Eat in Dubai in three days

It was a short-time visit few years ago and I didn't post on the blog back then, didn't have much time for prep and shot nor visit some major places or tourist spots, it was a work trip yet totally fun. However, the heat was also a challenge for me to stay fit - yes I am a kind of person who's easily beaten by the heat.The trip was a part of the program of Alshaya Food Tour to review some restaurants: iHOP, P.F Chang, Cheese cake Factory, ShakeShack and Texas Roadhouse. I am so lucky to be a part of this FUN-tastic journey.

Breakfast at IHOP®

The first question of the first thing to start the day is: What do I want for breakfast?

Starting the day with good breakfast is very essential, not only fuel for thought, but it will boost my mood. And the selection should come to the best choice.

Today’s breakfast menus at IHOP signifies my passion. However, before coming to menu, the first impression is about the venue, per se.

At the entrance, the ambience, the font and the logo of the restaurant, I could feel of such a favorite American restaurant for both individual and family dining, not specifically for breakfast, but more like a steak house. The seating arrangement is just fine, IHOP also has a space for group at the back for informal gathering. The lighting meets the requirement. The music is not too loud that people can still have a chit-chat without being disturbed by the sound. However, I could hear the crowd from the kitchen, this thing is not supposed to occur in this typical restaurant. Wifi availability is what most people need, sometimes we work while having our meals, or, we need to have good meals while working with wifi connection. However, in Jakarta, a smoking space with good exhaust system, shall be considered. Somehow, as I observe, the first two questions before entering a restaurant in Jakarta: Is there a smoking section? Wifi available? In addition to this, should IHOP aims at grabbing family, a small space for kids like a minimalist playground shall also be available.

Services from the waiter or waitress play important role. IHOP has it! The greeting and introduction, the knowledge of the menu (option, taste, ingredients, composition, condiment, side dishes etc), the fast response and the way she served the dishes met my expectation on how I would expect to be treated as a customer. Honestly, even if in Jakarta, I could recognize few of waiters with outstanding services, a mind-reader-type-of-waiter, always ready to explain and serve even when I’m not finished with my sentences during ordering.

Alrity let’s get to have my experience on meals as a foodie!

HOP offers attractive and broad assortment of great-tasting meals for breakfast. Tried some menus that include Philly Cheese Steak Stacker, Chicken Florentine Crepes, Crispy Chicken Salad, Sirloin Tips and Eggs, Boneless Buffalo Chicken Strips,  Eggs Benedict, Chicken Fajita, Original Pancake, Cinn-a-Stack Pancake, New York Cheese Pancake and French Toast.

My faves go to Chicken Florentine Crepes, Crispy Chicken Salad, Cinn-a-Stack Pancake.

I have never tasted and seen similar menu like this Florentine in other restaurants. It is perfect combo of the savory crepes, the tender chicken and the spinach -  love the spinach, not too overcooked. 

The Crispy Chicken Salad fulfils the need to ‘’eat the rainbow’’, contains lettuce that stay crispy even though it is already mixed well with the salad dressing. The Jack and the Cheddar cheeses make it perfect, melt well in my mouth. The chicken is crispy too yet tender inside, however, it is too salty.

The Cinn-a-stack Pancake is the outstanding one for dessert. Not to mention that the (original) pancake itself is already delish, the right taste, thickness and fluffiness either for sweet or savory pancake, but the cinnasauce is very sexy, a combination of sweet spices, reminds me of speculoos taste. A classic and tempting one. This one is foodgasmic. Last but not least, the Sirloin Tips and Eggs, in the first place, the steak was too well-done, the second round was way much better, met the tenderness and juiciness of a steak I would always expect, however, it tasted a bit too sweet. The caramelized onion is already sweet – which is good. Imagine if we reduce the sweet taste on the meat, it would be more fabulous because the original tastes from the meat would be already tasty and mouthwatering. 

Having a refillable coffee or tea is a plus point too.

I HOPe that IHOP will be open in Indonesia.

P.F Chang 

Dark Chocolate Cup Cake at the Mall of Emirates

Le' Pain Quotidien, Mall the Emirates

ShakeShack

pics to upload soon

Texas Roadhouse

pics to upload soon

Angelina, Mall of the Emirates

Ubud, the heaven of raw vegan food - Moksa

 

I have been back and forth to Bali, but this time was the first time staying ONLY in Ubud, for more than a week. It was a part of my plan after a while, then choosing Ubud as I need fresh air, far from the heat (am kinda avoiding tropical state of mind), sorry sun, I don't hate you, I was just a little bit shy when I see you... 

It was rainy season in February, a walk on rice terrace, raw food or vegan food galore days and night, yoga, meditation, and even doing nothing, were perfect serenity.

The first agenda when I touched down Ubud on Sunday, was visiting Moksa Ubud.
It's a hidden gem in the middle of (almost like a) jungle :) surrounded by rice terrace, when entered the restaurant area, it was actually the permaculture garden concept.

I had an opportunity to meet up with Chef Made Runata the co-founder of Moksa Ubud, and learned to cook or make some vegan foods from him. Chef Made previously worked at Five Element before in Living Culinary in USA with lots of challenging moments before he finally set up Moksa.

The one-day raw food making course with Chef Made was a blissful experience. Not only about the course on making raw corn soup, raw cake from coconut, vegan raviolli, various desserts that tasted soooo heavenly, but what I also loved the most,when I enjoyed all the food on a table facing the paddy field..with fresh air that swept away my cheek, my hair, and the sound of birds chirping.. things I cannot always have or find everyday, in Jakarta...LoL.

Well anyway I couldn't say more about it, but these pics are some of fab vegan food from Moksa.

I will definitely come back to Moksa. I will.

video courtesy Youtube Moksa Ubud

Vegan sushi

                                                     

photo @freakartika

Raw corn soup

Mango-soursop smoothies

Chef Made Runata - the man behind the heavenly vegan restaurant
all photos @freakartika

Aku dan otakku...

Aku dan otakku.

Bagai majikan dan babu.

Yang mana majikan?

Yang mana babu?

Kami bertugas secara bergantian saat tertentu.

Otak bilang boleh, jangan, lanjutkan, abaikan, nikmati, sudahi, benahi, turuti, akupun mau.

Sebaliknya aku juga berkata begitu ke otakku.

Kolaborasi kami yang terbaik yaitu dalam mengumpulkan kekuatan pikiranku. 

Membuat jalani hidup dalam mimpiku.

Membuat mimpiku nyata tersentuh tanganku

Aromanya terendus hidungku.

Bentuknya tak lepas dari pandangan mataku.

Membuat semua menjadi bermakna selalu. 

Makna, yang membuat betapa bersyukurnya aku.

Aku dan otakku, yang tentukan kekuatan pikiranku, hidupku, bahagiaku.

What Life is All About (for me)

- just an old post of mine and a reflection..

Life is a gift, be grateful for everything I have, keep in my mind that nothing is perfect, gotta deal with imperfection, take it as it is, look around, think, feel, some people may not be as lucky as I am :) 

Life is a blessing..every painful thing, will be a thankful thing at last.. I believe that I can't see rainbow without rain..

Life is a mistery, things occur unexpectedly, never know what's coming up next...never know what's gonna hit me..., but I believe when there's a problem, there's a solution; like in a race, think about the exit point instead of the focus on the barrier itself...get ready!

Life is a hope & miracle, I feel alive when there's always a hope, a hope to work on miracle and make all my dreams come true...(never wait for a miracle, gotta work on that, and let God decide)..

Life is about faith, I (might) have lost or missed something, but I have gained many precious things..

Life is sometimes unfair...but, just remember, fairness, equal treatment, are only from God..- who am I to judge?

Life is like an echo... throw something, it'll will bounce back to me....so I'll just think, before throwing..hahaa...

Life is a game, play it well, don't loose it!

Life is a victory, we fight, we win! 

Life is a crazy ride (as FUNtastic as rollercoaster), enjoy it to the max!

Film horror vs horror dalam hidup

Film horor vs horor dalam hidup.

Gw suka film thriller, slash, horror.. damn I love it af! Mau yang edisi kayak gimana deh sebutin aja.. semua scene yang paling parah pun, justru bikin gw legaan setelah nontonnya..

Tapi, ada satu scene di mana ada makhluk disebut pocong, atau adegan nurunin jenazah ke liang kubur itu muncul di suatu film, naaaahhhh.. biasanya gw nutup mata.. atau memalingkan wajah gw ke sebelah gw, terlepas yang di kanan atau kiri gw kadang bikin hidup gw lebih horror atau lucuk..

Takutkah gw liat pocong atau adegan nurunin jenazah terkafani ke liang kubur dalam film itu? No. Tepatnya, denial.

Gw adalah orang yang pada masanya, menolak ingat bahwa kematian itu bagian dari kehidupan.

Gw menolak ingat bahwa semua yang hidup akan mati.

Gw menolak ingat bahwa semua akan terkalang tanah.

Gw menolak ingat bahwa semua akan berpulang. Kembali pada penciptaNya.

Gw menolak ingat dan bahkan ingkar bahwa yang gw sayangi pun juga berpulang, kembali.

Saking nolak ingatnya, terakhir nyokab gw ke rumah bulan Januari lalu bilang “Nanti kalau orangtua dipanggil Tuhan gimana?” sambil senyum.. dan gw masih bisa ngomong (antara becanda tapi sebenernya mengingkari sesuatu tapi entahlah otak gw gak mau mikir saat itu), “Gak mau! Gak boleh! Kita suntik serum vampir aja kita ke Transilvania.. aku pengennya mama di atas 100 tahun lah..” 

Nyokab gw nyamber lagi, “Heh aku gak mau kiwir-kiwir jompo ah..” kemudian lanjut ngobrol seru lagi.

Kemudian hingga pada suatu malam dua bulan setelah candaan itu dengan nyokab, gw tau (dan malam itu masih berusaha ingkar) kalau gw gak bakal bisa becanda lagi sama nyokab. Gak bakal bisa samber-samberan dalam canda gila-gilaan dengan suara macam petir kolaborasi gledek bin halilintar.. Selamanya. 

Hari demi hari gw jalani dengan rasa antara mau nabok mulut gw sendiri, noyor jidat gw sendiri, nyolok mata gw sendiri, coba terima kalau yang terjadi itu nyata adanya. Mutlak adanya. 

Gak mudah melupakan kejadian malam itu, gak mudah menghilangkan rasa sedihnya gw, harta gw yang paling berharga di dunia, orang tua gw, nyokab gw, berpulang. 

Seiring dengan waktu, banyak ngobrol, banyak ketemu orang yang pastinya juga sudah merasakan dan tau apa yang namanya kehilangan, termasuk kemelekatan (yang mana harusnya di situ ga perlu ada rasa kehilangan), banyak baca, banyak dengar, banyak merenungi, meresapi dan masih banyak yang gw saring-telen, coba cari hikmahnya, makin ke sini makin coba menerima. Kematian itu mutlak. Iya semua orang juga tau itu. Tapi gw ya baru tau (baca: terima kenyataan) sekarang. Sekarang, saat gw ingat, nyokab gw, di hadapan gw, terkafani. Kehilangan orang yang paling gw sayangi, itu adalah terhorrrrorrr dalam hidup gw. Ini bukan film. Sesuatu yang nyata, yang saat dulu scene begini di film pun selalu gw hindari untuk gw lihat. 

Kepergian nyokab, terlepas dari segala rasa yang hilang seperti tembok berlubang yang ga bakal bisa disemen dengan berlianpun, gw cari dan cari terus hikmahnya. Mungkin, bikin gw lebih dan makin ingat itu nyata - yang kita gak bisa tolak, bikin gw makin inget semua kehendak Allah atas segala yang terjadi, bikin gw paham kejadian lain yang jika terjadi pun membuat gw inget lagi ke inti, semua terjadi atas kehendak Allah, dan semua kehidupan itu ujungnya, akhirnya, adalah kematian. Bikin gw mikir, banyak bertanya ke diri sendiri.. 
Umur gw sampai berapa? 
Masihkah banyak kesempatan berbuat baik? 
Sudah berapa banyak dosa yang diperbuat, dan yang sudah kita sadari untuk gak dilakukan lagi? 
Sudahkah gw cukup bertobat? 
Sudah seberapa banyak kah tabungan untuk “akhir”? 
Ah makin banyak pertanyaan.. walau beberapa jawaban dan wejangan temen2 selalu ada.. dan selalu jadi pengingat dalam upaya do’a-ikhtiar-pasrah-repeat.

“Kematian adalah pengingat yang sempurna. Tidak berbentuk, tidak berwujud, tidak berbau, tidak berbunyi. Cukup ingat kata itu aja untuk nabung kebaikan.” (Gw lupa kata ustadz siapa aja🤦🏻‍♀️)

Seorang teman, Rindu Istiqomah dalam bukunya ''Perempuan Pencari Tuhan'' edisi 3, juga menuangkan bahwa orang yang cerdas adalah orang yang mengingat kematian. 

Dia tulis begini, “Jika malam nanti malaikat Izrail datang mengetuk pintu kehidupan saya, dalam rangka menjalankan perintah Allah untuk membawa saya pulang, kira-kira apa yang akan saya katakan pada malaikat? Meminta diundur waktu? Karena saya belum sempat meminta maaf kepada orang-orang yang pernah saya lukai. Atau meminta malaikat untuk membatalkan perintah Allah, padahal saya tahu persis makhluk yang paling amanah dalam menjalankan perintah Allah adalah malaikat. Tidak bisa saya sogok dengan sebanyak apa pun harta yang saya miliki....”

Abis baca bagian itu, gw mikir, ada hal yang gak bisa ditawar.. bukan macam jual-beli di pasar pastinya.. gak bisa diundur tar sok tar sok tar dulu lah gw masih belum siap ini itu anuh bla blabla and the bre and the bra and the bro.. dan tanya lagi ke diri sendiri, “Gw masih totally blo’on atau udah semi cerdas nih ya urusan beginian (mati)? Atau masih zero? Bodong? Kopong? Melompong?”

Yak jadi mikir terus.. bebas kan ya.. selama mikir masih gratis.. Lagian baru awal perjalanan gw.. perjalanan yang gw sendiri pun belum tau perjalanan macam gimana, yang tiap mau tidur, dan saat bangun, bikin gw mikir, saldo tabungan gw buat “akhir” udah seberapa ya? Kalo di-convert dah berapa digit? Ya keleuz.. Mana gak bisa di-cek pula di m-banking, apalagi print buku tabungan.. cukup ingat aja, kematian adalah mutlak.

Mudah nerimanya? Auto cerdas? Ntar dulu. Masih jauuuuh dari sempurna.. Tapi, dengan menerima dulu yang terjadi, bahwa, again, kematian itu mutlak, gw usaha ikhtiar dulu buat nambah saldo tabungan kebaikan dan ibadah gw.. gimana bentuknya? Time will tell.. cukup fokus ama diri sendiri dulu.. abaikan makhluk horror lain yang kadang lewat dalam kehidupan.. tulisan ini masih berlanjut seiring dengan.. apapun itu.. 
Yang jelas, sekarang gw dah gak takut atau hindari pocong dalam film.. get real.. dah berani kok gw sekarang.. karena yang terhoror dalam hidup gw yaitu kehilangan orang yang paling gw sayangi, udah pernah terjadi.. 

Kalau ada film yang isinya pocong semua atau hantu blau paling blau terblau the most blauest, kasitau gw lah..

Am so getting real right now.

Happy Sunday.

#soulfood #foodforsoul

Pantesan gak murah(an)!

Being lazy in the kitchen sometimes, even for a glass of juice, makes me think of such preparation. Washing the fruits with water then with apple cider vinegar, peeling off, chopping and juicing, are such process I could not bear especially when my maid is off. The only choice of getting juices is from healthy food caterers or juice providers – cold-pressed juices providers.

Why I tend to choose cold-pressed juice? Fruits and vegetables are processed thoroughly with special juicer with blades that keep the deliberate rotation during the process, therefore less exposure to heat, less oxidation, so that vitamins, enzymes and other nutrition contained in fruits and vegetables are well- preserved.

Many cold-pressed juices are offered, each with special benefit like “no artificial sugar added”, “with diet sugar”, “no preservative”, or optional mix of chia seeds, flax seeds, surely with prices that vary. Tried many, but in love with one, but (…BUT….), I feel the one I am in love with, costs more than others.

Being curious, as much as I am lucky, finally I got an opportunity to visit the Central Production Facility (CPF) of Re.juve in Karawaci, Tangerang, West Java. Before reaching the CPF, I visited Re.juve’s new outlet at MaxBox Karawaci for smoothies making demo and tried some healthy snacks like organic mix fruits and nuts and granola.

Romy Johanes - Rejuve brand & marketing associate director during the briefing

Healthy organic dried fruits & nuts

Super meal plant-based protein smoothies

Smoothies on the making

Upon the arrival at the CPF area, I was served with fresh banana, pineapple, apple and guava, and found out that these good quality of fruits are from their own plantation in Lampung, South Sumatera. Yes, Sunpride is under the same group as Re.juve. As explained by Re.juve representative on-site that the fruits are certified by one of most leading global certification company, and have passed some types of pesticides-free assessment.

Re.juve team, Kompasianer Penggila Kuliner (KPK) and Re.juve lovers

Entering the CPF with 10 –to 14 C room temperature to ensure the area is free from airborne bacteria or microorganism growth to maintain products freshness and hygiene, the fruits and vegetables are going through some process of manual brushed-out cleaning, washed with water with certain level of chlorine that is safely consumable, rinsed with digitally-controlled 2 to 5 C drinkable and reversed-osmosis water, peeled off, chopped then juiced with massive juicing machine to bottling process. No heat. No sugar added. No preservatives added. 

Observing the entire process, I realize how this reassures me the reason why they cannot sell their juices with competitive price, not to mention that Re.juve juices are tasty and enjoyable, just like Re.juve managing director Richard Anthony mentions, “Because who likes to eat food that doesn’t taste delicious? None of us like to stay in diet, stay hungry and consume tasteless food. Re.juve is here to deliver goodness in customer days: Goodness in taste, goodness in health benefits.”

I must admit and thought to myself, “Pantesan, gak murah(an)!”. With the fresh fruits and vegetables, the right process that keep all the benefits, and delicious taste, I believe the words “Price never lies”.

#goodforyou #livehappier #rejuveid #healthyjuice #coldpressedjuice

Disclaimer: This is my personal review, not a commercial writing. Anything I have shared just represents my experience.

Jajan Pasar Galore

Modern snacks become rampant for the past few months or years. To name a few, red velvet martabak or with a variety of flavors and types of toppings such as crunchy chocolate spread – we all know the brand J, biscuits and green tea wafers, become the main posts in several social media and culinary applications. I am a big fan of snacks too. The Martabak ‘kekinian’ certainly did not escape from my  tongue and tummy. However, there are snacks that remind me of my childhood, those are now rarely found in many places including the traditional markets. As a kid, almost every morning, when I saw my mother and our maid back home from the market, I only had a question, "What snack you bring from the market today?"

This memory brings me back, and looking for the traditional market snacks or ‘jajan pasar’, Indonesian culinary heritage that should remain, despite the modern snacks that also carry brands from overseas, widespread quick nowadays.

A few days ago me and my mother to Surabaya. She also took time to visit traditional market. That afternoon, when she came home, I asked the “jajan pasar” again, the question like decades ago. But this time, she only brought few, said fewer types recently. Being curious, or would rather be obsessive, I finally got from one of some online sellers on Instagram, using hashtag #jajanan #tradisional #surabayakue

Alhamdulillah, finally my obsession on old-school snacks that day was perfectly fulfilled. Not only presented in a very attractive appearance and clean, it was very tasty, with the right texture and sweetness.

Arranged in a woven bamboo tray, these foodgasm “jajan pasar” is dominated with Srawut, placed in the middle of other snacks, with cone shape. Srawut is made from grated and steamed cassava, mixed with palm sugar. Surrounding Srawut, dozens of Klepon. These green dough or balls are made from glutinous rice flour and pandan leaf extract, filled with coconut sugar, boiled like meatballs, drained, then rolled in shredded coconut, with sensational taste when bitten as the coconut sugar melt from inside. Lupis also takes part in this tray of heavenly snacks, this glutinous rice wrapped in banana leaves cooked the same as rice cake or “lontong”, served with grated coconut and brown sugar. Got Cenil too, this pinky dough is made from starch, with chewy and sweet-savory taste. Jongkong complete the range of this “jajan pasar”. Jongkong, which is also specialty of Surabaya, East Java snack, comes with very unique taste and aroma, as one of the ingredients is edible ash. In addition, I also had a chance to enjoy Kue Kuk or Kue Thok, made from glutinous rice flour, filled with peeled green beans paste. It's also my dad's favorite. Typically, this one appears in red color with tortoise shell shape, given banana leaves as the base; this time in green with pandan flavor.

My nephews – kids, also enjoyed these “jajan pasar”. It was great to see them really enjoy traditional snacks which are actually more organic, plant-based, not only snacks with preservatives and flavorings, that are easily obtained at the nearest franchise. This kind of traditional snacks are supposed to sustain, conserve, as one of the traditional culinary heritage of Indonesia, that our next generation will still enjoy from time to time - not only recognize burgers or French fries of some fast-food restaurants.

#kulinertradisionalnusantara #jajananpasar #jajanantradisional #srawut #cenil #klepon #jongkong #lupis #kuekuk