E&O (Eastern & Oriental) Restaurant - JAKARTA

Just a times ago, I had a very great lunch with friends. I've been heard about a positive thought about E&O since it opened last year. Most of my friends said that this is the restaurant that should in on my must visit list. So, I'm excited when got a chance to visit here.

E&O is owned by the great Chef Will Meyrick who also owned Mamasan, Sarong and Hujan Locale at Bali. E&O is the short of Eastern & Oriental, is under the Loewy and Union Group served the Asian Cuisine. Specially in Indonesia, Thai and Vietnamese Cuisine.

 I'm so amaze entering the E&O restaurant. It look so classy, elegant and beautiful. When entering to the restaurant area, you will find the attractive Bar with many selection of beverages. The using of wooden interior and dim light make the restaurant ambiance so romantic. Specially when at night, you probably only can see the person in-front of you. And they also have semi-private area in-front of their open kitchen.

HANOI CRISPY SPRING ROLLS - IDR 40.000
with Fresh Herbs and Nuoc Cham Dressing
Loved the crispy of the skin and the softness and the full loaded of the filling. The herbs is so fragrant. Served with Nuoc Cham Dressing for dipping sauce that made based on fish sauce. The taste is tart, fresh and a bit spicy. Great paired with the spring rolls.

‘LÁ LÕT’ VIETNAMESE GRILLED MINCED PORK BELLY - IDR 70.000 NON HALAL
Wrapped in Betel Leaves with Nuoc Cham  

SEARED SALMON SALAD - IDR 90.000
with Watermelon, Ginger, Lime Leaves, Cucumber, Thai Basil, Mint, Roasted Chilli and Shallot Dressing
Super Love with the salad. It has so many component and texture in one plate but keep taste light. This can be my summer salad. With the freshness from the watermelon and mint. The seared salmon is so fresh and still juicy. The dressing soak well into the salmon, and it so damn good!

SINGAPOREAN CHANNI CHICKEN - IDR 120.000
Chicken Simmered in a Light Southern Indian Curry with Turmeric, Cumin, Coriander Yoghurt and Fresh Coriander
I never thought that Curry (specially Indian) could be this light. The coriander is so fragrant. Not to thick like the usual curry. But its enough to marinated the chicken. The chicken also really tender. It's a good pairing with the flaky and buttery Channi Bread.                                                                                  

BALINESE "PEPES" (BARRAMUNDI WRAPPED IN BANANA LEAF) - IDR 150.000
with Sambal Matah, Shimeji Mushroom, Green Tomatoes and Lemon Basil
I'm so amazed when I knew that many traditional Indonesian food that served in E&O. Never cross in my mind that I eat Pepes in a find dining. Usually I ate Pepes at a Sundanese restaurant or my Mom's kitchen. Barramundi Pepes that E&O made was nailed! The fish is really tender, delicate and the green tomato and lemon basil that topped the fish really soak well in to the fish. Served with Boiled Vegetables, Fried peanuts and chilli Sauce. Also served with 2 of Sambal. Sambal Matah and Sweet and Spicy Soy Bean Sauce. This is my 2nd favorite dish that day. 

RENDANG (SLOW BRAISED BEEF CHEEK) - IDR 160.000
Simmered in Turmeric Leaves, Coconut Milk, Sumatran Spices and Chilli
Not like Padangnese typical Rendang that usually have the thick, bold and spicy, this rendang taste a bit light. The chilli with coconut milk is not too thick. But it succeed marinated the beef cheek. It tender and the chilli coconut milk coated the beef cheek perfectly.

THAI STYLE DENDENG BALADO - IDR 185.000
Caramelize Beef Short Ribs with Kaffir Lime, Red Chilli, Coriander Seed and Lemon Basil
Hail to this Dendeng balado. I even can eat it the whole plate. Sweet and slightly spicy covered all over the meat. Dendeng that usually thin and need a little effort to bite. But E&O cut it in the regular size. Doesn't matter. The taste still amazing though. RECOMMENDED!

E&O TAHU TEK - IDR 60.000
Egg and Tofu Salad with Potatoes, Rice Cakes, Bean Sprouts, Asian Celery, Petis Peanut Sauce
Eating this Tahu Tek, I always remember that my mom usually made this one. The earthy Javanese simple food with a million taste. Fried tofu, potatoes and omelet egg. Topped with boiled bean sprouts and Asian Celery. But I like if the peanut sauce taste a bit more bold.  

CHOCOLATE FONDANT  - IDR 65.000
with Homemade Sweet Condense Milk and Pandan Ice Cream (15 minute served)
Like a beautiful rocky mountain when this Chocolate Fondant served. With the fluffy and chocolate fondant cake with (not so) melted chocolate as the mountain, the Pandan Ice cream that so soft as the trees and the sweet condense milk sauce as the river. Lovely! 

COCONUT BRÛLÉE - IDR 65.000
with Rum Raisin, Young Coconut and Roasted Almond
Coconut Brule is more like Klapertaart, Manadonese desert cake that I adore so damn much. Served warm with not so sweet taste, is really good. The coconut still have the crunchy texture, milky but not too overpowering. Love this hearty warm Coconut Brule.

DURIAN PANNA COTTA - IDR 55.000
with White Sticky Rice
Durian is iconic tropical fruit that have an intimidate look with great taste. Some of peoples don't like Durian for its mushy texture and strong smell. But E&O execute this Durian so damn well. The softness of the sticky rice, it cooked perfectly, not too mushy or hard, the panna cotta not too milky. The sweetness from this Durian Panna Cotta is just right. The Panna Cotta melted in my mouth right away. I DIE!! Never miss this Durian Panna Cotta if you go to E&O. Insanely yummy.

At the end, I had a happy tummy lunch here. The food was amazing. E&O succeed captured the traditional food not quite far from the original taste. We have to keep this heritage alive. Couldn't be proud to be an Asian, that have many unique food with many unique spice and herbs. Beside the restaurant ambiance and the service support all the goodness. This is surely my one of the best restaurant.


E&O Eastern Oriental Restaurant
Menara Rajawali, 1st fl.
Jl. Dr. Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung LOT #5.1
Kawasan Lingkar Mega Kuningan
Jakarta Selatan 12950
021 - 2902 3418
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C'S STEAK & SEAFOOD RESTAURANT - GRAND HYATT HOTEL JAKARTA

Looks like time flies so fast. It feel like just yesterday I came to C's Steak & Seafood, Grand Hyatt and have a splendid menu. A view times ago, I got a chance to get back here to taste some new menu from Chef Matt Demery’s.

C's that is still the same like I remember on my last visit. We still greeted by the 3000 bottles of wine that filled  their walk-through cellar. with a great and spacious dining area and an outside area where we can have a more intimate dining with friends or family with a mini waterfalls as a backdrop. C's have a gigantic water tank to keep their seafood fresh when it cook. And also still met a humble person in C's.

Pita Bread - Starter

CRAB
smoked trout roe, uni, lemon, violas
A fresh smoked trout roe, a very fresh and juicy crab, the soft uni and a beautiful and fragrant violas that make this dish so pretty. Despite of the presentation on the can, I like the whole package of this appetizer. Served cold to pump up my palate. This Crab really blew me away. About the can presentation? What the crab! It unique though. And not decrease the taste. Me likey!

SWEETBREADS
mac and cheese, white asparagus, morel ravigote.
The appearance is   more look like a chicken pop, chicken with bread crumb. But it turns to be a sweetbreads. The taste is bitter sweet and savory. The texture is so smooth and soft with a crunchy on the outside. Me so like it, it melt in your mouth. Served with Mac and Cheese and Morel Ravigote. What could be go wrong with the mac and cheese. Always love it. The macaroni perfectly cooked, the cheese amount is just right not too overwhelmed.

Morel is a French mushroom that particularly used in French Cuisine. The shape is like honeycomb and the texture is gooey and the taste is great.
Ravigote is a sauce that also particularly used in French cuisine. Made from meat broth and mustard.

45 DAY DRY AGED GALICIAN STRIPLOIN
confit potato, roasted carrot, house made steak sauce
Can't believe that the Striploin meat cooked through Well done. Because from the appearance   looks like it only cooked for medium or medium well. We still can see the pink-ish color from the meat. It so tender and juicy and well seasoned. Served with roasted carrot that i prefer if its still have the crunchy texture not too tender like above. Also served with confit potato. The butternut squash puree that have a sweet taste become a balance for the savory steak sauce. Its freakin' awesome.

EPOISSE
red wine apple butter, granola, norlander.
I thought it was a vanilla ice cream at the 1st time. But its a cheese that comes from a village in France called Epoisses. This cheese smells was so strong. Like a blue cheese. To make a balance to a strong taste, you have to mix it with the red wine apple butter. The sourness rom the apple succeed calming the strongness of the cheese. The granola and norlander add the crispy texture in to this dessert.

C's HOUSE MADE "SMORES"
Love the melted smores or marshmallow that served with chocolate mouse. The chocolate taste a bit bitter but it so soft and the bitterness become a great balance for the sweetness from the smores. Topped with the crunch of nuts and choco powder. Love it!

*photo credit to yennyw for octaplayground

At the end, it always a pleasure and good time having dinner here at C's Steak & Seafood, Grand Hyatt. Specially when got a chance to met in person the star behind the kitchen, Chef Matt Demery and Chef Rolf Knecht.
 
Thanks abunch guys and see you around. Cheers!


C's STEAK & SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
4th fl. Grand Hyatt Hotel Jakarta
Jl. M.H. Thamrin Kav. 28-30
Jakarta 10350
Phone: 021-29921234
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MI HCM - PLAZA SEMANGGI JAKARTA

Last week I went to the newly open Noodle restaurant called Mie HCM. My girl, Aline Foolosophy asked me to join her enjoy the noodle buzz. Plus they have a promotion 50% discount from 15 - 21 April 2015 if you post your meals on Social Media. Wow... what deal.

Mie HCM located at Plaza Semanggi 3A Floor. The place not too spacious, but since its colorful and bright, it makes the restaurant look bigger. Just take the queue, order what you want, pay, then take a sit. On lunch and dinner hour is really a busy hour. Where we have to be patience to have a seat.

Mie HCM served a typical chicken noodle that come from Malang, a city in East Java Indonesia called Cwie Mie. That's why for you who loved noodles, must be familiar with the name Cwie Mie Malang. Usually the original Cwie Mie Malang have a strong taste for their soup. Sometimes peoples would say it too salty and overpowering the seasoning. According to Mr. Anthony Teddy from TX Travel, Mie HCM has reduce the strong taste to adjust palate of most peoples. Well... let proove it then...

The great things eating here is that we can custom our order. We can adjust or reduce the topping as we like. Also we can choose the noodles. They have Vermicelli Noodles, Original Noodles and Wide Noodles. but too bad, that day they only have the original one. They also have many kind of toppings that you should try.

HOT CUI MIE
For you spicy lover, you have to try this one. A bowl of noodle that filled with bowl shape of fried wonton and topped with hot sauce, chicken, mushroom and scallions. The taste was A-MAH-ZIINNGG... The sauce is really tasty, enough to covering all the noodles part. The mushroom and chicken also tender.

SUPPER DUPPER YAMIE - IDR 24.545
A bowl of noodles with lots of topping. The fried wonton that filled with chicken, shredded chicken, cube sweet chicken and meatballs. From the portion at the beginning, I thought It was not too full. But then, it enough to kick my tummy. That probably because the generous topping that they give. Love the combination between the sweet and savory from the chicken. A MUST TRY!

CHICKEN POP CORN
The crumb is really crunchy with still a texture of tenderness inside. This can be order and you add it as your extra topping.

KULIT AYAM (CHICKEN SKIN) - IDR 13.636
This chicken skin is so so good. You definitely have to try this one. It so crispy and tasty. not over powering in seasoning. Addictive, can't stop munching it. I DIE!!
 

FRIED WONTON - Free, you can take it at the Condiments station

Aahh... I forget to take a single picture of Steam Wonton. You also have to try this. Put it in the soup that Mie HCM give, and eat it while its warm. So yummy. A plate of 3 only cost around IDR 10.000 (forget the exact price, I'll update it to you when I found my bills).

At the end, I'm so satisfied with the taste of Mie HCM. Not overpowering in seasoning (don't like everything with the power of MECIN... LOL), the Fried topping is not greasy and oily. And it still have a crispy texture when we eat it. The service also quick and nice. Probably they have to add more stocks, specially in busy hour. Because on my visit, they run out some of the fried topping and the lemon tea so damn quickly. I definitely will drag my fellows here some other time.

Good luck Mie HCM!

MI HCM
Plaza Semanggi, Lantai 3A
Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, Sudirman, Jakarta
Phone: 021 99988671


Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm Daily
Dresscode: Casual

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