29 April 2016

Sunday Brunch It Up - Grand Kemang Hotel Jakarta


Grand Kemang Hotel Jakarta
Jl. Kemang Raya 2H,
Kebayoran Baru,
Jakarta 
Tel: +62 21 719 4121 ext 8127
Fax: +62 21 719 4205
Email: pr@gk.mesahotelsandresorts.com
Website: www.mesahotelsandresorts.com/grandkemang




The Grand Kemang Hotel is known as the hotel and residence in Kemang, South Jakarta, for both travelers and long stay guests. When they invite me to try their new brunch program called "Brunch It Up", I wonder if their food will be the same like those food in the other hotels. Turns out that the Brunch It Up have their own signature, something different from what other hotels have. Wait until you finish reading this blog. Good one!   

Sunday Brunch is always a happy moment for me. It is the right time to repair the nutrition in my body. LOL!
Yes, after 5 days of practicing raw food diet and food combining diet, I don't mind to eat a big portion of anything at the weekend to keep my body away from being too hygienic. I let all the good bacteria to come inside me and help my digestion to work properly :-D


When the guests come to the Sunday Brunch It Up at Grand Kemang Hotel, they can enjoy the brunch with family and friends at both indoor venue (Sperta Dining) and also outdoor venue (Vibar Pool Terrace). This means that everyone, including children, can eat, drink and swim at the same occasion.

The buffet at Sperta Dining and Vibar Pool Terrace have many varieties and selections of food and beverage ranging from European Specialties, Asian Cuisine, Western Carving Station, Italian Pasta Corner, Dim Sum Station, Sushi Sashimi Corner, and Indonesian Corner. I can also find the French bread, cheese, dessert and pastries.

On the outdoor section, they have Beef and Seafood Grilled and Mongolian BBQ at the swimming pool. I also see the bar is located next to the pool. It sounds very nice for a pool party :-D 

For those guests who have children, the children can swim at the pool or they can enjoy other activities available in Kids Corner, such as coloring, drawing or watching children movies. Hey kids, let's play your game and have fun! 

As I come to the Sperta Dining area, I can see a lot of food right in front of my eyes. Oh my gosh! Can anybody help me on this?

Okay, let me take you to the "yum yum tour" :-D


FOR MEAT LOVERS 



Both of the Roasted Chicken and Roasted Beef Sirloin are crispy and tasty. The sauces are fine, but I prefer to eat them without sauce as the chicken and beef has already fine taste in them.




FROM SUSHI AND SASHIMI CORNER



This is one of my favorite corners. I really like Sushi and Sashimi! The nice part is that this corner is facing the swimming pool outside. Very nice for my eyes :-)


FOR CHEESE LOVERS



Oh Lord! This is the best corner for me. Cheese is always my favorite food to chew. Wherever I can find cheese, that will be my paradise spot! In Sperta Dining, I am happy enough to enjoy its Blue Cheese. The more stink it smells, the better the taste is. Oh yeah! 



But the one that captured my tongue and throat is the Raclette Cheese Corner (Roasted Cheese from France and Switzerland) that is usually served with Parma Ham selections. The cheese is placed on an iron holder. Each time the guests want to consume it, the staffs at Sperta Dining will heat the cheese first until it melts down. A long spoon will be used to release down the melted cheese to potatoes in the plate. The salty taste of cheese that meets the plain taste of potatoes inside my mouth is a wonderful experience! Yum! Yum! Yum! 


FROM DIM SUM CORNER 




I always love the oriental taste in Dim Sum. Between the light and deep texture of them, and between their salty to savory taste, I find the fullness of joy in Dim Sum. 


FOR CAKE LOVERS 







If you really read my blog, you know that I am not a big fan of cake and anything that have sweet taste. But Sperta Dining has something different to offer. Yes, they have so many kind of cakes, but their taste is not that thick. Too sweet things can cause me sick, but the cakes in Sperta keep me alive. LOL! 



But their best selling cake is the Hot Chocolate Pudding. It is served in warm temperature. The texture is very thick, creamy and chocolaty. From this Hot Chocolate Pudding, I learn that some sweet cakes are best to be consumed when they are in warm to hot temperature. Amazing! 


FROM INDONESIAN FOOD CORNER 





Look at this Indonesian Food Corner! This is a good way to promote and introduce Indonesia to the foreign guests who stay at the hotel, because nothing can beat the deliciousness of Indonesian Food. Yes, I always believe that love can sometimes start from the mouth to the belly :-))


FOR SEAFOOD LOVERS




The Seafood Corner in Sperta Dining has full of aroma and spices. You can really feel the sea and beach taste in the seafood. I can feel the spices is mixed in Asian way. Tasty!


FROM COLD FOOD CORNER 




Another hot spot for those who like seafood, processed meat and salad in a cold temperature. This is the best corner for those who practice raw food diet and food combining diet. This is also the best spot for those who don't like too much spices on their plate.   


Overall, I am happy with all the selections in Sperta Dining and Vibar Pool Terrace. You can find many food from around the world there. But what I can suggest is to try their signature food first, which is Raclette Cheese Corner and Hot Chocolate Pudding. 

Enjoy your weekend, everybody! 









18 April 2016

Italian Lunch at GIA Restaurant and Bar


GIA Restaurant and Bar  
Sampoerna Strategic Square
Tower 2, Ground Floor, 
Jl. Jenderal Sudirman Kav 45 - 46,
Jakarta
Tel: 021-57953300
Website: www.ismaya.com/gia 




The interior and decor of GIA by Ismaya Group is totally awesome. It has classy and luxurious style, with combination of black and white. Very elegant and stylish!

There are three sections in GIA. The front area that has high tables and high chairs is perfect for afternoon coffee and tea. The dining area is perfect for intimate dining experience. The bar area is good for chilling out with some cocktails.


Front Area


Dining Area


Dining Area


Bar and Lounge Area


With Martina Ceccolini from GIA
Picture courtesy of Burhan Abe



THE FOOD

Their foods are totally in Italian style. If you are a big fan of pasta, cheese, seafood, and pizza, this restaurant is totally your best destination. GIA has all kind of Italian food, and all the food come in a quite big portion. They say that Italian people like to eat big portions of food. Yeah! LOL! 
So if you like to eat in small portion, I suggest you to bring more friends to share the food you order there. After all, togetherness in food always brings happiness :-)




Portobello In Fonduta 
Grilled Portobello Mushroom, Truffle Parmesan Fondue, Mesclun, Aged Modena Balsamic

Portobello In Fonduta

The large size of mushrooms with mix salads are good for my appetizer. The taste is fresh and healthy. I always love salads in any kind of style!
If you are with some friends, this meal is good to fill a bit of healthiness in your belly before hitting some other dishes. If you are a vegetarian, this is a good choice for you. 


Burrata Pugliese
Air Flown Fresh Burrata, Heirloom Tomatoes, Pesto Basil

Burrata Pugliese

Hola! Cheese is always my favorite food to eat!
The word burrata means "buttered" in Italian. The soft texture burrata is a fresh Italian cheese made from solid mozzarella on the outer shell; and a mixture of cream, mozzarella, butter and sugar in the inner part. When I cut the burrata with knife, the outer part is a bit hard, but when the knife reaches the inner part, I can feel something smooth and melted inside. Yummy!
The freshness of the vegetables in the plate balances the salty to creamy taste of the burrata. Very perfect companion!
The bread is thin and crispy. They will not make you feel too full.
I recommend this food to be shared with your friends. Don't keep good things only for yourself, okay :-D


Tortelli Di Zucca E Ragu d'Anatra 
Rosted Pumpkin Filled Tortelli, Duck Braised Ragu, Parmesan, Rosemary, Orange Evoo

Tortelli Di Zucca E Ragu d'Anatra

Tortelli is a type of squared shape filled pasta. When I eat it, I can feel a bit of meat and herbs inside the pasta. The pumpkin ingredient in the pasta gives a delicious taste to the tortelli. The duck based ragu or sauce and the cheese add more colorful flavor to the tortelli.
And the Evoo actually stands for Extra Virgin Olive Oil :-)


Bavette Allo Scoglio
Bavette Pasta Aglio & Olio, Baby Squid, Black Mussels, Clams, Prawns, Pinot Grigio White Wine Fumetto 

Bavette Allo Scoglio

Oh yeeesss!!! This is my favorite food! This is the food to die for :-))
The ribbon pasta noodle is simply cooked with garlic, oil, seafood and wine. But the simple pasta does not taste simple in my mouth. The variety of seafood gives a sea aroma in the dish that makes me feel so pacified. A few cut of chili gives a soft kick in my mouth!
Love! Love! Love!


Dentice Al Vapore
Poached Snapper Fillet, Puttanesca Sauce, Fresh Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, Garlic, Evoo

Dentice Al Vapore

I feel rainbow is around me when I eat the snapper. Because the tangy and salty sauce with lemon cheer up my mouth; while the olives, capers and fried garlic make the dish feel a bit playful.
This is a very healthy protein for your lunch or dinner.


Limone Mandarino
Vanilla Tart, Lemon Custard, Mandarin Supreme, Caramelized Pumpkin Seed, Pistachio Ice Cream, White Chocolate Flakes, Meringue, Beetroot Puree


When you have something sweet to close everything, it means you have the happy one.
This sweet dessert is created for those sweet-tooth people. I don't have to describe the taste of the dessert with my words. By looking at it, I know that its sweetness and freshness really make my day.
The dessert is best to be consumed with a cup of black coffee that balances its taste.    


Over all, I love all the dishes I eat in GIA! In my calculation, all of the dishes I eat in this moment can be consumed by three people. So yeah, I will bring more friends the next time I visit GIA.

Have a happy meal, everyone!



With Martina Ceccolini from GIA and Burhan Abe
Picture courtesy of Burhan Abe



Selfie with Martina Ceccolini from GIA and Burhan Abe
Picture courtesy of Burhan Abe