Le Midi

Wanted to try someplace new, so we made reservations for Le Midi in BSC, Bangsar. The food was wonderfully delicious. I'm just surprised i've never heard of it earlier!

Squid ink tagliolini with scallop, cherry tomato, parsley bread crumbs, carrot orange sauce, topped with bottarga
Tagliolini with Boston lobster, cherry tomato and fresh thymeDuck confit flambed with brandy, accompanied with potato gratin, ratatouilleIlly coffee affagato
Definitely a must try. Make reservations for the window table with the magnificent view of KLCC. (+603 2094 1318)

^8 Cee

Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie

Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie was quite empty when we were there during lunch - maybe because it was a weekday. The food and service was good and it is a quiet getaway and really a nice treat once in a while. We ordered a set menu each just to taste a bit of everything. I think the menu changes every month so be sure to check the website to see if it interests you.

Welcoming set dish

Nathalie's selection of three finger foods - not so good at remembering what each dish was called, but there was soup, pistachios, maguro, wasabi and cream.
Presentation was good but these finger foods did not match the 'oomph' of the presentation.

Appetizer 1

Foie Gras and Marinated Tuna in Layers
not overpowering, just yum :)
Mizuna sorbet
Herb Salad

Appetizer 2
Celeriac and Truffle Puree
Salmon Tataki
Salmon Roe
Tomato Oil
good combo!

Main 1
Tomato and Rosemary emulsion
Goat Cheese Ravioles
Roasted Lamb Loin
Eggplant Puree
love the powerful goat cheese combo with lamb loin
Main 2
Risotto like a paella
Paella Espuma
King prawn
One of the best paella's i've ever had!
Dessert 1
Caramel ice cream
Apple Tatin tart
Loved the crisp waffles
Dessert 2
Rum baba revised
Apricot Sorbet
Orange Espuma
Refreshing dessert
Finished with Nathalie's signature macaroons :)

Located in the city in Menara Taipan, off Jalan P Ramlee.
03-2072 4452

^8 Cee

Melbourne: Places to Eat

Blogging about this makes me hungry and I miss Melbourne's food.

(In alphabetical orders)

1) Atlantic, Crown

Atlantic, as the name suggests, is know for its seafood. I had the baked cod and it was yum but probably not worth the price tag. BUT I would recommend the whole flounder. It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious and the texture was firm and not fishy at all - worth every $$ that you cough out at the end of dinner :)) Ooohh yummm....convert me to a fish eater anyday with this kind of fish.

Baked cod fish

2) Cafe Andiamo, Degraves Street
Degraves St is located somewhere between Flinders Land and Flinders St in the Melbourne CBD. Degraves St is definitely a touristy check-out for it is famous with Melbourne's little cafes in the alleyways. Its ALWAYS bustling and vibrant and is frequented by Melbourne's artsy crowd. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the cafes on Degraves but I would personally recommend Cafe Andiamo on Degraves. They serve awesome coffee and melt-in-your-mouth salmon fettucine. There are also many little clothes boutiques along the alleyways and oohhhh not forgetting the Belgian waffle store at the end of the street;)3) Cafe Era, Melbourne Central
Cafe Era is located closer to the Elizabeth St end of Melbourne Central. It is so convenient to meet and eat in Melbourne Central as it is easily accessible via train and tram. Food is good for the price you pay, and your waiters/waitresses are typically your chatty foreign backpackers who are more than happy to delight you on their travel tales. The mushroom duck risotto and the creamy salmon fettuccine (haha yes creamy salmon fettuccine again!) is a must try!

Mushrooms+cheese+duck = butterflies in the tummy

Salmon+Salmon roe+Capers

4) Chandon, Yarra Valley

We dined at the Greenpoint Brasserie in Chandon. The setting and ambiance of the restaurant was perfect as it openly overlooks the yarra valley. We had the mussels in saffron sauce and it was so sooo sedap! The menu is changed seasonally to suit the weather. The restaurant is open from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm daily.
5) Melbourne Central Lions Hotel, Melbourne Central

Located next to Grill'd in Melbourne Central, this place is famed for its Monday and Wednesday AUD 9 Sizzling Steak Special. You get 300grams of steak with chips and a side salad for NINE frgn dollars!! The answer to a good meal on a tight budget. SUPER VALUE.6) Pho Dzung City Noodle Shop, Russell Street

I've had a craving for Mekong Vietnamese noodles but so many people kept recommending this place instead that I just had to try it. This is definitely a contender with the Mekong I remembered and the portion is sizeable! The restaurant operates till 10pm daily and there is nothing like hot Vietnamese broth for supper to go with the chilly weather in Melbourne.7) Rochford, Yarra Valley
Where do I begin, every meal at Rochford was Amazing that its worth the 1 hour drive from the CBD (lunch here was part of our winery tour package). All I can say is its a MUST MUST MUST eat. Restaurant opens from 12-3pm daily. Watch out for their yearly concert event on the greens with talents like Norah Jones, Lionel Ritchie and Rod Stewart having chilled and performed here.

Tomato based salmon on pasta bed

Perfectly slow cooked veal shank

8) Roule Gallette, Flinders Lane

Located just outside of Sushi Ten (refer below) is Roule Galette, an unassuming intimate little French eatery. It is a super cute store with French music playing in the background. Guys, I would recommend to bring your lovely lady date here to casually show off your romantic alternative side. I would recommend the Yeti! Watch out for the live music performance on the alleyway every first Friday of the month.

The Yeti (AUD 7)-banana split on crepes, ingenius!

9) Squires Loft, Albert Park
I have no idea how to get here, coz Kimster and J was nice enough to pick us up and drive us there. The chargrilled lamb loin chop was juicy and good and it came with mint JELLY sauce at the side - how cute! Their Rib Eye on the bone was yummmm as well :)10) Sushi Ten, Flinders St
This place serves the BEST sashimi dons!! Its got chunky-cut sashimis, creamy avocados, and an abundance of tobiko - I like! The dons typically range at AUD15 per meal - thats SUPER value and I guarantee you its worth every cents. Its a relatively small family run business and is quite the hidden gem. Sushi Ten is located in Port Phillips Arcade, which is in between Flinders St and Flinders Lane. It is opened from 12pm-4pm daily on weekdays.
^8 Cee

Melbourne: Places to Chill

I was in between jobs and decided to spend my time in Melbourne. Its the first time I've been back since I left in Jan 2009 and it feels good to be back :)

Instead of blogging about what i did, i think the best way to capture the short 9 days experience is by listing/ recommending place to visit (based on places I managed to visit)! So I'm starting the list with 'Places to Chill in Melbourne'.

(In alphabetical order)

1) Cookie Bar and Rooftop Bar, Swanston Street
I would not recommend dining in Cookie, it is overpriced for the food and service that you get. But I would recommend to visit Cookie for a drink or two. My all time favourite is the Traditional Champagne Cocktail - the one with the sugar cube inside :) its yummy and potent!A couple of floors up is the Rooftop bar. I am still so in love with this place. Its quite a hike up (you have no choice but to climb 7 flights of stairs!!) but its well worth it. This place has fake grass for carpets, fresh air, bean bags and slushiesssss (with rummmm-favorite drink at Rooftop)..!!! and best of all, a rooftop cinema for FOC. They were screening Clueless the night that we went.2) Brother Baba Budan by Seven Seeds, Little Bourke Street
I never knew the existence of this place till I went there this time around. It must have opened in my absence ;p The coffee is soo sooo good, that i dare say its the best in Melbourne! Best mocha for sure! Its a small shop with a big common table for seating. Most people order the coffee to go, but if you're a tourist like us, you would stay and enjoy every sip. If you have trouble finding the store, just look out for the coffee shop with the hanging chairs on Lil Bourke! Apparently they also just opened up a block away from Melb Uni's Commerce Centre. 3) KoKo Black, Lygon Street
Nowhere else can you find a perfect cinnamon and chilli hot chocolate blend - Its not on the menu, but if you ask nicely enough, they will conjure it up for you :) Weird to some, but a comforting taste to accompany me throughout winter. This hot choc is exactly the kind of exotic drink i'd imagined in Juliette Binoche's and Johnny Depp's movie Chocolat.4) Josie Bones, Fitzroy
I am no beer connoisseur, but if you are, head over to Josie Bones. Its been awarded Australia's Best Specialty Beer Venue for 2011 and its no surprise with its 250+ local and international craft beer. Its got a simple decor and a weird picture piece (as can be seen in the picture below) and a very meaty smell to the place, the guys may like it, but i'm no big fan.5) Passionflower, Bourke St
Great for pictures, but not so great to eat. Lol, would only recommend it it you feel the urge of taking some nice dessert pics.6) The Local Taphouse, St Kilda
This place has got an urban, almost homey feel to it - a pretty cool rooftop bar with a chillout lounge at the bottom. The waiters are friendly and they serve microbrew beers. They were featuring beers from a Belgium brewhouse on taps when we were there and you can try out a sample of 5 through their interesting platter concept. I personally prefer this to Josie Bones.^8 Cee

Jakarta expat

At the risk of boring my blog with plenty of posts with no pictures , I've decided to compile a bunch of stuff to do in Jakarta into 1 post. (fyi none of the pictures below are mine)

Shopping
1) ITC, Kuningan.
Theres plenty of low price shopping to be done as its the equivalent to Sg Wang in KL. But i basically go here for the cheap ass DVDs. Should cost you Rp 5k-Rp7 k per dvd. Mangga Dua is not that much different from ITC. I'd stick with ITC and give Mangga Dua a pass.

2) Plaza Indonesia and Grand Indo.
Best place to window shop! Oh the bright windows :) :) You'd find runway brands that are not in KL.

3) Senayan City.
More toned down then Plaza Indo and Grand Indo but still a nice comfortable place to shop

Food

Soak in the hustle and bustle of the city at Social House

Enjoy your nanny's, cousins', aunties' dishes at Nanny's pavillion

1) Wan Toe Restaurant, Ambassador mall, Kuningan.
Its got the best fish soup. Ever. And I generally dont even like fish.

2) Social House, Grand Indo
Good food. Good ambiance. Be sure to make reservations if its over the weekend.

3) Daeng Tata, Street somewhere
Good luck finding this place. Its got a few outlets by the street somewhere. Haha but its so worth it if you find. Real good iga (ribs) bakar.

4) Segarra, Anchol, Jakarta Utara
A seaside chilled out place serving gourmet food at relatively affordable prices. Its a quick 45 mins escape out of bustling Jakarta. Head over to Segarra at about 5pm when its relatively cooler and enjoy the wind by the beach as the sun sets (sunset in Jkt is around 6ish).

5) Open Kitchen, Pacific Place, Sudirman
Prices are steep for a foodcourt but you've got to experience it. Its got those cool swipe cards and waiters will actually serve you. Food is so-so. But hey I'm a sucker for nice chandeliers in foodcourts.

6) Kitchenette, Plaza Indo
This place has kick ass chai latte! I like!! Double Like!! Anyway, its perfect for Sunday brunch. You ought to try their nachos. Its yummy. and they have so many coming soon in their menus that I cant wait. Tho it sucks how they tease you.

7) Nanny's Pavillion, City Walk
See waitresses dresses as french maids and waiters as Pinnochio. This place is CHEAP. They serve waffles and pancakes for brunch and Steak, Pasta and Baked rice later on. You ought to try my cousin's european breakfast. Its got sausages, potato pancakes, red bean, has browns and egg. Complete! and its like RM 10!

8) Pepper Lunch, Plaza Indo
I know this is a franchise. But heh I was so jakun! Basically you order your meat raw and they'll serve it raw on a hot plate. You can watch it as it cooks right in front of you. Its super yummy and super fast!

9) Pondok Sunda, Senayan City
Good local food! I like tempe! and iga bakar!

10) PepeNero, in btwn Energi Building and Graha Niaga
Pizza Brsseria is awesome and so is the Ice Cappucino ^ ^ They'll serve you Bruschettaa and breadsticks..F.O.C. I like!

11) Seaside Suki
All you can eat steamboat by the river....the tom yum base is pretty good. Stay indoors.

12) Pancious
Another great place for brunch. I would rate it 3rd after Kitchenette and Nanny's pavillion. But still definitely yummy!


Places to chill and hang out

Be a good girl/boy and go chill at the library

Party at the top at SHY rooftop

1) Social house, Grand Indo
Grab dessert and drink whilst overlooking one of the busiest road in Jakarta. Tiramisu cocktail is sooo yummy. Best I've ever had. Ladies night is Wednesday!

2) Potatohead, Pacific Place
Worth a visit for their deco. Chill out on sofas outside of the malls in a green'd up environment

3) Brewhouse, Senayan City
Its got yummy yummy flavored drinks! Sort of like Radlr and Russn equivalent. The place feels underground with a very ol school feeling.

4) Segarra, Anchol, Jakarta Utara
I was there 3 weekends in a row. Thats how much I love it.

5) Dragonfly, Graha BIP
They say its a club. But its not. The place is more like a lounge with loud music.

6) Tabac, Kemang (update)
Tabac in French means Tobacco. And hell yeah this place stinks with it. Anyway its definitely worth a check. When you chance upon it, its a quite little up front with two bouncers. You enter into a dim litted cafe and its up to you to find the secret entrance.
Con: smells of tobacco, filled with plenty of expats, requires reservation for large crowds
Pro: ask for russian roulette! and who doesnt love the thrill of a secret entrance? ;)

7) SHY rooftop, Kemang (update)
If you wonder where you can spot for the rich and the good lookings, shy rooftop is not a bad place to start. So expect a price to match it too.
Oh and its such a plus point that its located above Biyan bride! (Biyan bride is GORGEOUS<-that is an understatement)

8) Bibliotheque, Sampoerna Strategic (update)
Every tourist in Jakarta who passes by this office building will definitely take notice. Its beautiful and its deliberately designed with element of feng shui in it. Bibliotheque (aka the library) is situated within the vicinity of the building. I'd recommend the place for its high shelved bookshelves but the food is rather expensive for its size and quality.

I'll update more as and when I remember.

^8 Cee

Indulgence

Some people have asked me if work is stressful because I seem to have lost weight. Work is not stressful but I've stopped caring about my weight. LIES!! haha we all know that deep down I always freak out when I put on weight. But what I'm trying to say is that I'm less obsessed with it now... I'm just enjoying the "love-thy-body phase"? Haha ok bullshit! I'm only writing this part about having 'lost' weight just so I dont feel so guilty about what is to follow...

...Coz I'm actually gonna blog about durian...feasting on Durian. oh yummy yummy durian :D :D Dudeee I dont know how much I ate....but I cant resist durian!!!! Weakness!! I was about to watch a play in a room full of reputable ppl and what did I eat just before the play? Swiss Roll Durian! Of course my aunts made me took plentiful of Hacks after....and oh my seat number was D24 (fyi thats like code name for durian)! And today I just had to stuff my face silly with plenty more of it. I love how durians are all like macho on the outside but soft in the inside. Ooooh I love the texture and how it sort of melts in your mouth... Oh it was so yummmmy :) :)

And to be fair, its not fully my fault that I love it so much. My mum was on a durian craving when she was pregnant with me and maybe she didnt know that it was heaty and probably not advisable coz she went ahead and indulged herself... So yeaaaa its in my system! Best excuse ever ;)


^8