MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN AT KERATON AT THE PLAZA

A view weeks ago, a bestie of mine, Aline invited me to have a lunch at Bengawan at Keraton. Since I never been there and I just need to blink my eyes to Keraton, so I instantly said yes to Aline.

Bengawan placed in Keraton at The Plaza Building that connected with Plaza Indonesia Shopping Mall. If you enter from Plaza Indonesia, then the entrance is next to Bakerzin Restaurant. Just take lift to 7th Floor, then you'll find Bengawan Restaurant.

Entering the Bengawan area we'll find the very spacious and bright restaurant look. With wooden and chocolate theme, Bengawan look so earthy and pleasant to dine. The natural light comes from the big windows around the restaurant. It is possible for to see the Jakarta view. Especially when Jakarta trap in the traffic, sitting at Bengawan sofa's suddenly become relaxing.

The Bar Area

Bengawan served many kinda of food. Mostly are International and Asian kind of food. You can have it by buffet or a la carte. But this time, I'm not going to spread about their buffet menu. Because Bengawan have something special to offer. Its a MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN by Chef Lamberto Valdez Lara.

Chef Lamberto make all those the Mexican food that already adjust with Indonesian's peoples palate. But you don't have to be worry with the taste and the authentic of the food, because Chef Lamberto only using the premium ingredients. Even the tortilla and the tacos shell are home made. He also guarantee all the freshness from the food, because he has worked with local farmers to bring the best ingredients from the farm to the tables. Curious already? Keep scrolling then...

Bengawan served a three course lunch that available (too bad) only for weekdays. And they give a very great deal for it. For only IDR 150.000 nett you already get appetizer, main course and dessert. What a deal. You should come and try it. But Bengawan still serve a la carte Mexican menu daily.

SOUP, SALAD & MORE

SOPA de TORTILLA - IDR 110.000
Chicken Strips, Avocado, Tortilla Strips, Sour Cream Pasilla Chilli
This soup is a really great food to start you dine. A very comfort and warm soup made from Pasilla chilli that have a hint of spicy taste in it. The texture is creamy but not too thick. The consistency is just right. Dig in to the soup, you'll find the tender chicken strips and the buttery and fresh avocado. To add the crunchy texture, there's strips tortilla on top of it.

AVOCADO ROASTED CORN SALAD - IDR 155.000
Corn Relish, Cilantro Pesto, Butter Lettuce, Vine Ripe Tomatoes
Love the dressing from this salad. The tangy flavor from the dressing really pop-out all the ingredients.  The fresh lettuce texture still crisp combine with the softness from the avocado. With a bit sweet taste from the corn. Love the balance of it all.

GUACAMOLE - IDR 125.000 (Double Your Guacamole add IDR 75.000)
Served with Crispy Corn Totopos
Avocado, Tomatoes, Cilantro, Chilli Serrano
This guacamole is so addictive. I guess this is the best guacamole I had so far in my Mexican food journey all this time. The imported avocado has the very great quality. It so smooth, buttery and taste fresh. Combine with with the chilli serrano, this guacamole great pairing with tortilla chips.

Crispy Corn Totopos
Corn Totopos that have triangle shape made from corn flour. Eventhough it has 3 flavor but I taste it a bit bland. Dip it with 3 choice of sauce, Salsa Verde, Sour Cream and Tomato Salsa. It makes the corn totopos flavorful.

MAIN COURSE

TACOS - IDR 165.000
Served on soft or crispy corn tortillas, Mexican Rice and Refried Pinto Beans. Order comes with Green and Red Salasa 

Choice From the Following For Your Tacos :
Carne Asada : Grilled Skirt Steak, Cotija Cheese
Chicken Tinga : Chipotle, Onions
Lamb Birria : Leg Of Lamb Slowly Braised for 12 hours
Vegetarian : Cactus, Portobello, Queso Fresco

Lamb Birria 
Leg Of Lamb Slowly Braised for 12 hours
To be honest I always afraid and skeptical when eating lamb. It just because sometimes the smell and the chewiness still left on the dish. But Bengawan had succeed bring the lamb in to a different level. It so juicy, tender and I didn't smell at all. Well no wonder, it through the slow-cooked to get the right texture. It cooked for 12 hours to get it tenderness. Loved the balance from the lamb, the salsa verde sauce and the freshness from the lettuce.

Carne Asada  
Grilled Skirt Steak, Cotija Cheese
Not different with the lamb above, the steak come with it juiciness and not dry. It also still tender and seasoning well. The cotija cheese that add a bit of saltiness that combine all the ingredients in it.

GRILLED QUESADILLA - IDR 125.000
Choice From the Following For Your Grilled Quesadilla :
Chicken : Mexican Cheese, Roasted Tomato, Chipotle Sauce, Crema Agria, Pico de Gallo
Steak :  Mexican Cheese, Roasted Tomato, Rajas, Chipotle Sauce, Crema Agria, Pico de Gallo
Portobello : Chipotle Sauce, Crema Agria, Pico de Gallo, Spinach, Tomato (Vegan)

Steak  
Mexican Cheese, Roasted Tomato, Rajas, Chipotle Sauce, Crema Agria, Pico de Gallo
The beef so juicy and tender.I love the combining of all sauce and ingredients. With a hint of smokey flavor from the chipotle sauce, all blend well together. No ingredients that too overpowering. The tortilla really soft and a bit crisp on the edge. Love this Quesadilla so damn much. I can be selfish when eating this.

IRON SKILLET FAJITAS
Your choice of grilled Fajita, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Onions, Guacamole, Mexican Rice and Flour Tortillas.

Choice From the Following For Your Iron Skillet Fajitas :
Chicken - IDR 255.000 | Adobo Marinated
Hanger Steak - IDR 265.000 | Tequilla Guajillo, Onion Marinated
Shrimp - IDR 355.000 | Garlic Sauce
Portobello Mushroom - IDR 265.000 | Braised & Grilled (Vegan)

Hanger Steak - IDR 265.000 | Tequilla Guajillo, Onion Marinated
I think I'll keep repeating how they cooked their meat. I'll wrote the same. It so juicy and tender. This is no bull-shit. It still sizzling when it came to our table. This hanger steak is devilishly good. It marinated well. Eventhough it become cold, but it still tender and not chewy. I tried to paired it with their flour tortilla. And it soooo good. OMG! Okay... I become mouthwatering now while I write this.

Mexican Rice and Flour Tortillas
Loved the beans. It taste decent. It also so soft and great seasoning. Topped with melted cheese, make the beans more good. In the other hand the rice a bit too  hard and dry. As for the Flour tortilla, the softness is so perfect. I rolled with the Hanger Steak above. And a lil' dip in guacamole. Soo goodd...

DESSERT

CINNAMON SUGAR CHURROS - IDR 95.000
Cajeta (Goat Milk) Caramel, White Chocolate Sauce, Chunky Mango Compote
Like the churros so much. It so flaky, crispy outside and still moist inside. Still warm when it came to our table. Served with 3 kind of sauce. Cajeta Caramel not too sweet with the right texture of thickness. White Chocolate Sauce also not too sweet. But I taste it more like condense milk than white chocolate. Chunky Mango Compote a combination between sweet and sour. As for me, I like the Cajeta caramel and mango compote. And I wish they add 2 more churros for the serving.

PASTEL 3 LECHES - IDR 95.000
3 Milks cake,  Berry Compote, Kahlua Sauce
The cake taste so milky. And the texture of the cake so moist and soft. The sweetness from the cake had balance with the berry compote. But I wish I get more kick from the sauce. The caramel crunch add the crunchy texture.

CHOCO-FLAN - IDR 95.000
Vanilla Flan, Chocolate, Pistachio Caramel Crunch
Love the Flan. It so moist and smooth. And the taste is not too sweet. This is somekind a comfort food. Nothing too overpowering between the chocolate and the vanilla.

BEVERAGES

Healthy Juice - Beet Root, Celery,  Strawberry & Orange

Fresh juice, but the celery was too overpowering. It make the fruits a bit lost

A very Fresh Ice tea with a huge glass. Freshening & Satisfying.

Overall, Mexican Food in Bengawan really appealing. They not just a usual Mexican food or Tex-Mex, but the real home Mexican food cooking. With the fresh and great quality of ingredients, make all the dishes become superb. Thanks Ms Fiona & Bengawan at Keraton for hosting us. You guys really make my day. Happy tummy.

BENGAWAN

Keraton at The Plaza, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Jakarta

Telephone: 62-21 5068 0000

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New Menu from Kitchenette

Kitchenette that usually famous with their creperie, launched their newest creation that really innovative and fresh daily made. The new items showcase classic food with unique twists on everything from starters to dessert.

Place in Kitchenette Senayan City, Kitchenette still adopt the same concept with their outlet in Plaza Indonesia. The design is full of kitchen cabinet, kitchen equipment and kitchen accessories integrated with a bit of 'structured messiness'. The details that Kitchenette put in every corner is so adorable and cute. I want to grab some of them hehehe.... This is the 1st time I go to Kitchenette Senayan City. I usually visit their store in Kitchenette Plaza Indonesia. Since it more close to my office.

Kitchenette Senayan City split into 2 area, indoor and outdoor. For you smoker, just take place in outdoor.

STARTERS

Baja Fried Fish Tacos with Avocado & Homemade Salsa - IDR 75.000

Two pieces of tacos that filled with generous fried dory fish and veggies. I like the tenderness of the dory fish. Tomato and avocado for salsa sauce add more flavor to this tacos. If you want to add a spicy & tangy taste, you can add some of the red and green Tabasco

Chicken Dobladitas - IDR 69.000

Sheredded Chicken Flour Tortillas with Green Chili Sauce
I like the Baja tacos, but I like this Chicken Dobladitas more. Specially when it added with tomato salsa sauce. It so fragrant and tasty. The shredded chicken is  so tender and blend well with the green chilli sauce. 

MAIN C OURSE

Southern Fried Chicken & Waffles - IDR 89.000

 Southern Fried Chicken & Waffles with Chili Butter and Maple Syrup
A very unique twist and combination from Kitchenette. Your palate can taste all the elements from this menu. You can taste savory from the chicken - which is too bad, the chicken a lil'  bit overcooked, but it still tender though, then you can taste Sour and tangy from the barbeque sauce, Spicy from the chilli butter and sweet from the maple syrup. When you pour the maple syrup to the waffle, it become blend with all elements in the late. You have to eat this while it's warm. Because it more melt in your mouth and it's like a symphony that play in all your palate.

Grandma’s Chicken Casserole - IDR 110.000

Chicken Casserole with creamy white wine sauce
4 pieces Thigh and Drumstick  was served in 1 portion. The chicken texture really crisp in the outside and juicy also tender in the inside. The texture from the sauce also great. The creaminess is just right. It's not too heavy. But I wish the white wine could be more bold.

DESSERT

Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava Cake - IDR 69.000

This chocolate lava cake is not too dense like lava cake that I usually eat. The texture more soft. With a generous amount of melted chocolate and peanut butter really explode in your mouth. To balance the sweetness, Kitchenette pairing it with lemon sorbet. Like the the lemon sorbet very much. It sour, light and freshening.

Rustic Chocolate Strawberry Cake - IDR 59.000

The strawberry frosting is not too sweet, which I like. A bit sour come from the strawberry sauce.

Homemade Italian Profiteroles - IDR 49.000

Profiteroles that filled with a lemon cream that have a very light texture. The lemon itself to be a balancing for the chocolate and caramel sauce that topped all of the Profiteroles. I like the texture of the Profiteroles. It so moist and smooth.

Rocky-road ‘Flourless’ cake - IDR 49.000

If you want to eat a cake without any flour in it, you can taste this cake. The texture a bit dense, but it moist when it already in your mouth. Served with vanilla ice cream with chocolate and caramel sauce.

FRAPPE

Red Velvet Frappe - IDR 45.000

 If usually we found red velvet in cake, now Kitchenette turn it into Frappe drink. It quite unique and new.  with a hidden taste of chocolate in the frappe and cheese for the frosting.

Chocolate Brownie - IDR 45.000

Chocolate brownie Frappe not favorite frappe of that day. The chocolate not bold enough. Plus it leaving weird taste after I drink it.

Orange Creamsicle - IDR 45.000

OMG! I'm addicted with this frappe. It so fresh, fragrant The orange really dominated the cream. The cream texture is just right. every elements in this frappe really blend together. Love it.

Strawberry Gingerbread  - IDR 45.000

I also like this one. strawberry with a hint of ginger bread in it. It feel like you eat a cookie, but in a drink. Really unique and great.

After spoiled with Kitchenette's new menu, we still got a chance their regular menu. Keep scroll down to know it.

The Maid’s Nasi Goreng with Spicy Seafood, Fried Egg and Chicken Satay - IDR 85.000

We ordered this for our beloved "Mamak Yenny". She's so thrilling when see rice LOL. So this time we ordered it less spicy. The fried rice taste just okay. i think it more kick in seasoning. But the chicken satay is good. The chicken is tender and the peanut sauce is taste great. Served with sunny-side egg and 'kerupuk udang'.

Charcoal Grilled Marinated Octopus with Spanish Paprika Potatoes -  IDR 90.000

It's a bit burnt, It a bit bland but it was soo good. I like this grilled marinated octopus. Served with tasty Spanish paprika potatoes and bread.

Overall, I'm so overwhelmed with all the menu in Kitchenette. It all unique, tempting, scrumptious, out of the box and so innovative. keep up with the homey & comfort food.

Kitchenette
Senayan City Ground Floor G-46
Jl. Asia Afrika Lot 19
Senayan, Jakarta Selatan
Phone: 021-29329250 / 021-29329252
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