It's Christmas Summer at Outback Steakhouse

It's the end of the year and we have a lot of celebrations in line. In a few days we'll be celebrating Christmas with the whole family, sharing table and warm conversation. Well, special occasion calls for special meal. This is when Outback comes in handy. Among the dynamic eateries in Indonesia, Outback is one of those who had stayed faithfully, serving large portion of our favorite meat and ribs dishes. 

It's not the first visit to Outback, and definitely not going to be the last. We even knew Outback before we knew each other.
R: My first visit was probably back when it was first opened in Pondok Indah. My dad is big on steak and Western food, so we'll go there as family.
F: I forgot when was my first visit. It was a long time ago at the Ratu Plaza branch. But I eat at Outback often, especially after visiting the gym.

Well, we might not remember the details of our first Outback visit, but we do remember our favorite meals, and are more than happy to share them with you. It's Christmas after all!

de Mingle, A Homey Indo-Dutch Bistro

While this cozy spot isn't located in the busiest hub in Jakarta, but de Mingle has just enough crowd to present a vibrant yet homey ambiance. Staying true to its name, we feel that people do come there to mingle and delicious dishes.

Honestly, if it's not because of Dilmah High Tea Challenge Restaurant & Cafe, we probably would never step into this place and regretting it for the rest of our blogging lives.This is Ruth's story (as Fiona called in sick for the day) with MJ, another food blogger in our office who helped with the pictures. 

Front Door. Photo by MJ

Window sating is our favorite spot. Photo by MJ

de Mingle Indo-Dutch Bistro is Located on the corner of Graha Handaya office area, a short drive from Siloam Hospital Kebon Jeruk. Stepping inside, we're liking the mood right away. The friendly waitress seated us on the perfect table on the corner. The food will arrive shortly, she said. Then the bistro owner, Shirley, came to chat and sit with us.

First floor seating

Cashier area

She runs de Mingle with a few friends. "It just happens that the grandmas are still Holland sprechen so we decided to create a Dutch restaurant," she said. Indeed the food listed on the menu bears the name like Moeder Subiyarti Rijsttafel or Moeder Mirani Rijsttafel. The other main courses are also typically Dutch, something considered nostalgic for the older crowd but with flavor that would fit today's generation tongue. Shirley recommends Biefstuk or Dutch Sirloin Steak (Rp132k) or Galantine (Rp79k), a grandma's recipe of beef mixed with egg and herbs.

A surprise from the house, Huzaren Sla arrived on our table. Lettuce, carrot, bean, pineapple, apple, beef, cucumber with homemade Dutch sauce (Rp53k). Egg yolk gives a bright yellow color to the dressing. Fresh from the first bite, you can easilly say that if there's love at first bite, then we'd go try all the food in de Mingle if they're as good as the salad. The next one to arrive is Kalfstong Biefstuk (Dutch Ox Tongue Steak, Rp69k), grilled after marinated with herbs and wine. Another must-try is Franz (Rp69k), roasted boneless chicken breast with thyme flavor, accompanied by sauteed mushroom and olive oil sauce. On the side is boiled potato. Both dishes have a homey, grandma's recipe taste to it. 

Huzaren Sla and Kalfstong Biefstuk

Franz is roasted boneless chicken breast with thyme flavor

But we're there for Dilmah High Tea Challenge Restaurant & Cafe and the dishes are here on the table. On the High Tea Menu are:

Exotic Tea Spa: Lemongrass Cinnamon Hot Tea paired with Apple Crumble
Heritage Tea Spa: Summer in Green Ice Tea paired with Fish Finger
Classic Tea Spa: Peppermint Tung Tung with Black Tea Kelepon

Exotic Tea Spa: Lemongrass Cinnamon Hot Tea paired with Apple Crumble

Heritage Tea Spa: Summer in Green Ice Tea paired with Fish Finger

Classic Tea Spa: Peppermint Tung Tung with Black Tea Kelepon

Wait... Kelepon? Yeah, you heard that right. Black Tea Kelepon served with Peppermint Tung Tung is one unique combination. While they sit on the opposite end of the plate, it's nice to combine them together and have the tung tung (that's rough-textured ice cream made of coconut milk instead of milk) melts inside your mouth as you chew on the kelepon. Apple Crumble is beyond description. Scrumptious? Heavenly? And the hint of Lemongrass Cinnamon Tea gives balance to the pair. Summer in Green Ice Tea is peppermint, Chinese cabbage and pineapple. A refreshing tea twist of the Evergreen from the fresh juice selection.

The two-story bistro reserves its second floor for events and smoking area. Larger crowd can also sit upstairs with comfortable sofa and lively ambiance. "We have a lot of gatherings here, some are the medical doctors from hospital next door," Shirley said. As far as event goes, anything from talk show to Sweet Seventeen or even marriage proposal is possible.

Second floor seating. Photo by MJ

When you stay and mingle, times goes by slow. It's hard to leave our seat but as lunch time ticking its last minutes, we said our goodbye to this comfortable restaurant. We will return.

Where is this?
Jl. Raya Pejuangan Kav.12A Unit C, 

Graha Handaya, Jakarta Barat 12270
(021) 53660431
www.demingle.com/

Noizu Toku Toku Unique Ice Cream Mix

You usually meet your ice cream already pre-made, lining up in different flavors ready to be mixed with toppings and served. But Noizu Toku Toku is making them fresh to order in front of you. Wanna try?

Our delightful lunch journey brought us to West Jakarta, at an ice cream corner called Noizu Toku Toku at Mal Puri Indah. Located right outside the West lobby, facing the extension, this handmade dessert is offering a wide range of flavors and toppings. Practically endless creation. So, where do you start? Monica from Noizu Toku Toku suggests one of the popular creations: Karameru Koranchi (Rp42k). Caramel ice cream mixed with dark chocolate and crunchy granola toppings. We agreed right away. And this is where it gets interesting.

Instead of scooping the ice cream from a tin, the ice cream maker poured a thick milk-shake like liquid on the ice pan (up to -10 or -20 Celcius). He then started stirring and chopping the slowly crystalized ice cream until it turns creamy. Setting that aside, he started again with the melted chocolate mixture. 

        

Final result: Karameru Koranchi 

"You get more texture with this kind of process instead of the usual pre-made ice cream," Monica explained. An Asian concept (wiki said this ice grill technique is commonly found in Thailand), Noizu Toku Toku adapt it into local invention with house made recipes.

We're about to pick the second bowl to share and were torn between Kraffelicious and Cafe Brownie. But Monica mentioned that younger customers love to innovate their own ice cream. So, we ended up taking the challenge. Plain is more to vanilla. Avocado is unique. What we have in mind is a sweet and bright concept called "Candyland," so we ordered another caramel ice cream (Rp33k) and added marshmallow jellies (Rp4k), marshmallow teddy bear (Rp4k), fruit loops (Rp4k), M&M Choco (Rp5k) and Popping Candy (Rp5k). Surprise!

Welcome to Candyland

But once these ice cream are on your hands, eat them quick because the change of temperature will melt them quicker than the regular ice cream.

As you have probably guessed, the name "Noizu Toku Toku" comes from the noise heard when the spatula chopped the ice cream and bumping into the ice pan, as well as the bumping noise when the ice cream is thrown down to the ice pan. It takes a couple minutes to have them ready, but we enjoy every second as we watch the mixture solidify into the dessert we know. 

If you're creating your own, use this "cooking" time to pick your toppings which is varied from cheese cheddar, almond flakes and Loackers to fruits and jelly. If you're a cereal fan, Koko Krunch and Fruit Loops are there to accompany your "breakfast". Extra sauces (chocolate, strawberry, caramel and salted caramel - each Rp3k) are recommended for those wanting extra kick. Waffle cups and cones (Rp5k) are nice to have because after all, the ice cream we're familiar with is served on edible cones.

It's like being involved in a science project with a sweet edible ending.

Where is this?
Noizu Toku Toku
Puri Indah Mall, Lantai Ground, 

Jl. Puri Indah Raya, Puri Indah, Jakarta

Burgerous Extraordinary

The usual bun and meat combination may not be as fun. Why don't you try Burgerous. Serving a singular taste and ambiance, this burger place has different burger combinations: beef, fish or chicken, which comes in unique and interesting sauces .

The first time around, when Fiona went there with several office friends, Ruth had asked for the fries (Medium 17k, Large 20k) and Pepper Chipotle sauce for to go. Perfect for those prefer extra spice on their fries. Each fries comes with free diping sauce. Extra dipping cost 5k each. Don't think the fries will be crunchy and skinny, fries here are the thick-like-wedges kind. And the sauces are unique and great, selections are Aioli, Cheese, Calypso, Honey Mustard and Mixed Berries. You can leave those sambal and ketchup on the counter.

Our favorite?
Fiona: Fried Cheese Burger!
Ruth: Been there only once and I've had the chicken cranberry sauce? it was tasty. But I love the fries and sauces selection the most.

Fried Cheese Burger (50k) is deep fried burger bun served with Australian Patty and Cheddar Cheese. Another one you should order is Jucy Lucy (55k) which is two beef patties with melted cheddar cheese in between and topped with mayo. Cranberry Chicken Burger (35k) combines sweet and sauce cranberry sauce with a deep-fried chicken patty. Bun and sauce are all homemade so don't worry about the taste. The packaging is well-thought, popping up when you pulled the top and the bun has a signature B on it. Makes us think about good-food-guaranteed seal. 

For some Indonesian, the absence of rice at lunchtime can rise a problem later in the afternoon. Burgerous understands that and put butter rice on their menu. Fiery Fish Rice (35k), dory fish fillet with spicy sauce is served with butter rice and vegetables. But if you still want to try the beef patty, just order them with rice. Drinks are also varied - different flavors ice tea, mocktails, milk tea and juices are available.

But it goes beyond the food, Burgerous offers a comfortable place for friends to hang out with free wi-fi, open-til-midnight and student discount promotion on their menu. Come and stay at Burgerous and let their delicious menu accompany your long hours of homeworks and papers.

Now, Burgerous becomes our regular office food. Be it a lunch getaway or an afternoon craving (just use gojek).

Where is this?
Taman Ratu Indah Blok D.11 No.24
Jakarta Barat, IndonesiaTel: (021) 2933 6378

Info@burgerous.com
http://www.burgerous.com/

9 Cups Coffee & Roastery

For those studying at Univesitas Tarumanegara, this coffee shop should be a favorite, or at least easy to find. But for me, who wasn't Dora the Explorer, it was a little tricky. Simple signage that says "9 Cups Coffee & Roastery" was finally found among tall buildings and home-office area. 

There I was and I wasn't even sure it's open.

Fortunately, it was. When I pushed the door aside, I was greeted by Lidya and Iwan, husband and wife pair who runs the place. The cafe isn' that spacious with the roasting machine Quest M3 sharing the seating area. On the second floor is their "kitchen".

I ordered the usual Piccolo and Arum Manis manual brew. I took my time exploring the coffee shop and Iwan introduced me to the manual coffee beans cooler as well as a machine that can hold up to 250grams of beans. Tom, my partner, always enjoyed the process of brewing coffee, so he opted to seat in the kitchen.

The wonderful smell quickly filled the air.

My piccolo has balanced body and acid, like my preference when it comes to coffee. Arum Manis which is almost gone with the wind, managed to be taken away and tested. With sweet after taste and a little acid and body, it can be addictive. 

We were conversing wih Lidya, who was cooking my pancake (seerved with maple syrup). Surprise surprise it only costs me Rp 15K. No wonder this place is popular with college students. The pancake was gone within minutes too... with the rest of Arum Manis. They have pasta too, a tempting alternative which only cost Rp25k

I spotted a cold brew machine in the corner. Would love to come back and try their cold brew. Or to one of the cupping sessions they hold. It's like visiting an old friend's kitchen, complete with a warm welcome and a sincere send-off that made you promise you'll visit them again someday.

Where is this?

Jl. Taman S. Parman blok. A4, Grogol, Tomang 

(Beside Tarumanagara University Building 1)

Jakarta 11440,Indonesia

08161998716