Marques De Riscal Wine Tasting

Several weeks ago, I got my second time to do wine tasting. This time a well-established wine lounge, Decanter Wine House and its supplier Dimatique, invited me to taste their new wine products, Marques De Riscal. For your simple fact, Marques De Riscal is one of the oldest Rioja wineries founded in Elciego, Spain in 1858 by Guillermo Hurtado de Amezaga. This wineries has always been an innovating, pioneering cellar and reference in a constantly changing winemaking sector. Today, they have for about 100 wineries in 100 countries to which they export 60% of their output. The grape varieties of the wineries are varying from Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo to Cabernet Sauvignon and all have its typical characteristics.

There are several Marques De Riscal wines enlivened the show with the row of white and red wine. The first row consists of 4 kinds of wine, namely Finca Montica (2010), Limousin (2009), Rueda (2011), Sauvignon Blanc (2011), Finca Montica (2010). The latter brought us 6 stunning red wines, namely Marques de Riscal (1860), Baron de Chirel (2005), Finca Torrea (2007), Gran Reserva (2001), Proximo (2009), and Reserva (2006).

My eyes turned glow seeing those bottle of wines and retain my stomach to not drooling over those alcoholic drinks too much hahaha! I only tasted several of them since I was afraid those wines will turn the same if I drink it too much in the same time haha!

So, here they are the very mild wine from the white row, Rueda (2011). Originated from Verdejo grape this white wine has pale yellow color with a citrus and honeydew melon and hints of grapefruit aroma. I tasted mild citrus, lil bits fruity which give me a refreshing after taste. Somehow, I prefer a sweet taste in white wine, but this Rueda’s taste was close to my preferences. 

From the red row, Reserva (2006), brought me a strong red wine originated from fusion of Tempranillo, Graciano, and Manzuelo grape with dark red ruby colour and strong aroma of cherry, tobacco and cedar. Though this Reserva is very strong among others, it didn’t give me a sourness I usually taste in a red wine, it even gave me a smooth sweet finish. Perfect! 

Proximo (2009), however, gave me a lil bit sour though this is one level below Reserva (2006). The wine originated from Tempranillo, Graciano, and Manzuelo grape with strong plum, toast, and herb aroma.

While, Riscal Roble (2008) gave me very similar aroma and taste with Proximo 2009, but it is smoother than Proximo.

For pairing the wine, Decanter provided us two kind of canapés, one topped with smoked beef, slices of egg, and cheese grater, the others small one topped with slices of omelette, letyuce, and cheese chunks. Those canapes simply completed the wine tasting night. 

Overall, I feel relish to be a part of this night, chilling out with my fellow food bloggers and some new friends while enlightened my knowledge about wine from the wine expert, Mr. Yohan Handoyo. Thank you mas @adriantommo for spreading this invitation to me and thanks to Decanter Wine House for the warmest greeting and of course Dimatique for the very stunning Marques de Riscal. 

Wine Connoisseur,
Icha

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Warung Ketan Susu

Atmosphere

Nggak puas dengan bakmi yang membuat saya dan teman-teman saya kegerahan, kami mencari alternatif tempat nyemil itung-itung ngeganjel perut lagi hehehe...Masih disekiitaran Depok namun sedikit melipir ke Lenteng Agung, saya dan teman-teman mampir ke Warung Ketan Susu yang berada di daerah pinggir jalan Lenteng Agung, tepatnya setelah KFC Lenteng Agung arah depok dan pas disamping resto seafood Pasir 7. Tempatnya sih lumayan besar karena mereka memakai halaman rumah yang sangat luas. Aslinya tempat makannya sih kecil sekali. Mungkin hanya cukup 15 orang di dalam, sisanya diteras dengan bangku-bangku kayu yang sederhana. Saat datang kesini kebetulan tempatnya sedang sepi dan saya serta teman-teman langsung menyerbu bagian teras sambil leyeh-leyeh hihihi…Dipikir-pikir warung ini sangat sederhana sekali, mereka nggak punya dapur, hanya sekedar etalase kecil yang berisi semua bahan-bahan makanan dan minuman. 

Menu

Namanya juga Warung Ketan Susu, pastinya yang jadi jualan utama disini ya si ketan susu yang disingkat Tansu. Selain itu juga ada aneka variasi ketan seperti, Tankecok (ketan keju cokelat), Keren (ketan duren), Kenal (ketan original), Tandeng (ketan serundeng), Kerry (ketan strawberry), Keblue (ketan blueberry). Ada juga aneka roti bakar dan pisang bakar seperti roti bakar keju cokelat, keju duren, keju strawberry, dll. Yang lucu itu mereka punya Mie Anti Galau, saya nggak mencoba sih, tapi next time deh nyobain.  Sementara, untuk minumannya mereka memadukan ketan susu dengan sepoci Teh Poci yang bisa diminum untuk 4-6 porsi. Jika nggak suka teh, masih ada aneka kopi dan minuman soda yang bisa kamu pesan.

Food

Tansu (ketan susu) ini sangat simple. Sepiring kecil ketan kukus disiram dengan susu kental manis dan parutan kelapa. Ketan kukusnya cukup lembut dan empuk, tidak terlalu kering. Dimakan dengan susu kental manis rasanya makin pas dan cocok buat cemilan malam

Keren (ketan duren) ini lebih menarik buat saya, meskipun appearance-nya agak nggak bangt sih hihi, tapi rasanya lebih enak disbanding tansu. Wangi duriannya sangat pekat dan kekentalan fla duriannya juga pas. Lebih enak lagi dimakan dengan ketan kukus-nya. Wah yang suka durian wajib coba cemilan yang satu ini!

Teh Poci. Nggak ada yang lebih nikmat selain secangkir teh poci diminum bersama teman-teman lama sambl ketawa-ketawa bareng. Teh yang digunakan tehmerek poci yang wanginya lembut dank has bunga melati, manisnya bisa sesuai hati karena disediakan gula batu sehingga kita bisa pilih ma manis atau lebih manis. Perfect pairing!

Harga

Nggak usah khawatir nongkrong disini karena kita bener-bener kayak makan di angkringan saja. Murah! Harga aneka ketannya saja berkisar dari Rp4.000 – 6.000 saja. Untuk roti dan pisang bakar bisa dinikmati dari harga Rp8.000 – 9.000. Sedangkan minumannya mulai dari Rp3.000 – 6.000. Murah bangeeet kan!

Warung Ketan Susu 1

Jl. Lenteng Agung Timur
Srengseng Sawah
(Arah Depok, setelah KFC Lenteng Agung, samping resto seafood Pasir 7)
Jakarta Selatan

Warung Ketan Susu 2

Jl. M. Kahfi, Jagakarsa
(dekat kampus ISTN dan APP)
Jakarta Selatan

facebook : warung ketan susu lenteng agung
phone: 089654757441

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Bakmi Jogja Mas Gundul

Atmosphere

Saya penikmat segala jenis masakan berbau mie, mau mie rebus kek, mie goreng kek, mie godok, atau , variasi mie apa aja dari berbagai daerah. Salah satu variasi mie yang saya suka sih mie Jogja. Pernah nyoba yang enak banget itu di daerah Pajajaran, Bogor tapi udah lama banget sih. Nah, pas main ke Depok kemarin sahabat saya ngajak ke salah satu tempat makan mie Jogja yang katanya punya mie godok yang uenak tenan. Dengan iming-iming 'enak' mampirlah saya kesana. Tempat makannya ternyata deket banget sama rumah teman saya. Di daerah Beji, Depok tepatnya ada sebuah kedai bernama Bakmi Jogja Mas Gundul. Tempatnya sangat kecil hanya memuat 20 orang dengan meja dan kursi plastik ala kadarnya. Penerangannya sih sangat lumayan tapi panasnya luar biasa padahal udah pakai kipas angin di dua sisi. Di depan kedainya terdapat gerobak mie jogja lengkap dengan kompor arangnya dan beberapa tukang masak sibuk memasak dengan api yang mengepul. 

Menu

Aneka bakmi yang dijual disini terbatas. Kalau melihat dari spanduk yang mereka pasang berlambangkan gambar Blackberry a.k.a BB tapi diplesetin jadi Bakul Bakmi meeka hanya menyediakan Bakmi Godok goreng/rebus, Bakmi Campur Godok/Goreng, Nasi Goreng dan Nasi Goreng Magelangan. Saya memerhatikan sedikit cara memasaknya, baik mie godok ataupun mie goreng semua mie-nya direbus terpisah, kemudian diayak baru dimasak lagi dengan kompor arang katanya supaya menimbulkan aroma khas tradisional seperti mie jogja asli. Dan yang agak aneh itu mereka Cuma punya 1 kompor! Alhasil setiap menu harus benar-benar ngantri dibuat, sampai-sampai saya harus menunggu 1 jam hanya untuk sepiring mie jogja! 

Food

Bakmi Godok Goreng sampai di meja saya terlebih dulu. Wangi mie-nya memang mengluarkan aroma arang yang cukup khas dan menggoda selera tercium sedikit juga aroma cabai yang pekat. Mie-nya digoreng cukup sempurna dan nggak benyek. Meskipun terlihat kecapnya nggak pekat tapi rasa mie ini cukup manis dan pedasnya pas. Dengan tambahan sayuran dan telur orak-arik, rasanya mie godog goreng ini terasa mirip dengan mie godok jogja yang pernah saya cicipi sebelumnya.

 

Sayangnya, saya tidak menemukan kenikmatan yang sama di Mie Godok Rebus-nya. Kuahnya entah mengapa kurang gurih dan mirip kuah bening yang nggak ada rasanya. Padahal itu sudah saya tambahkan merica bubuk. Kuahnya juga sepertinya terlalu banyak sampai-sampai mie-nya jadi lembek sekali. Jauh berbeda dari tipikal mie godok dengan kuah pekat yang pernah saya cicipi. 

Harga

Untuk harga, buat saya agak sedikit kemahalan ditambah porsi kecil dan harus menunggu sangat lama. Mereka menentukan harga berdasarkan porsi, untuk porsi biasa dijual dengan harga Rp14.000 sedangkan untuk porsi spesial seharga Rp18.000. Tapi menurut saya keduanya ukurannya sama saja, soalnya teman saya memesna porsi spesial pun tetap aja nggak lebih banyak dari porsi yang biasa hehehe...

 

Entah mengapa ya, saya tidak berpikir untuk kembali kesini kecuali mereka menambah satu kompor sehingga masaknya bisa cepat. Nggak membayangkan kalau wiken pas semua orang mampir kesini. Mau nunggu berapa jam hanya untuk sepiring bakmi hahaha!

Bakmi Jogja Mas Gundul

Beji, Depok

Hp. 087889052024

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Now Brewing: Starbucks Asian Dolce Latte

This month, Starbucks shares the joy by introducing us the other favourite latte with Asian taste, Asian Dolce Latte. Located in their newest outlet, the 143rd in Indonesia, at 1Park Residence Apartment, Gandaria, Starbucks not only share their newest beverage but also invite me and other coffee enthusiasts to explore the journey of coffee in a seminar entitled "Starbucks Coffee Perfection Seminar." The coffee expert of Starbucks, Mr. Mirza, tells us a story about how coffee come in our hand and it takes a long long journey after all. From growing the coffee beans, buying, roasting, to brewing by the baristas handed to our hand. The saddest thing is most of Indonesian coffee beans are still roasting outside our country and it becomes more expensive, yeah I believe you know it all.

Anyway, along with the coffee perfection seminar, Mr. Mirza also guided us in enjoying Sumatra coffee. This is one of the best coffees made by perfect fusion of coffee beans from several regions in Sumatra. A full bodied coffee with a strong and thick texture. Perfect for those who love black coffee. First sip I tasted a lil bit dark chocolate flavour, next sip I got a strong shot of black-bitter coffee with strong spices aroma. Fortunately, this Sumatra coffee is less acidity, so it’s perfect for your gastric.

Next, Starbucks introduces us the new Asian Dolce Latte, a double shot dark-roasted Starbucks Espresso Roast with a dolce sauce and steamed milk. This beverage can be made either hot or cold with the additional whipped cream and espresso dusting. Me love the cold version because it’s sweeter and milky, the dolce sauce and steamed milk become perfect fusion for everyone who love mild coffee flavour. In hot version, I can find double shot of espresso where I taste stronger and richer of Arabica coffee used.  FYI, this newest beverage is available only in Asia Pacific and ready to brew in Indonesia from March 5 to April 22, 2013.  

Cold Asian Dolce Latte 

Hot Asian Dolce Latte 

To company us enjoying the Sumatra and Asian Dolce Latte , we can choose several sweet indulgences such as Sumatra Éclair and Sumatra Mousse. Sumatra Mousse (25K) give me a good fusion of chocolate with a hint of Sumatra coffee and cream cheese although I prefer the cream cheese texture, moist and cheesy.

While, Sumatra Éclair (17K) is a puff pastry filled with chocolate truffle and hint of Sumatra coffee. Its filling is thick and sweet enough in the first munch and lil bit bitter after passing your throat. This is my first crush; I always pair this food every time I enjoy any Starbucks coffee.  

For bigger portion, Half Double Decker Sandwich (35K) could be your perfect choice. It’s three layered toasted bread with omelette, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and smoked chicken inside. All ingredients made fresh and the bread is very moist and could be served either freeze or warm. It’s made me full by the way hehe…

As usual after the coffee tasting, we were allowed to choose the Starbucks lucky bag. Yay, and lucky me I found this lucky bag with super cute tumbler and mug hihi. Anyway, thanks for Starbucks and Mbak Natashia Jaya for inviting me to this event. It’s always fun chilling up while drinking a coffee. 

Starbucks 1Park Residence

1Park Residence Ground Floor Unit A1&A2
Gandaria, South Jakarta,
(Near Gandaria City mall)
@SbuxIndonesia

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Sukhothai: Touch The Unlimited Royal Treat

Have you ever dream about being treated as a royal king? Hmmm...I never dream about such thing but surprisingly several weeks ago I was brought to feel the hilarious of being a royal king for a nite, especially in his way of enjoying royal dinner. It is Sukhothai Restaurant, an authentic Thailand restaurant located in The Media Hotel & Tower, brought me to feel Thailand atmosphere and to taste its cuisine while treating me as if I am a royal king...hmm princess sounds better I think haha...Well, as I stepped my feet onto the dining area, I was welcomed by a red, warm, and luxurious interior of Sukhothai equipped with some elephant and Thailand traditional dancer statues in gold and Thailand carving in several part of their wall. It really shows us how Sukhotai trying to impress their customer with a truly royal atmosphere. But wait, it's not finish yet, to make it more traditional, the customer won't be seated in a chair, Sukhotai ask them to sit on the floor a.k.a 'lesehan' in Bahasa. They provides a big square and low table with a space under the table that enable us to hide and put our feet comfortably. At least you won't crossed your leg during eating hehehe...

After the very good welcoming, Sukhothai treated me with a sumptuous promotion of UNLIMITED ROYAL TREAT where I can enjoy the unlimited authentic Thailand cuisine a.k.a an All You Can Eat menu yay! An it’s all for only IDR149,000 per pax. A very best offer I’ve ever experienced! There are more than 23 ala carte menu which can be ordered unlimitedly, over and over, as long as your belly has enough spaces hahaha! So, that’s the opening, now I will share you my experience in enjoying the royal treatment here.

Appetizer came first on my table. There are four menus to serve, consist   of:

Gai Har Baytoy, a fried marinated chicken in pandanus leaf. I love how they covered the marinated chicken with the pandanus leaves. It left super good aromas that raise my tastebud. The chicken was also well marinated, soft and tender.

Pia Takrai, a fried marinated fish with lemongrass and fresh herbs. This appetizer also went well on my tongue. I can feel a lil bit lemongrass and fresh herbs in every bite.

Tord Man Goong (Prawn Cake). This snack is similar with ‘otak-otak goreng’ my favourite snack and so does the taste. Simply love it.

For those snacks, we can enjoy it with three kind of sauces; mango sauce, a typical Bangkok sauce (sorry I forgot the name), and a spicy sauce (I also forgot the name haha), but this one is look like "sambal Matah Bali".

Yam Mamuang (Spicy Mango Salad). Wuah, finally I found the salad from Thailand which I though it’s similar with our ‘asinan mangga’ hahaha!  It’s quite spicy, salty and fresh as well.

Then, before come into the main course, I laid a space for Kwe Tiaw Phed Yang (flat rice noodle soup with duck). This is similar with the Chinese kwe tiaw or actually it is ahahaha, but it’s softer and served with a savoury soup which kinda too smooth for me. I thought this is the time I will put much pepper and chili powder on my meal haha!

Thanks God, I finally didn’t have to put much pepper in the next Tom Tum Thalay (sorry I didn't made the photo). Because it’s a tom yum, I knew it’s gonna be hot and spicy. Either the seafood or the soup was made fresh! Love the acidity level, it’s really went well on my belly.

Here we come the main course. Phad Poh Taek came first. It’s a sautéed crab, squid, fish and prawn in Thai herb. Perfect fusion with a sweet, sour, and spicy after taste on my mouth.

Phad Kapraw Nuea. This is fried minced beef with chili and sweet basil. It’s spicy and too oily I thought. I thought I’m munching a corned beef with too much oil hehehe…

Finally, I found the main course awarded as the best, Pla Sam Rod and Kaeng Kiew Wan Gai. The first is fried Dory fish with three flavour sauce.  This is the best coz not only the crunchy outside and tender inside; the sauce also offered me supper after taste, sweet, salty, and savoury. Scrumptious!

Then, the latter Kaeng Kiew Wan Gai made me drool with its green curry. I feel like home when sipping it’s green curry soup, it’s fusion of coconut milk remind me of My Mom’s ‘sayur lodeh’. Sweet, sour, and aaaahh I better talk less, and let you decide by your own.  

There are also many side dishes I tried such as Khao Pad Sapparot. I imagined I will get fried rice served in a pineapple but unfortunately, this is only fried rice with minced pineapple. The rice is just okay for me, not too oily and the best part is I found cashew nuts inside!

Pad Broccoli, a stir fried broccoli and garlic, and Pad Bong Pad Namanhoy, a stir fried water spinach with oyster sc, were also good side dishes to complete my dinner.

Huah, I feel so glad that tonight I was treating like a royal Thai king, but it’s not finished yet. Sukhothai spoiled me to make more spaces on my belly for the desserts. And I challenged myself to try it all hahaha….

Man Suam, a simmered cassava in syrup with coconut milk remind me of Indonesian traditional snacks 'singkong siram santan'. The cassava was boiled well resulted on a soft texture of its. The coconut milk and vanilla syrup on the top was also a great fusion, gives a strong vanilla scent and fortunately it has mild sweet. I simply love this snacks. 

Tam Tim Krob, this also remind me of "es mutiara", but I was wrong, this is not "mutiara"as we can find in Indonesian "es podeng or "es campur", this is actually a yam (bengkuang) covered with colored cornflour that made this seems like "mutiara". This is fun, because when I munching it, I tasted the crunchy part of the yam hihi...The soup comes from a milk, ice and coconut milk. and thanks God, it sweet enough for me. Love it!  

Aisa Krim Kati Ruamiter, it might has a long name, but I didn't put too much effort to enjoy this one haha, because this is only a coconut ice cream, with super mild and sweet taste added with watermelon pieces. Yay! I feel like a kid who craving this over and over!

Kanom Ruamiter, this assorted mini Thai sweets again similar with Indonesian sweets, there are two kinds of sweet pudding alike, both made from brown sugar. There is also "kue ku" alike and "kue jojorong", a solid coconut milk fused with melted brown sugar inside. All those sweets are simply perfect for closing my dinner.

Overall, I found my belly was so full and happy. It was really nice to be treated like a king! Anyway, please remember you have to prepare your belly or you are subject to be charged IDR30,000 per portion if you couldn't finish the food. Anyway, thanks Openrice and Sukhothai for inviting me to this royal event. 

Sukhothai Restaurant
The Media Hotel & Towers, 6th Floor
Jl. Gunung Sahari Raya No. 3
Jakarta 10720
Telp. 021 - 626 3001
@sukhothairesto
Operation hour for dinner: Monday to Sunday 18:00 - 22.30 WIB
Operation hour for lunch: Monday to Friday 11.30 - 14.30 WIB

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