[HOTEL REVIEW] Media Famtrip Experience at Hilton Hotel Bandung

Yup, that’s actually what I experienced several months ago when Hilton Bandung invited me to join their Media Trip. It was quite surprise since I’m in the middle of my first pregnancy semester but thank’s God, I got permission from my hubby and could travel to Bandung, yipppie! I’m not alone, of course, Hilton Bandung invited 3 more bloggers and 1 journalist which I’ve already knew them well. They are Yenny from ThingsThatMakeMeHappy; Soya from SoyavsFood, Mas Abe from Detik and Jiewa from Inijie. 5 of us (Soya took his friends, Dedy) were picked up at the meeting point, Plaza Semanggi on Saturday morning June 21, 2014, while Jiewa was took his flight directly from Surabaya to Bandung. Hilton was fully covered this trip impeccably from the accommodation to transportation (they even assigned a super humble driver which I forgot his name, sorry hahaha and unexpected breakfast at the car) Wow! It was super fun trip I’ve ever had. Yenny, Soya and Dedy couldn’t stop to make me and the driver laugh. We even forgot that the car had arrived at the hotel haha! 


About 11.00 AM, we arrived at the hotel. Frankly said, I often visit Bandung since my mother-in-law lives here, but I never had experience, even once, to stay at five star hotels in Bandung hehehe. So, thanks God again for this opportunity. The first thing I remembered when I entered the main gate was, the 360 degree spiral staircase! It is super impressive and iconic spiral staircase which made this hotel looks super elegant and well-designed. Indeed, they are five star hotel, they even complete the look of the lobby with spacious lobby lounge, high-speed Wi-Fi, engraved wall with flow of water, ponds and transparent floor. 


At the lobby, Hilton Bandung also have Purnawarman Restaurant for guest having their all-day dining and Magma Lounge with great selection of alcoholic drinks and wines for chilling out the night.


In a minute after I was pampered by the hotel ambiance, we’re heading to Executive Lounge at 11th floor and welcomed by Juliawati Sadeli (Marcomm Manager of Hilton Bandung) with her kinship smile. Julia let us have some drinks while introduce us with Mas Aldo Kepank, who will also accompany us along this media trip. After proceed to check in, Julia allowed us to take rest for a while before lunch. We’re all got the chance to stay at King Hilton Executive Room which wow I feel so lucky today to experience that executive room! Once I open the door, I was impressed with how spacious the room are! It was even bigger than my apartment. LOL. Oh God, I wish I had my hubby here L


      pool view from my room

The executive rom is equipped with super comfortable king size bed, sofa and transparent table with complimentary traditional snacks, fruits and chocolate, 37-inch LED TV in a classic wooden furniture and working table, mini bar, large wardrobe aaaand (okay assumed that I exaggerated this one, but hey this was true!) the super spacious bathroom! You know I feel wanna cry when seeing how cozy the bathtub are, I imagined having shower with my hubby #ups hahaha *censored. But yeah, I was more impressed with the marble bathroom which equipped by Peter Thomas Roths bath amenities and separate rain shower. Perfect room to stay, isn’t it! The guest at King Hilton Executive room also gets an access to Executive Lounge and free Wi-Fi inside the room. 


 The bathroom that made me cry hahaha!

At lunch time, we proceed to have lunch at pool area. Since this is media trip, Hilton Bandung exclusively arranged a special Sundanese lunch at the pool area. Yay! This spacious area at the edge of the pool actually can be requested for special occasion. Since today’s theme is Sundanes, so the area was set for cross-legged (lesehan) dining. We gathered in front of long table equipped with Sundanese art craft, traditional kitchenware, and of course Sundanese food. The food was varied from Nasi Timbel and the compliments such as fried tofu and tempeh, beef satay, and gepuk, Soto Bandung to Lotek and Gado-Gado, a traditional Indonesian salad. For the dessert they have Colenak, a traditional Bandung snack made from fried banana and fermented cassava or “tape” and topped with condensed milk, palm sugar and chocolate sprinkle. I love the Soto Bandung and Colenak so much. I even took it two times hehehe….


 Soto Bandung
 
 Gado-gado
 Nasi Timbel
 Colenak

THE HOTEL TOUR


After lunch, Julia accompanied us to have hotel tour. We travelled floor to floor to see the Hilton Bandung’s facilities. They have ballrooms and meeting rooms with big capacity, fitness centre, spa, and kids club, for guest who wants to left the kids play during their stay. 



Feeling tired after touring, Julia offered us to try the spa. Yay, I couldn’t resist it! We proceeded to Jiwa Spa at 5th floor and took turns. Yenny and I got the first turn. It is super cozy and relaxing spa with pampering scents from the oil therapy. The room divided into two for single and couple. Since Yenny has never been to spa before, so I accompanied her and chose the couple room. It was quite big room for couple, equipped with spacious bathroom and personal whirlpool and two beds for massage. I feel lucky since the therapist is a woman who knew pregnant woman so well. She even taught me the correct sleeping position for pregnant woman during massage. Oh God, I feel soooo pampered when she starting to massage my body until I fall asleep hahaha….Thanks so much Hilton Bandung for replenishing my body! 


THE DINNER


Over all the agenda, the dinner was the awaited agenda since we’re gonna rock the kitchen! Hilton Bandung introduced their new concept of dining which is Chef’s Table Experience. This concept allowed the guests to experience dining directly in the kitchen with the Chefs. Hilton Bandung juggled the kitchen setting into modern industrial and artisan craftsmanship dining room even they rolled-out the red carpet. Wuhuuu super bright idea! In the kitchen, the guests sat in a front-row-seat so that they can have a one-to-one interaction with the Chefs and enjoyed the fast-paced drama of a live working hotel kitchen. Now, I knew how hard the kitchen’s life was. The food we ordered at the table was not come from a one hand, but with great relationship of Chefs in the kitchen. Hail to the Chef!


Accompanied by three of Hilton Bandung Executives Chef and one Wine Sommelier, we enjoyed the Chef’s Table and Wine Dinner with great selection of degustation menu. Here they are:

AMUSE BOUCHE

Crushed and Creamed Peas, Parmesan Custard and Disaronno Jelly with Smoked Milk and Sprinkle of Organic Micro Green

This unique entrée stole my heart for the first time. The peas even tasted sweet when it blended with the exotic fruit.


DISCOVERY ENTRÉE

Creamy Salmon Tartare, with Exotic Fruit Ceviche, Red Pepper Relish and Pickling Ribbon of Cucumber


Since I’m pregnant, so I couldn’t taste the wine. But here I share you information about the wine paired the food that night.

De Bortoli, Chardonnay, Family Selection, 2012, Australia


INTERMEDIATE COURSE

Classic Oxtail Broth with Baked Oxtail Mouse in Pastry Case

I love how crunchy the pastry case was and the oxtail perfectly blends with the savoury of the broth. Enjoy it while it hot. Great soup!  


COOL FRESH

Homemade traditional Strawberry Granita with Mint Coulis

I heart this beautiful combination of sweet and sour from the strawberry and mint. Craving for more!


BEST EXPERIENCE OF MAIN

Centre Cut Black Angus with Paprika Coulis, Vegetable root Tart Tatin Asparagus and Onion Veal au Jus

Perfectly well-cooked, juicy and tender meat. The superstar of the night. Couldn’t agree more.


De Bortoli, Shiraz Cabernet, Family Selection, 2012, Australia


GREAT TO FINISH

Chocolate Mille Feuille, Double Cheese and Coffee of Kahlua Sauce



The next day we had more fun agenda. After swimming in the early morning, we had our breakfast at Purnawarman restaurant. Purnawarman restaurant have great selections for breakfast, from Asian, Western, Indonesian food, kinds of cereal, to selection of fresh salad and desserts. We also spent the morning by stealing the tips and tricks to do simple breakfast food photography from Jie hahaha….


After breakfast, Julia didn’t tell us what the next agenda was. When we’re arriving at pool area, we’re shocked that the next agenda was COOKING COMPETITION hahaha! Men, we’re all shocked since none of us could cook, I mean serious cooking *covertheface. But the show must go on; we’re divided into two group of three. Chef Adi taught us first the two dishes we should cook, Salmon with Mango Salsa and Pindang Iga. Hahaha it became fun actually, when my team Soya and Dedi which actually men was more agile than me. Even though my team lost the competition, but we still have fun and got new knowledge of simple cooking til’ I have courage to say “I should start learning to cook!!” hahaha…

 Team 1 : Abe, Jie, Yenny 
*photo courtesy of yennyw.wordpress.com


Team 2: Soya, Me, Dedy
*photo courtesy of yennyw.wordpress.com

All team with Chef Adhi
*photo courtesy of yennyw.wordpress.com

Here's the result of my team! Not bad huh....


Salmon with Mango Salsa
Pindang Iga

The last agenda was having lunch at Fresco Restaurant. This resto located right beside the swimming pool. It is a very cozy place to spend your day after swimming or to try their signature freshly made pizza. We tried several best foods prepared specially for us from Western, Italian to Indonesia. Here’s the sneak peek. Get ready to drool J


 Thailand Bubble Tea and Romantic Enhance

This is my favorite drinks. The Thailand Bubble Tea is actually basic Thai Ice Tea topped with bubble. The ice tea was super refreshing, perfect balance of sweet and the bubble sensation, oh I couldn't stop chewing it! While Romantic Enhance is a juice made from celery and green apple, this was surprisingly good. The taste was sweet from apple and lil bit sour from the celery. 


ENTREE

Wagyu Meatball
Served with vegetable ratatouille, truffle, basil, oil, tomato fondue, and grana padano


Shredded Duck Confit Salad
Shredded duck breast in filo pastry, with onion marmalade and cucumber ribbon salad


Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Served with caramellized pumpkin, almod flakes, garlic pureee and truffle oil

Me love loove this pumpkin soup. Sometimes I'm not into too creamy soup, but this one was perfect cream soup. the almond flakes made this soup rich of taste!


MAIN COURSE

Pan Seared Sea Bass
Sea Bass served on baby pak choy and creamy clam powder

This is the superstar for me. The juicy and tender sea bass was perfectly blended with creamy clam powder which tasted creamy, sweet yet savoury. Love it! 


 Home Made Papardelle
Roasted chicken duxelle mushroomserved with parmesan shaved, fresh basil and mushroom ragout


Roasted Breast of Chicken
Roasted chicken filled with spinach, pine nuts and ricotta cheese, accompanied by cauliflower, and garlic mash, french beans, and onion demiglace


DESSERT

Cheese Cake Fritters
Warm crispy fried cheese cake served with banana foster flambe and vanila ice cream

Don't expect what you see is ice cream with lemon or mango flavor, it was actually cheese cake hehehe...I even didn't expect that this one is a cake, but it tasted fluffy yet moist and not too sweet and yeah it's served hot. Love this unique dessert! 


Selection of Ice Cream


Hilton Bandung's Signature Dish

 Pindang Iga

Last but not least is this Hilton Bandung's signature dish. No wonder we had some difficulties in cooking this dish at the competition since the true flavor was super delish! It's a perfect combination of sour and sweet with tender ribs and typical Indonesian taste came from the sour broth. Oh God, that's why I love Indonesia, even the ribs can be served perfectly in a broth! 


Finally, we should end this media famtrip. It was such a fun and memorable two-days trip with exciting experience. Thank you so much Hilton Bandung for the hospitality and thank you Julia and Aldo Kepank for hosting us. It was a super great weekend with lots of laugh I've ever had! 

So, guys before ending this post, lemme introduce you personally with the people who made my day bright during the trip.  

 Juliawati Sadeli, Marcomm Manager of Hilton Bandung 
instagram @juliesugianto

 Soya, visit his food blog on soyavsfood.blogspot.com
instagram @syanagawa

 Jiewa, the famous food blogger from Surabaya. visit his blog on www.inijie.com
instagram @inijie


Yenny, visit her food blog on yennyw.wordpress.com 
instagram @yennymichael
(pardon our narsistic pose, thanks Soya for the cover editing hahaha)

 Mas Abe, from MALE Magazine
instagram @burhanabe

Thank you for all the laugh, stories, and sharing guys! Can't wait to have another trip with you all!

Hilton Bandung
Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto No 41-43
Bandung, West Java 
Ph. 022-86066888
@HiltonBandung

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