Monthly Archives: August 2014

Makassar, Tana Toraja

Halal-Certified Restaurants: South Sulawesi – Indonesia (per August 2014)

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List of MUI halal-certified restaurants in the province of South Sulawesi as per August 2014, sourced from DetikFood and Halal Corner:

  • MAKASSAR
    CV Azzahra Kembang Doery
    Jl. Takalar 3 Blok L 151, BSP, Makassar
    Rice Chicken
    Jl. Talasalapang No. 1 A, Makassar
    Rumah Makan Katedoe Resto (CV Katedoe Kasih Jaya)
    Jl. Baiturrahman No. 4, Makassar
    Waroeng Steak & Shake
    Jl. Boulevard Blok A3 No. 5, Makassar
  • TANA TORAJA
    Idaman
    Jl. Merdeka No. 46, Makale, Tana Toraja
    Mitra Patma
    Jl. Ampera No. 21, Makale, Tana Toraja
    Warung Makan ‘Bengawan Solo’
    Jl. Nusantara No. 61, Tana Toraja

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Source:
http://food.detik.com/read/2014/08/01/093218/2651138/901/inilah-6-restoran-bersertifikat-halal-di-sulawesi-selatan?

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Jakarta

Cover Feature: Craving For Crustaceans – Seafood 45 (The Foodie Magazine, May 2014)

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Seafood 45 2

Let’s call it, splurging economically, wanting to spend a bigger budget but still not breaking the bank. I’m sure you can relate to this. Seafood hawkers are among the best choices to splurge economically. They are lively, have plenty of dish options, and of course, have crustaceans every day!

Among the top favorites, people may go for are boiled shrimps. You may even witness people who only eat so many shrimps without rice! Crab is of course, are a highly prized treat that people reserve for special occasions. For that, we decided to savor the crab dish with Padang sauce from Seafood 45, just a few hundred meters away before Cipete intersection if you’re coming from Blok M.

Seafood 45 1

Considering the moderate size, the flesh was pretty abundant for two people, especially if you’re the type who fancies sucking it down from the tiny crevices. In addition, the sweet and savory butter-sauce stir-fry prawns were also a delectable option. We all do love to have something rather sweet in nature especially after the fiery Padang sauce of the crab. Complement it all with the vegetables and warm rice, and that’s pretty much it – your once-in-a-while luxury right down in the neighborhood on the side of the street.

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SEAFOOD 45
Halal-friendly
Unsuitable for vegetarians

Address:
Jalan R.S. Fatmawati no. 45, Jakarta – Indonesia
T: +62.21.9530.5999

Opening hours:
Everyday – dinner only

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Featured in THE FOODIE MAGAZINE May 2014 edition

Download it for free here via SCOOP!

Photos by: Dennie Benedict

Jakarta

Iconic: Mandala (The Foodie Magazine, May 2014)

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While so many other Chinese restaurants battle their way for hegemony in shopping malls or exclusively around the northern part of the city, Mandala appears content and flourishes around the Jalan Wolter Monginsidi strip in-between other restaurants of so many genres in South Jakarta.

Mandala 3

Colorful answers are what you will hear whenever you ask about Mandala. Testimonials like “Yeah, they have a really good sop tahu (tofu soup)” or wonderful descriptions for the rest of Mandala’s dishes will definitely intrigue those have only heard about their reputation.

Another noteworthy part of Mandala is that people would also talk about the restaurant’s eclectic décor and the use of practically anything kitschy they would find to decorate every conceivable angle inside the restaurant. That makes Mandala a bit out of ordinary for a Chinese restaurant.

Mandala 5

I remember something about a Chinese restaurant back in my hometown that gave me the same impression when I first encountered Mandala. You know, an office-like exterior, with huge tinted glass doors and old style square-shaped door knobs
that feel like you’re entering Hong Kong soap opera restaurant scenes – something that I remember watching regularly when I was little.

How Mandala became successful like this was actually a long journey for the late owner, Mr. Samuel Darius, and it started during his teenage years in the 50s. Mr. Samuel started the business alongside his brother at Jalan Sabang area, which is now famed as the hawkers center in Jakarta, selling noodles from his pushcart. Aside from the fried noodles, they are also known for their delicious chicken porridge and nasi tim (Chinese-style steamed chicken rice), even until this very day!

In 1978, Mr. Samuel opened Mandala, as what we know today, and actively took care of it every day, until his last years only from home. It was said that the staff usually brought several dishes for him to sample each day as a standard measurement.

Mandala 1

As of this day, Mandala successfully maintains around 200 dishes available every day from early morning until late night service. People will come and go in the morning for a bowl of hot porridge or nasi tim, but for lunch and dinner, you might want to arrive a tad earlier because it gets full so quickly. Alternatively though, it seems that some customers usually opt for take away or delivery instead. Even one of their loyal customers from as far as Condet in the outskirts of Jakarta chooses to have a single portion of nasi tim delivered there!

During our visit and in accordance to our seafood theme for this issue, Mandala presented us with some of the best from their frutti di mare collections – such as their savory seafood fried rice and ifumie (crispy noodles showered with seafood and vegetables). On another occasion I particularly enjoyed their unparalleled tofu soup that has a powerful flavor from salted cuttlefish and sea cucumber that blend well with the broth, as well as the use of silk squash to give it a more Chinese-style flavor.

Mandala 2

Those dishes are simply a fraction from other abundant options that you can explore every day from Mandala and a fruit of labor from the late owner for so many decades. Even though a year has passed, Mr. Samuel’s legacy keeps going strong and Mandala will always be the dear of so many of its fans in Jakarta and far beyond.

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MANDALA
Halal-friendly (there might still be the use of angciu)
Some menu are suitable for vegetarians

Address:
Jalan Wolter Monginsidi no. 80, Jakarta – Indonesia

RSVP: +62.21.314.2570

Opening hours:
Wed- Mon, 8am – 10pm (closed on Tue)

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Featured in THE FOODIE MAGAZINE May 2014 edition

Download it for free here via SCOOP!

Photos by: Dennie Benedict

Jakarta

Quikskoop™: OPEN} (DoubleTree by Hilton, Jakarta)

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The newly built, imposing five-star DoubleTree by Hilton hotel brings a different color to Cikini, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Jakarta. Needless to say, I quickly befriended its all-day dining restaurant, OPEN.

DoubleTree by Hilton Jakarta 1

A fun fact is what I’d like to share at the beginning of this article.

Do you know that DoubleTree has always been known as a hotel that serves its walnut choco chip cookies to welcome the patrons? Yup, I was happy to be among those few bestowed with this treat (without to even stay there for a night) and it was a really good cookie by the way. Lucky I was there with my wife so, I got two instead!

Now, let us go back to OPEN. After a tour de force of the hotel’s lobby grandeur, we headed downstairs to witness how mighty OPEN is and it felt just like home in an instant. The warm atmosphere brought by the definitive use of wood in every conceivable angle and that it was all designed with a degree of elegance were actually the reasons that made me stay for many hours just to savor the moment while grazing upon the treats they presented last Ramadan.

Pizza Rendang
Pizza Rendang

For a new restaurant, OPEN is rather generous with good options for the all-you-can-have meal, but among all, I’d like to recommend any of you to head straight for the fresh pizza section and have that one slice, wait, slices of pizza rendang. The contrasting flavors between traditional tomato sauce-based pizza with the ever-delightful strong taste from the beef are a die-die-must-try if I have to quote a certain food guide book for that.

Other than that, a carving table of different meat, poultry, or fish is also available at one corner with the fresh pasta and Western cuisine sections. In the middle, you will find the Chinese and Indonesian cuisines sections side-by-side. The all-time favorite fresh noodles and the condiments are there to entice the patrons.

Rasa Nusantara Platter
Rasa Nusantara Platter

Lastly, there’s always a good enough room to pick fresh sushi and sashimi, just beside the vibrant desserts. In all, the dining experience here made me content and I do see myself wanting to sample more from OPEN from time to time.

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OPEN
Halal-friendly (alcohol is served in the menu)
Some menu are suitable for vegetarians

Address:
DoubleTree by Hilton
Jalan Pegangsaan Timur no. 17, Cikini, Jakarta – Indonesia

RSVP: +62.21.3190.4433

Opening hours:
Everyday, 6am – 11pm

Website

Jakarta

Apresiasi Hidangan Oriental (PERMATA, June 2014)

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Salah satu tujuan utama berkunjung ke Grand Indonesia shopping mall selain berbelanja tentu tiada lain dan bukan adalah untuk penjelajahan kulinernya yang dikenal sangat berwarna. Terlebih geliat penjelajahan ini belakangan semakin terasa di hati tiap-tiap warga ibukota pada khususnya, apalagi karena memang pesona kuliner kini semakin bercahaya di era digital ini.

Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant sebagai salah satu brand upscale dari grup Crystal Jade Culinary Concepts Holding, yang dikenal dengan segenap jaringan restoran bertemakan Chinese cuisine yang terkemuka di Asia Pasifik, dan kini telah hadir kembali setelah relokasi tahun lalu dan menempati sudut terbesar dan termegah di Grand Indonesia.

Permata - Crystal Jade 3

Sejak pertama dibuka pada tahun 2007 lalu, Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant senantiasa mendapatkan apresiasi lebih dari para pengunjungnya yang berkeinginan untuk menikmati keanekaragaman masakan Cantonese yang menjadi tema utamanya. Tentunya pengalaman ini tidak lengkap tanpa juga melihat apa yang telah dipersiapkan oleh restoran ini dari segi fasilitasnya.

Dengan total kapasitas duduk yang sangat memadai yaitu sebesar 304 pax dengan berbagai peruntukannya, Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant menjadi pilihan tepat untuk berbagai acara seperti lunch serta dinner reguler, acara keluarga seperti ulang tahun, berbagai event korporasi, serta bahkan resepsi pernikahan. Kapasitas besar ini kemudian dibagi lagi khusus dengan banquet room yang berkapasitas 150 pax serta terdapat juga 7 kamar VIP.

Dari segi desain interior, konseptor mumpuni asal Jepang yaitu Yasuhiro Koichi yang kondang dengan hasil-hasil karyanya di berbagai hotel berbintang lima serta restoran terkenal di berbagai penjuru dunia adalah tokoh di belakang mewahnya penampilan dari Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant.

Perpaduan karakter Timur yang tampil dominan dari tema restoran ini sendiri berhasil diimbangi dengan baik dengan gaya modern khas Barat, terutama dari penampilan chandelier kristal yang begitu elegan dan bercahaya yang menyinari dining hall utama dari restoran ini.

Sisi menarik lainnya adalah suasana ruangan-ruangan VIP menjadi terasa begitu personal karena pengunjung diajak untuk menyusuri lorong-lorong di satu bagian besar restoran dimana ruang-ruang tersebut bertempat. Dengan berbagai ukuran yang disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan pengunjung, Anda juga dapat menikmati makan malam romantis dengan minimum jumlah pembelanjaan tertentu.

Permata - Crystal Jade 2

Menuju menu makanannya, Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant tentu mengimbangi segala penampilan megahnya dengan menu yang tidak kalah menarik. Sebagai contoh, Bebek Peking Panggang yang selalu menjadi ciri khas kuliner Cina tersaji dengan begitu menggugah seleranya. Kulit bebek yang renyah berpadu apik dengan saus hoisin yang manis dan bergabung menjadi isian lumpia yang dipadankan dengan kerupuk yang khas. Bisa dibayangkan adanya ledakan rasa manis yang begitu berisi serta tekstur lembut dan renyah dalam satu gigitan saja!

Tidak hanya itu, daging dari Bebek Peking tersebut bisa Anda pilih untuk diolah kembali menjadi berbagai hidangan lainnya sesuai selera. Salah satunya yang menarik adalah Selada Daging Cincang Bebek, dimana daging bebek yang telah dicincang dan disajikan bersama mie renyah lalu dikombinasikan dengan lembaran-lembaran selada hijau segar. Selanjutnya daging cincang tersebut diletakkan di atas selada untuk kemudian dinikmati sekaligus. Kembali rasa gurih bebek cincang berpadu serasi dengan kerenyahan dari selada segar tersebut.

Berbagai pilihan menarik lainnya yang layak dicoba adalah seperti hotplate iga sapi khas Taiwan dengan bawang putih, mei cai yang terdiri dari tiga jenis sayuran, serta ifu mie dengan udang, bahkan menu-menu istimewa yang layak disajikan untuk saat-saat istimewa Anda sepertitim ikan kerapu, tumis ikan malas, hingga angsio hisit serta abalone asal Afrika Selatan juga menjadi andalan dari Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant.

Permata - Crystal Jade 1

Terkhusus untuk para pengguna kartu debit serta kartu kredit Permata Bank, jangan lewatkan kesempatan untuk mendapatkan diskon hingga sebesar 20% untuk berbagai jenis hidangan Bebek. Maksimalkan kesempatan ini untuk menikmati tidak hanya Bebek Peking Panggang dengan sajian keduanya yang memiliki begitu banyak kombinasi, namun juga untuk Bebek Panggang Ala Crystal Jade serta Lusuy Bebek Ala “Teochew”. Kesempatan ini hanya berlaku hingga 31 Juli 2014.

Singkat kata, selamat menikmati kunjungan Anda di Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant!

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CRYSTAL JADE PALACE RESTAURANT

  • Some of the dishes feature pork and alcohol.
  • Ask also for the use of lard or angciu
  • Suitable for vegetarians

Address:
Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, East Mall, Unit No. EM-UG-01, Jalan MH. Thamrin no. 1, Jakarta – Indonesia
T: +62.21.2358.0768

Opening hours:
Everyday,
LUNCH: 11am – 3pm
DINNER: 6pm – 10pm

Website: www.crystaljade.com

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Permata - Crystal Jade 4

Featured in PERMATA – Permata Bank Priority Magazine June 2014 edition (unedited)

Download it for free here via SCOOP!