Tag Archives: FoodieS

The Classics: Ikan Mas Bakar Rica Ny. Filly (FoodieS, Apr 2016 & Qubicle, June 2016)

July 5, 2016 Rian Farisa Leave a comment

Paying a homage to Taman Ismail Marzuki is not always have to be art-related. For FoodieS, there is one interesting visit after the legendary soto Betawi restaurant that resides here. It is the Ikan Mas Bakar Rica Ny. Filly.

Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) is an establishment of utmost importance for the citizens of Jakarta and the whole country. For decades, it has been known as a strong bastion of art and education.

Over the past few years, TIM has also seen a number of improvements from the recently refurbished cinema, a modern building for the art institute, and a new public library for family. It also houses the one and only planetarium in Indonesia as well as hosting festivals or art and theater shows regularly.

In addition to these wonderful perks that people can enjoy upon their visit to TIM and the dynamic changes outside on the busy street of Cikini, there are two things that actually remain timeless here.

The first one is the legendary restaurant of Soto Betawi H. Ma’ruf which is widely renowned as one of the oldest in Jakarta, paving its way to prominence now since the early years of independent Indonesia. Back then, Haji Ma’ruf himself carried his merchandise on his back and serving soto Betawi nearby Gondangdia Station.

The second timeless eatery inside Taman Ismail Marzuki is a Manadonese-style grilled fish shack. Serving the hungry Jakartans since 1984, the restaurant stays true with the old recipes of Ny. Filly’s – the late matriarch of the family. It is actually rare to see a Manadonese restaurant specializing fully with fish since most of these restaurants of this genre usually serve the whole cuisine, especially here in Jakarta.

The use of freshwater fishes such as carp and gourami is another interesting aspect from Ikan Mas Bakar Rica Ny. Filly, while other seafood restaurants in Jakarta would normally introduce the use of saltwater fish instead as their signature dishes. In addition to that, the fact that this establishment has been in the business for more than thirty years intrigues us further.

Upon our arrival, it’s clearly seen that the restaurant maintains a classical look with the use of bamboos that dominate the whole interior. Despite of the age, it is kept neat and clean. While it is comfortably air-conditioned inside, feasting a hearty lunch or dinner on the alfresco side of the restaurant sounds like a good choice too. After all, visiting the leafy and relaxed neighborhood of TIM is a good change of pace once in a while.

However, it is best to reserve first if you wish to visit during the rush hours. Mind you that especially during lunch, Ikan Mas Bakar Rica Ny. Filly is a famous choice for students, the patrons of this art institution, office workers from around the vicinity, and up to top government officials.

The signature menu here is the carp, grilled in a very rustic stone oven and smeared with the all time favorite rica-rica sauce. Additionally we can ask for the carp to be fried, served with sour broth, or cooked with the rich and spicy woku sauce.

Alternatively, if you are not up with the challenge of eating the bony carp, you can always opt for other fish such as gourami, kuwe (trevally), or the baronang (spinefoot).

The result from cooking in a stone oven is unimaginably beautiful. The fish, while very fresh, possesses the appetizing smoky feel thoroughly. It was also well marinated and the application of rica-rica sauce makes it not just savory with a hint of spiciness, but also refreshing. The flesh itself was well-cooked, moist, and tender. At this stage, nobody will mind with the small bones from the carp and that’s exactly because Ny. Filly’s recipe works really well.

What comes next is to savor it while it’s hot with rice, a simple stir-fried water spinach with garlic, and more rica-rica sauce with another favorite Manadonese relish – the sambal dabu-dabu.

Clearly, what the restaurant offers and the whole atmosphere are the nostalgic values for Ny. Filly’s fans since its humble beginning some 32 years ago. It may have struggles at the beginning but its perseverance and the wonderful recipes behind the food are what that brought them through until this very day and we hope, far to the future.

IKAN MAS BAKAR RICA NY. FILLY | Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jalan Cikini Raya no. 73, Jakarta | T: +62 3193 6535

Not halal-certified
Unsuitable for vegetarians

Opening hours: Daily, 10am – 9pm

Spend: IDR 50,000 – IDR 75,000 / person

Featured on FoodieS Apr 2016 & Qubicle May 2016

Jakarta

OPEN: AMKC Atelier (FoodieS, May 2016 & Qubicle, Jun 2016)

July 3, 2016 Rian Farisa Leave a comment

The recent appearance of AMKC Atelier as Plaza Indonesia’s latest and currently the hippest eatery has garnered a large number of visitors day in and out. Crowds gather during dining hours not only to enjoy its unique cakes and desserts but also AMKC’s inventive savory fares.

AMKC’s success this early owes to not just the reputations of the owners – chefs Adhika Maxi and Karen Carlotta, but also the inspirations behind the dishes and the undying love for food from the Jakartans. Located on the prestigious ground floor of the mall, AMKC with its minimalist décor, white tones and black seats impresses not just discerned diners but also hipster eaters.

Years spent on perfecting the well-known Union restaurants in Plaza Senayan, Pondok Indah Mall, and the deli at Grand Indonesia have established the names of this couple. Not to mention of course, their previous spell abroad and how they were inspired from French cooking techniques while professing the love for Indonesian flavors.

Karen Carlotta has been known as the one who catapulted the success of red velvet cake during the younger years of Union. Meanwhile Adhika Maxi, known for his love for comfort food, has been devising inventive lineups for AMKC utilizing premium ingredients.

Among the highlights from AMKC are the truffle angel hair with sea urchin, Hokkaido scallops with lemon XO vinaigrette, the Black Angus fried rice with chili jam, and also the soto mie with the short ribs. Meanwhile Karen boasts her forte in pastry with beautifully intriguing cakes inspired from Indonesian delicacies like es teler, martabak, and pisang ijo.

There’s no telling until when the dynamic duo will continue to surprise the foodies of Jakarta, but with AMKC opens for everyone, you are in for a treat for a long long time.

AMKC ATELIER | Plaza Indonesia, Lvl 1 E-17, Jalan MH Thamrin no. 28-30, Jakarta

Not halal-certified
Some dishes may be suitable for vegetarians

Opening hours: Daily, mall opening hours

Featured in FoodieS May 2016 issue & Qubicle Jun 2016

Photography: Rian Farisa

Jakarta

A Dinner to Remember with Massimo Bottura (FoodieS & Qubicle, Apr 2016)

June 7, 2016 Rian Farisa Leave a comment

It was a moment to remember for a lifetime. It was the moment when the world’s most renowned chef Massimo Bottura visits the country and shows his love for food for Jakarta’s most discerned gourmets at Hotel Mulia Senayan last March.

Rumor has it that Massimo Bottura, one of the world’s most critically acclaimed chefs and the proprietor of prestigious three Michelin-starred restaurant Osteria Francescana in Modena – Italy, will reach the shores of Jakarta for two-day exclusive dinner services at the five star Hotel Mulia Senayan.

That was last year. After much anticipation, it was finally confirmed that the prodigious chef will cater only limited gourmet diners of the country from March 18-19 in 2016 exclusively at Orient 8.

It becomes a wonderful opportunity for FoodieS to be seated on the front row seats to witness the chef himself, in full spirit, explaining how excited he was to be in Indonesia and sharing his bit about the inspirations behind the success, his magical creations, and his tireless innovation with contemporary cuisine and local ingredients.

For those of you who are already familiar with the chef through Netflix’s Chef’s Table, the episode about Massimo Bottura was everything we want to know about his vision, his struggles, and the rise to prominence with his now twenty one year old restaurant.

Osteria Francescana itself was recently crowned as the number two of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. As depicted in the inspirational episode of the series and true to the story, Massimo Bottura was also accompanied by his beloved wife and muse, Lara Gilmore.

The chef presents a nine course meals for this spectacular opportunity with Indonesian diners, ranging from appetizers like “Come to Italy with Me” or an amuse bouche made of tomato, basil, and mozzarella in a shape of macaron and a unique rendition of Emilia Romagna’s fish and chips in a form of a light and airy cushion. Also surprising us was Chef Bottura’s beautiful lentils with crème fraiche and dill served on a vessel filled with ice and inside a caviar can – branded with the name “Better Than Beluga”.

Furthermore, the chef introduces “Riso-Pizza” or the brilliant interpretation of a chemistry between risotto and a pizza. The baked risotto which was soaked with flavorful milk is ingeniously mixed with a sauce made from Vesuvian tomatoes and served with crusts surrounding the rice. When combined and eaten, it was true to what he promised us – a risotto and a pizza on a single bite!

Heading to the climax, the chef and his benevolent crews teamed up to showcase their artistic skills by creating a colorful painting on a plate. The psychedelic spin-painting of colors red, white, and green made from red beet emulsion, potato puree, and chlorophyll was then topped with a smoky sous-vide veal and given a final touch with Villa Manodori extra old balsamic vinegar and horseradish.

The desserts came in two parts. The first one was the breathtaking rendition of Caesar Salad in a form of lettuce decorated with flower petals, dried chamomile, jasmine, raspberries and some other 20 natural ingredients. It was a different story with every bite of it!

Last but not the least, it’s the turn of Chef Bottura’s iconic “Oops! I Dropped the Lemon Tart” which was mind blowing in terms of presentation, the story behind it, and as well as the taste.

Three hours has passed and like a fleeting dream, we enjoy every second of the moment with Chef Massimo Bottura at Hotel Mulia Senayan.

Not forgetting to share his support for Indonesian food, his encouraging words are meant for us all to work together as a whole nation – from the government, the farmers, the businesses, the journalists, as well as the people to regain their pride over the country’s rich diversity of ingredients and the cuisines. Hoping that one day, someday soon, we can show the world that we can make it!

Featured in FoodieS Apr 2016 issue and Qubicle:
http://qubicle.id/story/a-dinner-to-remember-withchef-massimo-bottura

Photography: Rian Farisa

Jakarta

Searching for Street Food: Rujak Buah Pasar Tebet (FoodieS & Qubicle, Apr 2016)

June 6, 2016 Rian Farisa Leave a comment

In addition to its widespread good reputation and a direct recommendation from the owner of the highly successful Rujak Pak Jangkung of Megaria, it is finally time for FoodieS to experience the one and only – Rujak Buah Pasar Tebet.

Ubiquitous and very much loved, especially among ladies, rujak buah or fruit salad is one of the pillars of Asian street food. It is both a dessert and snack that is enjoyable from time to time, and a healthy alternative for your indulging daily meals. Suffice to say for us in Indonesia here, the rujak buah vendors are the heroes of our lifetime.

How can they not? If it weren’t for these hard working fellows, everybody may not have their intake of fresh fruits for their daily diet as people are not always confident to pick the right fruits from the market. Sometimes it is also a good value for money as well to have more options from a single serving rather than buying a whole huge watermelon or papaya for instance.

Many of these vendors travel around the neighborhood, but many also prefer to stay in strategic areas – be it at busy intersections around your home, the street food stalls around your office, or nearby the traditional markets like this one.

Stationed nearby Pasar Tebet for the past 20 years, these fellows do not seem to bother putting a real name for their business but people will still flock there from many miles away for quality fruits from time to time.

At their busiest hours of the day, three crews will manage everything from taking orders, slicing the fruits, preparing the sambal, and packing them one by one. Back home, they will also prepare the fruits for another day and all the ingredients needed for the sambal in large batches.

Well, even a fruit salad business feels like a 24/7 occupation!

As for the fruits, Rujak Buah Pasar Tebet only offers several tropical types such as the red and beautiful water guava, the exotic jicama, the colorful pomelo and pineapple, the crunchy green guava, and the all time favorite young mangoes. Their concoction of this thick and nutty sambal has more ratios for the sweetness than the spiciness, which can be piked up later with additional red eye chilies based on your preference.

So whenever you visit Pasar Tebet for a good meal and shopping, be sure to drop by at this humble vendor to treat your family back home or the colleagues at the office.

Fruit salad is always fun to share with everyone!

RUJAK BUAH PASAR TEBET | Jalan Tebet Barat IX (nearby Pasar Tebet Barat and in front of BCA), Jakarta

Featured in FoodieS Apr 2016 issue and Qubicle:
http://qubicle.id/story/searching-for-street-food-rujak-buah-pasar-tebet

Photography: Rian Farisa

Jakarta

Searching for Street Food: Pasar Tebet Eats (FoodieS & Qubicle, Apr 2016)

June 3, 2016 Rian Farisa Leave a comment

If visiting a single street food is not enough for your foodie experience this weekend, then how about more options for you to try in only a single stop? If that’s the case, let us visit Pasar Tebet Barat right away.

Many of us would still remember how rare it was to see that Pasar Santa suddenly got frequented by the teenagers – especially because of the food. While it was not necessarily very traditional, there was a time when the diversity of street food from around the world can be found here.

The trend must come down at one point sadly and Pasar Santa is now a shadow of its former self. However, we at the FoodieS here would like to reignite again those moments by encouraging our readers to visit traditional marketplaces from time to time. In this issue, we dedicate this for the beloved Pasar Tebet Barat.

Like any other local markets, Pasar Tebet Barat is already busy from early morning. The market is known for its vast selections of wedding invitation designers, stationeries, fabric shops, and even a department store in addition for the fresh producers upstairs. Despite the age, it is kept clean and comfortable.

Playing a central role to keep the world spinning is the food industry itself here. From simple snack and cake shops to colorful nasi rames stalls, you can also find a full-fledged Padangnese cuisine vendor, nasi gudeg, nasi uduk, gado-gado, and many more.

Last time, I decided to take a different path than my wife who chooses over nasi Padang with dendeng balado, beef lungs, and cassava leaves. I scoot over to the next stall for a serving of nasi uduk with toppings such as teri kacang (stir-fry peanuts and anchovies), cumi asin (sliced cuttlefish cooked salty), and the exotic stir-fry papaya flower buds.

Upon finishing our rounds with rice, we cleanse our palates with a glass of es cendol from Bandung’s famous Cendol Nurita who happens to have a small outlet here. Not stopping there, I treated myself with more traditional snacks such as the kue pepe, sosis Solo, and a fried tofu filled with fishcake. I had to stop here and reserve more options for my future visits here despite of the temptations.

So, there are things that we could achieve from visiting traditional marketplace. Not only that we satisfy our senses with food, we can also contribute ourselves for the future of many people and even the whole country by appreciating the local products more.