Pizza Express - A Chef's Table Evening

last Week, I was an email dropped in my inbox from Pizza Express. Pizza Express or former known as Pizza Marzano really famous for it thin, crispy and fresh pizza. Placed in Lippo Mall Kemang Jakarta, me and several blogger mates got some valuable knowledge about Pizza making.

I only know eating those pizza without knowing the secret behind those gorgeous pizza. Who knows that their chef took minimum 12 weeks to learn the art of pizza making. So, I'm so excited when i received invitation from Pizza Express, aannddd... I can reveal their secret hohoho...

Here's a reason why they change the name from Pizza Marzano to Pizza Express

Pizza Marzano is a franchised business of Pizza Express although the brands are the same. The name change is a real opportunity for Pizza Marzano to align itself with the Global Pizza Express brand – benefiting from our global presence and brand recognition, and therefore sharing in the success of PizzaExpress worldwide.

Well, eventhough they have a new name, new interior - black & white stripes and a new concept, 1 thing that never change. That Pizza Express is still consisting to serve fresh ingredients for their Pizza and Pasta. They never pre-prepared. Always made fresh from the moment you order.

Some details in every Pizza Express store that must exist

Pizza Express is of of the UK's favorite brands, established in 1965 in London by Peter Boizot, and now operate across the world with 470 restaurants worldwide. In Indonesia, currently there are 5 Pizza Marzano (Grand Indonesia, Mal Kelapa Gading, Supermal Karawaci, Kemang, Pondok Indah Mall 2) and 5 Pizza Express (Bintaro 9 Walk, Senayan City, Kota Kasablanka, Lippo Mall Kemang, Citywalk) and they will transform all of their Pizza Marzano restaurants to Pizza Express soon.

The event called A CHEF TABLE'S EVENING opened by the lovey Ms Dini Arizully, Pizza Express Marketing Manager. A lil' speech regarding this event. Then continue with that night star, none other than Chef Endang - Pizza Express Pizzaiolos - Chef Pizza.

Chef Endang

While listening a lil speech from Chef Endang and Ms Dini, we snacking their yummy starter...

Garlic Bread with Mozzarella - IDR 30.000

A soft cheezy garlic bread was serve. A melting mozarella spread all over the dough. Yummy.....

Dough Balls - IDR 23.000

Our secret recipe dough is hand-stretched to give the perfect texture. Try our famous Dough Balls to taste for yourself – mini balls of dough, baked and served with garlic butter to dip.
Pizza Express signature starter. Dough Balls a bit chewy but so tasty, and the garlic butter sauce so creamy and add more richness to the balls.

Making a beautiful  is ain't easy. There are several steps. And all must be well prepared with the same standard. Although the chef all must have a high speed job process, but they still pay attention with the details. Seeing Chef  Endang demonstrate Pizza making, already make my eyes drooling... I'm amazed...

Chef Endang demonstrate Pizza making

The Dough - must be 6hours, 9hours and 12hours (perfect dough) to be set

And... voila... several Pizza Express New Menu that just launched in May 2013  spread at the table. Make mouthwatering, make me drooling and make want to grab it all. Come to Mama...

STARTER

Baked Mushrooms with Pesto and Mozzarella - IDR 49.000

Closed Cup Mushroom, Pesto, Mozarella.
You have to eat it while it's  hot. Pesto mixed with mozarella taste so great. Served with dough balls.

Bruschetta Arrabiata Con Pollo - IDR 49.000

Garlic bread, chicken arrabiata sauce, mixed peppers, watercress, grana padano.
This is good for spicy lover. The chicken also really tender and seasoned well. Don't be so confused with the name. Let me describe it for you. 

Arrabbiata sauce, or sugo all'arrabbiata in Italian, is a spicy sauce for pasta made from garlic, tomatoes, and red chili peppers cooked in olive oil. "Arrabbiata" literally means "angry" in Italian, and the name of the sauce is due to the heat of the chili peppers
Grana Padano (IPA: [ˈɡraːna paˈdaːno]) is one of the most popular cheeses of Italy. Grana Padano is one of the world's first hard cheeses, created nearly 900 years ago by the Cistercian monks of Chiaravalle Abbey, founded in 1135 near Milan, who used ripened cheese as a way of preserving surplus milk.

Bruschetta Originale “PizzaExpress” IDR 29.000

Red Onions, Tomatoes, Garlic, Pesto.
The topping not as generous the Arrabiata one, but the pesto really good. It suit for Vegetarians.

PIZZA

SPECIALTY PIZZA - Gamba Piccante - IDR 95.000 

King Prawns, arrabiata Sauce, Watercress, Jalapeno peppers, Mixed peppers, Chilli Oil, Parsley, Wedge Of Lemon, Grana Padano - on a square base.
Alert for spicy lover. The jalapeno and arrabiata taste really kick. Not too overpower. Watercress add more freshness in this Pizza. And if you usually have a round Pizza, This pizza have square shape. Unique.

ROMANA PIZZA -  Rustichella - IDR 90.000

Crispy Beef Bacon, Roasted Tomatoes, Watercress, Grana Padano, Caesar Dressing.
Caesar Dressing mixed with tomato pasta can be this good. Beef bacon add more crispness in this this pizza.

LEGGERA PIZZA

The new Leggera is a ring of our thinner, crispier Romana dough, topped with the recipes you love, but for under 500 calories each. The hole in the middle is filled with watercress salad, shaved grana padano, finished with our light house dressing, which is balsamic syrup.

 

Step Of Making Leggera  Pizza

 

Pomodoro Pesto Leggera - IDR 85.000

Light mozzarella, marinated santos tomatoes, fresh basil, pesto, garlic oil.
The shape actually really unique. The fresh basil covered the round hole in the middle. If you in a diet, choose this kind of Pizza. The calories not more than 500 yeaaii... So ladies, don't have feeling guilty eating Pizza. Taste so fresh. Like eating salad and pizza in the same time.

American Hot Leggera - IDR 85.000

Pepperoni, Light Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Jalapeno Peppers.
I really like the spicy combination. And the balsamic syrup adding the richness of the flavor. Yummy...

Classic Pizza - Giardiniera - IDR 75.000

 Artichokes, Mushrooms, Red Peppers, Santos Tomatoes, Courgette, Olives, Garlic Oil, Tomato & Pesto.
A really generous topping that Pizza Express added. The courgette and Olives taste really pop out. So, it make not feel too cheezy.

CALZONE

Inspired by the Neapolitan delicacy, our calzone have steaming hot fillings and a folded crisp dough, which is baked with olive oil and grated grana padano, served with salsa verde.

Step Of Making Calzone

Calzone Pollo Pesto - IDR 99.000

Chicken ham, roasted mushrooms, roasted red onion, fresh spinach, gruyere cream sauce, pesto.  

I always love this fatty pizza. Really blew me away. The dough so crispy but so soft. 

PASTA

Spaghetti Alla Genovese Con Pollo - IDR 70.000

Spicy Chicken, Potato, Green Beans, Creamy Pesto Sauce.
The spaghetti cooked aldente. With tende spicy chicken, make this spaghetti taste great.

Penne Arrabiata with Sausage - IDR 72.000

Arrabiata sauce, sausage, beef sausage, spring onion, mascarpone. 

In the real receipe, from the origin country, this penne usually use n’duja sausage. But Pizza Express Indonesia using beef for this Penne. It make me worries at 1st to be honest hehehe... Arrabiata mixed with mascarpone is heaven.

'Nduja is a spicy spreadable sausage made with pork. It is typically made with parts of the pig such as the shoulder, belly and jowl, as well as tripe, roasted peppers and a mixture of spices. It is a Calabrian variation of salami, loosely based on the French andouille introduced in the 13th century by the Angevins.

Beside  some menus spread above, actually there are several items that we haven't try. I definitely will try'em when I visit Pizza Express again

INTRO

Queen Olives Marinated - IDR 22.000

Mixed pitted olives

*picture courtesy of Pizza Express

PIZZA

Romana Pizza Asparagi - IDR 95.000

Asparagus, Leeks, Pesto, Baby Mozarella, Tomatoes, Garlic Oil.
*picture courtesy of Pizza Express.

PASTA

Ravioli Ricotta e Spinach – IDR 72.000
Ricotta, spinach and cream, grana padano, garlic oil
*picture courtesy of Pizza Express

DESSERT

DOLCETTI

Mini puddings that come with coffee. Ideal when you can’t manage a whole dessert but still want something sweet.

Banoffee Pie – IDR 42.000
Lemon Meringue Torta – IDR 42.000
*picture courtesy of Pizza Express

Banoffee Pie

Bananas, cream, caramel sauce, crumbly biscuit, with vanilla ice cream.

Lemon Meringue Torta 

Lemon pastry tart with meringue.

Fresh Juice

Melon, Strawberry, Orange, Watermelon

*picture courtesy of Pizza Express

After  my tummy full, but the event not end yet. There are still dough flair and making the fabulous pizza of our own. Woohh... This is what I've been waiting for. 

Pizzaiolos doing dough flair

Then after quick restaurant tour, a very freshening drinks came out. Lychee Iced Tea & Strawberry Mint Iced Tea taste not too sweet, so fruity with a fruits inside of it. Like it.

Lychee Iced Tea IDR 28.000 & Strawberry Mint Iced Tea  IDR 28.000

I'm so excited making my own pizza, no matter eventhough flour all over my sweater hahaha... I added some of my hubby's favorite topping like pepperoni, mushroom and olive generously hehehe...

Me making Pizza - Thanks @yennyw for the pic

Look at the different from Pizza above

But theeenn... when I want to show off to my hubby... The Pizza is not MINE!!! Dunno how can it be happen. Well, my hubby said... it's okay, I often taste your tasty food, but the one who got your pizza can only taste once woohooo... okaayy... *aakk... blushing like Chef Endang's tomato sauce

Overall, not just my tummy that happy... but myself extremely happy. Got a valuable knowledge about Pizza, had a change to taste all fabulous menus and meeting some great peoples from Pizza Express. Thanks for inviting me...

PizzaExpress
Lippo Mall Kemang
Kemang Village, 1st Fl Unit 07
Jl. Pangeran Antasari No. 36 P
Kemang, Jakarta
Telp: (021) 2952 8429
FB Fan Page: PizzaExpress
twitter: @PizzaExpressIDN

MIKA - Japanese Bistro

MIKA located in Kota Kasablanka - Food Society Ground Floor. I've heard about MIKA for several times and often passing through in front of their restaurant. But never got a chance to visit. So excited when I got a chance to visit MIKA

Venue
MIKA have a very unique, cozy and homey ambiance. With a big shelves full of cute stuffs and make want to grab some hahaha... There are 2 sitting area, indoor and outdoor. They have lots of chairs to accommodate peoples. And they have classic sofa with shelves as a backdrop. Pretty nice to take a picture. If you more like dine and still can see peoples around, just sit outdoor. As for me, I prefer sit indoor. Because so many good spot to take a picture hehehe... For example their open bar with white big cabinet behind it. Or rustic cabinet full of antique things.

 

MIKA have a lots of kind of food and beverages. I'll spread those to make you mouthwatering and dreaming to go to MIKA also...

BEVERAGES BLAST

Freshening Mocktails

PURPLE LUSH - IDR 25.000
Grape fruit and Juice, Mixed Yoghurt and Strawberry fruit . Blended strawberry and grape bring out the freshening of those fruits Combine with yoghurt leaving bit sour taste.

MY SISTER'S FAVORITE - IDR 40.000
Peach, Grenadine & Sprite. I think this drink has become everybody's favorite. The sprite bring out the freshness from the peach. So it become not too sweet.

RED CALPIS - IDR 27.500
Calpico, Mint, Dutch Eggplant Syrup with Mint Leaves. I never imagine that Calpico can be this good. And this is also the 1st time I taste Eggplant Syrup hahaha... The mix between all ingredients is just so great. Freshening.

POISON IVY - IDR 90.000
Jack Daniels, Apple Juice, Cantaloupe, Melon Syrup. At first I taste the Jack Daniels a bit too strong. But then again, apple juice and melon syrup can balance the Jack Daniels. Using melon stick and cherry as a garnish, this Poison Ivy pretty good to try.

BIMBOLICIOUS - IDR 38.000
Strawberry, Milk and Fresh Lychee. I don't know because we're taking this drink too long for a photo shoot, or this is the real taste from Bimbolicious. Because I don't feel the real taste from each ingredients. If their pop out all those Strawberry, Milk and Fresh Lychee it would be great. And I'm sure this is going to be Kids favorite.

MANGO YOGI - IDR 25.000
Mango Fruit & Juice, Lychee Yoghurt, Fresh Milk & Raspberry Syrup. Aaakkk... I can't stop drink this Mango Yogi. All ingredients blend together leaving a very fresh taste. Not too sweet also. The mango dominated all the flavor.

MISTY LYCHEE - IDR 48.000
This is menu drink of the month from MIKA. Consist of Pear, Sake, Lychee, Vodka, Sour Mix. Lychee can be a balancing for vodka and sake. Even at first I taste that the vodka and sake a bit too strong, but not leaving a bitter taste after it.

NAOMI KYURI - IDR  65.000
Fresh Kyuri, Sake, Sour Mix. Who ever think that kyuri (a.k.a Japanese cucumber ) can be this fresh. Blend with traditional Japanese drink, Sake, make this drink quite unique.

HARAJUKU POP - IDR 75.000
Sake, Raspberry, Cranberry, Melon Syrup. Do you remember pop candy called pop rocks? Yeepp... MIKA use that candy for Harajuku Pop garnish. I like the mix of Harajuku Pop. The taste so fresh and really pop in my mouth.


APPETIZER & SALAD
From beverages, now we move to food. Begin with some of appetizers & salad.

Various Salad

ONSEN TAMAGO SALAD - IDR 30.000
Romaine Lettuce Topped with Soft Boiled Egg, Parmesan Cheese Slices and Creamy Caesar Dressing.
This salad I can call East meet West. Classic Caesar Salad with onsen tamago or soft boiled egg that cooked under 65 celcius to get creamy texture. Fresh romaine lettuce with a bit sour thick salad dressing make this salad taste yummy.

GOMA TOFU SALAD - IDR 30.000
Mesclun salad topped with deep fried sesame crusted tofu, corn salsa and soya dressing.  at 1st I thought that was a Tuna. But then I was wrong. It's a tofu covered with battered and sesame seed. It's quite good and unique, especially with soya dressing.

TERIYAKI CHICKEN SALAD - IDR 33.000
Mesclun Salad Topped With Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, Crispy Rice Noodles and Spicy Peanut Dressing. Another unique salad from MIKA. what makes it unique, because they use spicy peanut for the dressing. It remind me our local salad, Gado-Gado and Pecel hehehe...  The chicken taste really tender.

Are you confused with the word Mesclun ? Well... me too. Don't bother to roll your eyes for Googling. I found it for you.
According to Wikipedia, Mesclun (French pronunciation: ​[mɛsˈklœ̃]) is a salad mix of assorted small, young salad leaves which originated in Provence, France. The traditional mix includes chervil, arugula, leafy lettuces and endive in equal proportions, but in modern iterations may include an undetermined mix of fresh and available lettuces, spinach, arugula (rocket, or roquette), Swiss chard (silver beet), mustard greens (Dijon's Child), endive, dandelion, frisée, mizuna, mâche (lamb's lettuce), radicchio, sorrel, and/or other leaf vegetables.

Lite Bites

EBI CREAM & RICE KOROKKE - IDR 34.000
Coated Fried Creamy Shrimp and Rice Balls with Cheese Filling, Served on Top of Tomato Sauce.

It similar like croquette or kroket in bahasa, the different is if kroket using potato, meanwhile for korokke, they use rice and ebi. I like ebi better than the rice. The cheese more blend and taste really good. Mix with their tomato sauce, the taste a bit like spaghetti sauce. yummy...

TORI KARAGE - 25.000
Marinated deep-fried chicken pieces served with tartar sauce and spicy dark sauce. This chicken texture is crispy outside and tender inside. The tartar sauce is so unique. Because it combine with nori. It taste good. Squeeze with lemon before you eat it.

GYU TATAKI - IDR 38.000
Thinly Sliced Pan-Seared Wagyu Beef with MIKA’s Special Sauce.  I love this Gyu Tataki. For more perfect, order Medium for the wagyu. The texture more tender and good. The sauce taste savory. Melted in mouth in suddenly.

SALMON TARTAR WITH CRISPY RICE - IDR 36.000
Norwegian Salmon Tartar with Spicy Ariracha Dressing, Layered on Soy Crispy Rice. the salmon taste fresh and not smelly. Perfectly cooked, i love it. They grill the rice so it became crispy.


MAIN COURSE
MIKA served many various of main course. From east to the west, or combine between the two of them.

EBI KATSU WRAP - IDR 54.000
Fried Shrimp Katsu with Salsa and Spicy Mayonnaise.Served with MIKA’s Special Soya-Base Dressing.  Choices of Potato Wedges or Fries.
The portion quite big. Enough for 2. We can choose the side dish. The filling is very generous, with a pretty big size and tender of shrimp, lettuce, corn, tomato and onion. Served with spicy soyu sauce.

TERIYAKI LAMB RIBS - IDR 80.000
Australian Teriyaki Marinated Lamb Ribs, Grilled to Perfection and Served With Mixed Salad and Balsamic Dressing.
I'm not a huge fans of lambs. But MIKA's lamb taste good. It so tender and ripped easily from its bone. It took 4 hour to get juicy meat like this. Perfectly seasoning.    

DEMIGLACE OMURICE - IDR 65.000
A Japanese-Style Omelet and Tomato Fried Rice with French Influenced Thick Brown Sauce. It took 7 hour to get yummy and tasty demiglace sauce like this. The thickness is just right. MIKA used Omega 3 egg. It cooked really soft.

MEATBALLS OMURICE - IDR 65.000
 A Japanese-Style Omelet with Garlic Butter Rice and Meatballs, Served with Bechamel and Curry Sauce. This Omurice served with 2 kind of sauce. Curry Sauce taste a bit bland, however, the meatballs so tender and good. Bechamel sauce texture is really creamy.

KIMCHI SPAGHETTI - IDR 45.000
A Traditional Fermented Korean-Style Cabbage with Mix of Seasonings, Cooked With Your Choice of Pasta.
I usually  like kimchi. Taste sour and spicy. But this time I think I should passed it. Probably because it leaving too long for a photo session. So, it leaves a very weird taste after.The pasta cooked aldente though.

MIKA'S HOMEMADE BASIL PESTO - IDR 50.000
Sauteed Chicken in MIKA’s Homemade Basil Pesto Mix with Your Choice of Pasta
I love it. MIKA use  sun seeds instead of pine nuts. The herbs really tasty. With generous chicken chunk.

CURRY CARBONARA WITH ONSEN TAMAGO - IDR 60.000
Creamy Curry Sauce, Beef Ham Slices and Soft-Boiled Egg
Curry mixed with carbonara actually pretty good. With slices of smoked beef, this spaghetti really have rich flavor

DESSERT
The journey is not over yet. we still have some desserts to dig in.

CHOCO MELT CAKE - IDR 35.000
Chocolate melting cake with ice cream. The warm cake is really smooth, and the chocolate really melt all over the cake. Served with choice of ice cream, chocolate and macademia nut. The taste not too sweet.



BANOFFEE PIE - IDR 40.000
Banana and Coffee Pie with Chocolate, Caramel and Cream
This Banoffee Pie also great. The Pie crust texture no too thick and smooth. The filling also generous. All the sweetness balance with coffee on top. 

PANNACOTA - IDR 25.000
MIKA’s Homemade Italian-Style Pannacota with Choices of Matcha or Houjicha Flavors
The texture really smooth. Both great. Each come out with each flavor. 

Overall, very satisfied with MIKA. They really can served Japanese fusion dish into a different level. The service also great. So patient explain about each menu. If you want to have unusual Japanese dish with good ambiance, just visit MIKA.


MIKA Japanese Bistro
www.mika.co.id
Ground Floor #M-11, Food Society
Mall Kota Kasablanka
Jl. Casablanca Raya Kav. 88
Jakarta Selatan 12870
(021) 2946 4975

facebook : https://www.facebook.com/mikajbistro‎
twitter: @mikajbistro