Le Cafe Gourmand Gunawarwan Jakarta

Before visiting Holy Crab that still in one area in Gunawarman just across the Le Quartier restaurant, me and my friend decided to have some dessert here before take the massive dinner in seafood restaurant.

The place almost fully packed when we arrived that day. It just the lovely afternoon before the office hour ended.Le Cafe Gourmand have 2 area in their restaurant. And all for non-smoking area. They are also have a private room for you to use. Entering the Le Cafe Gourmand, you will find a nice long table with high stools and a corner seat where you can sit while see the Gunawarman street.

At first we sat in that high chairs. But since we're so curious with the sitting area inside, we ask the waiter to find us a seat when there's an empty one. Lucky for us, we got a nice sofa infront of the cakes display.

I'm pretty impressed when I saw the interior. It so modern minimalist with a bright color in it. The big painting in one of their wall really capture the coffee shop activity. In the center of the room there are display that shown the ice cream and cakes selection. And the opposite one, there's a coffee area where you can have some of selection of coffees.

Since we're going to have big dinner that day, so we only only dessert and drink to accompany our lovely afternoon. And here are what we're ordered.

Ice Chocolate - IDR 40.000

I heard from my friend been here before, that I should to order the Ice Chocolate. That's make me so curious, so I ordered one. And OMG... he was right! This Ice Chocolate was so heaven. The Valrhona chocolate was so dense. A bittersweet chocolate suddenly brighten up my day.

Chocolate Caramel Tart - IDR 35.000

Varlhona Chocolate Ganache with Smooth Caramel and Crispy Pastry
This chocolate tart was so damn good. I really like it a lot. The crust was so smooth and crunchy. And the chocolate ganache was so delicate and smooth. The sweetness also so balance. It's not too overpowering.

This tart also blew me away. Salmon tart from Le Cafe Gourmand similar like quiche. The salmon that blend with the cheese taste so light. The salmon taste fresh without any smell fishy.

We closed our visit with something fresh and cold. What else beside the ICE CREAM!! This ice cream already make me drooling since the first time we moved our seat in front of the cakes and ice cream display. Specially when I looked at the colorful cone. To bad, the server said, they only have chocolate and the original left that day. So, I prefer the chocolate one. As for the ice cream, I felt like i want to grab it all. I love ice cream so bad. Always succeed become my mood booster. Le Cafe Gourmand have 2 kind of ice cream. One is the Gelato and other is the Sorbet. That day, I choose gelato salted and caramel and mango sorbet. And I think I made the right choice. because I like those 2 ice cream that I choose. The salted caramel not too sweet with a hint of saltiness and the Mango Sorbet taste so freshening. It has a good balance between the sour and the sweet. Both sorbet and gelato have the smooth texture.

Overall, it was so nice visiting Le Cafe Gourmand. With many selection of great dessert, they really know how to spoiled their customers.

Le Cafe Gourmand
Jalan Gunawarman No. 65

Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan

Jakarta Selatan 12110

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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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LIN Artisan Ice Cream

LIN Artisan Ice Cream is the first Ice Cream In Indonesia that using Liquid Nitro. Usually in Ice Cream making we found many Ice Cream machine like refrigerator to freeze the Ice Cream. But, LIN try to introduce a new concept in Ice Cream making. When you cut down the Freezing time to 2 minutes using the Liquid Nitrogen, what you get is a fresh and smooth ice cream, with no particles. This is what I often found in other ice cream brand. Especially when we put in the fridge for a view days. We can see many particles in our ice cream. This particles can change the flavor of the ice cream itself.

LIN Artisan Ice Cream! Oh Yeah, I Scream Ice Cream!

Eventhough, LIN just opened their store in 20 June 2013, but it seems the news about LIN already spread in everywhere. Including my self, this is the one that make me so damn curious.

LIN Ice Cream placed in a very hype area, Kemang. For to be exact, it's placed downstairs of Umbra and in front of Colony. I loved how they dressed up the LIN. It so modern, artistic, out of the box yet so convy to relax while enjoying our Ice Cream. The earthy theme is so unique, with many cute interior. Can I have some? hehehe... LIN Ice Cream divided their store in to 2 area. Indoor and outdoor, with a wooden furniture. Both area have a very great spot to get a picture.

With an open kitchen that LIN made, it possible for us to peeking the process of LIN 'magic' Ice Cream. Actually, at I think it more like laboratory than a kitchen. Especially when the Chef, or should I call Scientist hehehe... make the Ice Cream. White cold smoke covered the kitchen like a thick clouds... 

To bad LIN's owner, Astrid H.W is not on-site that day. I want to hear from her directly about her Journey from the first she about Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream in Italy until become a store named LIN. If there's no brilliant idea came from her head, today,  we never get a change to taste a fantastic ice cream.

the process of making the fabulous Ice Cream

GELATO
LIN Artisan Ice Cream offeres 2 kind of Ice Cream. First is Gelato. Gelato is a famous ice cream made from fresh milk. Many variants that LIN make.

Ultimate  Chocolate With Chocolate Chips - IDR 39.000

Supreme Chocolate With Chocolate Chips that LIN made is so tasteful. The chocolate really blew me away. The mix between chocolate and milk is so great, without leaving any bitter after it. The choco chip more add the flavor. Best chocolate ever.

Rum and Raisin - IDR 69.000

Actually LIN categorize this Rum and Raisin into Alcohol Ice Cream. Since it made from pure 40% rum alcohol instead of the rum essence. Also they already soaked the raisin in to the rum, so it gives texture to the ice cream. What I loved most is, the rum is not too overpowering. it just blend well and tasty. I guess I need another bowl of this ice cream. Makes me don't want to share.

SORBET
For the other kind of Ice Cream, LIN also have Sorbet. Sorbet is an ice cream made from raw ingredients like fresh fruits.

Lemon Sorbet - IDR 36.000

Sorbet also 1 of my favorite if I'm looking something sour.And LIN's sorbet is sooo smooth and tasty. We still can feel the lemon chunk. It taste so fresh and not make your throat scream.

Merry Strawberry - IDR 39.000

My favorite sorbet that day. Merry Strawberry marry me!! Strawberry really dominated all the flavor. A sour and a bit sweet make me want to dig it more and more.

LIN also served Ice Cream consist of Alcohol and coffee. looks like LIN want to fulfill all that customer like. I'd like to taste this 2 variant in my next visit.

For a coffee lover, LIN also have variants of Coffee. The coffee is from Javabica Coffee then they roasted it on their own. So we always get a fresh and good coffee here.

AFFOGATO - IDR 62,000

Affogato in the process

Affogato is a combination of the cold sweet ice cream with warm bitter espresso. Both the ice cream and the espresso made fresh. Made from pure vanilla and espresso from Javabica Coffee. What I like from the affogato when bitter meet sweet and when warm meet cold, it end with a very good  taste. The texture become creamy and  a bit thick. This is the true Yin and Yang I supposed.

ICE COFFEE & ICE MOCHA - IDR 28,000

ICE COFFEE IDR 28,000
A blend of Water, Ice Cubes and Espresso. A shot of espresso can be this good. The taste is like latte. More milky but we can still taste the espresso. As a coffee drinker, after the affogato, sure I'm the one who drink it again and again

ICE MOCHA IDR 28,000
A blend of Water, Ice Cubes and  Mocha.  Usually, in Some restaurant or coffee shop, the Mocha taste can be a bit to sweet or too bitter. But in LIN, all blend well. The texture a bit thick, but good.

LITE BITE
Ice Cream, Coffee uumm what again?? Of course a lil' bit lite bite to accompany you. LIN have some of lite bite.

French Fries - IDR 29.000

LIN have thick cut for the french fries. The texture is crunchy outside and so soft inside. A lil' bit savory come from this fries. Eat it while it's hot. It more good and not chewy like when it's cold.

PRAWN BALLS & SQUID BALLS  - IDR 22,000

Served when it hot. The texture is tender and not smell fishy. Usually I'm too interest with fish ball. I get itchy after it. But since in LIN it taste fresh, not I guess it save enough hahaha... I can't stop snacking it.

CHICKEN NUGGET -  IDR 22,000

Who doesn't love Nugget? For me nugget is emergency food when Mom not cooking hehehe. In LIN, their chicken nugget texture is a bit thick. So tender inside and crispy outside.

HOMEMADE WAFFLE WITH MAPLE SYRUP - IDR 20,000

The portion is pretty big. But, unfortunately  the texture a bit chewy and not smooth enough. I just wih it could be more fluffy. Sprinkle with Icing sugar. Also please add more the maple syrup. Because it soak so fast into the waffle.

A very playful tummy and mouth. LIN Artisan Ice Cream really succeed to spoil me with their fabulous  Ice Cream. I surely will comeback here with more crowds.

LIN Artisan Ice Cream
Jl. Taman Kemang 1 No. 6
Jakarta 12730
Telp: 021-71794393
FB Fan Page: LIN Artisan
twitter: @linicecream