WARUNG TURKI by TURKUAZ - KEMANG JAKARTA

First of all I want to say Happy Fasting to my Moeslem readers in all universe. May blessed be with us. Fasting is about to end just in 3 days. So on this post, I'll give an idea a place for breakfasting. Found this place from my friend. Then me & hubby straight to go to Kemang area. At 1st we want to go dinner at QueensHead that placed next to Warung Turki. But, hubby prefer more relax place where he can eat lots after a hard working day. So here we are at Warung Turki .

Entering the Warung Turki restaurant area feel like traveling to Turkey. All the interior and decoration capturing the Turkey. They really pay attention in every details. The Middle East ambiance also captured in their restroom.  Warung Turki have 3 Floors with rooftop area on the 3rd Floor. Meanwhile on the 2nd floor you can find a dining area, here you can block the area if you want to invited 20 of your friends. We also can find a big traditional oven where they baked and cooked their signature bread.

Even though I've been ate in Middle East restaurant, but I keep forget and not familiar with some menu. Luckily, the serve explain it patiently. And here what we ordered...

MEZELER - DIPPING

BABAGANUC - IDR 55.000
Wood Charcoal Grilled Aubergines, Tomato, Chilli Peppers and Garlic
Babaganuc is a flat bread that we had before our main course. It served warm topped with mix sesame seeds. Served with warm dipping sauce that consist an aubergines, tomato, chilli peppers and garlic. It smell so fragant with a hint of tangy taste. Really good for a start.

ODUNLU FIRINDAN ANA YEMEKLER - MAIN COURSE FRESHLY BAKED FROM WOOD FIRED OVEN

KUZU SIS KEBAB - ROLLED - IDR 75.000 / PLATED - IDR 85.000
Marinated Lamb Cubes
The rolled presentation would be to common for me. Because it would be the Kebab that we usually see at Kebab tenant. So we prefer the plated presentation one. I like the lamb. It seasoned well and not smelly. The lamb was so tender and juicy. The herbs really soak into the lamb. Served with two Yufka (Turkish Flatbread), Onion salad, grilled tomato and chilli. Overall for this menu was really great. Love it.

PEYNIRLI PIDE - IDR 65.000
Traditional Turkish Thin Bread Topped with Feta Cheese, Mozzarella and Parsley
Love this Peynirli Pide so much. As a cheese lover, this flat bread must be a heaven. The cheese already smells good. Specially when it comes out from the oven. It still have the gooey and flaky texture.  But if you feel its too cheesy, you can dip it with the diping sauce from the Babaganuc like my hubby did. The taste still good in anyway.

TATLILAR - DESSERTS

BAKLAVA - IDR 60.000
24 Layers Of Hand Rolled Fillos with Selected Dry Nuts
Warung Turki always served different kind of Baklava everyday. So if you want to order Baklava, ask the Server what flavor that they have that day. We given 3 slices of baklava in one plate. As Server recommendation, me and hubby ordered the hazelnut and pistachio one. The taste is great. I like the pistachio one. The nutty flavor with not too sweet taste. Every layers have its nuts and the flavor. Its flaky and good pairing with tea. 

Overall, we have a splendid dinner here. The food and the service was great. Love the ambiance and everything in Warung Turki. We definitely will comeback to try another menu.

WARUNG TURKI by TURKUAZ

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 Jl. Kemang Raya No. 18A Jakarta

(021) 2905 5898/ 2905 5899

 

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Istanbul Turkey - Cilandak

Its been a view weeks since my visit to Istanbul Turkey with my friend Aline. Actually at first we don't know where to go. We just had our breakfast earlier at Authentique Bakery. Because we still in Kemang area, we decided to try Istanbul Turkey Restaurant for our lunch without knowing what the menu is. It just our confident to stepped by.

Entering the restaurant, the ambiance a bit gloomy with a dim light. Turkish ambiance really dominated this restaurant with a big chandelier, colorful lamp and wooden furniture. But the mix decoration that they put make this restaurant feel so dark  and heavy. Specially with the curtain in the ceiling.

There's a shisa rack for customer who want to have Shisa. Despite of the un-consistent decoration, let's dig in to their menu.

MUSSAGGA LAMB - IDR 45.000
Mussagga Lamb is dish consist of eggplant, lamb chunk and tomato paste. Served hot in a bowl with sesame bread. Lamb really dominated this dish. Not just the taste, but also the aroma. Just dip the bread into the mussagga lamb. It become so good. The bread is chewy with a bit plain taste.

CHICKEN ROLL WITH CHEESE AND RICE - IDR 60.000
This menu came in a huge portion. Seriously huge. A stack of grilled chicken chunk covered with slice of chips cheese. The chips texture a bit chewy when I thought at 1st that was a crispy thing. But it just not a plain cheese chips, It also covered slightly with a bit spicy sauce. The taste of herbs really dominated. Served with herbs rice, tomato and chilli grilled.

Shisa tube that you can order with various taste

Overall, Istanbul has a decent and authentic Middle East menu that you try. With affordable price and very nice service, I think you should try this place.

ISTANBUL TURKEY
Jl Ampera Raya No 7 Cilandak Jakarta
Phone :  021 78836363, 021 7807311

Spirit Ramadhan at Bengawan - Keraton at The Plaza

I always excited when Ramadhan come. The ambiance, the atmosphere and of course the food. There are some food that taste even more good when I eat it in Ramadhan. Even though we can cook eat in usual month, but dunno why it taste different. Traditional food like my mom always made, like Kolak Pisang, Kolak Biji Salak and so on. Now in the spirit of fasting month, Bengawan - Keraton offer Ramadhan Package for you to enjoy

Spirit Of Ramadhan at Bengawan – Keraton

*picture courtesy of Bengawan – Keraton for octaplayground

In this holy month, what could be better than have it with your family. To indulge your festive moment of Ramadhan, Bengawan - Keraton have many kind of food that you can enjoy affordable price. You just need to pay IDR 350.000++ per person including hot beverages and tajil. Price are subject to applicable service charge and government tax. With that you can enjoy Bengawan - Keraton buffet menu featuring an array of Arabic, Japanese, Indonesian and Mexican. What an offer!

If you want to stay at Keraton Hotel during Ramadhan Month, don't miss their special package also. With price start from IDR 2.850.000++ for Grand Deluxe Room on 23 June to 24 July 2014  on the weekdays (Monday to Thursday) and IDR 2.550.000++ for Grand Deluxe Room 25 July to 3 August 2014 on the weekends (Friday to Sunday). Those price already inclusive Buffet Breakfast / Sahur for 2 and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Chef Lamberto Valdez Lara

Meet Chef Lamberto Valdez Lara, who welcome us and take us for a grand tour to the whole dining area and introduce us with Bengawan - Keraton menus. I first met him at Cinco de Mayo Mexican Festive  earlier at Bengawan - Keraton. Let's begin the tour. Keep scrolling.

MEXICAN MENU
I still remember when the 1st I tried the Mexican Menu here. How I fall in love with all of their Mexican menu. even for their simple guacamole.

As a start I choose the crispy and crunchy Nachos from the Mexican Stall. I love how the melted cheese combine the tomato and onion into the nachos chips. For companion, I also had a yummy brown bread topped with tomato and cheese. No too forget the 3 choice of sauce, Salsa Verde, Sour Cream and Tomato Salsa.

JAPANESE
Bengawan - Keraton have many selection of sushi and sashimi. Love the sashimi. It taste fresh, sweet and not smell fishy. On the other hand, I guess Bengawan - Keraton have to make improvement with their sushi. The rice so dry and fell apart easily.

SALAD BAR
Here at Salad Bar, you can mix salad as you like. There are Japanese salad, Middle East salad, Western Salad even Indonesian salad like Gado-Gado. Yeepp... in here Gado-Gado include in their Salad selection. So freshening. You surely can't miss it.

BREAD AND CHEESE
The presentation of bread and cheese stall is so gorgeous. The freshly made bread is so tempting and smells so good. Try some, and it so moist and fluffy. Great also if we pairing it with soup. As for the cheese, they also have many variant of cheese. Be creative with pairing it with the bread or even with the salad. So scrumptious.

ARABIC
Middle East Stall offer many signature dish that you can't missed. From shawarma, kofta, Shish Kebab even their Lentil Soup. I'm so curious with all their menu.

Look at that amazing chicken that made for Shawarma.It made from chicken thigh. It look so tempting. We can still see the juice come from the meat. And here are what I got from the Middle East Stall

SHAWARMA
This shawarma is fantastic. Like I mentioned above, the chicken taste juicy and tasty. Mixed with vegetables that really fresh. The skin that cover the chicken and the veggies also great. The texture is good. Not to thick. So it not end with chewy texture. Not crispy kind of skin like crepe. But smooth enough.

CHEESE SAMBOUSEK
If you see the puff pastry below the shawarma iin the picture above, well it call cheese sambousek. It's a puff pastry filled with melted cheese. Love the puff pastry. Its fluffy and moist inside and crispy outside.

SPINACH FATAYER
Similar like the cheese sambousek, but it filled with spinach with cheese. I like this one better than the cheese sambousek. The spinach make the cheese  not too overwhelmed. It so addictive.

Sauce & Condiment for Satay

CHICKEN & BEEF SATAY
The chicken and beef satay is so tender, It also perfectly marinated. You can pairing it with the sauce. Whether its soy chilli sauce or peanut butter sauce. Me like both. the peanut butter sauce a bit thick and a bit spicy.

CHICKEN KEBAB
A fatty cut of chicken kebab. The burn look caramelized and tempting. But too bad, I think this chicken kebab too overcooked. It make the chicken a bit chewy and dry.

KOFTA WITH POTATO and TOMATO
I forget to ask the Chef what Kofta made from. But from what I taste, this Kofta is made from lamb meat. And the great thing is, the lamb so tender inside and not have weird smell at all. It also seasoned well.

POTATO HARA
Potato Hara is a spicy kind of dish. I taste that there's a garlic, chilli and pepper in it. It good if you pair it with Kofta or Kebab.

INDONESIA

Indonesian Stall

Never forget also to stop by to Indonesian stall. Bengawan - Keraton have some Indonesian's signature dish. And here are what they have:
1. Nasi Kuning (rice with coconut milk with yellow color because using turmeric in cooking it), that have savory taste. It has the right consistency. So the rice not dry and not so mushy also.
2. Beef Rendang, the meat is so tender and marinated well. The coconut milk and spices really blen well together and soak up into the meat. You have to try this Rendang. So good.  
3. Soto Ayam ( yellow spicy chicken soup ) with complete condiments.
4. Opor Ayam (chicken that cooked in coconut milk) has savory taste with the right thickness and great in seasoning
5. Kepiting Saos Padang (Crab in spicy sauce) didn't get a chance to try it, but my friend said the meat so tender and the sauce is superb.

Nasi Kuning

*Picture courtesy of YennyMichael for octaplayground

Kepiting Saos Padang

Soto Ayam

DESSERT

When visited Dessert Stall, I felt like children who come into the candy store. My eyes keep drooling in all over the place and make me almost forget to take a picture of it. Because I'm too busy admiring at every dessert that served. From west to east, everything served here.

INDONESIAN DESSERT

Kolak Pisang

WESTERN DESSERT

ARABIC DESSERT

-          Kurma

-          Assorted Dates and Dried Fruits

-          Balousha

-          Mouhalabieh

Umm Ali

And here are dessert that me and my friend tried that day...

Rosallion, Chocolate Rollade, Hazelnut Mousse Cake, Maringue, Caramel Puding

All cake that Bengawan - Keraton served is moist and soft. And also not too overpowering in sweetness.

On the Plate: Orange Kurma, Nut Kurma, Dried Fruits, Umm Ali

On the Glass : White Choco Mousse & Mouhalabieh

Mouhalabieh have dense texture with milky taste, but not too sweet like I thought earlier. And it melted in your mouth straightly.
Umm Ali is a traditional Egyptian dessert that consist crushed nuts, and have a creamy texture. Love this Umm Ali. Beside its not too sweet, it have a well balance in taste
White Choco Mousse Love the mousse that so smooth, on the other hands, the sponge cake not too moist.
Kurma & Sundried Fruits I love all... Specially the kurma. Its flaky, chewy, sweet nice for a break fasting starter.

Overall, I had so much fun here in Bengawan - Keraton. Entering Fasting month wont never be the same any longer. Thanks so much Fiona & Yosua for having me that day.

HAPPY FASTING y'll

BENGAWAN
Keraton at The Plaza, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Jakarta

Telephone: 62-21 5068 0000

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