Shammah: JS Luwansa's Mediterranean Jewel...

Having been questioned by the five stars hotels, JS Luwansa, a newly opened four stars hotel, promptly had the honor to welcome our President, Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, after just being publicly accessible. Not only being strategic due to the location in the midst of Rasuna Said Road, which is one of the office spheres in Jakarta, it is also promising excellent and sincere hospitality services.

Credits to Ellyna from Culinary Bonanza, I had the courtesy to try out a few of their menu in one of the hotel ala carte restaurants, named Shammah. Deriving from a Hebrew biblical word, it has both the meaning of Christian transliteration to be present, which falls into ‘Jehovah is there’ for a more detailed context and one of the names of King David’s mighty men.  Despite its spiritual context, the restaurant serves exotic Middle Eastern dishes with Asian and European fusions.

Able to be observed from outside, due to being located right next to the lobby and having a majestic see through pillared glass wall, the restaurant has a yellow tone warmth with the dominance of minimalist interior, bright with orange colour. It has successfully accentuated both comfort and simplicity without too much hassle.

Blue napkin ring represents the iconic colour of JS Luwansa Hotel...

Shisha, anyone?

Since it was hosted in the Ramadan month (yes this is such a late post), we were served with Ramadan Set Menu, which was a compilation feast of the favorite dishes in Shammah and new dishes that haven’t even been listed in the regular menu.

I was actually quite glad that we shared all the main courses as they were all family style main courses. Talking about a huge lobster in a plate, a thick slice of beef medallion, yeah, you get the idea, right?

For starters, we had Duo Ahi Tuna (60k) and Country Pea Soup with crispy Pancetta.

  

A combination of sesame seared tuna with ginger soy dressing and spicy ahi poke with seaweed, shallot, scallion and bits of chili. As much as I enjoyed the approach of cooperating the same element in two different styles, I found my tuna too salty compared to other's. Aside from that, I was very much impressed with the freshness of the raw fish and the balance between the mild heat from the ginger and chili, the alluring fragrance of sesame oil from the ahi poke and the sesame seed from the seared tuna. The sesame seed outer layer and seaweed itself gave a bit of a crunch for the benefit of texture.

Classic pea soup with croutons and crispy beef pancetta. Grainy as a result from the peas blended into this bowl of smooth silky broth. I have never been a fan of pea soup as I have never been a fan of their natural sweetness in liquid form. The others seemed to enjoyed it, whilst my bias continued to cloud my perspective. 

Forwarding to the main courses...

Surf and Turf : Baked Lobster and Mushroom Crusted Medallion with Baby Kailan, Potato Risotto and Red Wine Sauce.

Not just combining meat and seafood as a requirement of a surf and turf, this version came with a more higher standard and a rather peculiar Asian fusion peek-a-boo. A thick slice of tender beef medallion (also known as fillet mignon) and moist lobster, so far everything seemed normal and very western. Then came the kailan and potato risotto, where one comes with a strong Chinese background and the latter sounded like a classic Italian modification. Don't get me wrong, I love the potato risotto, I think it's phenomenally creative. Instead of using risotto rice, the chef substituted it with roughly mashed potatoes. But why the kailan? It has made the impression of putting a half-hearted effort to make it looked fusion. Broccoli makes much more sense.

Braised Rosemary Lamb Shank(128k) with garlic mashed potato, vegetables, and sauce from the braising process

Despite its gigantic size of the shank itself, the enormousness also came from the flavor. The natural thick sauce from the braising process enriched the meat itself. Perfectly tender, moist and exceptionally gorgeous. This has been the guests' favorite order and there's no question in matters to that..

Paella Mixta (120k) : Seared, Braised, Simmered in a Shrimp Saffron Broth with Peas with Beef on the side.

 I was hoping for a 'ready to eat from the pan' paella but this one wasn't such a letdown. Bright orange from the saffron made the paella looked so appetizing.

Mahsawi Mushakala: Selection of grilled tenderloin, lamb chop, and chicken with grilled tomato, eggplant, paprika and rice

 As one of the requirements of a Mashawi plate, they got to have barbecued meat and poultry. Only tried a bit of the tenderloin, though. I was quite amused by the effort of the chef making this dish more Arabic. Instead of serving the meat in skewers, he served the veggies shish kabob style.

Mashawi Bahria : A selection of grilled lobster, prawns, and snapper with grilled tomato, eggplant, paprika and sayadieh rice

Same as the previous Mashawi, only with different types of proteins and rice. The Sayadieh rice has a strong hint of clove fragrant, making it significantly Middle Eastern. 

Green Tea Crepe Cake

Creamy green tea crepe paired with citrus mango sauce. A sweet ending for a sweet tooth, indeed. Though the cream was a bit heavy and too thick for my preference, this slice served its justice rightly.

The night was a round up set of good meals. The prices are soon to be advised and it approximately ranges from Rp100.000-200.000 for the family style main courses. It is advised to make prior call before dining in as Shammah is only available for dinner.

Shammah Restaurant
JS Luwansa Hotel
Jl. H.R.Rasuna Said Kav. C-22
Kuningan, South Jakarta
(021) 29543030 ext. 6699

Outback Steakhouse : Meat Savages!

Alert to all the meat lovers, the protein diet folks, or maybe just the ordinary omnivores, this post might drive you into a zombie drooling mode. Last Saturday, I was (over) indulged with quite an amount of what I would call a 'meaty om nom nom'. Yes, Outback Steakhouse is definitely the place to visit when one is in deep cravings for meat!

I remember the first time ordering myself a steak when I was 7 years old. I didn't know a thing about steak and randomly ordered for a medium one. My mother can never handle to see the red bloody juice oozing out of the meat and she called me a savage for eating them (with no hesitation of course). From that moment on, well, let's just say, I would never order a well done steak.

The thing about finding the right steakhouse is the problem of whether they can cook the meat up to your expectation (aside from the quality of the meat itself). I found many have failed to brought up their bar to my satisfaction. Now, the thing about a good steak is that they need no sauce to make it perfect. The aroma from the meat should be able to captivate all of your senses, from your smelling to tasting senses. The natural juices should be enough to moisten up the whole meal.

Enough with the steak talking, now is the time for some drooling..

The place has a laid back ambiance with wooden interior. I say it looks like a rather old fashioned diner with a Down Under feeling. It fits for a family day out..

The drinks

Virgin Mojito and Peach Mojito (33k). Nothing can go wrong with sweet minty soda. 

Left to right (33k) - Mango Spritzer, Orange Squash, Cherry Limeade. They were all very refreshing. Almost all of the nonalcoholic drinks contain soda. 

The appetizers

 

Kookaburra Wings (79k). It was beautifully seasoned. It has a crunchy outer layer. Perfect perfect perfect...

Crispy Fried Mushroom (69k). I am a huge fan of all types of mushroom. The fried ones are the best.. Again, it was a satisfying appetizer. Definitely will build up your appetite before the main course. 

While waiting for our orders, we were given the permission to go inside the kitchen.. I happened to snap a few pictures of the meat in process.. 

The kitchen

The smell was amazing. Seeing this amazing view was just WOW.. more drooling to come

Look at that thick meat.. I couldn't wait no more..

Aussie Cheese Fries in the making.. Generous portions of cheese.. Melted to perfection..

The Main Stars..

Baby Back Ribs (full 14 oz. 340k, half 7 oz. 180k). The outer layer of the baby back was too smoky. However, the inside has perfectly sealed the aroma and it was really tender. The scent was intoxicating. It was generously coated with a sweet BBQ sauce..

Alice Springs Chicken (126k). Grilled chicken breast topped with sauteed mushrooms and bacon with melted Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese. Also very yummy, but I found it too cheesy.. 

New York Strip (250k). It was perfectly seasoned with their secret 17 seasoning blend. However, it came out a bit well done and has turned a bit chewy. 

The most favorite star of the show.Toowoomba Topped Fillet (330k). A thick fillet topped with tomato cream sauce with sauteed button mushrooms and shrimps. I was given a cut and oh my dear God, it literally melted in my mouth. All of the ingredients combined in a whole new kind of perfection. The meat aroma was strong enough to compete with the sauce. They managed to grill this baby to just the right amount of medium. I love this one the most.. 

Victoria's Fillet (300k). It is no Victoria's secret though.. I didn't have the chance to try this one. But from the juices oozing out, it drools me enough..

Prime rib (8 oz. 230k, 10 oz. 260k). The smokey aroma was perfectly sealed inside this baby. The 'fall off the bone' meat was very tender indeed.. I actually like the prime rib better than the baby back..

The desserts

Chocolate Thunder from Down Under (69k). A chocolate brownie cake topped with vanilla ice cream and yet another chocolate sunday sauce, with a scoop of whipped cream. For all the sweet tooth out there, this is it!

Banana Nut Cake (55k). Moist banana cake with just the right hint of everything. Again, topped with vanilla ice cream and a scoop of whipped cream. Oh also, a bit of caramel and chocolate sauce, simply because enough is not enough. lol.. I like this one better than the chocolate thunder (which I think is very sweet). 

Let me just zoom that in for you..

It was one of those days when I left the place with a happy satisfied smile and a bulged out tummy. From all of the meat business inside, I was one happy customer. Outback Steakhouse has really got it. The seasonings are bold, the quality is top notch, and the choice varies. It has definitely bring up the bar to complete people's expectations.. 

Outback Steakhouse (Kuningan City)
Mall Kuningan City, G FI Unit 28
Jl.Prof.Dr.Satrio Kav.8, Kuningan
Jakarta Selatan
Twitter : @OutbackIN
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/OutbackSteakhouseIN
Website : http://www.outbacksea.com/id

Colourful Grass

two weeks in a row..

I told you I will go back to Bluegrass to try out for their food.. and I did last Saturday.. Again, we didn't make any reservations, so we're ended up on the same seats like yesterday.. Without further ado, let me just show you the pictures.. It was still quite bright so we took our pictures before it gets too dark

Drinks. From left to right : Peach tea, iced mint toblerone chocolate, regular iced chocolate and lavender tea

Plank Salmon. I love how the presented it on a plank of wood. I love love love the sauteed vegies especially the mushrooms. They're the same as mine actually. You can request if you wanted your fish half done, but since Teng is temporarily prohibited to eat anything raw, she ordered it well done..

Rotisserie Chicken.. It's a half a chicken and it's yummy. It's served with roasted baby potatoes and salad

I ordered this Stuffed Pork Chop. Inside it was melting cheese with herbs.. Below the meat was mashed potato. It's quite huge for my portion. They served it with baked beans and sauteed vegies.

American Classic Burger with fries. I wanna take the bun off so you can look at the patty, but there was sauce all over and the onions and mayo were sticking to one another, not pretty. But it tastes absolutely YUMMY

This is the grilled lamb shank. It's served with sweet soy bean sauce  just like how the Indonesian likes it. It's okay..

For dessert, we tried the banana brulle this time. Again, I really love the combination of warm and cold in a sweet dish. 

My empty glass needs a refill

 What I really love about Bluegrass is their variety of menu. You can have western, asian, indonesian dishes at one place. And the choices of appetizers, main courses, and desserts are plentiful that it takes sometime to decide what you're going to order.

I give an 8/10 for food. The seats outside are surrounded with mosquitoes, so better reserve for the indoor area. But you'll get the view of Bakrie Tower from outside. It's a good hang out place and definitely a decent one. They also have a long list of alcoholic drinks that you need to kick off for the weekend.. I also love the price range. They have the food that is around 75k-100k, which I think is a standard price for a main course, to foods that is worth 500k. For what it's worth, this place is really worth trying..

Visit their facebook page HERE

three little pigs

Caught me red handed.. I am guilty as charged.. I have been spending most of my salaries for eating.. Now I am left with almost nothing and probably will rod out of starvation in my room.. Okay. I guess that's too extreme..

Yesterday, Anggi, Ivan and I went out to Otel Lobby and bluegrass out of the blue.. They were fully booked so we went there early and made the reservations at 4p.m.. when we arrived, the place was empty.. This is the thing I hate the most about fancy places, All of the chairs are booked for 6 p.m-late.. You have to make reservations daysssss before the it day.. Anyway, moving on from that issue, it's picture timeeeee 

Yes yes.. I'm getting chubbier each day..

That's my ginger lemon honey tea.. The stupid thing is, they don't dissolve the honey beforehand.. They separated the honey in a small glass, I ordered the iced one, those two won't dissolve.. Genius much?

I love the big clock on the wall

My view

For entres, we have OTL meatballs.. it's good, but the emping makes it look easy

Anggi ordered the aglio olio.. She said it tasted like kwetiao.. Not that great.. 

Beef Wellington.. This one is quite good.. 

If you were there, you can definitely see the smoke coming out from the inside.. It's so fragrant and warm, it made you wanna gobble everything at once..

This is my steak and onion.. Just a 200 gr steak with palenta and onion rings.. I was always curious of how palenta tastes like.. I've tried it yesterday. It's like eating runny mashed with the taste of yogurt.. The waitress had suggested me to change the palenta with mashed but I refused.. 

I gotta say, the place is definitely nice. The food was okay, not bad.. You can still find some menu that will entertain your lips. But to be honest, it wasn't special. It was good, but not special.. Overall, I will give the food a 7/10.. Visit their website by clicking HERE to see their menu and for further info

We were only allowed to stay until 6 p.m at Otel Lobby so after we finished eating, we went across to Bluegrass for dessert.. Yeah, they are famous for their rainbow cake. BUT I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE MAINSTREAMS WHO ARE CRAZY ABOUT RAINBOW CAKES, RED VELVET, BLUE VELVET, BLACK VELVET.. or whatever the next sponge cake with food colourings they are gonna create.. Those cakes are overrated! Kids these days are so hipped by almost everything that is in season..

So anyway.. ehem.. We decided to order just one dessert and share it cause we were so full.. I ordered the lychee bread pudding.. At least that is something worth trying cause it takes more effort that just making layers of sponge cakes with different colours.. *bitch please*

And before we were seated, I went to the restroom. On the way there, I saw the glass kitchen and they piled up these ribs, small, medium and humongous sizes as if they were unused clothes.. I was drooling again forgetting the fact that my tummy was screaming "HELL NO!".. They were pretty famous for their ribs but I realized I just couldn't eat anything anymore.. It was pretty dark outside, I couldn't get clear pics without using flash..

That is Bakrie Tower behind us.. and a bunch of staffs..

Otel Lobby from our table

This is the mocktail Ivan ordered. Watermelon with lemon and grapes.. 

Warm comforting bread pudding.. Nyummy! EAT THAT WITH THE COLD COLD ICE CREAM..  Makes you melt literally.. I should learn how to make this at home..

The place is great, the food looks nice. The menu is way more variable and somehow humbler.. I will definitely go back to eat in here.. But this place has the same issue as any other place. The chairs inside are empty, and yet we were all told to sit outside where the bloody sucking mosquitoes are thirsty for your blood. Beneath my table, they put an anti-mosquitoes repellent which stink quite funky.. That ruined the whole ambiance.. And I still got bitten.. 

Just remember to make reservations daysssss before you want to go there for more comfortable seats. Click HERE to go to their facebook page.. They also have breakfast on Sundays.. I recommend this place and for those of you who are a rainbow cake junkie, you might find this place as heaven.. 

After that, we just went to PI and met up with a bunch of Anggi's friends.. Then the day after, I was kidnapped, brought to chilis.. and I ate.. a.. lot...

Beautiful Skillet Queso.. only at Chili's

 I can still feel my tummy bloated.. but I regret not even a single bit.. MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHA..