Churreria Spanish Chocolateria, Grand Indonesia Mall

I'm a chocolate addict. There's no denying it. I gave up denying it a long time ago. I gave up worrying about it all going to my hips. Heck, I've eaten so much chocolate it's gone to hips, bum, thighs...need I go on? Whatever, the enjoyment factor far outweighs any misgivings about the consumption of this glorious food. So, when I was in Grand Indonesia Mall and suddenly found myself passing a Spanish Chocolateria...well one can simply not just keep walking. A swift turn was necessary and a table sought out. This cafe offers a wide range of chocolate items from hot chocolate to ice chocolate drinks, chocolate desserts and then there are the churros. For anyone not in the know...

A churro, sometimes referred to as a Spanish doughnut, is a fried‑dough pastry—predominantly choux—based snack. Churros are popular in Spain, France, the Philippines, Portugal, Latin America and the United States. Wikipedia

So, how to say no to a plate of these? We ordered the deluxe churros which consisted of 6 pieces and a choice of two dips. You could have the churros coated with icing sugar or cinnamon sugar. I thought the cinnamon sugar sounded perfect. For the dips, I went with dark chocolate and dulce de leche (there was also milk chocolate and white chocolate). In my opinion, Caramel + chocolate = perfection! And it was the perfect choice. The dark chocolate was divine and when no-one was looking you could do a double dip and have your churros coated with it and the dulce de leche. This made a perfect afternoon tea coupled with a nice hot cappuccino. I would have liked the cappuccino a bit bigger (especially for the price at Rp. 35,000) but it was hot and not too much froth. Next time, I would like to try some of the chocolate drinks as they did sound rather tantalising. Yes, my friends, I am not too slowly but surely eating my way around Jakarta and yes, I have the thighs, bum and hips to show for it!

Canteen at Aksara, Pacific Place

Ok, so I know there seems to be an emerging pattern here...that all my things to do in Jakarta revolve around food. Honestly, that's pretty much the reality here. I think most people spend their free time hanging out in shopping malls and either shopping, eating or having coffee and cake. Believe me, you just don't want to be spending a huge amount of time in the outdoors here. Especially at the moment when it seems to be extra hot.

Anyway, today I am able to bring you something a little extra with the food - books! Yes, one of my favourite past times is ambling around bookshops, perusing the titles, reading the backs and seeing what other trinkets might be on offer. Aksara doesn't disappoint. Along with the books it has a beautiful range of trinkets on offer from vintage inspired wrapping paper to photo frames. You could easily pass an hour or more here just taking everything in. I like to take my time in bookshops so I could easily spend longer. Then of course with all that time spent perusing and ambling you find you have built up an appetite. What do you know, they have an on-site cafe for you to rest your feet and fill your tummy! The cafe is called Canteen and the seats are placed in the front of the bookshop. It's a great spot for people watching as there is a steady stream of people passing by. The menu has a wide range of fare with pizzas, pasta and meat dishes. However, on ordering we were informed that a number of items weren't available. I never find this a good start. I ordered chicken cordon bleu and was pleasantly surprised when it came. The chicken was a decent portion coated in breadcrumbs as was very generously stuffed with cheese and ham. It was placed on a salad and there was a wonderful mound of mashed potatoes served with a rich mushroom gravy. It was delicious and I polished off the lot. Not a single drop left. For dessert, there was only one that was screaming out my name - the chocolate fondant, otherwise known as a chocolate lava cake. This was outrageously delicious! Yes outrageously! The chocolate used was of a good quality because I could taste the richness. When I put my spoon into it, the soft liquid spilled out in all it's glory. The lovely caramelised sugar fan had a nice burnt sweetness to it and it was brought together nicely by the toffee sauce and nuts. I'm coming back just for another one of these...and for some perusing and ambling too, of course!

Don't you just love it when...

...someone comes up with really great cheap alternatives! Spotted today in the pharmacy. Oh, all you silly ladies who handed out heaps of cash for implants...really, you should have just moved to Jakarta!

Keep your eyes open for...

...the unexpected. I'm a big fan of graffiti. There is something so raw and urban about street art. It's a wonderful expression of individuality and in many cases enhances the nature of the street as opposed to defacing it as many who are against it believe. Spotted this above McDonalds in Kemang...reminds me of work by Banksy. Will have to keep my eyes open for other works of art around the city...

Anomali Coffee, Kemang

Sundays for me are always lazy days...last day of the week before having to start back to work again on Monday so often I feel the need to do nothing and just lounge around at home. Other times I like to have a gentle meander around Kemang in South Jakarta. Kemang is a very trendy area of Jakarta full of restaurants, bars and boutiques. It is generally an area much visited by the expatriate community as many live in the area or nearby. Kemang has a nice vibe and it feels like the kind of place you want to be on a Sunday. Today, we decided to drop into Anomali Coffee. From the outside, you are not quite sure if it is a cafe or a workshop as the window displays some heavy duty machinery and piled up sacks. 

When you get inside, the interior is dark and mysterious with dim lighting, dark stairwells and brick work for the walls. It feels more like an underground hideout than a coffee shop.

I ordered a cappuccino, even though it was stinking hot outside, but I needed to get a real taste of the coffee.

I'm very taken with the fact that the coffee is 100% Indonesian here. I like businesses that support their own produce. It's definitely something to be proud of and this can be seen by the fact that they print this information on the side of each cup. My cappuccino was good, the coffee was rich and aromatic and not too milky. There was a decent amount of froth on top but not too much to make me feel like I was only getting a half cup of coffee. Next time I'm here I'd like to buy some of their ground coffee to use in my percolator that should be reaching any day now. I was particularly taken with the fact that their ground coffee on sale was from all over Indonesia and I'd love some Flores coffee as I particularly enjoyed the brews I had when I was there... So if you like a good strong cup of joe and giving support to local produce definitely give Anomali Coffee a try...

Colette & Lola, Senopati

When you live in a crazy city like Jakarta and you have to deal with heat, traffic, overcrowding and general craziness, I believe in order to survive you must treat yourself. A special little treat on a weekly basis will ensure you hold on to whatever sanity you might have had to begin with before you set foot off the plane. Well, Colette & Lola would be one of those places you must consider going for a treat. With the tag line 'cakes & dreams' one feels as you push the cupcake shaped handle of this cake shop that there lies a world of gastronomical delights inside.

The interior certainly doesn't disappoint. I felt like a 5 year old in a candy store as I was tickled with pastel pinks, blues, yellows and greens. The shelves are covered with baking treasures and trinkets and I felt the need to pick up everything and touch it. 

We were handed a menu, but told that only soft drinks and water were available. No problem. If I want coffee I will go to a cafe. I'm here for the cake and want to savour every mouthful, not have it overpowered or washed away with swigs of coffee. We went with the bottle of water.

There was a decent selection of cakes to choose from that included individual cakes, cupcakes and macarons. We settled on 'My Lady Grey', 'Bittersweet Love' and 'Oreo Cake'.

The cakes were priced at around Rp.28,000 and above. Unfortunately, I can't give you exact numbers as hubby paid and then threw away the receipt.

First up was 'My Lady Grey' a delicious mousse and sponge cake infused with the subtle taste of Lady Grey tea. I personally adore Earl Grey and Lady Grey tea so this really tickled my taste buds. I've made Eary Grey cupcakes before and loved the infusion of the tea in the sponge. This had enough of the taste of tea. The addition of the chocolate topping and the chocolate sponge in the middle of the mousse was perfect. 

Next up was 'Bittersweet Love' a chocolate tart with a biscuit base and a chocolate ganache filling. This was probably my least favourite. The biscuit base was a little dry and hard when it was first served up (maybe because it had just come out of the fridge?) but I would have liked the base a little more moist. It was actually starting to come away from the tart at one point and we all know that all good tarts should keep their important bits together....

Finally, there was the Oreo Cake. This was very appetising with its soft chocolate sponge base and creamy Oreo topping that had bits of soft Oreo biscuit going through it. This was probably my favourite of the three.

The owners of this cake shop are also the owners of Kitchenette, which I reviewed not so long ago. They are called Ismaya Group and they own a number of eateries around the city. I particularly like the way in the two places I have been so far they make visiting their establishments a whole dining experience. So, it's not just the food but also the decor, the ambiance, and the mood. For me, that is the direction eating out is moving towards - a whole dining experience. This shop has definitely created a unique experience, highlighted by the queues outside for a table on a daily basis. I know I will definitely be back to sample some of the other goodies I saw on display...don't you think you deserve a treat, too?

Back to normality...

Remember I took that photo of empty roads...during the end of the Islamic month of fasting? Guess what? Those days are over and the city has returned to a state of normality. Normality being insane traffic. You know that time...usually around 5 - 5.30pm when you have finished work and you really want to be on your way home quickly. Not here. Not in Jakarta. 5 - 5.30pm is the time when you absolutely DON'T want to be anywhere near the road. Do something else...stop for coffee, grab a drink, devour a cake, do anything but be on the road. Do I listen to my own advice? Obviously not! Photo below taken today at 5.30pm. An unending snake of motorbikes and cars stretched before me. When will I ever learn?

Waroeng Waluma, Kebayoran Baru

I love it when you stumble upon a place and it completely takes you by surprise. I had passed this warung a few times and it looked just like a regular middle range place to eat. Its not particularly inviting from the outside or even all that noticeable. However, due to its proximity to work I thought it was about time to have a closer look. 

I was pleasantly surprised on entry with the simple decor consisting of mismatched wooden furniture and vintage suitcases. The walls were dotted with amusing signs and there were some blank interestingly framed blackboards...they do need to write something up there - either specials for the day or some quirky proverbs!

The real surprise came when I walked to the back and came into a outdoor area that was filled with greenery and rays of sunlight. The whole vibe here reminded me of being in restaurants in Bali. 

I ordered a standard favourite of mine - mee goreng or fried noodles. I was very pleased when they took my order that they asked how spicy I would like the food as well as how I would like my egg done. When the noodles came the portion was very generous and the noodles were good and extremely satisfying. They were also good value priced at Rp. 30,000. A further surprise came when I flicked to the 'cocktails' section of the menu and saw the prices... Rp. 45,000 for a mojito! Really? Anyone living here knows that alcoholic beverages generally cost an arm and a leg and then maybe even your other leg, so any place offering reasonably priced drinks is worth making a second home. As I had to return to work, I could not partake today in any of the drinks but I will be back for some after work drinks very soon. The staff also informed us that the restaurant also has live music on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm onwards which will certainly add even more to the overall ambiance of the place. If you are in the Kebayoran Baru area, this place is definitely worth a visit!

The back end of a Bajaj...

Could there possible be anything worse in this city than the vile and belching bajaj? A horrendous three-wheeled attempt at public transportation that just sputters out toxic fumes wherever it goes. Needless to say, pulling up behind one on a motorbike at the traffic light is guaranteed to shorten your life span by a couple of years...would someone please pass a law here that prevents these environment destroying tin cans from ever setting wheels on the road again!

The bountiful Bali Deli...

So excited...Bali Deli has just reopened in Jakarta. So excited because it is Bali Deli - which used to be one of my most favourite places to go for coffee and cake in Bali. I had an ongoing love affair with their lamington square that meant I just had to keep coming back for more. I especially enjoyed sitting in the outdoor garden at the back of the restaurant. So, you can imagine my joy when passing through Blok M, I saw a large banner dangling next to the Pasaraya sign saying that there was a branch of the very same shop now housed inside the building. Wasting no time, I stopped for a visit. The supermarket is located in the basement and to be honest, this doesn't bother me at all now because pretty much everything that is anything is located in a mall here. The interiors were lovely with wooden feature walls and tiled floors. I must admit that I am a sucker for supermarkets. I could quite happily spend hours perusing the aisles and digging out all the hidden treasures that line the shelves. I love to cook and eat and so shelf upon shelf of imported delights can hold my attention span for hours! The price, however, does not hold my attention span quite so intensely and the only downside about being in supermarkets in Jakarta is that items that I would be able to purchase rather reasonably in other parts of the world cost a small fortune here. I'm talking in particular here, about cheese and chocolate. Small fortune. No kidding. Anyway, back to Bali Deli and I am happy to report that shelves are very well stocked and with many delights I remember from Bali. There is a decent cheese and butcher section too. The fruit and vegetables are displayed on what look like stalls and it gives a nice outdoor market feel to the supermarket. Surprisingly, when comparing prices, there were many items for sale that were priced cheaper than other popular supermarket chains here. This is excellent news for the supermarket junky in me!

Needless to say, I held my breath walking into the bakery waiting to see if they had decided to share their delightful Lamingtons with the population of Jakarta. Of course, they had and one was ordered straight away and accompanied by a cappuccino from the cafe. The menu at the cafe has a wide variety of dishes on offer and I definitely want to go back to try a few especially as prices are very reasonable.

I will definitely be getting a regular dose of Bali Deli and looking forward to trawling for treasures on its many shelves...

Penang Bistro, Pakubowono

So, I grew up in Asia and dishes like nasi goreng, sate ayam and mee soto roll off my tongue like other people might say cheese and pickle sandwich. I adore South East Asian food. It is a cuisine that is bursting with flavours and influences. Today, it had to be Penang Bistro for lunch. They specialise in Malaysian cuisine and as I grew up for many years in Singapore this is a cuisine that provides a huge amount of comfort to my soul when I eat it. Top of this list would be roti canai (or roti prata, as it is more commonly known in Singapore). This dish consists of a crispy Indian type of flatbread served with a curry. You break off pieces of the bread, dip them in the curry and then devour shamelessly. What could be better? The roti canai at Penang Bistro lives up to every expectation. When you receive your dish, the roti canai is a very generous serving, folded in half and taking up most of the plate. It is crispy in some parts and soft in others. The accompanying curry is rich and full of flavour. Perfect! Actually the roti canai is almost enough on its own if you are not ridiculously hungry. 

If you are, there is a wide selection of traditional Malaysian dishes to choose from including nasi lemak, laksa and claypot curry. Today I wanted to try the mock mutton curry. It is vegetarian and the mock mutton is made from mushrooms, cooked in such a wickedly clever way that you wouldn't really miss the fact that it's not meat. The texture is so similar and yet the pieces of mock mutton are soft and juicy. The dish comes with fried bread on the side. Although the fried bread is rather oily it does go well with the curry and you can dip your bread in to soak up any excess curry. I imagine, however, that just uncooked sliced bread would be equally as satisfying and less calories. 

Not only is the food at Penang Bistro of a deliciously high standard, the decor is simple and elegant and there is always clientele filling the place with a happy buzz that can only come from satisfied stomachs. There is a fantastic aroma of green tea wafting through the restaurant that comes from a burner hidden away in a discreet corner. It creates a relaxing ambiance that you just don't want to leave.

I would thoroughly recommend lunch or dinner at Penang Bistro. They have a number of branches throughout the city. The menu is so extensive that you will find yourself wanting to come back again and again in order to sample another Malaysian delicacy...

Out of this world sugar...

It was only when I arrived in Indonesia that I first saw sugar in block form. I remember going to the market in Bali and seeing these smooth blocks of brown sugar shaped like half spheres and learnt that they were coconut palm sugar. They looked so delicious with their rich brown colour. The brown sugar here tastes entirely different to brown sugar back home. It somehow seems more earthy and rich here and looks much less processed. So recently in the supermarket I spotted this jar...it's called 'gula semut' which literally translates as 'ant sugar' but I think te real reason for that is the fact that it is being sold ground up as opposed to in it's block form. This sugar is flavoured with vanilla and is 100% organic, which generally makes me feel like I'm having a healthier spoonful or two of sugar (yeah, right!) Nevertheless, the truth about this sugar is that I don't care if it's healthy or not because a couple of spoonfuls of this in my coffee in the morning sends my mediocre cup of coffee over the top. The sugar makes it aromatic and rich with that hint of vanilla flavour coming through. Who needs Starbucks when I can create a delicious cup of joe with this stuff right here...

Variety is the spice of life...

One of my favourite sights in the supermarket - rows upon rows of different bottled chilli sauce. It's just deciding which one to choose that poses the biggest challenge...

MONAS...

No trip to Jakarta would be complete without a visit to MONAS, the National Monument. It is a 433 foot tower that symbolises the fight for Indonesia. It is especially lively on the weekends, when the surrounding area comes alive with stalls, food sellers and magic trick makers, to name but a few...

Don't you just love it when...

...the person doing the packaging has a kickass sense of humour!

Spotted on sale in a local mini-mart. Genius!

Waroeng Kita, Plaza Senayan

Absolutely love eating at this restaurant. I've been more than a few times and every time I have been served decent quality, tasty food. The menu consists of traditional Betawi dishes. Betawi, for those who wish to know and according to Wikipedia are...

...the descendants of the people living around Batavia (the colonial name for Jakarta) from around the 17th century.^[1] The Betawis are mostly descended from various Southeast Asian ethnic groups such as Malay, Sundanese, Javanese,Balinese, Minang, Bugis, Makassar, Ambonese, mixed with foreign ethnic groups such as Portuguese, Dutch, Arab, Chinese and Indian brought to or attracted to Batavia to meet labour needs, including people from various parts of Indonesia. They have a culture and language distinct from the surrounding Sundanese andJavanese. The Betawis are known for their music, traditions and food as well as being overtly Islamic, egalitarian, their short temper, directness and their openness to others.

Their cuisine is truly delightful featuring such well known dishes as karedok, ketoprak, soto betawi, nasi bogana and many others. The dishes are full of flavour and never fail to satisfy. What I particularly like about this restaurant is that they ask you when you plae your order if you want the food spicy or not. This ensures no surprise chilli bombing of the tastebuds and really enables you to have mouthful after mouthful of tasty local delights. So far, I have tried both the karedok and ketoprak ad both have been very satisfying. The peanut sauce was delicious and the vegetables in the karedok were crisp and fresh. I've also had the mie goreng jawa which was delicious. My only complaint being I wanted a bigger serving! The soto ayam was very comforting with its steaming broth and decent helping of chicken. Unfortunately my ability to take photos of the food was hindered by my greediness to gobble down what was placed in front of me. Shame on me! However to finish up the meal I particularly enjoy a pot of teh poci which is served with sugar crystals and in a traditional earthenware teapot. Lunch or dinner at this restaurant is a must, with it's reasonable prices and beautiful wooden furnishings. Just try not to stuff yourself with krupuk heaped in the basket on the table. Believe me, one packet is never enough!

Who needs Venice...

...when its all going on right here in Jakarta!