Paul Bakery and Patisserie Indonesia

Been a while since I know about this Paul Bakery and Patisserie. I even often passing through infront of their restaurant. But never got a chance to visit Paul Bakery and Patisserie. Luckily, my ancient mates suddenly called me and asked me to meet her near in her office. Miss her since never meet her in a while. So we agree to meet at PAUL.

PAUL first founded in 1889 and already expand to many countries delivered the authentic bakery and french dish to the whole world. But just around December 2013, PAUL came to Jakarta. Placed at outside the Galleries Lafayette Pacific Place Jakarta, PAUL is so ready battle with many French restaurant in Jakarta.

When we arrived at PAUL that afternoon, the restaurant looked packed with Jakartans.We have to wait the waitress find us seat. Not for long, finally we got our seat inside the restaurant. For outdoors area is specially for the smokers.

Since I stepped in to the PAUL area, I already felt like I'm in the cafe in street of Paris. Yeaasshh... I never been there, but from I've seen from movie or magazine, it really captured the Paris ambiance. The big window around the cafe, make the not too big cafe looked more bigger and spacious. Loved the combination between the wooden and the black and white tiles. So classic yet modern.

PAUL also separated their dining area with the bakery area. However, we still can eat the bakery in the restaurant with extra charge. If you want more intimate, better you sit in the bakery area like the picture above.

Outdoor Area

THE RESTAURANT

Kinda confuse to select what we're going to order. Everything on the menu looked so tempting. Specially when I saw the pastry display. I felt like a kid in candy store.

Crêpe Mixte - IDR 90.000
Turkey Ham and Emmental Cheese 
Looovveee to death with this thin French Crepe.  The crepe was so smooth and delicate. And look at the filling. PAUL give it so generous. Turkey Ham really mixed together with the emmental cheese. It so melted in my mouth. Served with shallots and parsley salad with balsamic vinegar dressing. 

Ham & Cheese Croissant - IDR 75.000
Turkey Ham, Emmental Cheese, Béchamel Sauce and Croissant
I also love this croissant. It still warm when arrived to our table.  The texture was so crisp, crunchy but still moist. The crisp texture also came from the cheese that cooked till it dry. Turkey ham texture was so smooth. Blend well with the Béchamel Sauce. Served with shallots and parsley salad with balsamic vinegar dressing. 

THE BAKERY

Like I told you earlier aight? I'm so drooling look at their bakery and pastry display. So, beside I ordered it for dessert after me and my friend meal, I also bought some for to take away.

Eclairs Aux Framboises - IDR 50.000
Traditional Choux Pastry with Raspberries and Whipped Cream
First I looked at this eclairs in their display, I already felt in love. It looked so gorgeous and tempting. The first bite really blew me away. The choux pastry taste a bit crisp, chewy yet moist. The consistency is really great. Whipped cream also not too sweet. So its not make overwhelmed. Its all balance with the sourness from the fresh raspberries.  

As for me for take away, I bought croissant  and Fougasse (bread). See so many varieties of bread make me a bit confuse and felt like want to grab all (again LOL)...

Fougasse Provencale - IDR 25.000
PAUL White Flour, Sundried Tomato, Olives, Yeast, Salt, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
This big fougasse taste really rich. A bit tangy from the olives. The sundries tomato still taste fresh. The texture is really chewy. Really good if paired this with Cream Soup.

Pain Au Chocolat - IDR 22.000
Buttery chocolate croissant with flaky texture on the dough. The chocolate is very rich. Really great if pairing it with hot chocolate.

Nos Thês Glacês - IDR 45.000
We ordered Lemon Ice Tea and Mint Iced Tea that day. Both of the teas are freshening. There's also Iced Tea Of the day that you can order with the price IDR 45.000

Overall, it was so much find to get experience dine in PAUL. I surely will comeback here for more than PAUL's menu and bakery. I guess they already increase their service here. Because not like in several reviews that I read, the service here quite nice. From the start I walk through the door until I finished my meal here. I guess I'm lucky enough.

PAUL Bakery and Patisserie Jakarta
Outdoor Area of Galeries Lafayette, Pacific Place
Jl. Jendral Sudirman Kav. 52-53 South Jakarta 12190
021 - 5799 3455
Opening Hrs: 10 AM - 10 PM (Monday - Sunday)
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER 

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

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Holy Moment at HOLY CRAB Jakarta

Been so curious with the existent of one of Seafood restaurant in Jakarta. Holy Crab placed in a strategic area called Gunawarman. Not too far from SCBD area. Thanks so my mates Aline who introduce me to Holycrab. So that night was a girls night out.And on my second visit, it because suddenly my friend Yenny who really craving for this Holy Crab. So here's our story...

Holy Crab is not just an ordinary seafood restaurant. Entering Holy Crab area, you will find many nautical things like paddle, sea-shell and even the big ropes. This Louisiana Seafood style has pretty spacious place to dine. Holy Crab have 2 floor that fit for at least 130 person. There's also a private dining area. We seated infront of the dummy board. Dummy board is a guide how to eat your crab. So hillarious.

Holy Crab Facade

Private Room

Even the door handle is look like paddle

This Dummies Guide To De-Shelling really help a lot

Holy Crab served a very tempting seafood. From crab, Lobster, Shrimp, Clam, Fish and Calamari you named it. Looking at the menu it self already making me mouthwatering. For crab, Holy Crab have selection of import and local. For import, I can't give you specific price. Because Holy Crab set the price into seasonal price. Last time, I went there, the price around IDR 80.000 for 100gram for the dungeness crab. Beside the Dungeness Crab, other import crab are King Crab Legs and Snow Crab Legs. The size of the legs is so huge. Beside crab other import product is definitely Lobster.

The plastic napkin to keep your clothes clean

Eating in Holy Crab means forget the table manner, forget all the knife, fork or spoon. Its a place where you can get dirty and lick your fingers with no hesitate. And where's the plate? There's no plate also y'll.... The seafood will spread upon your table. Of course after it cover with paper napkin. Get down to the mess and enjoy the crab till the last bite.

Those are the only tools we used - to smashing and dig in the crab

SNACKS

Cajun Fries - IDR 25.000

Love this cajun fries. A really crisp and well seasoning of french fries. Just dip it into the sauce that you get when you order your seafood. The taste become more tasty.

Onion Ring - IDR 25.000

Look at that gigantic onion ring. Usually I only had an onion ring size thinner than that. But Holy Crab have the big version. It coated well and it taste great.

THE STAR OF THE SEA

MUD CRAB - IDR 45.000 / 100gram
The crab above was around 500gram's weight. I thought the local crab, was not going this big. It's enough for 2-3 person though. The meat is so so juicy and tender. The sauce it-self really soak in to the crab. I don't mind have to struggle with the crab shell. I just need to smash it with the wooden hammer. The crab taste fresh. I even didn't smell any fishy smell at all.

SHRIMP - IDR 28.000 / 100gram
The size of the shrimp also pretty big. It so fresh and not fishy. I can taste the juiciness, sweet, tender and so smooth in the very first bite.

THE SAUCE

Holy Crab have 3 spiciness level from the sauce that you can choose.
MILD
                    MEDIUM
                                             HOLY MOLY!
Since I ate with my Yenny who couldn't handle the spicy taste, so we ordered for the mild sauce. The sauce texture just like bolognaise. Even though it called mild, but I still taste a bit hint of spiciness in it. The mild not only for the spiciness. But also in its texture. So when we combine it with the seafood,  it doesn't make it too overpowering. So it make the seafood still the main star. And in our second visit, we're so curious with the HolyMoly sauce. Yes, we dare our selves to try that sauce. And yess... it so hot like  hell! It really burn my lips and my throat. But the weird thing is, it make us want to grab it again LOL.

BEVERAGES

Lemonade (Free Flow) – IDR 25.000

The sourness & the acidity from this drink can balance the heat from the sauce

Ice Tea (Free Flow) – IDR 25.000

Complimentary Orange - to reduce the heat from the sauce

One more thing that can be the fun effect from this restaurant. I guess this is the only restaurant that rent a "Selfie Stick" or we called it "Tongsis (tongkat narsis)" and yes, we use it several times just for fun hehehe...

Overall, we're have so much great time to have dine here. With the good service and good quality of food. I hope Holy Crab keep maintain the quality of the food and the service in the future.

The Menu

The Holy Crab

Jalan Gunawarman No. 55

Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan

Jakarta Selatan 12110

021 - 2923 6155

Opening Hours:

5 PM - 10 PM (Weekdays), 12 PM - 10 PM (weekends)

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM