Altitude : Salt Grill by Luke Mangan

a lil bit grumbling or maybe an excuse

It's been quite a while since i became a loney lonely abandoned cat at home while my family went to an oversea trip. Blame it to my upcoming daily routines as a student which soon would be over in matter of days as of the time this post is written. And..... my dad, he bought my camera with him which then it lead to this post where all the pictures taken with phone. 

It was a brilliant Thursday escapade for two very best friends sitting on a comfy purple U shaped sofa while took gazed upon Jakartan's hustle bustle, face to face from the place we seated. I've made a reservation in advance just in case Salt Grill would be packed by lunch hour.

Hearing this and that hurled about this Altitude, where 3 different restaurants with different cuisines joined in a complex. Therefore, i carry a mission to try all those babies out which sadly only one so far has been beautifully wrapped. No worries, it will take quite some times but i'll definitely paid them a proper visit.

As for our power lunch, their business lunch package won our heart by giving quite reasonable price for IDR 190.000 for two courses (tax excluded) or IDR 240.000 for three courses start from 11.00AM-14.20PM. Reasonable price considering the flawless services given, breathtaking view offered and good foods provided. I am truly a demanding, not easily satisfied type of a guy when it comes down to services. Hence, i hope they're just still that good on the future.

First of all, they're taking their complimentary bread basket seriously. They smelled fresh baked straight from the oven served with selections of condiments.

Baby Barramundi, capsicum salsa, char grilled squid

Examined my plate thoroughly, i thought that reddish colored sauce below tasted spicy but no. It tasted complete with the right click from sweet, spicy and bit sour from its capsicum salsa. Capsicum which commonly known as paprika or red pepper, green pepper, bell pepper as its large mild form gave quite a touch toward the entire dish. Although, i expected it would delivered a bit intense peppery kick from it. I love how the baby barramundi easily cut, soft in texture and seasoned beautifully. Enjoyed my every spoonful of it. I thought they deep fried the skin crisp-ly but no. Beside the salsa, char grilled squid also placed below the fish. It was nicely done.

Grilled Chicken in cajun spice, roast pumpkin, aspargus, persian feta, red wine sauce

A bit too tough to cut from outside but luckily, it was quite tender inside. Again, it seasoned nicely strenghthened by its delicious sauce. A safe dish for whose taste bud adjusted to play safe.

Long Island Berries Tea IDR 50.000

Despite the weather was sizzling hot back then, this (i think it supposed to be) girl's drink managed to chilled me down. Refreshing mixtures from berries ready to sweeten up your day.

Green Canyon IDR 45.000

Amazed how they could pull this drink off beautifully. I mean, that green color is no other produced from blend of green vegetables. Healthy + tasty ; what you can ask for more?

Liquorice parfait "signature"

I love the idea of putting xiancao (cincau; green colored jelly in a nutshell) on the plate. The dark green layer of crumbs on the bottom vividly has that liquorice flavor. This dessert is somewhat unique but tasted wonderful for me. Also, the lime syrup added an extra kick toward it. Sweet & sour dessert with a bit medicine plus matcha tasted like.

Passion fruit cheesecake, orange sorbet

Cheesecakes & chocolates never bores me. But, this is my very first time having cheesecake combined with passion fruit's gentle touch. As for the taste, i had no complains at all. That orangey crumbs beside the orange sorbet was a line of full surprise! It literally was like exploded in my mouth like certain types of candies back on my childhood. Happy i managed to chose such a woke up call dessert like this.

At the end of the day, the two best friends gone home (no, but actually continued their journey) with happy tummy and smile on their cheeks. Au revoir, Altitude!

Cork & Screw : Triple Treats

About few weeks ago while having a sort of crazy conversation ourselves, we accidentally overheard something interesting from across our seat. It was a group of friends discussed certain places to rent branded bags. It was seriously an irresistable temptation situation where we have to slowly but with wholly enthusiasm respond to their topic for ourselves. Jakartan's especially me and my friends called it "kepo" but.. i think it's okay to have a finger in the pie once in a while. It's good to be good, but it's better to be bad. Nah, i'm just kidding..... Well. we just need a thing we called it balance and that what makes us, human.. i guess =P

But, nah.. we didn't fire away bad comments about it anyway..

During fasting season, they have special buffet package for IDR 125.000/pax but now, it is no longer fasting season, isn't it?

When you hear the name, Cork & Screw.. what firstly crossed your mind? Wine! Personally, i didn't see where they put their wine collections, but from what i've heard they have wide selection of wines from all over the world which is a magnet for wine adorers out there. But, we came there not for wine time instead having one good lunch and chatting at the same time. This restaurant which is situated just across Opus Cafe, Plaza Indonesia definitely not a newcomer therefore, i'm certainly sure most you have been here. I know, i'm so late posting this.. i know, i know but please feel my sincerity to share it with you guys, okay? har har har..

Upon arrival, they asked whether we wanted to be seated at the smoking or non-smoking section. Knowing their non-smoking was only the bar area indoor with one elongated table plus to be share with the other costumers, and that definitely will reduce our quality chatting time, so we decided to seated at the smoking area which wasn't smoky at all.

A waitress came to our table to noted our orders, she successfully answered every questions about the foods we asked. Prompt and politely served us. A different feeling when you noticed their pr or something wearing all black uniform looking at us when i took pictures with that somehow less pleasant feels.

har har har.. narcissistic a bit won't kill, right?

"Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch"

                                                                                        -Orson Welles

While i had dori for lunch, my friend had Baked Tuna Cannelloni instead. An italian dish with pumpkin sauce. Cannelloni is a large type of pasta generally served baked with a filling and covered by sauce. The sauce itself was intriguing. Usually cannelloni served with tomato or bechamel sauce. Bechamel also known as white sauce made with a roux of butter and flour cooked in milk. This dish was like ten times better than mine. Its meat filling inside was quite generous and the cannelloni itself was fulfilling and tasted good. It wasn't flavorful exploding, savory or peppery but it was nice with homey feeling eating pastel in a bit bland and Italian version The pumpkin sauce gave a nice kick toward the entire dish. 

This was like my most overrated dish for the month. Sniffed something good when it served on my table but apparently it was just the smell. This Dori was nowhere crisp and savory. Very soft (not in a good way) dori fish that will crumble like pastries even when you softly cut it with your spoon. The sauce itself didn't help so much. I think it was the cut which made the dori texture felt so thin. I couldn't bring myself enjoyed this dish although i've tried. Plus, the wedges which i hoped will be the rescuer also tasted flavorless, wet and mushy. 

Nonetheless, the disappointment have to end here because right after this point nothing will gone bad. For the drink we had refreshing Holly Berry which really refreshing blend between soda, strawberries and yoghurt then topped with strawberry ice cream. I love this drink, i must say their ice cream was really good, quite thick and milky. It was my friend's also, while i had something-something beverage which wasn't as good as holly berry. pic no2 which was mine was milky but not sweet for my liking. The berries inside didn't stood up so that the milky tasted was the dominant. Followed up vaguely with not sweet banana then served with satay-style banana and strawberry on top.

And meet the Triple Chocolate Melt

hello... we are trio chocolate buddies, from Cork & Screw kitchen. our biggest happiness when we see our  buyer satisfy after savoring us. those happy smile on their cheeks are our happiness.

i'm the oldest from triple melt family, i'm the mighty dark chocolate melt. I have gooey dark chocolate melt inside me. my body made from quality batter. I love you when you tore me down (is this cake a masochist?) because many of them said, i'm the most delicious one.. especially when you eat me together with white chocolate sauce poured on your plate.
............
(yes.... it really was the best and most favorite out of those three. It was a pleasure lingering in my mouth.)

puh-lease.... you have to eat me carefully, slowly, and the most important happily because i have sweet white chocolate melt inside my body which is different from the other two. As the second brother from triple melt family, i might be too sweet for some, not too chocolaty for some but i know, you are happy to have me... in your belly.
............
(it wasn't too white chocolaty but quite enough to spoiled my tastebud, too sweet for some, but for me.. sweet-toothed gentleman, it feels right)

yippie ho! i'm the youngest from triple melt family. i have the "noir" from my big brah, dark chocolate and the shy side from white chocolate. I'm chocolaty enough but not too chocolaty like my biggest brah yet not too sweet and less chocolaty like second brah.. I'm quite sad to be last for you eat, so when i cry, my body got the melt a bit watery
............
(Honestly, the taste between this and the white chocolate one wasn't that much different. The differences were only on the color, but.. this one was less appealing in the presence of the dark chocolate melt yet on the same grade with the white one)

Cork & Screw is quite a nice place to hang out, enjoy afternoon tea time or indulge yourself with a glass of wine but, not so much if you are aiming to have one full lunch or dinner. Actually, this wasn't my first time coming. Before, i became a food blogger, i've been here before, and yes.. the food didn't impressed me either. Their desserts weren't much of selections. But, really tempting. Next time, i'll try those babies out. 

Cork & Screw

Plaza Indonesia, Ground floor 

Jl.HR Rasuna Said, Wisma Kodel

12920, Jakarta Pusat

+62 21 52902030

Madame Lily

Actually i've been passing through this gray swan looking restaurant when i paid Moovina a visit and been curious since then how good this Madame Lily is, since i did some blog walking and slightly dazed how the price range is quite steep. By the time i passed it through, Madame Lily was quite packed with high-aunties (don't bother it, it's only available on my dict) it's my own appellation toward those aunties whose carrying branded bags with peacock high hair style, usually those who enjoys high tea time and pile of arisan (regular social gathering)

B-Side Wakai Cafe

This is a terribly late post around October. Yes, last year. That day after a stop from Downtown Bistro, I paid Plaza Indonesia a visit just to fulfill my longing to my all time favorite Yakult green tea from MyCha and spotted a new cafe (at that time) standing under the same roof with Japanese fashion's brand and connected to each other. I was tempted to tried their mochi simply because getting lost on Ivy's life. She praised their mochi as she wrote. Every paragraph as drugging me to really soon enjoy those petites.

NANNINI's Beetle Juice

Established on 1995 , Nannini firstly opened their outlet at Plaza Senayan under the name of Nannini Grill , then evolved into freshen air Nannini which took place at Plaza Indonesia . At the first glance i thought Nannini offered modest foods with average price but i wronged , Nannini is an upscale restaurant with minimalist concept yet chic and stylist .