The Goods Dept. Cafe

It seems endless chic restaurants with bar keep sprouting out in Jakarta, it made me so looking forward for the trip there and either going back to some of fave restaurant if time permits or trying out new ones.

The Goods Dept. Cafe inside The Goods Dept in Plaza Indonesia became one of my faves; the menu are mixed of local and western, it simple but modern and most importantly tasty!

Even I found there was a burger like no other, a Coffee-Rub Burger, my gal pal tried it and commented it was delicious, not a strong coffee smell but hints of it.

Service was prompt and the waiting staff was able to explain the item as well as giving recommendation. Definitely a place to have your simple delicious meals in Plaza Indonesia and browsing through the local designers items won't hurt either.





The simple menu





The drink counter



Looking onto the shop section



Cute blackboards! So Chic with its black and white theme



View from entrance


View to the Cafe from main entrance


My mushroom soup! Luv the big chunk of mushrooms and the garlic bread was so crispy and definitely ain't like normal garlic bread


The Coffee-Rub Burger, nice fries with parmesan cheese shavings




Ordered the Hot Arnold Palmer but ended up ordered the Cold version which was better, refreshing ice tea indeed!


My Nasi Goreng Kampung! Luv this fried rice, with teriyaki chicken, gave hinge of sweetness but the achar was excellent, when you mixed it all, it gave a smashing taste! this nasi goreng definitely my fave item!

*Note: Just received news that The Goods Cafe at PI had closed down and going to re-open at Pacific Place..:(









 









Jack Rabbit

Due to the MasterChef Indonesia show I saw on local TV channel, I came to know Chef Juna, studied in the State and carries the 'bad boy' attitude.
So, when I read about Jack Rabbit where he was the Head Chef responsible for the menu, I was intrigued and aimed to try this restaurant.

Location wise was not that appealing to me as it is located in CBD area, it may be ideal for the professional or corporate dinner during weekdays and drinks on the bar which also helmed by a professional bartender.

When we came for dinner on Saturday night, it was clear that only handful of patrons arrived for dinner but it could be full for drinks on later night.

With its dimmed lights, black tables and seats, some intricate panels on 2nd floor, definitely gave a feeling of 'serious' atmosphere.

The bread appetizer came in wooden block and I'd to compliment the breads, it was the benchmark that rest of the food would be delicious.

It was indeed, even though,I felt the main menu selection was a bit limited but it was obvious that it was created into details and not a common ingredients combinations.

I did like how the main courses presentation was, it was nicely presented and somehow it gave an impact for a simple dish.

The girls seemed to be satisfied with their martinis; but said the Mango Martini at Union still an inch better.

A bit lacking of attentiveness by the waiting staff, even abundant of them; but they did give you a friendly service with knowledge on the dishes.

Unfortunately, Chef Juna left the premise just few months before, didn't know where his next venture would be but what we had that night for dinner, certainly is still up to standard and could tell it was his creation all right.

Great for corporate lunch or dinner on weekdays and for drinking session on weekend in a group. Great food, chic modern decor but due to location, I just don't feel like coming back there..

The upstair area, such a intricate panel, for private dining area, maybe?

Simple clean Menu

The cocktails

View to entrance, with divider cabinet for service area

Liked how the breads were presented in wooden block, gave a presentation impact and it were tasty!

The BBQ Beef Ribs with mashed potatoes...it was nicely presented

Pan Seared Duck Breast with gratinated potato, shimeji mushoom, balsamic truffle and orange sauce. It was delicious

My Steak Frites, Grilled US Prime Sirloin with rosemary fries and grilled tomatoes. It was nicely done indeed. And presented in wooden block with fries on the glass cup..clever...

Our dessert,Bailey's and Kahlua Tiramisu, shaved chocolate and almond cream..definitely not the common tiramisu

JackRabbit
Cyber 2 Tower, Ground Floor
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said X-5 No. 13, Jakarta 12190
Tel: +62-21-2902-1357

Opening Hours :
Sun to Tue from 11 am to 1 am
Wed to Sat from 11 am to 2 am

Monolog Coffee - Dinner

I was very very surprised indeed when I found out there was a cafe serving All Day Breakfast menu in Jakarta. Never thought in a million years that I'd encountered this in Jakarta but voila, Monolog Coffee serving you just that.

It is located in Plaza Senayan (used to be my fave hangout place as the only 'cool' mall around 10 yrs ago), it is on the Ground Floor that used to be furniture shops area facing the open carpark and now being renovated to house 2 restaurants.

Such a cool, casual, laid-back design and atmosphere; it feels like you've been transported to London or NYC cafe...no wonder it's always pack!
A bit sceptic at first on how the dishes would be but I'd been reading some posts and reviews were good. My dining gal pals even hadn't tried it before even though they regularly visit the mall... ^_^

To my surprise, the breakfast menu I ordered was good, could chose the omelette filings you liked. I heard the coffee was good but since am not coffee drinker so didn't order it. A bit overwhelmed when seeing the menu, didn't know so many breakfast menu out there....

Service was attentive and friendly (as what you encounter most of the time in Indonesia). The waiting staff were knowledgeable about the menu and able to suggest you the popular item in the house.

Definitely a great place to have your all day breakfast meal or just a drink with pastries to go along which being recommended by my gals few weeks after my visit.

Cute typeface on the shelf

Such aid back atmosphere, as if we were not in Jakarta

The pastry counter

My All Day Brekkie...delicious...luving every item on this plate!

The Menu!

You name it, you have it; brekkie sets, salad, pancakes, crepes, sandwiches, etc...

Monolog Quality Coffee Co.

Plaza Senayan Level 1 CP 101 B

Palm Gate Entrance

Jl. Asia Afrika No. 8

Tel: +62 21 5725144

http://monolog-coffee.com/

Opens daily from 7 am to 10 pm

Miho Museum Cafe

Miho Museum at Shiga prefecture, around 2hr drive from Kyoto, was the most serene museum I've ever visited and my favourite by far. Even to this date, everytime I see our photos, I felt so in awe.

You just felt how the people and the museum respect the nature surrounding this museum; and if you read and even watched the DVD, how Mr IM Pei met such difficulties in constructing it, you would be in awe even more with the Japanese. Mr IM Pei also said the same thing that luckily he had the opportunity to work with Japanese, they had the best workmanship, technologies and perseverance at that time to be able to construct this museum.

And it was such a vision to be able to design and built this museum as part of the hills, it was the request of Lady Mihoko, the owner who so confident only Mr IM Pei fitted the bill to design this museum.  After that others requested Mr IM Pei to design similar design to Miho Museum architectural design.

This is a master example of how we, human, can still build something but in same time also pay respect to our nature, it even has a sustainable vision back in 1990.  I saluted how they planted back all the trees surrounding the museum after construction. And how Lady Mihoko had envisioned that by having this museum, she would also employed the residents around it to work and make it sustainable to the museum, nature, and people around it.

So, we came to the cafe, after our return buggy ride from the Museum through that beautiful tunnel (it was built more than 20 years ago but still feel so modern), next to the Admission and Souvenir store.

And to my delight surprise and should've guessed that the cafe served only Vegetarian and all the ingredients are locally produced and planted around the museum. 

I love the whole concept very much!

The nice and courteous senior lady staff could even explained in English about the concept of the cafe.

The dishes were excellent, fresh and simple but tasted exquisitely indeed. 

Too bad, we were catching the only every hour bus to return to the train station so I didn't have leisure time to take more photos of the cafe.

This is the only Museum and Cafe I long to return despite the long journey...

The scenery from museum window...such serenity

View from another window

View to Museum entrance

Incredible design you saw when you entered the door

While waiting for our buggy ride, view to that beautiful bridge and such serenity

View inside the tunnel

Veggie appetizer, the sauce looked like peanut sauce but it was Miso and a nice combo

The Ice coffee

The brown ice cubes

My tsukune udon, was warned the chilli powder was very spicy...first thought was it wouldn't be that spicy but turned out, it was!! So surprised!

The simple hot women...it was tasty even though it looked so plain...don't be fooled by it look

Miho Museum

300 Tashiro Momodani, Shigaraki

Shiga, 529-1814, Japan

Tel: +81 748823411

http://www.miho.or.jp/english/index.htm

 

Opens daily from 10 am to 5 pm

Cafe Bibliotic Hello!

Found out about this cafe from TimeOut Kyoto; and since it's also in vicinity from Kyoto Imperial Place after watching the Jidai Matsuri processing, I thought it was a good place to try where the localites eating.

The building was a revamp from 100 years old machiya, turned it into a cafe and branching out to bakery next door with some decorative items for sale.

It was so low profile and I bet only locals that familiar with this cafe, definitely not a touristy spot.

Such an eclectic decor, with mismatched furnitures but still complimenting the overal colour scheme, books on displayed on the book shelves on left wall with long table in front of it, there also an open patio on the back where a cool looking guy reading his book, a staircase to 2nd floor dining area; it was all casual eclectic but smart atmosphere...

Patrons are mostly in their 20s-30s and from the looks of it, either working adult or university students.

However, I totally forgot that they only accept CASH and no Credit Card, this is definitely the first encounter of no card acceptance as we used to card payment convenience all over Japan.

Food were good and service was prompt, mostly the waiting staff are young adults, and not English fluent.

If we visit Kyoto again, I will make time to return to this cafe...a great independent cafe with cozy atmosphere...

View from entrance

The group of friends on the long table

Kitchen area under the platform

2nd floor dining area, a small area but looks cozy and mostly for couple seating

The shop area and bakery; they also put a table for seating too, such a casual setting...Another door entrance to enter this area

Blackboard with handwritten special menu on the wall behind our seat

Small wooden folder

Really eclectic down to its menu; all handwritten with some notes punched and inserted in between

Such a serene reading spot

View to drink and kitchen area

View to entrance, next to a group of 4 young pretty ladies; they were a bit surprised to find foreigners next to them...ha..ha...

Nice clean simple design lamp...it reminded me of Scandinavian design..

My Avocado juice

My seafood pasta with tomato based, fresh and delicious

The Salmon Fried Rice...so yummy

My cheese cake...soft and oishii.....

Cafe Bibliotic Hello!

Nijo-dori Yanaginobana, Higashi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, 604-8172

Tel: +81-75-2318625

http://cafe-hello.jp

Opens Tue to Sun from 11.30 am to 11 pm

Cash Only!