A Tavola Kemang : Italian? Definitely (Maybe).

I've heard of praises prior to coming here, but it all tears down the soonest I enter the place on Sunday afternoon and find no patrons there. There were only one waitress to do all the job, including printing bills from behind the till. (Hey that rhymes!)

Few scenarios run in my head. I pulled out my occasional not-so-sure-about-your-place-but-I-wanna-see-what-you-have trick.

"May I have a look at your menu first?" 

A quick glance, still with doubts, but I say to myself : no harm in trying. My usual drill in an Italian restaurant is to order the two dish that represent the country the most: Pizza and Pasta. Lucky my friends are all with me and everyone picked a different menu.

Here's what was on our table:

Pizza Con Pepperoni (60k)
Shameful. Not only that the bread was hard to chew, when we let it air for 10-15 minutes it slowly deteriorates into something close to biscuit. Let's not go to the meat and cheese shall we? They are equally uninteresting as the bread.

Chicken Cordon Blu (Pardon me, forgot the price)
This saved my friends' belly from more pizza torture. A decent roll of meat, served warm, enough creamy sauce. Not something worth of honorary mention though. By the way, I'd appreciate if you could tone down the grated cheese. As you'll notice along the way, they are a little too serious in showing of their cheese to the point of almost ruining the taste. Because everything taste similar now.

Spaghetti Al Pesto (28k)
I personally would recommend this. Cooked al dente with the complementing basil & pine sauce, I needed nothing more to satisfy my tastebuds. Simplicity at its best.

Beef Lasagna (55k)
Another promising menu saved by the beef. But distracted by the cheese (again).

Fettuccine Con Prosciutto (40k)
Well cooked pasta. Cream based sauce was fascinating as well. I have no complains but the unnecessary reappearance of the grated cheese (again for the third time!).

Torta Di Cioccolato (30k)
Thank God they didn't pour cheese on this one. Probably the best thing that happened that afternoon. Not the best warm chocolate cake in town though. What makes it inferior to the one at Spageddies is probably the choice of chocolate. I just like their richness better.

At the end of the day, I probably should have listened to this review instead, or pay more attention to my gut feeling. I have no disappointment though. The meal was a lot more enjoyable with good friends around, they made it worth the while.

This is also a lesson to you Biters. If you have been coming to this site, lets not forget the written review while mesmerized by the photos. Read it paragraph by paragraph. Not everything that looks good is delectable. Same with food, same with women.

Cheers,

Fellexandro Ruby
Food & Travel Photographer / Storyteller


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A Tavola
Jl. Kemang Selatan Raya No. 125
Jakarta.
Ph: 021-71793580

Gastro Alley PIK : It All Comes Down To The Food

All the fancy decor, the money spent on interior design, the branding concept, the logo, the high end music station, the fancy plates, knives and spoons won't matter in the end. Because in the end, it all comes down to the food.

Sure, we appreciate beautiful well crafted comfort. We understand you need something to attract people to your place. But more often that not, these supporting acts are put on the main stage, while the food become somewhat an additional side show just cameo-ing the place.

It's what's happening in most restaurants in PIK. As a resident nearby, I find it hard to get good food. There's only a handful of decent ones. I'm glad to add one more to that noteworthy list: Gastro Alley. Not only that they pay attention to the ambience but more importantly they take their food seriously. Spend a few minutes and chat with the chef / owner than you'll capture the immense passion behind every dish he created.

Here's a few of what I tasted on his invitation the other day:

Cola Chicken Wings (IDR 37k)
See the beautifully glazed skin? That's the work of sugar sweetened soy and coke. While the flesh might not weight that much, but the flavor is an acceptable trade off.

Mushroom Soup (IDR 31k) & Clam Chowder (IDR 33k)
Both soups did a good job appetizing the tastebuds. On a detailed note, the first one was wonderful with the coarse-grounded tidbits of shrooms and the truffle oils is the cherry on top. A tidy bit salty to my liking though. While the clam chowder, is a smoother option in both texture and flavor.

Penne Vodka (IDR 49k) & Spaghetti Bolognaise (IDR 47k)
Again, the earlier is somewhat superior to the latter. The touch of vodka into the tomato, cream, & cheese sauce made it stand out to the already al-dente pasta.

Terrific Wagyu Tender Steak (IDR 169k) & Serious Wagyu Sirloin Steak (IDR 139k)
This is what I would recommend if you have an extra cash in your wallet. Both steak are cooked just on the right edge of medium. Juicy with all the goodness of a beef, texture-wise and flavor-wise. Sous-vide cooked rarely goes wrong I suppose. The tenderloin however is a personal favorite of mine. I love the experimental nature of this dish with the addition of melon slices. Surprisingly it matches the meat well when eaten together. Have it as it is or mix it with the mushroom / red wine sauce.

Classic Burger (IDR 53k) & Gastro Burger (IDR 56k) 
I kinda forgot which is which, but they are equally good. Remember our mantra? When in doubt ... Get both! ;)

Espresso Creme Brulee (IDR 39k) & Cheesecake (IDR 40k)
If you fancy the kind of dessert that's not too sweet, this is tailored for you. Cheesecake made intentionally to bring out the cheese more than the sugar. With the texture that's coarser and less dense than the common cheesecake, it is yet another twist from the chef. The creme brulee was a miss though.  It was so watery due to a slight change in recipe by the sous-chef. I guess Gastro's kitchen is just made that way, its more play than work in there.

Well as you might have noticed from the fine print, things that are good does come with a price tag. Some might be fine with it, but they are not for daily consumption for most people. I rest that case for you to decide.

I look forward to more of foodplace like Gastro Alley in PIK. The one that would rather put a menu off the list temporarily just because they're best supplier for quality lemon is out of stock. The one that would take into considerations the amount of calories, mix of flavor and texture before devising a menu. And finally the one that would value honest opinion from the patrons rather than a sugarcoated comment. Because of one reason, that it all comes down to the food.

Signing off, tune in to my tweets @Wanderbites.

Fellexandro Ruby
Food storyteller & photographer

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Casa Kemang : A Home Away From Home

Imagine an intimate space resembling your living room, with the complimentary comfort of lounge sofa and eye-pleasing Herman Miller chairs. A home away from home. A place where I could sit at one of relaxing corner, and simply read, write, and get inspired. Come here in the afternoon nearing sunset and you'll get what I mean.

Casa at the top floor of Aksara Kemang has started to hold a special place in my heart after a few visit. Not only because of the creative wavelength that it conveys for photographers and writers like me, but also the selection of food that it caters. Rarely do I meet a foodplace that serves a range of culinary treat from local nasi goreng to Italian pasta and present it equally well. 

At this particular occasion, I happened to taste a variety of flavor which I find quite satisfactory. For those who love details like I do, let me take you through it. For quickie fetished, I wouldn't mind you simply drooling over the pictures. ;) 

The very first two menu that always came to my mind is their Javanese Oxtail Fried Rice (IDR 65.000) and Baked Nachos with Guacamole & Jalapeno (IDR 45.000). The earlier because of its flavorsome fried rice served at the right warmth. The grilled oxtail easily complement the rice with each bites. While with the latter, it is a perfect snacking devices while having conversation about whatever with your food safari partner. 

Javanese Oxtail Fried Rice (IDR 65.000)

Baked Nachos with Jalapeno & Guacamole (IDR 45.000)

Ice Lychee Tea

On the runner up list are Salmon Teriyaki (IDR 75.000) and Banana Pannenkoek (IDR 45.000). As a dessert, something this sweet rarely fails me, the only set back if there was any probably was the cushy texture of the pancake and the banana that makes it rather one-dimensional on the tongue. However, if you ever only needed one dessert, I would surely recommend you their Chocolate Fondant  (IDR 45000) instead. Dip in the soft choux in the depth of melted chocolate, shatter in the sugar powder. As diabetic as it might sound, it is that good. 

Salmon Teriyaki with Rice (IDR 75.000)

Banana Pannenkoek (IDR 45.000)

Chocolate Fondant (IDR 45.000)

Bitten-proved by W! 

Here goes lazy reader, to sum up: inspiration-inducing ambience, great variety of food, good music and a lot of sunlight. Happiness is that simple. Take a visit, and tweet me what you think @Wanderbites. 

Cheers, 

Fellexandro Ruby 

Food Storyteller & Photographer

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CASA

Jalan Kemang Raya No. 8B 

Ph: 021-7199289

info@casajakarta.com

Twitter: @casa_kemang

Funky Gelato at Convivium : From Bacon to Strawberry Chilli

Ten outrageously uncommon flavor that you rarely found anywhere else. Weird and somewhat displeasing the first time I heard about it, but I was never hesitant. It captured the adventurous foodie in me. I was really intrigued on how they could pull it off. Plus, this could be a good wave to swallow the flooding rainbow cake fad.

Given the credence to do a quick photoshoot of them, I quickly grabbed the opportunity despite being a last minute assignment. It was one of the best decision I took, although I felt I could do a lot better if only my flash lights didn't fail on me. But better yet, here they are in order of my palate like-ability.

Squid Ink

I loved it for its daring flavor. I think just the thought of giving it a try and being able to pull it off deserve an applause. The color represent what the eyes expected and the taste was one of a kind. 

Earl Grey

For those who have tasted tea-infused macaron in TWG, then you'll get the idea. Its a similarly awesome personification of the famous tea. 

Lime Rosemary

The lime was at the right amount of sour and the subtle hint of rosemary at the back close it up with a refreshing natural flavor.

Red Velvet

I sincerely hope this would silence all the RVC hype. Red velvet cheesecake, red velvet cappucino, red velvet whatever. Probably one of the best rendition of the original idea. 

Strawberry Chili

I like how they keep the strong fruity strawberry flavor all around your palate and then somehow manage to bring out the chili only nearing that second you're about to swallow it. A little shock on the first bite, but those who fond of chili would easily fall in love with it. 

And the other remaining flavors are: Lychee, Bacon, Risotto Marscarpone, Orange Basil, Vanilla Balsamic. 

Don't get me wrong. Its not that I don't want to share how they tasted, I just feel like those five I mentioned are enough reason to move your ass, get going and give it a try before it became a hit and the next time you come around it will either always be unavailable or you would have to fight and wait for it for hours. 

My advice, hit it this weekend. Make it your Misi21. Especially if you've been bored having the same thing over and over again, this could be an eureka moment for you. Oh, and bring your friends around. It is a lot better to have it together with your loved ones. Not just because of the 70k Rupiah price tag but you most probably won't be able to finish it alone anyway. 

Let me know what you think. 

Ciao Bella, 

Fellexandro Ruby

Food Conversationalist & Photographer

Munch on my tweets @Wanderbites 

Downtown Bistro : A Mashup Of Flavor

Asian, European, American or Italian, from main course to dessert, this new kid on the block made quite a statement on its opening night. Lining up on a timely manner was a series of signature dishes expected to stood out among the long list of equally interesting menus. Some of them really strike a chord in me personally, while some others are possibly variety pleasers. If I were to rerun that night in my own terms, here's how it would be, menu by menu.

Yeas, I'd like to start from dessert please. Hands down, the George Pie and Sticky Toffee Date Pudding was a winner. Possibly on par with my favorite at Cork & Screw. The layers of thinly sliced apple brings out the sweet and sour to the surface, while the crust on the bottom adds a complementary texture.

George Pie (40k)

Sticky Toffee Date Pudding (35k)

My choice of mains will go to either one of these three. Mushroom Soup which was a great warming palette opener, served at the right temperature, although it was a bit on the salty end for me. Otherwise, it was tasty. George Steak cooked at medium rare making it effortlessly edible, despite of the strong seasoning. At some point, it was more Joko dan George. If you know what I mean. And the last of the herd, would be New York Breakfast. This is definitely something I'd like to come back for. One huge plateful of poached eggs, fried bacon, tomato & shrooms. You shall not be disappointed especially with the way they cooked the eggs almost flawlessly.

Wild Mushroom Soup (29k)

New York Breakfast (82k)

The George Steak (175k)

And if I still have a few rooms for more, I would venture their Chinese inspired Orange Chicken and Italian inspired Escargot Linguine Pesto. The former I reckon was appetizing with the saucing. While the latter showed a pleasing pasta. Visually appealing and one flavorful spicy meal.

Escargot Linguine Pesto (57k)

Orange Chicken (45k)

I must say I'm intrigued by Downtown Bistro and what's more to come from this foodplace. Other than the food, I enjoyed the atmosphere it creates with the library tables. I can see myself typing on my Macbook, spending a workday here while listening to the jazzy tunes in the background. Ain't that lovely?

Love and flavors,

Fellexandro Ruby
Food Conversationalist & Photographer

Munch on my tweets @Wanderbites =)

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Downtown Bistro
The Landmark Centre
Jl. Jendral Sudirman No. 1
Ph: 52960064

www.downtownjkt.com

The Goods Diner : Dine in, Chill out.

What happened if you gather an interior designer with relentless addiction towards chairs, a movie maker whose favorite movie is Oldboy, and a graphic designer who speaks as soft as a whisper?

A lively discussion that goes from religion to former Indonesian president.

And that's exactly what I love about dining out with a diverse crowd. The meeting of the minds or even the un-meeting of the minds. Conversation for me is an intangible ingredients that makes a meal. I'm glad that afternoon we had it sorted out. But how about the food? In one word, satisfactory. But if you're curious of discovering more, here's a detailed lookout of what we had.

Baileys Milkshake (55k)
Creamy, fulfilling milkshake, with what I think is not an original baileys. It tasted a bit off. However it did what it had to do. Refreshed my thirst in an instant, but ended up wanting some water to wash the sweet away.

Coffee Rubbed Burger (80k)
If you order this looking for a patty heavily infused with coffee then you must have the same expectation as I did. As it turned out, the coffee was there only on a very subtle hint, and mostly undermined by the soft, thick, and juicy beef patty. Those fond of American classics must find this to their liking.

Squid w/ Lemon Caper Sauce (45k)
This is when things get interesting. A plateful of fried squid with salty, buttery caper sauce, drizzled with lemons. The flavors are just right on this menu.

Portobello Mushroom (45k)
My second favorite of all. Thick fried portobello that gives a rather chunky crunch on the mouth. Added with the sour sauce. Good as an appetizer, or even as mains.

And to close with something sweet, we had a Red Velvet (50k), or in the words of their waiter "Red Pelpet". No joke. It's exactly what came out of him when we asked for a special dessert. No pun intended, but it was hilarious. Picture Agnes Monica on Indonesian Idol who's holding her breath and her laugh while watching a contestant singing off beat and dancing weirdly. That's pretty much me when hearing "Red Pelpet". Sad to say, the taste is as laughable as the pronunciation. The cake was dense, with no outstanding flavor other than the cheese. Not too mention it was rather dry as if it has been stored in fridge for days.

A rather anti-climax to an afternoon that could have turned to be well roundedly excellent. Still, complaints take you nowhere, I'd rather be joyful of the beautiful place, satisfactory food, good conversation, and good friends. What's left? A little fun. And here it comes =)

Cheers,

Fellexandro Ruby
Food Conversationalist & Photographer


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The Goods Diner
Fairgrounds (former Bengkel Night Park)
SCBD, Lot 14, South Jakarta
Phone: 021 - 5152969
Twitter: @thegoodsdiner