Ivy's Travel: Bali Food Diary

A compile post of all foods we've tried during this Bali trip.

BINTANG RADLER: Finally the first beer I like!

Bintang is my Dad's favorite beer. I remember Dad used to ask me "Would you be a dear and grab your old man a Bintang?".

I had beer before but honestly the strong taste never really suits me. However, growing up in a house with a fridge stuffed with Bintang beers has always make me curious of having one I really like, just like my Dad's love over Bintang's beer.

When Bintang comes with their newest creation, Bintang Radler, I was super psyched. I know this unique twist of beer and natural juice lemon with only 2% alcohol content will suit my taste bud, and it does!     

When I first tried Bintang Radler, I immediately find myself loving the unique twist. It was light and sweet with a hint of acidity from the lemon. I personally think Bintang is making a smart innovation with this Bintang Radler as it was light and refreshing, not too heavy that it's suitable for any occasion. I could easily see myself having this over lunch or dinner. 

Thank you Bintang Radler for this new twist! Now I can finally have my beer moment with my Dad while saying this back to him, "Hey Dad, would you be a dear and grab me a Bintang?". =) Cheers! 

BINTANG RADLER
Website: http://www.bintangradler.co.id/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bintangradler 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bintangradler 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bintangradler 

Ivy's Guide: Best Meals in 2014

Hello! It's one day left before new year. Don't let 2014 pass without trying at least one of these restaurants below. My personal recommendation for the best meals of 2014. 

BOTTEGA RISTORANTE Kuningan Jakarta

Yes Bottega, like in that Bottega Veneta.

Me lovin' everything about the name. Effortlessly chic. If Bottega Veneta represents Italian luxury leather, this Bottega embodies the fine food of Italian.

AMBER CHOCOLATE BAR SENOPATI

There aren't many restaurants that comes with strong ambiance which can affected me the moment I walked in, but Amber did.  Amber is sophisticated in so many levels. The newest restaurant from Mount Scopus group which also managed Negev, Balboni, The Harvest and Chateau Blanc is located at Senopati area just across Cacaote.

NOMZ Kitchen & Pastry Grand Indonesia

I'll start the post by complimenting on the creative brand's name. NOMZ. I love how catchy the sound of it, just like the sound we make when we're having good food. Nom nom nomz!

This month particularly is an exciting month for foodies with so many new restaurants popping up. For Jakarta residents who are not traveling abroad this holiday, make cafe hopping your to do list!

WOOYOO Dessert House Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK)

Okay, the F&B scene in Jakarta sometimes feels like F1 racing. One opens something trending, another one follow in a week and so and so on. We had passed by the yogurt phase, bubble tea phase, Taiwanese dessert phase, now enter soft serve ice cream phase. The last couple months, I am seeing soft serve ice cream everywhere. And I mean, everywhere! Instagram, pop up bazaar, and most of the newbies at Pantai Indah Kapuk, just like the newest one...

UNION DELI Grand Indonesia

To me, Union is like a bestfriend, you don't see them everyday, but you know you can always count on them to make you happy. That's how Union makes me feel. I could always count on them for great food, good ambiance and hands down, the best cakes in town, to date! If there's one cafe I keep coming back, it's definitely them because Union made is well made.

Warung Sangrai PIK Jakarta

No matter how many new cafes open at Pantai Indah Kapuk, I always get more excited when the new one is something more of a comfort good food rather than those so called nice design cafes with so so food. I personally think PIK is lacking of diner with great food, affordable price with a kick to make the second visit. So, when Warung Sangrai opens several days ago, I was beyond thrilled. Here's why... 

Sardine Bali

I have heard plenty good things about Sardine. Their excellent rice field views, the delicate food taste and the fine dining service within affordable price range. This trip I decided a visit to Sardine is on my must list. 

BABA's at Huu Bar Bali

I started my December with a short Bali getaway with my bestie. A little story behind this Bali trip, my bestie had been on my nerve (in a good way) for quite a while about going on a trip just us two. She had been wanting to go to Korea, Seoul particularly, the city was actually our her first destination plan for our little bestie trip, but me, being (ehem) a good wife felt terrible about leaving my man that long, so instead, we made an impromptu change of plan and booked our tickets to a shorter length of trip and Bali is the chosen one.

HOKI Klang Bak Kut Teh Jakarta

I know... I know... I have posted too many write ups on bak kut teh lately, but this one worth to read and to try! It was an unplanned visit, we were just finished from buying some things around the area and feeling hungry when we spotted this shop. 

Ivy's Travel: The Best Local Food in Bali

When it comes to Bali, people mostly comes for two things. The beach and the food. Though the cafe and restaurant scene in Bali impress me so much, I still feel their local food is the best one. Mostly their common local food is Nasi babi guling (suckling pig rice) or Nasi Ayam (chicken rice). 

YA HUA BAK KUT TEH Indonesia

If North side has been spoiled with two Bak Kut Teh brands from Singapore, now it's time for the West side to be happy about another bak kut teh invader also from Spore. YA HUA, established since 1973 with two branches in Spore has open their first store at Mall Taman Anggrek, taking the former spot of Honeymoon Dessert.
**update: Ya Hua has opened their second branch at Baywalk Mall Pluit. 

Ivy's Guide: What To Eat at Pasar Santa

At the earlier stage, Pasar Santa might only has ABCD Coffee to thanks on bringing the humble market into a place to go for coffee lovers. But now, they have grown into a modern market and one of the destination to go for foodie with the variety of stalls selling not only F&B.
 

[CLOSED] SOON HUAT BAK KUT TEH Indonesia

Welcoming another bak kut teh from Singapore, meet Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh. The recently opened store at Pluit Raya not too far from Garuda restaurant is the first ever branch outside Singapore. Having to stay in a city with not so much options to go for Bak Kut Teh, I am happy to find another good place in town.

Avec Moi Thamrin City Jakarta

Somehow, French food is always tied as something expensive, and most of the time, they are. However at Avec Moi, a newly opened casual French restaurant located at office park Thamrin City, few shops away from Tanamera, proves it doesn't always have to be.

Avec Moi (means: with me) is a brain child of the owner which also is the head chef and his wife. The chef, taking his five years experience at Gunther's, a well known French fine dining at Singapore, move to Jakarta and started his own family restaurant.  

Unacho Plaza Senayan

It was Saturday. Went to Plaza Senayan for dinner and movie date. Have you seen Nightcrawler? It was not that good but Jake Gyllenhaal's acting as Louis Bloom deserves an A. If you have seen the movie, you would agree that it's not the finest look of Jake, but there's one scene where he tied his hair into a messy pony tail and he looks so hot!

Cake A Boo Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK)

Pantai Indah Kapuk never fail to impress me with its rapidly growing food scene. Just like one of their newest cutie on the block, Cake a Boo! Standing pretty just few stores away from Hong Tang, the place has been on my radar since I saw them opening soon couple weeks ago. I always love going to a new diner. It's like an itch that I need to scratch. I could if I don't scratch it, but when I did, man it felt good. You know what I mean? 

Republic of Burger Cipete Jakarta

I never am a burger person. It's probably my least favorite junkfood. But there's always that kind of moment when you just have a sudden urge craving that makes you go all the way despite the traffic and the long distance. That's the story of how I drove all the way to Cipete, hoping for a great burger at this petite place that I found sometime ago during my lunch at Tapas Movida which located only stores away. 

Ivy's Travel: Singapore Food Diary III

So, Mom and Dad had something to do at Johor Baru last month. Since Hubs was on business trip, I tagged along with them rather than being in the house alone. I have never been to Johor before but the city is quite close to Singapore. 

BRIDESTORY: Connecting You With The Best Wedding Vendors

Wedding day is the most important and happiest day in everyone's life. Since we're young, we have this image in mind of how we want our wedding to be. Obviously, we want it to be perfect, we want to work with best vendors, we want absolutely nothing to go wrong on our wedding. Let's face it, everyone wants a perfect wedding. But how to find those perfect vendors? I'm here to introduce you to BrideStory.

Warisan Kuliner Bango Apps

Being a foodie and a blogger, it's obvious how food and internet are two things that I can't live without. I spent most of my free time surfing online, proudly admit hunting for food places. If you are someone like me, I'm here to share with you this useful apps from Kecap Bango.

Shirayuki Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK)

I once shared on my previous post how in some cases, depending on good food only won't take you far. It's a well known fact how when it comes to food nowadays, people has been leaning more towards to something cute, something "instagram worthy" instead of the food itself. In some way, it's absurd, but that's the way with our society these days. If you want to survive in this rapidly growth F&B business, you got to do what you need to do. 

[CLOSED] Olive Vine Central Park Mall Jakarta

Olive Vine is a franchised pasta restaurant from Singapore which awarded successful entrepreneur winner of Singapore brand awards in 2011. For their first Jakarta's outlet, I feel they chose the right venue, which is in Central Park, one of the busiest shopping malls in West, unfortunately the spot is not ideally strategic wise. It located quite remote in which people would normally won't pass by unless they have the need. Central Park considers as one of the shopping malls I often go to, but not until Olive Vine has an onsite voucher deal going on at Groupon that I finally know about them.

Ivy's Travel: Things to do in Penang

Most people don't choose Penang for holiday destination. I agreed. The city is boring and doesn't have really interesting places to go. I once spent almost six months staying in the city. After the big riot on 1998, my parents sent me to study here, the main purpose is not because they have good education, but only to keep me out from Indonesia for a while after the unfortunate incident. Why Penang? I was too young to understand or complain to them on why on earth they chose Penang and not Singapore, all I know is because my relatives in Medan also sent their children there as Penang is very close to Medan, and Mom just follows them. 

Yo' Panino: My Personal Choice for Great Subs'

I could never give an exact answer when someone asked me what is my favorite food, simply because there are too many. But I always know I cannot live without bread and veggies. Give me fresh breads with green caesar salad, and I'm happy as a kid.

Fukuro Dining & Sake Bar SCBD

I don't have favorite food but I always have more love when it comes to Japanese food, especially when it had to do with sashimi. I honestly couldn't understand how some people can't eat sashimi when it is one of nature's most precious food. Anyway, when a friend of mine told me she just had a pleasant dinner at this new Japanese restaurant at Fairgrounds SCBD, I couldn't help but to go there as early as I can. 

Hotel Reviews: JW Marriot Kuala Lumpur

JW Marriot hotel chains always impress me in so many ways, but mostly for its classiness. If there's  one thing you wouldn't have to worry when you stay at Marriot, is the overall classiness & the absolute comfortableness.

Hotel Reviews: The Westin Kuala Lumpur

I have to admit I am not an easy person when it comes on choosing the place to stay during holiday. I am someone who really needs a good sleep, like really! Also I have very strict rules when it comes to where I sleep. I'm not OCD, but I couldn't sleep in a hotel bed with bedsheets other than white. It has to be those white clean sheets. Otherwise, I will have trouble sleeping as I couldn't keep on thinking if the sheet is dirty. The second thing, it need to have a clean bathroom. I will not be able to make numbers in a dirty bathroom, not mentioning taking a bath.

Clea Tea Bar & Lounge Kemang

How will it feel to dine in a cafe with fresh flowers boutique adjacent to them? Loved. That's the feeling. Fresh flowers always give you a scent of being loved. The gorgeous sight is another bonus point. Now, what if I told you that kind of place exists in the heart of Kemang? Please, read on...

Bunga Rampai Menteng

I met my girls during my six years working in a health & skincare company. Over the time, none of us five still works in the same company. One got married and moved to Spore. One got married and pursuing her ambitious doctor degree in Philippine. While the other three including me has their own life here in town. With 4 husbands, 1husband to be, 2 kids, different cities live in, we still managed to stay close and catch up whenever we have time.

Hotel Reviews: Aston Primera Pasteur Hotel Bandung

I haven't been to many cities in Indonesia. To date, I have only been to Medan, Yogyakarta, Bali and Bandung. I would really want to go to Surabaya for the food and Raja Ampat for the insanely beautiful beach though. One day, soon. Anyway, having to distance only 3 hours drive from Jakarta, Bandung is a place I visit quite often for a short trip. 

LOKA Flavor Bliss Feat. The Baker Hood & Food Theatre

As you may have known, Flavor Bliss is a large complex at Alam Sutera just opposite Mall Living World. Inside the place you would find restaurants mostly, though there is also a factory outlet and the recently opened largest supermarket in the area, LOKA. 

IKEA Alam Sutera Indonesia

I am one happy kid when I learned Indonesia will finally have its own IKEA's franchise store. When they finally open its door at Alam Sutera on Oct 15th, I was one of those anxious first day visitors. Even on their first day opening, the crowds were insanely massive!

Robata Jinya Indonesia

I rarely go to Gandaria City mainly because of two reasons. One, it's quite far from where I live. Second, I don't see any interesting thing attracts me to go there. Well at least not until I heard that Robata Jinya opens there. Robata Jinya is a Japanese restaurant originated from West Hollywood. The one in Hollywood itself has been reviewed several times by the local media, mostly for their powerful ramen. 

HokBen's #HotNFresh CHICKEN STEAK

I went for another hearty lunch at HokBen to try their new seasonal menu, #HotNFreshChicken Steak. Chicken is one of my most loveable kind of protein. I feel it goes well with any kind of cooking method, fried, grilled, sauteed, or even steamed. Honestly, besides I haven't tried it before, one of the reason I went for their chicken steak is because I was in sort of calorie intake controlling, and I feel their chicken steak will suits me as it was grilled, not fried, so lesser oil will definitely checked. 

The CUP Indonesia

Can you believe another Korean restaurant just opened at Pantai Indah Kapuk, like again? I feel like I just blogged about the newest one, MapoGalmaegi and yet, here comes another one. Jakarta food scene never fails to impress me. Just like MapoGalmaegi, The Cup is also brought here from Korea. Having to branch out to Germany, Hong Kong and Malaysia, they now open their first outlet in Jakarta at the hipster foodie dining, PIK. 

Sanjiken at The Fairgrounds SCBD

It's amazing how social media could connect people nowadays. Like my Sanjiken lunch's story here. I started Ivy's Life with no other purpose except to have a decent platform to write, but it's nice to find how it grows to not just about it, but also to meet new friends. I was here few weeks ago with several foodie friends, Cindy, Daisy & Kato and Hans. From strangers to friends, I guess food does connect hungry bellies.

MapoGalmaegi PIK Jakarta

MAGAL, shorts for MapoGalmaegi is a new Korean restaurant specializing in Galmaegisal (skirtmeat). With over 450 stores in Korea, 25 in China, 3 in USA, 1 in Thailand, they finally have their first store in Jakarta located at Pantai Indah Kapuk, few shops away from P&B . 

Ivy's Travel:Singapore Food Diary II

Just got back from another Spore's short trip. Everyone has their personal favorite place for a short escape. Mine has always been Singapore, not only for it's short distance, but more on how they make me feel. Comfort. It's always, always feels good whenever I'm back in the city. And yes, another food hunts...

Historia Food & Bar Kota Tua

I'm pretty sure many of us, people who stay or born in Jakarta, never step foot at one of the city's historical place, Kota Tua (read: old city). I was not born here but I have lived in Jakarta since I was a baby, and shamelessly admit that it took not my nationalism, but my love of food to finally have my first visit around a month ago. It's funny how even tourist finds it important to visit Kota Tua but not us me. Being someone who not care about history and all, I guess in this case, I have Historia to thank.

The Fault in Our Stars

Picture credit: Google

A brilliant writer named John Green made "The fault in our stars" utterly popular. It's a title of a fiction book he wrote that becomes a best selling novel, so huge it eventually directed into a movie. 

I have read the book probably beginning of this year, but I haven't seen the movie until around half an hour ago. It's so late to even just watched the movie, I know, but I don't like sad endings, I remember I finished the book with puffy eyes, so I skipped the movie until just now when I got nothing to do and decided to have my afternoon passed over sad movie.

There's a saying from the leading guy, Augustus Walters,
"Apparently the world is not a wish granting factory".

Well it is one of the cold facts of life, but for a moment, let just make ourselves happy and think, what if the world is? What if the world is a wish granting factory? What wish will you be whispering for?

Mine would be and always will be... To be happy.

Coz in the end, it's all that matters.

Okay? Okay.


Ivy

MOJO Kitchen & Bar Senopati

"Eating is a part of life, you should get the best". I feel the quote written in MOJO's menu book is absolutely well said. I have been wanting to go to MOJO since they opened, but during their soft opening days, they only open starts 6pm and it went on for several months. For some reasons, it's harder for me to arrange a visit to a place at Senopati in that kind of time range. By the time they start the operational hours from afternoon, I have quite frankly forgotten them due to so many other new restaurants. 

HokBen's #HotNFresh SAKANA KATSU

Established since 1985, Hoka Hoka Bento or popularly known for their shorts, HokBen, is one of my comfort fast food. I remember spending most of my lunch times at HokBen during my college years, not only because it's pocket friendly, but I happen to love their food. I have tried every single menus at HokBen, no kidding.

Naka Nakaya STC Jakarta

Still in my search to find the best Gyutan in town, we stumbled on Naka Nakaya at Senayan Trade Centre. Naka Nakaya is a Japanese restaurant under the same management as Sumiya, also a Japanese eatery at the same building. My visit to Naka Nakaya also was my first visit to STC. Though the building stands next to one of my most frequent mall to go to, I don't see any particular reason for me to visit them, until that several weeks ago.

UMABO

It always funny how a restaurant seems to be less stand out from other more happening ones, especially when they seriously offer a great food. In this case, Umabo is the perfect example. My friends and I have the similar feelings towards the place when it was just opened on beginning of this year. It was a new place which we normally would be excited to try, but we just don't, until last month, 7 months after their opening and we finally decided to give it a shot.