Pipiltin Cocoa : a little too late.. (depending on how you see it)

I believe there are always two sides to every story, two ways on seeing how things go and two ways to decide which side you are on. A little epiphany caused by my own idiocy on the term of what so called 'a little too late', put me into some thinking about perceiving it into two perspectives. It may get a bit out of topic from reviewing Pipiltin, but if you have the spare time to carry on reading, I hope it'll amuse you..

SELF-IDIOCY :
For starters, I was given two discount vouchers to enjoy Pipiltin's artisanal plated dessert. Despite the fact that I had been looking at it for more than a couple of times, I failed to realize that there was an expiry date. I came just a few days after and innocently handed the vouchers to the confused waitress. A little too late.. In here, the term late has turned into something permanently wasteful. There's just nothing you can do about it to make things right, to make it the way you want things to be.. A little too late, when the 'little' makes a big difference..

If you let yourself see things from the other side :
The trend of serving deconstructed and plated dessert has existed for quite a while in the international food industry. Although, we are a little too late in tailing this trend, Pipiltin has managed to stay only a little too late, in other words, still has the chance to catch up as it is the pioneer which serves plated desserts in Indonesia.. This fact, in fact, contradicts to my first perspective. The term a little late became almost apologetically fine. Unlike my previous story, Pipiltin has the chance to catch up and make things right. I assume, soon, there will be new cafes copying the same thing.. Soon..

For what it's worth, this is a spontaneous brief post. For what it's worth, I hope you get what I meant. I hope you can see things from the other perspective, from a better perspective for a better insight. Okay, enough procrastinating.. Here's the deal..

A dessert cafe which serves their own bean to bar processed chocolate!

First thing you will see is their own chocolate factory. I even saw the cocoa beans myself!

The cafe is placed on the second floor.. So up up you go..

Filled with wooden furniture in an industrial minimalist interior, the whole place screams simplicity as its best. They are definitely trying to sell their products, not only the ambiance itself. It'll be perfect if they put on some classic jazz songs.. 

Just for a quick view of the whole place.. Plus that poor forever alone Caucasian (who seemed really sad).. 

This big poster tells you the simplified steps of chocolate making..

The menu with animated cocoa beans..

Colorful macarons and flavored chocolates were presented in the middle of the cafe. A good strategy to lure the sweet tooth to spend their money on these babies..

Earl Grey Tea (25k)

Spicy Cinnamon Chocolate (33k). It's really spicy. Well, not in a 'fiery I wanna kill myself' way. It's the perfect drink for a cold rainy day! The mild cinnamon heat gave that extra 'mmph' which differentiates itself from a normal hot chocolate..

Devil Chocolate Brownie (45k). Well well, I am a sucker for desserts. Brownie topped with velvety, slightly thicker chocolate lace and a scoop of double vanilla ice cream. Completed with some crumbs I couldn't exactly tell what it's made from, but to sum things up, I had a brownie sugar rush!

Tabanan Chocolate 64% (50k). It is a completion of mousse, spiced creameaux, chocolate pearl, and dehydrated chocolate mousse (as written in the menu). But since we might have a difficult time in guessing which one is which, I make my own version of explanation. The foam : I could barely taste any scent or flavor. Chocolate balls : Inside was thick chocolate filling. The caviar-like : the chocolate pearl (Guessing), but it was also kinda bland. I'm assuming it's made to balance the sweetness from the chocolate balls. The lump of what looks like little balls of poo : well, it was yummy, in spite of what it looks like. Last but not least, there were those slabs of whatever that is, instantly melts when put it inside your mouth. Ouh, as if it weren't enough, you'll get that little pop rocks-like that will explode in your mouth.. 

Well, two plated desserts seemed reasonable to be gobbled by two people. I, in one perspective, was very optimistic in finishing both. On the other hand, my so called zombie companion, hated the idea of ordering all chocolaty desserts (Now you know who ordered the hot chocolate and who ordered the tea).

I hate to admit, but Mr.zombie was right. My burning optimism seemed to cool itself down.. I was so hyped up from all the sugar rush before I can finish the whole thing and found myself sick of the sweetness. In which I can now add a third conclusion, the third case of seeing things: Your mind plays tricks on you!! LOL

Pipiltin Cocoa
Jl. Barito II no.5
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pipiltin-Cocoa/518558441524346?fref=ts

12 cupcakes from Twelve Cupcakes

First thing first, I may offend some of you for what I am about to state, and what I am about to state is  none other than the fact how some Indonesians are easily influenced with, what so called, the booming trend (in almost every aspect). 'Food fever', what I like to call it, is one of the examples how some of us may turn ourselves into this bias-judge-it-from-the-cover consumers. Take rainbow and red velvet cake for instance. Some of the people hasn't really moved on from that trend and up to this day, some are still crazy about it.

BIAS.. When the cake itself is basically an ordinary cake but with a lot more

of coloring. Due to the crazy off the charts demand, it is simply overrated.. and over priced. Get my point? Maybe, you are one of those people who are still crazy for red velvet and rainbow cakes, hey, I'm not saying that you can't. I'm just saying this to enlighten you with a little bit of a sensible perspective.

Okay enough of that..

Now, it is the part where you might throw some sentimental-senjata-makan-tuan comments. A while ago, I have been given the chance to try out what supposed to be the number one cupcake from Singapore. Twelve Cupcakes, bringing you with the best quality of cupcakes. Freshly made everyday, they guarantee you with a moist fluffy little sweet treats.

Starting from the left : Rainbow Vanilla, Strawberry Chocolate, Vanilla Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Vanilla, Peanut Butter Jelly, Mocha

My instant reflect was to try their Vanilla Chocolate and Peanut Butter Jelly. 

They do keep their promise for a fresh moist and fluffy cupcake. It is so moist that it can make crumbles from each bite. The icing itself fulfills the expectation for what it is named after and for the flavors that you'll expect from hearing that name. The icing for Peanut Butter Jelly, for example, has a really nutty scent and sweet sour blueberry jam in the middle, perfect combo to be put on the moist vanilla cupcake. Both cute and practical, not forgetting yummy.

Starting from the top left to its right, then the next row : Lychee, Chocolate Salt Caramel, Strawberry Chocolate, PB Chocolate, Strawberry Vanilla, Red Velvet, PB Jelly, Rainbow Vanilla, Chocolate Chocolate, Mocha, Chocolate Vanilla, Vanilla Chocolate

12 cupcakes from Twelve Cupcakes

Pardon the photos taken at my home, it was night time and since I have worked, all of my bright sun shiny days are spent at the office. 

Anyway, I have tried a bite out of all the cupcakes. Even my Mother, who is an expert at pointing out flaws out of anything, said it was good. My siblings ate it in no time. The verdict : they really give you for what they promised you. One cupcake will cost you Rp.20k. They also take special custom orders for private events. From what they have to offer, everything sounds great.

Going back to the first real deal, cupcakes has once been a 'food trend' in Indonesia, and they have submerged to a downfall cause I think people started to think, for that kind of price, it just doesn't address enough satisfaction for the belly. For 20k, we can get a simple lunch set worth of meal. Therefore, the cupcake eating trend has ended. 

Since it was originally established in 2011, maybe Twelve Cupcakes has gotten on the train a bit late, but with their strategy for custom made orders, I think they still can survive. The cupcake eating trend might have died, but people still order custom ones as substitutes for birthday cakes (and many other events). 

By the way, even after days of staying in the fridge, I still can feel the moist texture from the cake, aside from the fact that of course, it has turned a bit firm. Well, money talks, doesn't it? Now you know why such a little sweet (also cute) treat may cost you a price of a simple lunch meal. 

Twelve Cupcakes

Central Park LG #156

Website : http://twelvecupcakes.com

Twitter : @12cupcakesID

Facebook : TwelveCupcakesIndonesia

Sweet Treats for a sweet tooth : Le Sucre Du Patisserie

Hush! Picture and imagine it with me. It's a black and white French setting with a presence of a lady, for the first time, realizing that, what's in front of her, makes her really happy. She found her passion. To find that enlightenment brought that sweetest smile on her face. In my case, it brought me the sweetest treats..

Entrer Le Sucre Du Patisserie, an online patisserie specializing in macarons, which offers you with high quality desserts. All of their products are made with no preservatives and some ingredients are imported to bring the best out of the flavors. The lady behind it made quite a keen turn from studying chemical engineering to studying at Le Cordon Blue, Los Angeles. She realized that she has fallen in love with the French sweet delicate and decided to pursue her passion and turn it into a career. A convenient blessing it is to have finally discover what you love and make a living out of it. I have to agree that sometimes, in life, we have to stop every once in a while, take that courageous distinctive turn, and find out where that turn will take you.. Who knows, it might take you to a better place. For me, that turn is to stop being so cynical about macarons, oh.. and hello kitties..

I am definitely not a Hello Kitty or a macaron lover, but to open a black box of Hello Kitty macarons can't erase the fact that I am still in bound to the normal girly reaction. Aside from being amazed at the first sight, I found them surprisingly neat and very pretty. Let alone the skills needed to make normal macarons, these are CHARACTERIZED macarons! I assumed it takes more than just needed skills to have revolutionized normal macarons to another whole level.

The kitties are coffee flavored while the ribbons are chocolate and the strawberries are red velvet. So much for thinking the strawberries will be flavored as strawberries..

Unfortunately, the Hello Kitty seasons are over. To order these cute babies, you have to make a pre-order and they have different characters along the way.. Right now, they are having a Rilakkuma pre-order.

Moving on! The classic good ol' traditional macarons!

There were 12 of these inside the box and if you pay good attention, there were only nine on the plates. Pardon the greedy moi. I just couldn't help myself not to take a bite while taking it out! ;p

Le Sucre offers you with a variation of yummy flavors. They have blueberry cheesecake, pistachio, red velvet, lemon, green tea, coffee, salted caramel, nutella, chocolate, rose and Reese's Peanut Butter! I haven't tried the cheese and durian flavors and very intrigued to the unique idea of tasting it.

Can't find Reese's Peanut Butter macaron anywhere else, can ya?

This is the rose flavored, which I found extremely lovely. Light and fragrant. One of my favorites!

I have to say several flavors have definitely became my favorites! Starting from rose, blueberry cheesecake, which tasted like heavenly blueberry gum, to the good Reese's peanut butter ones. However, I still can't manage to finish all in one seating. I only dare to take one bite out of each to make my verdict. As much as I enjoyed the tasting part, after several bites, I was back to the cynical me who thinks that macarons are just too sweet. Five of those and I started to feel my body rejecting the idea of how I might have turned into a macaron lover. Don't get me wrong, I am a sweet tooth myself but gah, blame that cynical me! I thought my courageous turn has brought me somewhere new when I realized it was the same old, same old path. I even thought that another reason macarons get to be so expensive is because you are not meant to have so many of it at once, aside from the ingredients and expertise to make it.

If you are as cynical as I, then don't worry because Le Sucre also offers you with cakes..

Red Velvet cupcake with little red velvet macaron on top!

Salted Caramel Cupcake. Look at that oozing melted caramel! 

Truth to be told, I only got to try the red velvet cupcake. When I went back home, the salted caramel has managed to gone M.I.A (read: eaten by either my brother or sister). Both cupcakes were okay. The red velvet has cream cheese icing which I found crucial! I know I said that I am cynical towards macarons but somehow I had more fun gobbling the macarons. Maybe that turn I took left me more open minded.

Just like the story of the lady  behind Le Sucre Du Patisserie, I hereby declare that yes, sometimes in life, we have to stop for a while, look around for that potential turn, with a kick of being a bit reckless, a bucket of bravery, and a ton of optimism, you might find yourself in a better state..

Visit their facebook for more info!
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/LeSucreDuPatisserie
Phone : 0812-8181-833
BB pin : 276BB354

1 box: 12 pc 120.000 IDR (mix up to 6 flavors)

Sweet Endings

I am bloated.. *currently and literally* My stomach is bulging out.. I spent the past evening, from 6 till 8 or 9-ish in eating Taiwanese snacks..

First, I ate Taiwan Dian Xin extra crispy chicken which is in Pluit Village Mall and a cup of their delicious drink. Today I ordered the orange green tea, usually I always order the black mango tea which is superrrrr deliciousss..  I somehow prefer Taiwan Dian Xin's chicken compared to Shi Lin XXL crispy chicken.. The seasoning is bolder and you can tell the abang to always pour some more salty or spicy seasonings on your food.. Unlike ShiLin's seasonings which basically is only pepper, non-salty, the-more-you-add-the-spicier-it-gets(WHICH IS A PROBLEM TO PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO CAN'T HANDLE SPICY THINGS).. Plus they have much more choices of what you wanna fry. They have mushrooms, corns, chicken popcorn, etc etc.. The batter is also different from ShiLin's.. They use batter instead of dry ones, so you can imagine how it is..

Unfortunately, I deleted the photos and I didn't take any pictures today. But I have posted it on my instagram..

Anyway, after I finished eating that, I went home and not long after that, I went to Sweet Poetry in Muara Karang.. Go to their FB page in HERE.. They have all the information you need.. And without further ado, I will give you the previewsssss

A friendly humble place indeed

The prices are very reasonable!

We accidentally bumped into my big sis's friends who introduced her to this place. And that's just my Mom busy with her BB.. I wanna snap a picture of the whole place but it's an epic fail I guess.. 

The menu.. It's quite clear, they put both English and Indonesian, not forgetting all the pictures of toppings and some pics of the dishes

The decorations somehow feel so Taiwanese

Tang Si, which means Sweet Poetry

The drinks. I was so full already, so we didn't order any drinks.. 

Some of the delicious picturesssss

This is peanut, red beans and bubble.. Below it was shaven ice with the right amount of sweetness.. Yummy! I think they poured coconut milk on the bubble.. or maybe just milk, I'm not quite sure but it's certainly top notch

The purple and orange thingy is Q-balls. It's like Taiwanese version of biji salak.. And below it is grass jelly. So far this is the most fragrant yummy tasting grass jelly I have ever eaten.. Even my mom, who is very hard to please in the matter of tasting new things, admitted that the grass jelly is superb..

My mom loveeees ginger. The broth is ginger and on the inside, we have the Q-balls, honey beans and bubbles. The ginger broth is very pungent. So those of you who are a ginger fan, this one will please you oh so much. My mom was digging this one the whole time and kept complementing the ginger taste..

Now this one is my favorite. The thing on the top left is taro paste (I LOVE IT), next to it is the red beans,  then Q-balls, and bubbles.. Below it is the same shaven ice like the ones in the first picture.. 

Again.. it wouldn't be right if we're not narcissistic 

Lil sis

Big sis, mommy, lil sis (I don't get why she stared)

Compared to the big chain Taiwanese dessert joints (Yes I am talking about Honeymoon Dessert), I prefer this place SOOOOOO much more! First, their prices are very reasonable and they serve bigger portions.. Second, the taste is BETTER... Unlike Honeymoon Dessert which mostly offer you with fruity dishes, this one has its own niche and uniqueness.. Third, it's near to my house.. Forth, this month, they have BUY 1 GET 1 PROMO.. So yeyyy to that!

the sweet, the yummy, the goods

Carrot Cake with cream cheese frosting

Dark Chocolate Rum Cake with cashew cookies

The rest of the fresh made cakes! The one on the left is the lemon poppy seeds

Easter Chocolatessss

Cute, right?

Yes, you can have 'em.. You can have 'em all..

Cupcakes

If you're craving for something sweet, yes, I suggest you go to this place.. The Baked Goods! click HERE to go to their web and find out their location..

I visited this place a few weeks ago, but haven't got the time to blog about it.. Interesting fact, besides the yummy desserts you can have here, it turns out the owner of the baked goods is....

The famous... The handsome... ERWIN PARENGKUAN...

's wife.. Yep.. the owner of the baked goods is his beautiful wife, Jana..

Pretty and knows how to bake! The perfect housewife!

The best thing in the baked goods is actually the traditional Czech desserts like Pavlova and Bublanina, which recipes was inherited by her Czech grandma.. The quality is top notch. They really made it fresh with original ingredients, so now essential flavorings.. In the interview I found, she said she squeezed her own lemons to make the lemon poppy seed cake.. 

I also ordered the fruit cake, but before I had the chance to snap the picture, it was attacked by my mom and one of her friend, as it was the healthiest thing we ordered on that night.. -____- They were all like scared of touching the chocolate. But they had a bite and I could see the regret expression from them tasting that bite. They have to finish the healthy cakes while I got to treasure my dark chocolate rum.. *EVIL LAUGH*. My big sis had the carrot cake..It's very light and yummy! Also my favorite.. 

They serve other things like quiche, hampers, cookies, etc.. Since it was Easter, they still have all the Easter chocolates 

YUMMY YUMMY YUM.. Recommended for a sweet escape!