront Walk, #1-165-167 VivoCity, Singapore 098585

Ninety Nine

Living in close proximity to Lotte Shopping Avenue gives me the comfort of trying out lots of things. One of the places I have tried recently is Ninety-Nine Restaurant, located at the lower ground floor next to Ranch Market. I've read some reviews on this place and it seems that it serves a lots of cuisine types, including Indonesian. 

Therefore, we decided to give it a shot for a light dinner (or that was the plan). Pictured below is the premise, not too crowded, but populated enough for us to enjoy the ambience.

We begin with the appetizer which is the Rustique Tomato Soup. Unexpectedly, this turns out to be really fresh and authentic. The tanginess and the rich tomato flavor do well to please the tongue. Texture-wise, it is rather smooth but still has a sparse amount of tomato chunks here and there. The basil on top also enriches the existing flavor. 

 Next one is the Lasagna. A very classic Italian dish, yet always being served differently according to the interpretation of the chefs. 

For this one, it is served with some greens on top and,as you can see on the left hand side some cheese is melting out. While the overall presentation might not be the key focus of this dish, we find that this dish is very tongue pleasing as well. Good combination of sauces inside, and the bachamel is not too thick. While both of us are committed cheese lovers, we find that this version of lasagna is good enough, although it can actually use a bit more salt with it.

 Just for fun, we decided to cut it open and took a picture of the layers inside. As you can see it is not too thick, and it's just right for those who wants to eat lightly. 

The last one is the Dory Fillet, served with tomato rice. The crunchiness of the Dory Fillet s just perfect and the rice gives you the opportunity to fulfill yourself. As you can see below, it is served with some capers, which might not be to everyone's liking (I like it though, it reminds me of black olives)

With two servings of tea, we spend Rp 293 K. The price is somewhat OK, considering the location and the taste. As we mentioned, this place serves multiples cuisines and we'll definitely be coming back to try more. Perhaps the Asian dishes? We'll see!

Ninety Nine Restaurant
www.ninetynine.co.id

Lotte Shopping Avenue
LG Floor 
Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio Kav. 3-5

Jakarta Selatan

Grand Indonesia Shopping Town
LG Floor East Mall
Jl. MH Thamrin No 1

Jakarta 10210

Ranch Market Building

2nd Floor

Jl. Pesanggrahan Raya No. 2

Jakarta Barat

Ya Rae Hyang - Gading Batavia - Jajangmyeon!

There is one Korean-Chiense fusion restaurant that we have been visiting for at least once a year, and that is Ya Rae Hyang, located in Gading Batavia, Kelapa Gading.

One of (and probably the only) the reasons why we visit this place is primarily to eat the jajangmyeon (Korean noodle with black bean sauce with pork). The premise is very homey and traditional - and quite unassuming. Takes quite a while to find it the first time. Last time we came here, it was for dinner, and many Koreans were eating. I assume that this place is more to the authentic part rather than some of the 'localized' versions of Korean food.

Also, this place is probably one of the few Korean restaurants that offer Jajangmyeon in Jakarta, thus this is like a very rare gem that needs to be cherished.

LaCroazia Pizza Bakar - Gading Serpong

Real life has been crazy, so I haven't got time to go anywhere unique let alone blogging. 

If you noticed, recent posts have been about Italian foods and Pizza in particular. I would like to warn you that the this one is again about pizza. 

However, this place is not some luxury Italian stuff or even some fine dining. This is a place at a ruko in Gading Serpong, called LaCroazia, a humble, homey-styled Pizza where you can just simply sit down, eat, and chill just like in a neighborhood premise. 

The business have been operating for 7 months as of now, and there have been lots of good reviews about this place, therefore I decided to travel all the way (and got lost of course) to Gading Serpong just to visit this place.

Here's a glimpse of the premise. 

Sopra Italian Restaurant

So we went to this somewhat visible restaurant in Pacific Place in which it always seems like the place has very minimal lighting. We read some good and bad reviews, so we thought we'll give it a try.

Sopra is located at the 2nd floor of Pacific Place near one of the escalators. From the outside, it does look like a very high end place and suitable for dating or family gatherings.

When we arrived, it wasn't too crowded and in fact when we left there were a few seats left, so you might not need to book first although it is always good to do so. 

Rosso Italian Restaurant Shangri-La Jakarta

We had the opportunity to participate in the Eat Jakarta food festival (or whatever you call it) and decided to book one of the most widely acclaimed Italian Restaurant in Jakarta - Rosso. 

Located in Shangrila Hotel, one of the most prestigious hotel in town, the place is decorated elegantly with red colours, as the name suggests. It was not too crowded, although advance booking is recommended. The seating arrangement can be suited for all occasion - we obviously picked the corner spot as we were - of course - on a dinner date. 

Ootoya Japanese Restaurant

We admit that we're a bit sensitive on authenticity of foods - especially when they represent a certain culture or countries.

That is why we came to Ootoya. While it's not a newcomer, we think not many people had the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate this one-of-a-kind Japanese restaurant. It's not your typical sushi bar, ramen place, or even beef bowl. It provides authenticity and true Japanese cuisine. 

School Food Blooming Mari - Lotte Shopping Avenue

This place has been around for quite some time, and yet I only had the opportunity to go there just a few weeks ago. We have heard that they have one of the best Ddeokbokki (Korean Rice Cake) in town, so we thought this might be worth a visit.

Anyway, it is said that the name is derived from the fact that the food served are the typical school canteen food you can find in Korea. The place itself is well designed and not too crowded for a Saturday lunch. A nice dating spot  - if dating with spicy ddeokbokki is your thing. 

Coco Ichibanya Curry House - Grand Indonesia

We found this place completely by accident while looking for another store, and decided to try it anyway. 

Coco Curry is located on the 4th floor (3A, actually) of Grand Indonesia, next to Disc Tarra. With the bright yellow signs and lighting, you really can't miss it. It's a very nice place and have a really nice vibe with it. The franchise is actually one of the biggest curry house from Japan and is widely acclaimed to be having the best curry. 

For me it's up to personal judgement as curries tend to give a similar experience. However, there are some things which may make several differences.