Hoshino Tea Time

HOSHINO TEA TIME

Sunken Plaza 

BTPN Tower
Jl. Dr. Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung Kav. 55 – 56
Jakarta 12950
Mega Kuningan

South Jakarta

I have heard about the art of making tea, but I have never experienced it in real. I am so glad that I have the chance to do it at Hoshino Tea, a place where I can experience the tea from Taiwan called Ten Ren. Hoshino Tea itself is the first Taiwanese Tea House in Jakarta.  

Inside Hoshino Tea, I can hear the sound of Taiwanese music. I also feel like sitting in a Taiwanese house. I don’t feel like living in Jakarta. LOL!

They have private rooms too. 

Hoshino Tea sells tens of tea. Name what you like. They have them!

The tea sets are very unique. They are made in any shapes. Very interesting.

In Hoshino Tea, I can choose their best tea selections, such as Jasmine Green Tea, Oolong Tea, and Green Tea.

Hoshino Tea also serves some good food, snack and desserts. Yum!  

Their best food are Lu Wei Beef Set, Lu Wei Chicken Set, Dumpling, Popcorn Chicken, Fried Mantouw, Fried Chicken Wing, etc.


TEA CEREMONY - The Art of Making Tea

The Tea Ceremony is held because drinking tea is taken as a way of socializing, an art, and a part of culture. Some people conduct the Tea Ceremony to show their appreciation and adoration to their good life. The Tea Ceremony is also a way to make sure that the tea is treated properly, so the people can enjoy the best taste of the tea. In the Tea Ceremony, they use unique and ethnic Tea Tray, Tea Pot Set, Tea Maker, etc. So traditional! I love it!

The duration to conduct the Tea Ceremony is around 1 to 2 hours.

You can watch my interview about the Art of Making Tea in Hoshino Tea Time here (in Indonesian Language):

Enjoy your tea, everybody!

The Lobby Restaurant and Lounge - Mercure Jakarta Sabang

THE LOBBY RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE 

Mercure Jakarta Sabang 

Jl. H. Agus Salim No 11

Gambir 

Central Jakarta

Indonesia

Tel: +62213503066

Fax: +62213503067

Email: reservation@mercure-jakarta-sabang.com

To visit a restaurant in strategic place where I can find my happiness (which is food, food and food!) is such a good day. One of the good days happens when I came to Mercure Jakarta Sabang. The hotel is managed by Accor Group. It is a 4-stars international hotel. The location of the Mercure Jakarta Sabang is on Jl. Agus Salim, just side by side with the Sabang area. 

First, let me tell you about the Sabang area. It is not a new place for me. It is a place where I can find a different view of Jakarta and a place where I can satisfy my culinary hunger. It is located just behind Thamrin Street that is connected with Sudirman Street. Yes, it is right in the heart of Jakarta. The area is very strategic for business and foreign tourists as it has many access to business centers (like banks, office buildings, government offices and the US Embassy) and tourist destinations (like the National Monument and the Gambir Train Station). It is not a surprise if there are many hotels in the area.

Secondly, let’s have lunch, OK! 

I come to the restaurant in the Mercure Jakarta Sabang. The name of the restaurant is the Lobby Restaurant and Lounge. The interior of the restaurant is very homy and warm. I can feel that they combine modern design with the touch of Betawi (the ethnic group from Jakarta) and the old Jakarta. The restaurant has its own lounge area and its own restaurant area. The restaurant is also next to a lagoon style swimming pool with garden view.

The Lobby Restaurant and Lounge serves both traditional and international food menu. The restaurant also serves coffee, tea, range of wines, cocktails and mocktails.

When I visit the restaurant, the Lobby Restaurant and Lounge has fish promotion. All kind of fishes are cooked with traditional recipes that require various special spices from Indonesia. The fish dishes are delicious, especially when they are combined with Indonesian spices. This gives a joy to the culinary exploration. Yummy! 

Among the food that the Lobby Restaurant and Lounge in Mercure Jakarta Sabang has, these are the ones that you can choose:

• Ikan Tuna Asam Padeh: the Tuna fish is cooked with spices from Padang, West Sumatra.
• Pepes Nila dari Jawa Barat: the steamed fish is mixed with spices from West Java and it is wrapped with banana leaf. This cooking technique adds some aromas and flavors to the fish.
• Makarel Dabu-dabu: the Mackerel Fish is combined with raw chili from Manado, North Sulawesi. The raw chili is made from chopped red chili peppers, bird's eye chili, shallots, red and green tomatoes, and a pinch of salt and sugar. All of the chopped and diced spices are mixed with fresh lemon juice.
• Gurame Sambal Mangga: the Carp fish is cooked with the chili made from Mango. 

Don't forget to try their drinks and desserts! They are so delicious for your afternoon chit chat with your friends! 

Enjoy your meal, everybody!

With Dave Graciano, Burhan Abe, Yenny MakanMulu & Ika Ginting from Mercure Jakarta Sabang