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
TWITTER

GYROS ALLEY – Panglima Polim Jakarta

I never in my life taste Greek cuisine. Saw on my friend's post couple times about Greek cuisine, and makes me curious to have a try. It's not too hard to find the Gyros Alley location. They have a big sign board with big Gyros in-front of their restaurant.

Me and hubby arrived before dark, and thinking sit outside on balcony. Sounds great and its not too hot anymore. But too bad, it already vacant with other peoples huhuu....

Gyros Alley separated into two Floor. When you entering the restaurant, you'll find the Bar and the Grilling section. It so attractive. Not much sitting area on 1st floor. We decided to sit in 2nd floor. They placed the big mirror to make an illusion a big room. And all over their walls there's Greece thematic mural.

FALAFEL - IDR 45.000
Falafel is a common dish from Middle East. Usually made from chick peas, fafa beans or mixed from both of them. Falafel can be eaten as a snack or served with pita bread. It usually served with salad and tzaziki sauce, hot sauce or drizzled with tahini-based sauce.
We choose this falafel as a starter just because we so curious, and we end with enjoyed it so much. The fried falafel balls is so fragrant with herbs. It so crunchy on the outside and so flaky on the inside. I like dipped it in the tzaziki sauce. It tangy yet refreshing. 

GYROS SOUVLAKI 
LAMB - IDR 62.000
CHICKEN - IDR 55.000
FALAFEL - IDR 50.000

Charcoal Roasted Meat, Tzaziki Sauce, Tomato & Onion Wrapped in Homemade Pita Bread.
Gyros is a Greek Style tender lamb or chicken fillet that has been marinatedfor 42 hours stack in  horizontal charcoal spit and roasted to perfection. We ordered this Gyros Souvlaki because its the signature dish from Gyros Alley. Looks like we have the right decision ordered this menu. The one we ordered is the Gyros Souvlaki Lamb. It taste so darn good! The lamb is well marinated, juicy and so tender. The pita bread also soft and moist, It perfect match with the tzaziki sauce. 

GYROS PLATTER 
LAMB - IDR 65.000
CHICKEN - IDR 58.000
FALAFEL - IDR 55.000

Platter Charcoal Roasted Meat / Falafel, Tzaziki Sauce, Greek Salad, Pita Bread.
Actually the Gyros Platter is not so different with the Gyros Souvlaki. The different is only if the Gyros Souvlaki is the meat wrapped in pita bread, while in the Platter the pita bread served separated from the meat. Just realized that we ordered both with Lamb. Guess we're in the mood for lamb. And again, the lamb is very juicy and tender. I love all the combination with the salad and the tzaziki sauce. Really addicting.

At the end, on the first time our visit and our first attemped to have a try for Greek food, we can say it nailed! The food that Gyros Alley served is really good. With the good ambiance of the restaurant and a good service, Gyros Alley is definitely a place that worth to visit. We might be back for their other menu and dessert. We're to full to have our dessert on our first back then.

GYROS ALLEY
Jl. Panglima Polim IX No. 8
Melawai, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta 12160
Phone: (+6221) 7269877
INSTAGRAM || WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || TWITTER

Outback Steakhouse : MeatLovers Gathering

On 6th April 2013, I was invited to attend gathering In newest outlet of Outback Steakhouse in Kuningan City South Jakarta. It's a famous restaurant franchise from the States. I first knew this Outback from their 1st outlet in Ratu Plaza. Then I know, that they also have another store in Pondok Indah Mall.

Outback Steak Kuningan City

Outback Steakhouse Kuningan City interior is so American typical ranch diner. With wooden furniture, black sofa and trees around the diner. It makes this place so cozy to dine.

After we seated, Mrs Seli from Outback join us to a little & friendly chit chat accompany with their some freshening drinks.

Various Freshening Beverage From Outback

FLAVORED ICE TEA - IDR 32.900
Choose your flavor Lychee, Peach or Strawberry. The fruit is fresh and the tea also good.

COCO-BERRY SMOOTHIE - IDR 32.900
A frosty blend of creamy coconut and strawberries. It's good and the sweetness is great.

PEACH MOJITO - IDR 32.900
A refreshing combination of peaches, lime and fresh mint muddled together and topped with sweet soda. Aaakk... I love this one. The soda kicking blend well with the lime.

VIRGIN MOJITO - IDR 32.900

Since the combination only lime and soda so the taste is so sour. But still fresh and great.

ORANGE SQUASH - IDR 32.900
Orange Juice mixed with Sprite and soda.

LEMONADE SPRITZER  - IDR 32.900
Choose your flavor: Orange, Mango, Peach, Strawberry an plain.

Not for long, some appetizer came to our tables. And it missing suddenly from the plate after we took the pictures of it hehehe...

Yummy Appetizer from Outback

KOOKABURRA WINGS
Full IDR 79.900  |  Half IDR 52.900
Chicken wings tossed in a savory blend of secret spices and paired with creamy blue cheese dressing and celery. Choose mild, medium or hot. What I like about this chicken wings is the chicken marinated well and so crispy.

AUSSIE CHEESE FRIES - IDR 69.900
It's an aussie fries topped with melted Monterey Jack, Cheddar, bits of fresh chopped beef bacon and served with spicy ranch dressing. Better eat it when it's served. The cheese & the dressing taste more tasty.

CRISPY FRIED MUSHROOMS - IDR 69.900
Lightly breaded and fried mushrooms and served with spicy ranch dressing. The mushroom still juicy when we eat it. Love this mushroom lots...

While we're waiting for out steak to come, Outback allowed us to peeking they secret kitchen. Not all restaurant would do this. See the quality meat that will become our meal grilled, makes me drooling and more can't hardly wait to dig in.

Outback's Kitchen - This is where the magic happened

Outback Steakhouse was so damn generous to us. They let us order main course. So then, we ordered what become signature steak from Outback.

New York Strip - IDR 249.900

A thick cut New York strip steak seared with Outback's secret 17  seasoning blend. I found it too overcooked. So it makes the meat a bit chewy. But i still can taste it seasoning well. Served with fresh veggies, fries, mustard and ketchup.

Alice Springs Chicken - IDR 125.900

Chicken breast flame-grilled and topped with sauteed mushroom, crisp strips of beef bacon, Melted Monterey Jack and cheddar finished with honey mustard sauce. Served with Aussie fries. The chicken is so tender. 

Victoria Fillet - IDR 299.900

The very thick 8oz meat steak cut. It so juicy. Served with fresh veggies and fries and paired with blackpepper sauce and ketchup.

BBQ Beef Ribs - IDR 249.900

BBQ Beef Ribs have USDA "Choice" Certified Angus Beef. These-fall-off-the-bone beef ribs are exactly the way beef ribs  should be! The succulent and saucy ribs are smoked, grilled to perfection and brushed in a tangy barbeque sauce. Served with a very generous of Aussie fries. At first I looked this Ribs, my ind straight to the Flinstone Klan heheh... This ribs is so HUGE! Forget fork and knife. Just get dirty with your hands. The sauce is totally finger lickin'

Toowoomba Topped Fillet - IDR 329.900

I was so interested to ordered Toowoomba just because it wrote in menu book that Toowoomba is #1 Rated ZAGAT Best Steak for 2009 - 2011. So, that make me more curious. Toowoomba is a sauteed shrimp and button mushrooms tossed in a tomato cream sauce and served over a seasoned and seared fillet. The meat is so juicy and tender. Shrimp also taste fresh and not smell fishy. It all taste melted in your mouth  Served with fresh veggies and a very great mashed potato that seasoned well.

Left : Banana Nut Cake – IDR 55.900

Right : Chocolate Thunder from Down Under – IDR 69.900

Looks like Outback has specialty in creating big meal. Because the dessert also a very serious deal.

BANANA NUT CAKE 
A delicious combination of banana soft and fluffy cake, toffee, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, buts and cinnamon. The sweetness is not too overpowering.

CHOCOLATE THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER 
Alert for chocolate lover. You have to order this when you come to Outback.  It's a fresh-baked pecan brownie is crowned with rich vanilla ice cream, drizzled with classic warm chocolate sauce and finished with chocolate shavings and whipped cream. The warmness of chocolate sauce meets cold from the ice cream, it so melted in your mouth.

Overall, Outback is definitely a great restaurant to visit. The price is suitable with what you have. Big portion with a big taste. The service also quick and friendly. Thanks a billion to Mrs Seli from Outback and Ms. Gricia Effendi for invitation. We're having so much fun

Smiley Face

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
Kuningan City, G Fl Unit 28
Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio Kav. 8
Kuningan, Jakarta
Telp: 021-30480505
FACEBOOK || TWITTER

[CLOSED] Cafe du Chocolat

Sering melewati daerah Tebet Utara, but never realized, kalo di sekitar situ ada cafe bernama Cafe du Chocolat. No wonder, ketika malam datang, cafe ini seringkali tertutup dengan crowd dari distro-distro di sekitar nya. Karena penasaran, saya menyempatkan mampir kesini. Just to know how it taste.

Cafe du Chocolat separate in 2 areas. Indoor and Outdoor. Untuk menuju to main entrance, kita harus menaiki 1 lantai dulu. Yeepp.. ini karena Cafe du Chocolat ini sebenar nya berada di lantai 2. In ground floor they only set up a view wooden chair. Jadi seperti bangku taman gitu deehh...

Outdoor Area

For indoor area, they a very convy room. Dengan sederetan sofa-sofa empuk. Belum lagi dekorasi nya yang eye-catching. Dengan chandelier, chocolate shape, pernik-pernik tentang coklat, makin membuat this cafe more fun. And the most important thing is, they separate between the smoking area and non smoking area woohoo... Take a seat in balcony if you like. Anda bisa sambil melihat crowd disekitar.

Smoking Room

Enough about the Cafe, now let's check on the menu. From the menu list, most of the menu are made from chocolate. And it succeed made my hubby drooling hohooho...

Chocolate Fondue Platinum 40k

I was about to order Cheese Fondue. But the waiter said, they not served it that day huuu... So I choose Chocolate Fondue Platinum, yang beisi strawberry fruit, marshmallow, finger stick, banana cake and banana fruit. The choco melt served in a small burner. I choose the mil chocolate. Rasa nya enak. Manis nya pas menurut saya. The fruit still fresh. Banana cake nya juga moist.

Hot Plate Ice Cream 45k

So curious with this menu. Hot & Cold served in one plate. The Hot came from the chocolate melt and the chocolate brownies. The chocolate melt totally hot. Watch out your tongue... Brownies nya tekstur nya sedikit keras. Tapi ketika dimakan, ternyata lembut juga. Apalagi ditambah dengan choc melt dan ice cream nya. Love it

Strawberry Choco 35k

Strawberry Choco is a strawberry blend with chocolate. Saya pikir rasa nya akan biasa saja. Tapi ternyata lumayan juga. Choco nya terasa seperti serpihan pasir (but in a good definition), rasa manis nya pas. Everything perfectly blend together.

Chocotherapy 24.5k

Again... I ordered this because of my curiosity. Vanilla milk yang disajikan bersama potongan milk chocolate yang berbentuk dadu. Penyajian nya adalah, kita masukan potongan coklat nya ke dalam small burner bersama dengan susu nya. Wait till it melt and all blend together. Jadi nya yaa kurang lebih seperti susu coklat panas. Rasa nya sih biasa saja. Tidak seheboh preparation nya.

Overall, I like Cafe du Chocolat concept. But there are still several improvement that they have to make. Seperti penggantian menu book yang seperti sudah lama dan lusuh. Ini terlihat dari warna nya yang sudah mulai luntur. Juga untuk social marketing nya. Info yang di dapat dari website dan twitter nya saya rasa kurang mengena. Kalo untuk service oke, the waiters can explain what i asked. Boleh lah untuk tempat kongkow-kongkow. 

Twitter: @cafeduchocjkt

Facebook : Cafe du Chocolat Tebet

Tebet Utara Dlm No.13, Jkt Sel