CARLO de HUTS - SENAYAN CITY

A view times ago, I had a quick meeting with an old friend. So we headed to Carlo de Huts because friend was so curious with one of their menu.

Carlo de Huts located in the very busy mall in town Senayan City Lower Ground at the Crystal Lagoon area. It'a a very eye catching restaurant. Look like entering my Grandma's kitchen. Separated  in two area outdoor for smoking area and indoor for non-smoking area. We choose the non-smoking area of course.

The interior is dominated with wooden. It gave so earthy and homey feeling. Its quiet comvey sitting in the restaurant of Carlo de Huts. Don't want to wait any longer, we straight to placed our order.

Carlo de Huts served many varieties Western and Dutch dishes. Luckily the waiter keep patience explained to us for the menus they have. Since we a bit confuse what to order at the beginning.

BABY CORN CHEESE - IDR 75.000
Corn, Mushroom, Smoked Chicken and scrambled egg with Melted Cheese on Top
Its a typical kind of breakfast menu actually. Just look what inside. Scrambled eggs, with corn and smoked chicken. Served in a crisp bowl. It's quite make you full when  you eat it by your self. The taste is pretty great. Even though the cheese is very generous, its not too overwhelmed.

CHICK'S SANDWICH BAR - IDR 65.000
This chicken Sandwich is pretty decent. The chicken is crispy outside and tender inside. With the melted cheese and barbeque sauce in it. Served with light green salad and french fries. The baguette also quite moist and not hard to chew.

BUTTER BEER - IDR 43.500
Do you remember the Harry Potter movie? Well this drink is definitely inspired by it. Even though it called a beer, but there's no beer contain in it. Its more like a rootbeer with a creamy taste in it. Its way too sweet for my palate. But if you want something unique, guess you can try this one.

Overall, the food that they served is quiet good and unique. The place and the service also great. Will definately back here in some other day.

CARLO de HUTS
Senayan City, LG Fl Unit L45 Crystal Lagoon
Jl. Asia Afrika No. 19
Jakarta
Phone: 021 – 727 816 53
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EL ASADOR - KEMANG JAKARTA

Last week I stepped out at Kemang area along with my friends. At 1st we want to go to Panglima Polim area but the we cancelled it because a damn traffic that Saturday afternoon. Confuse where to go, when we walk we remember about El Asador that only a step away from our meeting point.

El Asador placed in Kemang area closed to Swiss Bell Hotel. Served South American food that authentic with "parillas'' or barbeque cooking. While "Asado" means short ribs. So it give us a hint a bit abour what El Asador offer. Something grill, something barbeque and something meat. Droolling....

Entering the El Asador restaurant, it full of dark wooden furniture with hanging flag from all over countries.  The rooms split into 3 area, indoor where you can find mini stage for live music on the weekend, big screen TV and bar area. while at outdoor you can choose whether you want to sit at outdoor where you can see the busy Kemang Street or the outdoor inside the building. For smokers, you can sit at the outdoor that facing the Kemang street.

CHIVITO AL PAN - IDR 94.000
Toasted soft bread, churrasco tenderloin steak, lettuce, tomato, ham (beef or turkey), bacon (beef or turkey), mozzarella cheese, fried egg, olives, and homemade mayonnaise. Served with seasoned French Fries.
At first I thought the portion not too big. But then my order, Chivito Al Pan came in a big portion. It's enough to make your tummy full. I love every elements of this menu. The bread is soft not dry and hard, the tenderloin steak is so tender and juicy, it so damn good. The lettuce still fresh and crisp, beef ham and beef bacon give the  crisp texture. Like the seasoned french fries that came along also. Thin cut of fries, so crunchy and not oily.

MILANESA de POLLO - IDR 94.000
Juice marinated chicken breast cooked schnitzel-­style, coated with breadcrumbs, served with ham (beef or turkey), and topped with mozzarella cheese, tomato paste, and green peas. Choose one side dish: Russian Salad or seasoned French Fries.
A simple dish come with a very extra-ordinary taste. This milanesa de pollo really cooked perfectly. The chicken is really tender and juicy. It marinated well. The tomato paste that taste a bit tangy can be a balancing for the chicken that topped in generous amount of mozzarella cheese. The beef ham also tender. Not cooked in crispy texture. Served with Russian salad that contained paprika, potato peas with mayonnaise.

EGGS BENEDICT EL ASADOR - IDR 66.000
Sautéed spinach with cream and a touch of Parmesan cheese, served with homemade Hollandaise sauce, toasted English muffin, and poached eggs. Sautéed mushrooms as side dish.
CHOOSE FROM ONE OF THE FOLLOWING, FOR YOUR EGGS BENEDICT :
* Smoked salmon
* Bacon (beef or turkey)
* Ham (beef or turkey)
English muffin in this Eggs Benedict is so soft and fluffy. Like the way they cooked the spinach and Sautéed spinach and Sautéed mushrooms. It taste a hint of garlic and not overcooked. The hollandaise sauce combine with the parmesan sauce taste right. Not too overwhelmed one another. Here, my friend paired it with the beef bacon.

PASTA EL ASADOR - IDR 61.000
CHOOSE:
Pasta : Fettuccine, Spaghetti, Linguini, and Penne.
Sauce : Pesto, Carbonara, Cheese, Aglio Olio, Arabiata, Bolognaise, and Champignon.
Topping : Sliced chicken breast, Mushrooms, Bacon (beef or turkey), Ham (beef or turkey), and Shrimp.
On the above picture, my friend choose the Spaghetti Cheese topped with Beef Bacon. I usually like my pasta with generous amount of creamy sauce. But now since it only cheese sauce, it looked dry. When I taste it, it pretty good. The cheese sauce is great without overpowering cheesy taste. the spaghetti cooked aldente. And the beef bacon add the more texture to this pasta. Lovely.

EL ASADOR ICE TEA - IDR 25.000
Blueberry Ice Tea with blueberry fruit that give a sour taste

MANGO BERRIES BLUFFING - IDR 50.000
The appearance is so  pretty. Like a sunshine. a combination between mango and strawberries. Give a sweet and sour flavor. Topped with blueberry. So refreshing.

At the end, we're having so much excitement dine at El Asador. The food is so delish and scrumptious. The served is great and the place have a nice ambiance. The portion is so worth the price. Recommended!

EL ASADOR

Kemang Point Building GF
Jl. Kemang Raya No. 3
South Jakarta 12730

Phone. +62 21 718 2206

Opening Hours:

Tue - Thu, Sun 11.00AM - 00.00AM
Fri - Sat 11.00AM - 02.00AM
Monday CLOSED
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STEAK BEEF & FISH - New menu from Kenny Rogers Roasters

I always excited when it comes to Steak. And a view days ago, I heard that Kenny Rogers launched new grilled menu.

Grilled menu that Kenny Rogers offers are choice of Beef and Fish. But you have to beware. Because this menu only for period time. So mark your calendar. Beef & Reef menu will only available start from 1st December 2014 - 25 January 2015. So don't miss it!

GRILLED BEEF STEAK - IDR 89.000
Imported Beef Marinated with Seasoned Herbs. Served with Grilled Tomato, Mashed Potato and Garlic Butter Mixed Veggies. 
Kenny Rogers serve Australian Rib Eye for their new menu. What I like from this Beef steak is that it marinated well and the seasoned really soak up into the meat. The sauce taste is like the black pepper sauce that they usually served in their regular menu. But too bad, the beef steak texture is so dense and really hard to chew. I think its too overcooked otherwise there's a mistaken on butchering the beef. Kenny Rogers really need improvement with this beef Steak. Like the veggies also. It still crunchy and fresh when it served. With a hint of garlic butter.

GRILLED FISH FILLET - IDR 69.000
Specially Seasoned Fish Grilled to Golden Brown Served with Aromatic Rice or Mushroom Chicken Soup and Garlic Butter Mixed Veggies
Like the combination between the Gindara Fish and the marinara sauce. The sauce really marinated the fish well. It taste right. Sweet, Spicy and a bit tangy. Its so match with the fish. Meanwhile the fish is so tender and not smell fishy. You can choose either the cream soup aromatic rice for your side beside the mixed veggies.

DELUXE COMBO - IDR 119.000
A Combination of 1/4 Rotisserie Roasted Chicken with Grilled Fish. Served with Mashed Potato, Garden Salad and Barbeque Baked Beans
If you think one is never enough, then I think you should try this deluxe combo. The portion seriously huge. if you familiar already with Kenny Rogers menu, then you must be know about their chicken size. I like the old chicken of Kenny Rogers. It cooked great. With a crisp skin and tender meat. What could you ask for more. If in one plate you get the signature chicken of Kenny Rogers and their new menu Fish Fillet. Recommended!

Other menu that Kenny Rogers offer is the SUPREME COMBO - IDR 79.000 that contains of 2 (two) of Grilled Fish Fillet that served with  garlic butter mixed veggies and Mushroom Chicken Soup.

Overall, I always excited visiting Kenny Rogers Roasters. The variation of the new menus that seasonally served makes their customer feel not bored to visiting Kenny Rogers. Keep make improvement Kenny Rogers. Good Luck!

KENNY ROGERS ROASTERS
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PAGI SORE Padang Restaurant - Cipete

I never get bored with Indonesian food. Indonesia food has a many varieties that make my appetite comes and never get bored with it. With a lot of different spice and colors, Indonesian food always looks tempting and appetizing. One of Indonesian food that always capture my eyes is Padangnesse  food. In one day evening, me and hubby suddenly craving for Padang food. And we straight to go to Pagi Sore Padang Restaurant at Cipete area.

Pagi Sore is a Padang Authentic restaurant, that served Padang Cuisine that have a very rich taste in it spicy and the thickness from the coconut milk. The weird thing is, The 1st restaurant from Pagi Sore is not at Padang West Sumatera it self. But, it came from Palembang South Sumatera.
 
At the evening, the restaurant not so full packed with the customers. There are several families had dinner that night. We took a seat at the corner of the room where we can look at the whole restaurant.

And not so long, the Uda & Uni (brother and Sister in Padangnesse) brought us their epic menu on the tables. Typical Padang restaurant that I always love (and miss) is the way they served their food. The waiter stack the plates on their hands and bring it to our tables. Even though they served a lot of food on the tables, but you only pay what u've eat. Or if you don;t want they served many food on your tables, just order it in the array the menu that you want to eat. It basically make the customer appetite going mad, and feel like want to grab all. Leave your fork and spoon. Just eat it with your hands. Because Padang menu its so finger lickin' good.

Ayam Gulai – IDR 18.000

Udang Gulai – IDR 25.000

Rendang Daging – IDR 18.000

Tunjang – IDR 18.000

Daun Ubi Tumbuk – IDR 15.000

Daun Singkong – IDR 12.000

Ayam Panggang – IDR. 18.000

Gulai Otak – IDR. 18.000

Ayam Pedas - IDR 19.000

Udang Gulai - IDR 25.000

I bet for you already familiar with Padang food. Such as:
Ayam Gulai (Chicken Gulai)  chicken cooked coconut milk spicy sauce
Rendang Daging (Beef Rendang), beef that slow cooked in coconut milk until it thick and dry and marinated well with the spicy chilly. 
Gulai Tunjang, gulai of cow foot tendons
Daun Ubi Tumbuk ( Mashed Cassava Leaves in Coconut Milk)
Boiled Cassava  Leaf  
Ayam Panggang (Grilled Spicy Chicken) 
Gulai Otak ( Cow Brain Gulai) cooked in coconut milk

All that Pagi Sore really delicious and so typical with Padang Cuisine. The coconut milk, the spiciness, the taste, really tantalizing. But what I really want to give a highlight this time is their new menus.

Ayam Pedas (Chicken Spicy) I'm so ready to have a burnt throat. Remembering when I ate the same menu at Manado Restaurant, and it burnt me to death. But when I ate it, it's not that spicy. There's still a hint of sweet taste in it. Like the thick chilli sauce that really soak into the chicken.

Udang Gulai (Shrimp Gulai) shrimp cooked in coconut milk spicy sauce. It just the same with the chicken Gulai. The shrimp is so tender and not fishy.

PAGI SORE Padang Restaurant
Jl. Cipete 2 no.1 Fatmawati, Jakarta
Phone: 021-7667000
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IKEA Alam Sutera Indonesia

Been know about IKEA since long time ago. First I know about IKEA is their store that located in Singapore. And I always feel overwhelmed and excited when I see their stuff. So so happy when I heard that IKEA open their store in Indonesia. The thing is.... to get there is not an easy thing. It quite far from my house and I heard from my friend that IKE is so crowded. Specially during weekend. OH NO!!

IKEA located at Alam Sutera near to Alam Sutera toll ring road exit / entrance and I just found out that I can reach this toll road from my house at through TB.Simatupang. Wow... so I don't have to face traffic to  get to Alam Sutera. IKEA also close to Alam Sutera Mall. And they have shuttle bus that can connect you from IKEA to the Mall. Just in-case the parking lot is full packed. But I guess you don't have to be worry. IKEA have a very huge parking lot, and it's FREE!! Finally, one day, me and hubby have free day on Monday (yep... we off from work for a week) we decided to visit IKEA, just because we to  afraid if we visit IKEA during weekend it will be crowded. So here we are at 11.30am arrived at IKEA and still got parking. woohooo!!

CAFETERIA - 2nd FLOOR

We decided  to go straight to the canteen. Since its already lunch hour. And our tummy already screaming out loud.

IKEA's Cafeteria is like a big huge hall. full packed with chairs and gigantic windows. So it looks bright at the afternoon. Most of the furniture are made from wooden and it have IKEA's signature style, fun and simple. There's also playground house in the middle of the room for kids. Not big, but enough to make kids stay still when parents feed them.

IKEA menu and price

IKEA have a canteen concept for their food court. Every thing you doing by your self or self service except for the main course. To take your meal, just take the trolley at the beginning of the line. Then put your tray upon it. Since I came here with mom, dad, sister and hubby, it took 2 trolley for us. And here what we ate.

Mom, Me & Sis Cart - Full Packed ^^

Salmon Salad

SALMON SALAD - IDR 30.000
Cold poached salmon, mix lettuce, sour cream, lemon twist, tomato wedges, carrot julienne.
Can't expect much when I look at this salmon salad. But I took it anyway. Just because, I can get the salmon for only IDR 30.000. It reasonable though. since I don't want to have rice, so I replace it with salad. The salmon also fresh and not fishy. So this salmon salad could be your choice.
  

Mixed Green Salad

MIXED GREEN SALAD - IDR 15.000
Mixed Lettuce, Cucumber, Shredded Corn, Onion with Thousand Island
This salad actually also a decent salad with the basic green salad. But all vegetables served fresh and still crisp, which is good. Great for side dish.
 

Mushroom Soup

MUSHROOM SOUP - IDR 15.000
A warm mushroom soup with the right consistency of texture. The taste a bit bland so I have to give a bit of pepper in to it. My dad dipped his croissant that we bought earlier at the stall, and I join him doing that, and it turn to be pretty good.

Swedish Meatballs with Cream Sauce

SWEDISH MEATBALL WITH CREAM SAUCE
10 PCS IDR 40.000  || 15 PCS IDR 50.000  || 20 PCS IDR 60.000
Swedish meatballs, mashed potato, creamy gravy sauce.
This is it, the Swedish Meatballs what been peoples buzzing around. Many of friends who have been to IKEA (from other country) before, said you should add this Swedish Meatballs on your top list. So when we go to IKEA, this meatballs surely landed in our cart. Since I never had a Swedish Meatballs from other IKEA, so I don't have any comparison. But I think, Meatballs from IKEA Indonesia pretty decent. The texture of the meatballs is just like the regular meatballs, with a dense texture but softer. The size also like regular meatballs. Not too big like Swedish meatballs that I had before in other restaurant. But I like the gravy. It has the right consistency. Not too thick or too runny. And I like the mashed potato also. Lucky me to have this mashed potato. Because from what I heard, this mashed potato sold out most of time. The texture not as smooth as it used to be. But it taste wise.

Baked Chicken Leg with Dill Sauce

BAKED CHICKEN LEG WITH DILL SAUCE - IDR 35.000
Chicken Leg, Boiled Potato, Mashed Potato served with Dill Sauce
The chicken leg is so tender and ripped of easily from the bone. Also it marinated well. The dill sauce probably a bit strong and overpowering. I paired it with the salad I bought simply just to reduce the dill. Served with the mashed potato.

Pasta with Tomato Sauce

PASTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE - IDR 20.000
Penne pasta that cooked aldente enough. Served with plain tomato sauce. The portion is big enough for the price IDR 20.000. Add a bit pepper to give a more kick taste into it.

Shrimp Cutlet & Siomay Chicken

SHRIMP CUTLET @ IDR 8.000
SIOMAY CHICKEN @ IDR 6.000
The shrimp cutlet taste like nugget like we used to buy in supermarket. So no need to describe for further taste aight. You know exactly what it taste.
As for the siomay chicken, it fried siomay. And its pretty good. Still tender and not taste burnt. Quiet good.

Actually, I ordered Swedish Poached Salmon with Chives Sauce (IDR 60.000) for my Dad but I forget to capture it. For the taste, I think it a little bit to bland. In the other hand, I like the salmon though. It cooked perfectly. But still you have to seasoned it by yourself if you want your Salmon more tasty.

For drink, just take the mug at the counter next to the tray when you 1st queuing.  Then fill it in the drink stall in front of the cashier.

SHOWROOM - 2nd FLOOR
Across the cafeteria, we can find the showroom. To get an inspiration on what you are going to built, you can get the inspiration from the IKEA's showroom. They built each room with their products. It really make me and hubby overwhelmed at that time. And plus we had a plan to buy our dining table. We still can't find the perfect size for our dining table. Considering our petite space.

BEDROOM

DINING ROOM

KITCHEN

LIVING ROOM

OFFICE

The more you look at the sample of the room model, the more you get dizzy and feel like want to grab all. Because all stuff that IKEA have really fascinating and user friendly. OMG! OMG! And when you decided and already has a picture in your mind what do you want to buy, write it down in order paper (IKEA put it in every corner of the showroom), or simply asked the IKEA officer if you still confuse. When it's done, bring it to Self-Serve Furniture Center and take your stuff that you want to buy here.

And if you need decoration for your house, just go downstairs to 1st Floor where you can find the MARKET HALL. From paintings, flowers, curtains, rugs, dolls, kitchen appliance you mentioned it, they have it. Just beware of over budget. Because once you here, you'll get drowned and feel want to buy this and that (well... that just me I guess hehehe...) In front of the Market Hall there's also a Bistro where you can buy fast food and Ice Cream. Beside Bistro there's also Swedish Market, where you can buy Swedish product from jam to snacks. Too bad I forget to picture it, since I already overwhelmed bring my stuff. And oh yaa... IKEA DON'T PREPARE A SHOPPING BAG FOR YOUR GOODIES. But don't worry, they have it for sale. Less plastic, for go green I guess.

Other facilities, they have BCA ATM  on the left side of the main entrance, along with the lockers that IKEA provide for visitors. And pleasee... leave your heels at home. Just wear slippers, fit flop, sandals, flat shoes or anything. You don't want to keep your legs save fosho!

IKEA Indonesia
Jl. Jalur Sutera Boulevard No. 45
Alam Sutera, Serpong, Tangerang, 15320 Indonesia
Phone: (+6221) 29853900

Opening Hours:
Store: 10.00 – 22.00
Restaurant: 09.30 – 21.30
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