Tien Chao - Gran Melia Hotel

Just in a  view days we're going to have Chinese New Year. I already imagine the hype from the Chinese New Year. With the 'Barongsai' also red and gold will will dominate the decoration. Eventhough I'm not celebrating it, but I still like the ambiance though.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Tien Chao at the Gran Melia Hotel Jakarta offer something special. Under
Executive Chinese Chef Ken Choy,  Tien Chao  will served Szechuan and Cantonese for Chinese New Year Gala Dinner that will be held on 30 January 2014. So mark your calendar y'll.

The ambiance inside the Tien Chao restaurant really great. It so good to dine with your family or your colleague. With a big windows, the wooden furniture and all the details like the emperor statue, lion sculpture etc. The restaurant also spacious. They also have private rooms that can accommodate 12 to 24 person. You  just need to make a reservation.

Keep scrolling y'll.. because I'll give you a hint for Tien chao special menu that you can order when you here.

Condiments

Steamed Unagi Dumpling - IDR 55.000++

Oh My Lord... This dumpling is so damn good. it so melt in my mouth. I mean it. This is a mix between sweet and savory. The unagi was cooked great. Its crisp and tender at the same time. The dumpling also taste great. It so generous in filling. Every element is taste great. You can fee it from the first time you bite it. I can eat the whole 4 without sharing hehehe...

Salmon Wo Tie - IDR 48.000++

This is the first I eat wo tie with salmon filling. Usually wo tie have a filling like shrimp or chicken. So I'm so curious with this one. And then, I'm impress. The salmon is not fishy and cooked well. The wo tie skin also nice. It so soft and a bit crisp.

Crispy Mango Prawn Roll - IDR 48.000++

Another mixture of sweet and savory. Sweet from the mango and savory from the prawn. The prawn is cooked well. Not fishy or too dry. The skin really crisp. When you bite it, you'll get the crispiness from the skin and the softness from the filling. Great combination.

Yee Sang in Thai Style - IDR 298,000++ for 3 person

If you come with your family or colleague, this Yee Sang is definitely HAVE TO TRY. If you can notice all the merrier on that plate,  wait until you taste it. The crispiness from the soft-shell crab, the freshness from the vegetables and mango, the very fresh salmon, mixed with the sauce. With a help from Chef Ken, me and several bloggers mates together mix all in the plate. Mix mix 'till all ingredients blend well. After that put it on the lettuce, wrap it then eat it. The taste is so fresh and delicate.
.

The picture above is for the SMALL portion. Yeepp... small. I wrote it right. There's also a medium and large portion. If the small already that big, I think the large one could be as large as the table LOL..

Roasted Pecking Duck - IDR 328,000++

The golden brown and crispy skin from the duck is look so beautiful and yummy. It so seasoned well. The meat is so tender and juicy. It's not chewy at all. You can dip it into the Hoising Sauce or Honey Plum sauce. This signature Chinese food is totally worth to try.

Smoked Australian Tenderloin Beef - IDR 328,000++

The smokey flavor already spread in the air when this smoked tenderloin beef served at the table. When I taste it, the beef was super tender and juicy. Marinated with Chinese Wine and soy sauce. Served with fres bok coy. The bok coy has succeed as a balance for the smokey beef. 

XO Seafood Fried Rice - IDR 218.000++

Not too overpowering in seasoning is what I like from this Fried Rice. With the generous amount of seafood, and vegetables, this fried rice really suit in every single time. The portion is enough for 3 - 4 person. Depend how much you usually eat.

Lemongrass Jelly - IDR 58,000++

Good ending after get bombing with heavy yet yummy dish. Smooth jelly like licking on my tongue. I like it because it so light. And the fruit add more freshness in to it.

Beside those menu above, you can order set menu that separated in 3 section that you can choose with the price start from IDR 688,000++/pax ,  IDR 788,000++/pax and IDR 988,000++/pax > For that price you already get complete menu.


Beside the set menu, Chef Ken Choy also served special menu for Chinese New Year start from  31st  January until 28  February, like Peking Duck IDR 368.000⁺⁺, Braised 6 Head Abalone IDR 338.000⁺⁺, Braised Sea Cucumber With Fish Maw and Dried Scallop that serve in the claypot for IDR 448.000⁺⁺ and enough for 3 person.

At the end, I feel so amazed with what Tien Chao served. In Chef Ken magic hands, those Chinese food is become so authentic and taste fabulous.  

Tien Chao Restaurant

Gran Melia Hotel Jakarta

Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. X-O

Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan

021 - 526 8080

Opening Hours:

Lunch: 11.30 AM - 14.30 PM (DAILY)

Dinner: 18.00 - 22.30 (DAILY)

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

 

Starbucks Winter Indulgence 2014

As a big fans of Starbucks, I'm so excited when got a chance to their new variant for their coffee. This event was held in MD Building Rasuna Said. The place was not too spacious but pretty cozy to escape from traffic for a while.

First we got a chance to taste Starbuck's coffee. I always excited to taste a new coffee. I already like it from the smell of the coffee itself.

Starbuck's Guatemala Casi Cielo

The coffees that make up Guatemala Casi Cielo are from the Antigua region of Guatemala and were selected as some the best region has to offer. Guatemla Casi Cielo is a medium roast coffee with a floral aroma, lemon acidity, a rich flavor and smooth body, finishing with hints of dark cocoa.

When I sip it and paired it with chocolate in my mouth, I really didn't feel like drink a coffee because of the lightness of the coffee.

Starbucks VIA Ready brew Pike Roast

Pike Place Roast is a very distinctive combination of coffees, roasted to be exceptionally smooth and approachable, bringing to life cocoa and toasted nut flavors in the coffee. Totally different with instant coffee that we know, Starbucks VIA Ready Brew still contain a real genuine coffee seed that already through the grinding process to keep the taste and aroma from the coffee.

It is available for customers to take home everyday beginning 7th January until 3 March 2014.

ASIAN DOLCE FRAPPUCCINO

Continuing  their previous Asian Dolce products, Iced Asian Dolce and Asian Dolce Latte, now Starbucks also launch anothe Asian Dolce variant which is Asian Dolce Frappuccino.

The delectable and indulgence beverage is a blend of dark roasted coffee, signature espresso, rich sweetness of Dolce sauce, blended together and classically topped with whipped cream.

If compare with their previous Asian Dolce variant, I prefer the previous one. Specially the Asian Dolce Latte. This Asian Dolce Frappuccino is too sweet to my palate. And the whipped cream add more sweetness in it.

WINTER FOOD INDULGENCE

POTATO SALAD with FRUITY KRAFTKORN
Sandwich made from Kraftkorn mix and folded with raisins, apricots and walnuts. Layered with potato salad. it's a combination of sweet and savory.

Potato salad topped with mayonnaise topped at the fruity kraftkorn bread. The fruity bread can make a perfect balance for the potato and mayonnaise, so you can still feel it light. Better served cold. It more bring out all the flavor.

SMOKED CHICKEN and MUSHROOM CROISSANT
Baked buttery croissant dough, filled with smoked chicken, mushroom and topped with bechamel sauce and cheese.

If you can see the layer of the croissant below, you can see the crunchy texture from the outside croissant. But it still moist inside. Better served hot to make the becahmel sauce and the cheese more tasty.

RHUBARB and APPLE CRUMBLE PIE
Sweet buttery dough filled with tangy rhubarb combine with fresh apple and topped with almond crumble.

This pie is all have half taste. Means all ingredients that in it is not too pop-out. I didn't feel the tangy from the rhubarb, can't feel the apple and also can't feel the almond. This pie could be a perfect pairing with Starbucks americano.

To celebrate Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day, Starbucks wil launch their new Starbucks Card. And you can get these card start from 7th January. So go grab it fast y'll

 
Thanks a billion Starbucks for a very special privileged.

STARBUCKS

Ground Floor MD Place Kuningan 

Jl. Setiabudi Selatan Kuningan No. 7 Jakarta 

FACEBOOK  || TWITTER || WEBSITE

Elicxir Artisan Gelato Plaza Indonesia

A view weeks ago, an invitation dropped in my email. it came from Elicxir Artisan Gelato Ice Cream. I always excited with ice cream. Specially nitrogen Ice Cream is still on the top list for ice cream. There are several Nitrogen Ice Cream store these days. And Elicxir want to join the battle for Nitrogen Ice Cream.

Located on the 5th Floor of Plaza Indonesia just accross the Pancious restaurant, Elicxir took in not too spacious placed. I guess not more than 30 can fit here. Because it hand packed, you can just grab it and take it away. Even though the place is not too spacious but it convy enough to hangout or just sitting relax for a while and peeking on Elicxir scientist create their Gelato Ice Cream.

The owner, Jennifer & Jensen really take serious with the Elicxir Artisan Gelato Ice Cream. Not just with the cozy place, but with the selection of the Gelato & Sorbet. They will updated the variants of their products, so it wont make their customers get bored with the menus.

LITE BITE

Pom Pom Bomb – IDR 27.500
Noisette Potato with Spicy Truffle Elixir

Pom Pom Bom is a snack like fried mashed potato. The taste a bit more spicy even I taste it like there's curry in it. Served with spicy mayonnaise as companion. Those snacks really good while it still hot.

Noir Dutchess – IDR 27.500
Duchesse Potato Flooded with Dark Chocolate Fondue

Basically it's same with the above one. The different is only in the dipping sauce. Elicxir want to try another unique things with pairing this balls with chocolate sauce. But I still prefer the mayo one...

ELICXIR ARTISAN GELATO ICE CREAM SOLD FOR IDR 43.000 / CUP WITH ONLY 1 SIZE

Breakkie Champion
Corn Cereal Milk Gelato

Basically this gelato is like you eating a bowl of corn flakes with milk. Breakfast has turn become an ice cream. What an idea. I just can finished it 1/4 cup since it's too milky and sweet to my palate. But if you like milk, you'll gonna love this one.

Not-So-Classic-Cookies-and-Cream
Banana Cream Gelato with Salted Caramel Cookies

A banana cream Gelato comes next. A very balance banana and milk is really tasty. The sweetness is just right, not too overpowering. Topped with salted caramel cookies which is too bad eventhough the texture and the crunchy is great but I just wish the salted caramel can be more pop-out.

You Have Me, That’s Why It’s Red
Raspberry Sorbet with Madagascar Vanilla

After try 2 milky gelato, Raspberry Sorbet could be a perfect balance. But too bad, this gorgeous raspberry sorbet taste not too bold enough. I just wish the raspberry and the sourness more dominated this could be a great sorbet.

Royal Velvet
Taro Velvet Gelato with Hojicha

This beautiful purple is really a star that day. Not just because this gelato that mixed with taro and hojicha but all component in this cup really perfectly balance. I really can't stop eating this. If next time I come back to Elicxir, I definitely order this one. So RECOMMENDED! 

Black Diamond
52% Pure Chocolate Sorbet

If usually I taste sorbet with fruit flavor, this time Elicxir give us a try to taste chocolate Sorbet flavor. And just like the raspberry, the chocolate taste not bold enough. Maybe because it's only 52% chocolate in it. If I see in their menu board, it used to be 70% pure chocolate. If just the chocolate a bit more powerfull, this black diamond really can shine bright like a diamond ehhehehe...

If you want to add more topping in your ice cream, you just need to add another IDR 3,000 for each selected topping such as honey peanuts, crunchy cornflakes, caramel sauce and chocolate buttons. I wish they could add fruits as a topping. It can be more freshening for the sorbet.

Elicxir Artisan Gelato  
Plaza Indonesia Extention, 5th fl. #019  
Jl. M.H. Thamrin Kav. 28-30 Jakarta Pusat 15350  
021 - 2992 1716  
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