Popolamama for Pasta

One of the reasons we love Popolamama is because of its charming interior, which is perfect for friends, food and laughter.

Passing through the Grand Indonesia skybridge, you’d notice this restaurant right away. It has one of the best spot on the bridge. Grand Indonesia is one of our sanctuaries from regular office food served at our canteen. 

Eating here, we always start with pasta and dough balls with garlic and butter on the side.The dough balls came first (the’re appetizer anyway) and they are great, not too chewy not to hard. The fried garlic and melted butter are also great. 

The yummy appetizer

Ruth: So, yesterday I had Popolamama for lunch. One friend wanted to try.
Fiona: Yes, I remember Popolamama, it’s the restaurant we had dinner once with everyone from the office, right?
Ruth: Yeah, the one at Grand Indonesia. What did you ordered?
Fiona: I think it’s too oily.
Ruth: I ordered the Chicken Aglio Olio and it’s surprisingly spicy and sharp. Thankfully I ordered Ice Lychee Tea for the drink.

Chicken Aglio Olio

The pasta has no obvious sauce and is covered in green. So, when another coworker ordered a different kind of Pasta, it looks similar to the other ones on the table.

The waiter suggested pizza in the beginning, maybe we should have gone with pizza instead. They look great and they now come in personal portion in case there’s no one else to share. If you’re worried about the price – which can be a little high for some pocket, try the set menu which comes with drink, mini salad and ice cream. Guaranteed will make you happy.

Where is this?
Grand Indonesia Mall, Lantai 3A, West Mall
(021) 2358 0415
Twitter: @Popolamama_ID

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.

Waha Kitchen Kosenda Hotel

Hi, this is Fiona.

This isn’t my first trip to Kosenda Hotel and each visit is always a great time. I’ve done dinner at Waha Kitchen and hang out at Awan Lounge. Lovely environment, homey ambiance and its interior bring together a perfect experience. Yesterday, I attended a lunch and coffee session with Mikael Jasin, the Head Barista of Operator 25 Café in Melbourne with 9 other food bloggers. 

Before food arrives, we went on a tour of the hotel and got a chance to see different rooms, which combine the modern and homey concept. I love how this place thinks about every details and design. In several rooms there are chairs and tables to relax and have conversations with families. We stopped by Awan Lounge, which is still closed because it’s daytime. But we took pictures at several photogenic corners.

Lunch is with Waha Fish Noodle, a creation of Chef Eddrian Tjhia. Noodle with smooth texture served with fried tofu, fries and tailored chili, soy sauce and lime which arrived with the dish. I’m glad to find nothing that smells fishy on the menu.

I ordered 2 piccolos because they were great. Awesome beans on good hands assure great coffee served on the table. According to Mikael, everyone has preference when it comes to coffee thus the different characteristics. His tales about house smoked cold brew, seasonal blend steep overnight in cold water and smoked in-house with apple wood is definitely enlightening. It was a great honor to taste his brew. Mikael is currently a guest barista at Kosenda Hotel.

Then the lunch ends, so I moved to coffee and chat with other foodies.

Where is this?
Waha Kitchen
Kosenda Hotel
KH Wahid Hasyim No.127, Jakarta Pusat 10240
(021) 31936868

www.wahakitchen.com/

Aceh, Seulawah and Dinner Date

What makes Seulawah interesting is that it looks like a random kiosk in the cluttered Bendungan Hilir area. Yet it turns out to be one of the best Acehnese foods we’ve ever tasted.

A failed attempted to reach a dinner gathering on a deadlocked Friday night took us to Benhil area after office hours. After contemplation, we opted for Seulawah and ordered its Roti Canai Curry right away (yes, we’re too hungry to think). You are never go wrong with Canai and Curry. Then comes Mie Aceh Goreng with Beef, Ayam Tangkap, and white rice for our real dinner. 

Fiona: Do you usually get the soup or fried?

Ruth: Whichever is fine for me.

That doesn’t solve the dilemma. But we end up with mie goreng.

Ruth: Should we still go for rice?

Fiona: Sure!

Well, that’s a lot of carbs.

Our dinner...

Canai is super crispy but it's soft inside and not too oily. Curry is really tasty, you know that very second that it's a curry with quality. Mie Aceh is really tasty too, with generous portion of beef slices, gooey (but not mushy) noodle. It's a little too oily. Ayam Tangkap, which is a fried chicken dish with lime leaves, is very fragrant and delicious. The dish will remind you to Thailand's Pandan Chicken. 

The chili mixture that comes with the dishes is great – even Fiona who usually doesn’t go for spicy food gives it a try. The dinner ends with perfect sips of Es Teh Tarik (Fiona) and Es Kopi Tarik (Ruth). We had a lot of laugh during dinner that we wondered what they put inside the chilli.

Looking around the restaurant, it wasn't the fanciest place we've ever visited. Parking is practically non-existent. Go to the nearby mini markets or hospital across the street for parking. You can also gamble for a spot on the roadside. The restaurant has no air conditioner and it’s a great thing to be ready with cash in your wallet. ATM (in care you need it) is available at convenience stores around the area.

One thing to note is that Seulawah tend to run out of food when it’s late. Come right on dinner time (around  7PM) to make sure you can enjoy the dishes. The place is popular with mostly office workers but there’s no problem on getting a table. Pick the one far back and you’ll get enough light for your Instagram picture.

Where is this?
Seulawah
JL. Bendungan Hilir No. 9, 

Depan Rumah Sakit AL Mintoharjo, Jakarta Pusat
(021) 5708660

Huize Van Wely Buffet Adventure

A lunch buffet voucher brought us to visit Huize Van Wely in Kemang. Although Kemang isn't our usual lunch destination, and to make it more dramatic, we’re stuck in traffic and thunderstorm halfway there. But apparently, nothing stopped us from a good lunch.

Salad Selection

It’s easy to find Huize Van Wely, it’s right on the lobby of Papilion, which also hosts SHY Rooftop. But coming up from the basement parking, we’re a little lost in finding the restaurant reception as there are tables which we believe are part of the restaurant. We took a shortcut and walked though the children store, Petit Pavilion, to reach the restaurant. We were seated at a table outside the restaurant and had to walk to reach the buffet. We’re faced with a silly dilemma of whether we should leave our bags on the chair while we indulge on the buffet.

As Fiona had researched before (she always did), the buffet is Japanese Fusion, prepared by a Japanese Chef, Hideaki Takahashi. We wanted to start properly so the firsts to be on our table were: Wakame Salad, mashed potato and some vegetables. The chef is really fast in helping these two confused lunch-goers, as he humbly pointed out the perfect sauce for the salad in our bowls.
Fiona: (seeing Ruth returned with similar salad) Did the chef help you out picking the sauce?
Ruth: Yeah, I wasn't expecting that. I was picking what I though was Caesar and he told me to use this sauce. What sauce is this anyway?
Fiona: I think this is sesame sauce
Ruth: (after trying the salad) This is seriously tasty!
Fiona: (while eating) They are definitely using very fresh ingredients. Mashed potato is super good!
(It’s a common knowledge between us that Ruth doesn't like greens, so please take this compliment seriously haha)

Entering the main course round, Fiona took Chicken Teriyaki, Stir-Fried Vegetables (Paprika and Mushroom), and Meatball Soup. Ruth added Fried Meatballs to her plate... something that she thought was mushroom covered in bread crumbs and fried. Chicken Teriyaki seems ordinary but it tastes great. There’s something soft but chewy inside the meatball, which Fiona thought was tofu, but remains a mysterious ingredients until now. Soup broth is also refreshing. Well, nothing compares to meatball soup slurped during heavy rain, right?

Dish of The Day

It took them a while to refill with the salmon, so each of us returned for a second trip to the main course area.
Ruth: Finally got the salmon
Fiona: Yes, the chef suggested me to use this sauce with the salmon and this is great. The salmon is fresh, not dry and very moist. It’s perfect with the sauce!
Ruth: We still need to try the dessert...

We’re lagging behind everyone but we still got to try every dessert: Green Tea Choux, Strawberry Cheesecake, a swan bowl of Dorayaki and Mochi, and a shot of Black Sesame Pudding with Crushed Caramel. Every bite is a surprise. The green tea filling is very delicious, the strawberry cheesecake is moist and dense.

Arguably the best (and cutest) dessert ever!

So far, it’s been an adventure. There’s a joy inside our mouth and our heart, especially when the ambiance and decoration is already singing Christmas carols. After enjoying our latte (should have been hot chocolate), we realize we’re late to go back to reality... Oops!

Where is this?

Huize Van Wely

The Papilion, 

Jl. Kemang Raya No. 45AA, 

Kemang, Jakarta

(021) 7191975

A Dill Kind of Lunch

We're stuck with no idea what to have for lunch when a friend tag us for a short trip to Plaza Indonesia because she needed to get her bag from the laundry. Then we remember about Dill.

Serving a combination of sandwiches, pasta and Asian rice dishes, Dill is also home to various good-looking desserts and pastries. Ruth ordered Chicken Ranch Sandwich Set, which includes fries and coffee for additional Rp15k. The sandwich is tasty although the crispy bread made it a little messy to eat. Fiona's Spinach Mushroom Egg is too runny and the sauce is not as creamy as preferred. 

Fiona: How's your Americano?
Ruth: It's okay. You can get this taste anywhere though. Is that your latte?
Fiona: Yes... I thought it was a hot chocolate. I was expecting some latte art. *cry*

      

We went with two other friends, each with their own perks and favorites. So here's what on our menu:

Blushing Ice Tea (29k)
Chicken Ranch set (48k)
Korean Spicy chicken (34k)
Roasted Duck Noodle (60k)
Spinach Mushroom Egg (55k)

We spotted people working on laptops and having meetings at Dill. With its homey place, hidden under the escalator on LB level of Plaza Indonesia, no wonder many opts for this place for business meetings. Overall it's a great place to visit with friends. It's pretty for pictures too. ATM is nearby which was usually one of our reasons to go out at lunch that day.

We still have to try the dessert.

Dill Interior

Where is this?

Dill
Plaza Indonesia LB F43
021-29924512

Lasagna Afternoon

The story of our afternoon snack (which can function as dinner) began when Fiona announced the delivery the day before.

Ruth: What food?

Fiona: Lasagna... And it should arrive at two.

It came a little later than 2 but right when we needed a snack.

Opening the box is like opening a treasure chest with golden bars inside. It's just this is a cheese covered lasagna instead.

For Ruth, lasagna is always the last resort of indecisive moment at Italian restaurant. But this one is surprisingly delicious because the meat isn't that sweet and the cheese isn't dominating the flavor. The pasta isn't too mushy although we had difficulty cutting a perfect piece.

Fiona: I need more cheese for my plate

Ruth: This should be more than enough otherwise it will destroy the pasta taste

Since Fiona finish her clean eating,  the stomach refuse to eat  random food. But today she isn't complaining. 

Fiona: I can finally eat something! It feels fresh from the sauce, minced meat and especially the cheese. 

Forget the plate, we rather enjoy it with spoon directly from the package!

Jo Kitchen

Instagram: @Jo_Kitchen

Contact : +6281287333286