Ruci's Joint & Art Space: Double Delight

Arriving early at Ruci, I got to witness the last minutes of opening preparation of the premise. So, here’s your chance to snap a picture with the well-known 3D Sting instalation by a local artists, Maradita Sutianto. And that corner is only on of countless photogenic points inside Ruci, which is actually a mix of collaborative art space and collaborative cafe. 

Let’s explore more of Ruci with Fiona today.

 

Entering through the door the first thing that catches the eyes are a big typography spelling “Ruci’s Joint” on it. It’s not hard to find a favorite corner in this place, well, I have soft spot for mural and pretty interior. When I saw the collaborative art space part, a spacious place with perfect working ambiance, I was thinking about doing my blogging here. The overall interior, which is dominated by minimalist and homey feel to it, has an artsy feels with a piece of terrarium from @ateliergleuri. There are also creative workshops, make-up classes and art exhibitions held here. This place can also be booked for private function.

Sounds perfect. The collaborative cafe part offers selective F&B tenants, with variety that may amaze you. Is that your stomach growling? Well, let’s get going then.

Two Shamelesssalad menu that arrived on my table are Signature Salad (80k) with Sweet Potato Perkedel (30k/2 pieces) and Chicken Caesar Salad (90k). To be honest, I’ve been eyeing on their salad, dips and crudites from Instagram. I was thinking about ordering it for catering because for a salad freak like me, I love to see my plate filled with different kinds of fruits and veggies, including arugula, mushroom, avocado, tuna and feta cheese with balsamic and mustard vinaigrette dressing. (Ruth probably skips this part right away haha). The salads are my favorite, especially when combined with perkedel (potato fritters) because it gives the crunchy and tasty side effect. My boyfriend, whom I forced to try these salads, apparently liked the greens and almost finished the plate. Oh, the Paleo Caesar Dressing is also something to die for.

Signature Salad

Chicken Caesar Salad

On my list next time is the dips and cruedits, which hummus got me contemplating whether I shouldn’t wait for next time. Their sandwiches are also worth the try for those watching out what they eat as it uses homemade low-GI bread. And if the regular salad isn’t challenging enough for you, maybe Coucous side Salad would. This is like a heaven for healthy eater, serving the real kick-ass salads.

But let’s move on to something that’s more of an indulgence and delicacy, Rendang Ondemonday. An iconic to Indonesia, this Minangkabau traditional dish is created by shimmering meat in rich spices for hours. Expect fragrance and soft, melt-in-your-mouth beef served with rice if you order this. Ruci’s Rendang Ricebowl (68k) has everything you ask for your lunch (or dinner). Rice, Rendang, Acar (preserved cucumber), Rambak (cow skin crackers) and the yummy caramelized curry sauce. 

Ruci's Rendang Bowl

On my list next time is Nasi Itik lado Hijau (63k). Had been tempted to order but the Rendang turned out to be a satisfying lunch.

Osu! Skewers & Bar iserves a grilled shabu shabu sirloin marinated with Osu special sauce, fried garlic chips and mixed vegetables. When I picked the generous portion meat off their Garlic Yakiniku Don (65K), they are surprisingly soft and tasty. With Japanese rice and garlic chips, I think this is my kind of beef bowl. So, where’s my truffle oil to make this perfect?

Garlic Yakiniku Don

Moving on to Ya Dong Dim Sum, a Chinese idea of canapes. The food comes in bite-size and served alongside Chinese Tea. Pick your favorite from the Dim Sum menu. I picked Lo Bak Go (Fried Turnip Cake), Cheong Fan (Steamed Prawn and Beancurd), Guo Tie (Steamed Pot Stickers), and Liu Sha Bao (Molten Salted Egg Custard Fried Bun). Big portion beware!

This is my Dim Sum (35k each) recap: Guo Tie should be highlighted because it has generous fillings wrapped in thin skin. Salted egg lovers should try Liu Sha Bao while its hot, it melts and ... I can’t really describe how it taste. My boyfriend loves the Lo Bak Go, it was less than five minutes before the rest of them are all gone. The texture is nice and there’s a sunny side up egg on top. Delicious turnip. Cheong Fan is silky smooth rolls with crunchy fillings and huge prawn. That’s enough said.

Cheong Fan

Guo Tie

Lo Bak Go

Where else can you try the different dish under one roof? But these foods change every 3 months, make sure you don’t miss any of them. I have to plan my next visit real soon.

Oh, the Ruci Art Space is open now. Lucky for us, we got to catch the last days of Anton Ismail’s "Rumah". The art space is closed on Mondays and they hav live music on Saturdays, so plan your weekends well. Ruci means source of light in Sanskrit and the place really live up to the name, enlightened me with food and art. The place will give you visual and taste orgasm. Haha. 

Where is This?
Ruci's Joint
jalan Suryo no 49
10 am to 10 pm (sunday-thursday)
10 am to 12 midnight (friday saturday)

Ruci's Art Space
jalan Suryo no 49
11 am to 7 pm (tuesday-sunday)

instagram @rucisjoint

Tasting Japanese Food Culture at AEON Mall BSD City

Finally found my perfect dish, I ordered: a bowl of ramen, a plate of chicken steak with miso and chicken karaage on the side. The cashier gave me a pager along with receipt and changes. I was told to wait for the pager to buzz which means my food is ready. The peculiar experience is just another day at Food Culture AEON Mall BSD City. 

Hello, this is Ruth.

An invitation to attend a food blogger gathering arrived on our inbox last weekend. As curiosity defeated the laziness to drive on Sunday morning, I found myself exploring a food court called Food Culture at AEON Mall BSD City. When you heard food court at this new mall (it’s less than a year old), the first thing that come to your mind is Kedai Bungkus by the supermarket at AEON Department Store area, which is famous for its low-priced sushi and other Japanese take-home snacks. Food Culture is on the other end of the mall.

IPPUDO Grand Menu Launch

November reminds me of Thanksgiving and the Grand Menu at IPPUDO, which is available starting November 2, is something to be thankful of.

IPPUDO, the well-known ramen restaurant from Japan, opened its door to Indonesian customers through its Pacific Place store a year ago. Since then, it hasn't stopped feeding its customers with surprises. The Grand menu is basically a compilation of the on-demand dishes from the previous menu. Remember the chef's special which stopped by IPPUDO's menu a while ago? Those were the qualification rounds.

This is Ruth, reporting the IPPUDO Grand Menu revelation.

So what's in the menu? We attended the sneak peek of what's on the list and here's what made it to the list of popular menu.

Teriyaki Chicken Salad

Teriyaki Chicken Salad (59k). Sweet and spicy for the health conscious, this green appetizer mix wasabi and teriyaki, two of the well-known Japanese delicacies. The dish is great for a fresh start while still leaving spaces for the ramen.

Tsukune Balls

Tsukune Balls (48k). IPPUDO Regional Operations Consultant, Takashi Mikami, described the dish as chicken potato balls, hard on the outside but soft on the inside. Infusing a hint of Japanese culture with the soft chicken bone inside each balls. It comes with pasteurized raw egg on the side, to be used as a sauce or a dip. Some might prefer without the egg, so give the original sweet taste a chance and find out which one do you like best. We can't decide but ended up dipping the balls into the raw egg.

Chicken Teba Gyoza

Teba Gyoza (48k) gives chicken wings an upgrade. "I observed Indonesians love chicken wings very much," Mikami said. "For this dish, we removed the bones and filled the wings with our special stuffing." This special stuffing include Indonesians' favorite chili, cabe rawit. Appeared in small cuts for extra spice. "For Japanese, Spicy is spicy but for Indonesians spicy means very spicy," explains Mikami. Teba Gyoza is popular in Malaysia as well.

Rainbow Ebi Tempura Roll

Rainbow Ebi Tempura Roll (70k) is sushi with bright colored tobiko toppings: black, red and green. The green one is created with wasabi. Crunchy shrimp tempura is wrapped with colorful fish roe.

Sake Mentai Rice

Sake Mentai Rice (49k) is described as rice topped with grilled minced salmon and cod fish roe, we would prefer to call this dish "a perfect main course" instead of appetizers simply because its taste and size is right for women who don't want to eat to much but still want to be full. It's delicious beyond belief, and despite the sticky rice and mayonnaise mix they're using, this dish isn't overwhelming.

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt (48k). If you prefer sour than sweet, just because the ramen makes you full, this dessert is perfect. Fresh homemade strawberry yogurt served in transparent glass arrived at the end of our meal. Somehow there are still space for it. 

Matcha Creme Brûlée

Matcha Creme Brûlée (48k). What's Japanese dessert without matcha, right? This one is quite a surprise. Rich creamy custard topped with a contrasting layer of hard caramel and green tea. The green tea balances the sweet creme brûlée so we're sure you can finish this one too, especially if you're a green tea fan.

Following their chicken ramen launch earlier this year, the dishes served that night were all halal, adding more choices to the non-pork selection. Answering Indonesian customers' demand, the restaurant takes halal food concept seriously, separating the chopsticks and bowl used for halal food with the ones used for the pork ramens. Several chopsticks exchange happened when the ramen are served and those with pork ramen received a new pair. 

Takashi Mikami showing off the takeaway pack for ramen

Another good news for the night is the revelation of the take away menu. After months of putting together a way to pack their ramen and other dishes without compromising the taste and quality, finally IPPUDO is ready to serve takeout. Not seeing your favorite dish on the take away menu yet, don't worry, according to Amanda Sihombing, IPPUDO Indonesia Marketing Manager, they're still working on more dishes because each dish is unique and require specific package for take out.

So, let's be patient and wait for the Grand Menu.

Where is this?
Pacific Place 5th Fl. #5.37
Jl. Jend. Sudirman kav 52-53 (SCBD), Jakarta 12190
Tel: 021-57973339
www.ippudo.co.id

Smiling Faces at Sumire Yakitori House Singapore

The simple yet real friendly Yakitori restaurant called Sumire Yakitori House in Bugis has received a lot of praises from the local media. So on a chance to visit Singapore, we decided to give this local favorite a try. 

This is Ruth's adventure in Singapore.

My brother said it was good and he brought us to try Sumire Yakitori House. It's a great alternative to the usual food courts and kopitiams we usually frequented on our trip to Singapore. The restaurant is easy to find because it's on the same block with Bugis Junction. While it's listed as one of the mall's tenant, the entrance is outside and facing the street. As soon as we enter, we were pointed out a booth near the back. A convenient for us, who comes in a family of six. 

Despite all the menu placed on the table, advertising their lunch set and combos, there is an iPad for you to order. The process is quite simple, all you have to do is select the items you want to try and start placing them in the "cart". Similar to what you do when you're doing online shopping. You can also review the food, with enlarged pictures and description as you decide. Just don' forget to confirm your order, otherwise they won't arrive on your table.
Complimentary cabbage salad comes first. Then the enormous Bakudan Korokke (SGD8.90), a homemade potato croquette. It tastes like potato salad, hidden inside a large breaded and fried ball. Taste really yummy. You can actually order this and Yakitori if you want to skip the rice. 

Bakudan Korokke

But I wouldn't recommend doing that because their Stamina Don is beyond delicious. The menu calls it "stir fry pork belly rice with homemade ginger sauce and raw egg yolk" (SGD9.90). I call it tasty thin-sliced pork over a warm rice. It needs to be mixed properly before you eat. But if pork isn't on your list, then Tori Soboro Don (chicken minced rice with poached egg, SGD9.90) should be on top of your list. 

Tori Soboro Don

Stamina Don

But the best thing about this place is the yakitori, better known as satay to those living in Southeast Asia. You can get technically everything on skewers here, from broccoli, asparagus and enoki to sushi, shishito and avocado. But we stayed away from the unique skewers and stayed on the meat side of the grill.

Left to Right: Pork belly with Oroshi Ponzu Sauce,
Bonjiri with salt and Momo with Teriyaki Sauce

Pork belly with Oroshi Ponzu Sauce (SGD3.20). Grated raddish with salty and sour sauce is placed on top of the pork. The ponzu sauce can be acquired taste for some. So if you're unsure, I'd suggest you'd go with the regular shio. Momo (chicken thigh meat) in teriyaki sauce and Bonjiri (chicken tail) in shio or salt are SGD2.90 each. They both taste great. Somewhat reminds you of a fancier version of the satay stall on the street. 

Just like the name, Sumire, the Japanese pronunciation of "smile", the food does bring smile to our face. So, we went home satisfied and it stays on until later that night. 

Where is this?
Sumire Yakitori House 
80 Middle Road #01-88/89 Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 6338 9963
http://www.sumire.com.sg/

A Mix of Surprises at Gran Mahakam

Believe it or not, this is our first visit to Gran Mahakam, a European style 5-star boutique hotel putting forward warmth and comfort of its guests. Yes, we’re here because of food too.

After saying hello to Debby Setiawaty, Director of Public Relations and Sheryll Angelina, Senior Public Relations Officer at the dining room with a big round table, we got a sneak peek of the food. The party started with an introduction of the hotel’s two restaurants: Le Gran Café and AOKI Japanese Cuisine. Le Gran Café serves International cuisines as well as time-honored Indonesian dishes which means there’s something for everyone. AOKI prides their authentic Japanese cuisine, refurbished to cater the earthy and natural palette.

“Blind Food Tasting” Mini Game

Hello, Fiona here, participating in this TV Show-like fun game.

Blindfolded, while tasting different food and trying to guess what’s on it. The first dish is served on a small bowl (or plate?) and is eaten by spoon. But once I smelled it, I know what it is because it’s my favorite Indonesian snack: Putu Mayang! The second dish feels like mayonnaise and nori. Sushi? I put it inside my mouth and the wasabi explodes. I’m not a big fan of wasabi, so I’m aware of its strong taste. The last one is sorbet because it’s cold and of sour flavor. After opening the blindfold, we’re asked to write the name and the ingredients of the three dishes served. Wish me luck!

Gado-gado Padang 

The Real Feast
Appetizers are Gado-gado Padang and Fresh Crab Hand Roll. The Gado-gado (Indonesian mix vegetable salad) is accompanied with super thick sauce and (surprised) yellow noodle. It reminds me of rujak juhi (without the juhi). I love this kind of Gado-gado. The roll is basically, crab meat wrapped in soy paper with fresh tuna on top. Soy paper instead of nori is a new challenge to everyone’s taste bud. Love this one too!

Fresh Crab Hand Roll

Soto Padang served as soup is irresistible. West Sumatra’s signature soup consists of angel hair, potato and jerked beef, topped with red crackers. Kudos to the amount of salt they’re using as well as the quality of the meat. Rice, anyone?

Soto Padang

Moving on to the main course, Nasi Daun Jeruk (Rice with Lime Leaves) comes with ayam masereh (shredded chicken with chili sauce), mixed vegetables with anchovies, squid with green chili sauce, jerked beef, satay, dried potato and our signature peanut brittle. This dish is arguably the most famous of Gran Mahakam and attracting loyal customers to return. People usually avoided young jack fruit in dishes but this one is good enough. But my vote goes to the squid; it’s so vibrant and tasty. 

Nasi Daun Jeruk (Rice with Lime Leaves)

Truffle Beef Bowl comes next. Japanese slices marinated beef sprinkled with the finest Truffle sauce and scallion served on steamed Japanese rice. The smell of Truffle is heavenly, the meat is soft and rice is moist. Another perfect dish. It’s gonna be hard to choose between the two main courses.

Truffle Beef Bowl 

Everything that starts out nice should end with a glam. So the two desserts better be unforgettable as well. Es Tape Hijau is a mix of tape ketan, tape singkong, kopyor, kolang kaling with milk, coconut milk and syrup. Tape is fermented dish, sometimes from cassava, others have them from rice or sticky rice. Ice shavings aren’t my thing but the fillings are tempting and I felt like digging up treasures. Mochi Ice cream, another Japanese touch on the feast. Japanese confection made from mocha (pounded sticky rice) with green tea ice cream filling. Yummy! Can we have more of them?

 Es Tape Hijau and Mochi Ice Cream

Last Surprise
Full stomach (after an array of great food) is always satisfying. So while we let that deliciousness down, the answers from previous games were revealed. The last one was raspberry sorbet. Whoa! Every participant jotted down different names and none of us were correct. The next surprise is me being named the winner of the game (really?). I just can’t believe it!

A big thanks to Gran Mahakam and Code Hunter for this Dolce Gusto Mini Me Machine, something I’ve been dreading to have this past year. Well, if you want this machine too, go download Code Hunter at the Appstore or Playstore. I’m not giving up mine. Ruth is gonna be jealous. Haha.

Where is This?
GRAN MAHAKAM HOTEL
Jl. Mahakam I No 6 Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta 12130 - INDONESIA
Tel : + 62 21 7209966
www.granmahakam.com

IPPUDO’s Summer Chef Special

Introducing the new set of Ramen Buddies from IPPUDO: Salmon & Chips, Spider Roll and Chashu Minced Katsu. The dishes that are inspired by the sunny summer time. All arrived in time to cheer up your summer.

Hi, this is Ruth. Lunchgetaway is glad to be the first to taste the new menu from IPPUDO, a ramen restaurant which opened its door to Indonesian customers at Pacific Place last year. After introducing their Chicken Ramen a while ago, the famous chain returns with fascinating non-ramen (side)dishes.

“Although it’s called Ramen Buddies, many order them as a sharing plate,” explained Amanda Sihombing, Marketing Manager IPPUDO Indonesia. Well, looking at its amount, it’s indeed a sharing portion. The problem is, with a taste like that, I wouldn’t want to share.

Deep fried battered Salmon

sweet and sour potato wedges and tartar sauce

Salmon & Chips is the Japanese twist of the well-known classic fish and chips. Deep fried battered Salmon is served alongside sweet and sour potato wedges and tartar sauce. While the salmon is generous, the sweet and sour sauce splashed over the fried potato is a pleasant surprise. Spider Roll, the soft-sheel crab maki sushi rolled into rice and nori with cucumber, lettuce and spicy mayonnaise, is served on a bed of spiderweb made of sauce. Too pretty to eat.

Spider Roll

But the champion has to be the Chashu Minced Katsu. Interesting Japanese Croquette (otherwise called Korokke) is a deep-fried meatballs of beef and pork meat, mixed with potato and different spices. Dipped into special brown sauce. The meatballs are a perfect balance between crunchy and tenderness because they melted in your mouth once you have that first bite. They do taste great even when consumed without the sauce.

Chashu Minced Katsu comes in four

A closer look at Chashu Minced Katsu

The Ramen Buddies are changing every 3 months and the most popular one will have the chance to compete on the final round, for a prestigious spot on the regular menu during the annual grand menu changing. Make sure your favorite wins by ordering it every time you’re at IPPUDO.

IPPUDO, a restaurant founded in 1985 by Ramen King Shigemi Kawahara, serves mainly pork ramen around the world. Shiromaru (ultra-thin noodles in tonkatsu broth) is for those who loves the original Hakata-style ramen flavor while Akamaru (thin noodle in tonkatsu broth, miso paste and garlic oil) wins the heart of spicy fans. Another popular dish is Karakamen which comes with curly noodle, spicy miso and ground pork. The minced pork should be caught in the noodle as it’s pulled our and eaten with chopsticks. Playing on the safe side, I ordered Shiromaru and found tasty soup hiding soft noodle and pork loin inside. In IPPUDO, you can choose how you want your noodle to be cooked: from hard to soft. 

Akamaru Shinaji

Shiromaru Motoaji

The question remains: when will IPPUDO expand its shop? “IPPUDO is using fresh ingredients. It means we’re using local ingredients which can match up the international quality standard set by the chain. We’re looking for the right place to open our next restaurant but it’s likely still going to be in around Jakarta area,” explained Amanda. Well, since IPPUDO doesn’t do take outs (it’s their policy, which dismissed our secret plan to stock up the Chasu minced Katsu for afternoon snack once it’s available for the market on July 20, 2015), we’re definitely looking forward to more restaurants.

Where is this?
Pacific Place 5th Fl. #5.37
Jl. Jend. Sudirman kav 52-53 (SCBD), Jakarta 12190
Tel: 021-57973339
www.ippudo.co.id

For The Love of Steak: Tokyo Skipjack

This restaurant believes that everyone loves steak. Looking at the food they served, it seems like they may be right. Change your mind about how steak should always be fancy.

So, one Monday, when Fiona is sick and off work, Ruth went with MJ to an after hour dinner. Entering Tokyo Skipjack, which is located near the small runabout in Blok M area right across the street from Bulungan Sportcenter, you will expect this restaurant to be different. While the outdoor is nice, it’s packed with smokers. So we decided to step in where the tables are sharing places with a Japanese Supermarket. The AC was having a problem that night, but it didn't bother us. I ordered iced Ocha and problems are solved.

The interior of the place is quite unique, sporting popular American comics like Batman, but in Japanese edition on one side of the wall. One corner of the restaurant is a shelf full of comic books.

Our order: NZ Sirloin 200gr (well done - just because I rarely eat uncooked meat) with Japanese Chimichuri sauce (Rp85k) and Grilled Chicken with White BBQ (60k). Each main course comes with two side dishes, which make the price worth it. Choose wisely among mashed potato, corn, Japanese Green Salad and French Fries.

The steak is tasty, the sauce makes it special. Had no idea of what to choose among the list of sauces, the waiter recommended Japanese Chimichuri. Chimichuri is an Argentinean steak sauce made of chopped parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano and white vinegar. Some modification of this sauce added cilantro or bay leaf to the mix. The search on Japanese version of this Argentinean sauce showed Shiso (Perilla) included in the recipe. Whatever it is, the sauce tasted great and refreshing.

 NZ Sirloin 200gr with Japanese Chimichuri

Grilled chicken is good too. A great pair with its white BBQ sauce. Both of us ordered mashed potato and for me, it was he best decision ever because it came in generous portion. MJ ordered Japanese Green Salad (another good thing, even for me who doesn't eat leafy vegetables) and I ordered corn. They have affordable dessert - MJ ordered Tiramisu but I was too full to add some more on my plate. 

Grilled Chicken with White BBQ

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t go indulge ourselves on perfect steak on a romantic setting. But, hey, there’s nothing wrong with alternative version!

Where is this?
Jl. Bulungan No.16, Bulungan, Blok M, Jakarta Selatan
(021) 99725000