Introducing Lifull, a Snack Dictionary

Shopping for food when your stomach is full isn't a solution. We ended up buying nothing and suffering from afternoon craving later on. Even worse, there's one snack that caught your attention but you can't remember the name. You just home you'll see it again the next time you shop. Been there?

Always have something on the desk

Well, meet Lifull and it helps with our regrets of not buying that chocolate cookie from the shelf. What's Lifull? It's essentially an online directory of everyone's favorite snack. From the over the counter crackers to the fancy treats.You can search by brand or by name. Or browse around to see what they have by looking at the category if you have nothing specific in mind. It gives out description of the snack down to the calorie counts and price prediction. No need to Google around anymore.

Even better you can get those snacks for free. All you have to do is check out their gift section and see which snack is available for "present campaign" and click apply products. Or if you like certain snacks, you can sign up and start to write your own review.

Drinks are good too

Stocking up for the greater good. There is always someone who has a drawer full of munchies in every office. They are often seen as a savior whenever afternoon snack craving attacks. And here's how we decide what to stock up?

• We love smaller pieces but still large enough to share. Like the Oishi Sponge which tends to be everyone's favorite. 
• Keep both sweet and salty. We personally don't rule out candy even though many experts would advise you to avoid stocking up on candy. Lifull has UHA Candy with 20 kcal.
• Drinks are great too. An alternative to the standard coffee and tea on your office pantry. 
• Popcorn flavored rice cakes are great too.
• Check out the healthy snack section at Lifull for interesting ideas of what to look for the next time you're at the supermarket. They have interesting snacks like Okra and Broccoli Chips (which makes Ruth goes "what? there are vegetables snacks?") to the simple oat cookies.

Our drawer at the office. Wanna share?

Here's what in our drawer. We took pictures knowing it would be gone the next time afternoon craving wave hit the office.

• Oishi Sponge Crunch Choco
• Oishi Sponge Crunch Strawberry
• Oishi Sponge Crunch Mochachino
• Chocomania Rich Choco
• UHA Strawberry Milk Candy 37GR
• UHA Coffee Milk Candy 37GR
• UHA Rich Milk Candy
• INACO Aloe Vera
• INACO Nata Drink
• MONY Cincau
• SIPAHH Strawberry Straw
• POKKA Strawberry Milk
• KIYORA Extra Green Tea
• KIYORA Original

Care to share what's in your drawer?

Noodle, Cakwe and Ice Kedondong at Pasar Baru

Let's call this "Fast and Furious". We made it to Pasar Baru and back in record time, even though that means we have to use taxi to cut short parking time. We were a little nervous while going there, not sure we can be back before our bosses started to look for their missing employees.

The noddle making process at Bakmi Aboen

Pasar Baru (or Passer Baroe) has been a shopping destination, especially known for its shoes and textiles. Built in 1820, this place is the oldest shopping centers in Jakarta. But for some Jakartans like us, Pasar Baru also means food as our parents often took us through labyrinths to find a good eatery. So, as we navigate through the modern Pasar Baru, half of us was reminiscing our childhood memories... the other half was, well, hungry.

Bakmi A Boen is located in the end of an alleyway

1. Bakmi Aboen
Jl. Pintu Air 5 No. 55G, Pasar Baru, Jakarta Pusat
Bakmi Aboen is our main destination. If you walk on the famous Gang Kelinci (it's really a small alleyway for pedestrian only), you'll end up finding a noodle kiosk with a historical look. We both been here with out families since way back in time so it wasn't that hard to find the shop.

We ordered right on the cashier.
Ruth: Pork Noodle (22k) and Beef Meatballs (10k)
Fiona: Pork Locupan (22k)
We're sharing: Pork Shumai (half portion - 2pcs, 13k), Pork Sui Kiaw (23k) and Fried meatballs (half portion - 2pcs, 11k).

Despite its owners missing from the noodle station and the cashier, Bakmi Aboen stays the same. Serving the exact taste as we remembered from our childhood. The gooey-textured noodle comes with savory pork meat and crunchy pork fat. it's a crunch in every bite. The slimy Locupan is perfect as it is but the mushroom and pork topping are irresistable.

Fried meatballls (a.k.a. Bakso Goreng) is made with plenty of meat and it barely land on our table. The first one to go right after photoshoot. Eat them plain or with the spicy & sour sauce. Pork shumai came in gigantic portion, a great thing we only order half. But nothing beats the Sui Kiaw, served with generous fillings and perfect skin. The extra crunch encouraged us to eat more. We're full, but we have other mission to go, so we need to get going.


2. Cakwe Ko Atek
This old man is special. He was making the Cakwe and Kue Bantal (let's call it pillow cake?) with all smiles. Wearing a T-shirt that said "Thailand", his small stall is decorated with his travelling picture. If you're going to Aboen, you definitely will see Ko Atek's stall and smell the freshly fried snack. He's been there since 1971 (Google said).

Fiona: I think it's the same old man.
Ruth: Are you sure? It's probably his son.
Fiona: He doesn't age. I think he's immortal.

Immortal or not, his Cakwe is unforgettable. He let us peeked into the process, how Cakwe started with small blob of flour to an arm-length when fried. We bought 4 Kue Bantal (that's what's left) and 6 Cakwe. All comes to Rp30k\ (the snack is Rp6k each).

We got an extra Cakwe from Ko Atek. He sent us off with smiles.

3. Fresh Drink
Turning right twice from the alleyway, returning to the main Pasar Baru road, you'll see the fresh drinks stall. A great thirst-quencher for the day. Different kind of cold drinks are placed in transparent plastic containers, each we have to explain if you're not familiar with Indonesian drinks:

Es Liang Teh Medan: Chinese Herbal Tea, some made it from chrysanthemum, others with sunflower, rosebuds and adding a touch of licorice. The Medan version is said to be made of chrysanthemum and palm/rock sugar/honey.
Es Kedondong: the English term for this fruit including Ambarella or Great Hog Plum
Es Cincau: Grass Jelly
Es Cendol: Wiki said it's "green starched jelly noodles with pandan flavouring, served with palm sugar and coconut milk."
Es Kacang Hijau: Mung bean
Es Kelapa: Young coconut. 

We ordered for the sour sweet Es Kedondong (Rp8k) which was a great choice to neutralize the taste. We were hoping to see Ice Soursop though.

This is Ice Kedodong -- green, sour but sweet and refreshing

4. Kulit Tahu Goreng
After giving up for not finding the fried tofu skin, one of the things Ruth aimed for when we departed, we spotted the seller right when we're about to go out for taxi. We bought the big pack, salted one (Rp25k).

Well, that's out journey. Believe it or not, we managed to finish the mission in 1,5 hours, returning right on time with happy tummy.

Mission Accomplished!

Offbeat Snack Called Makaroni Ngehe

Let’s say third time the charm. We've been talking about this place since Ruth first passed by the kiosk in Sultan Iskandar Muda, South Jakarta and finally got some to share as an office snack.

The always busy kiosk

Ruth: There’s Makaroni Ngehe in between Gandaria City and Pondok Indah Mall
Fiona: Whatttt???
Ruth: It’s the brand name... I didn't swear on a macaroni dish.
Fiona: Oh...

Well, “ngehe” in Indonesian slank is a pretty bad swearing word. Haha. Browsing on its history, the kiosk we found was the third branch. The brand, started by a college student on a mission to pay for college fee without asking his parents for money, already has two kiosks in West Jakarta. Supposedly closer to our office, but we didn't know where.

It took an extra courage to stop by because we have to park illegally on the sidewalk. The parking is just for motorcycle and it’s usually full. Once we arrived to take a peek, we see a bunch of dried and crunchy macaroni as well as the boiled ones. The system is you ask for which macaroni type you want and the flavor you prefer. You can also choose how spicy you want them to be. The waiter then mix the macaroni and the flavor in a box before stuffing them in a small plastic bag. One bag costs Rp5k. No wonder they’re full with customers. It’s like childhood snack with an upgrade.

Ruth: I’m buying Makaroni Ngehe.
Fiona: Get me some. Bring them to the office, I want to try.
Ruth: Okay, I’m buying one of each type.

Tasted like those MSG-filled snack. Definitely not for those with clean eating hash tag on Instagram. But it makes a good office munch. We can ask for extra chili powder, or separate the powder all together to customized how much MSG we wants on the macaroni. While the dry one can last for days, the soft boiled ones has to be eaten right away. Bringing them to the office, we found a fan who can't stop munching the snack. 

Pick your favorite... but keep it in moderation.