Viennese Delight

I was fortunate enough to go on a tour of Europe a few weeks ago. I started in Amsterdam, going south to Italy and up north again to London. We didn't really taste a lot of local food because it's a tour and the food are provided for us. And, it's almost always Chinese food. I swear I'm so sick of Chinese food. But it's interesting to me that the Chinese community exists in every country. From Innsbruck to Lucerne and Venice, you'll find a Chinese restaurant. But that's not what I'm talking about. I want to talk about a cake, from Austria.

It is called the Sarcher Torte. Sarcher is a family name who made this cake and torte means tart. It's originally created by accident, when Franz Sarcher needed to step into the chef's place (he was an apprentice) and created this chocolate tart with apricot filling. I was traveling to Innsbruck when our tour guide said this tart is pretty famous in Austria. We headed down to Cafe Sarcher to try this delight.

The Innsbruck Cafe

At first, I didn't feel right walking into the cafe. I'm a tourist, Asian, don't speak the local language. The cafe wasn't busy at the time so I went on and sat waiting to be served. I was immediately struck by the way they presented the menu book. It's hung in a little stick on the center of the table. It also described the story of the Sarcher Torte invention. Thankfully, the waitress understands English as I ordered the famous tart and a cup of hot chocolate.

While I waited, I soaked in the atmosphere. It's bright; they let the sun shines in through a typical European big window. The walls were lined with pictures of the famous people who dined at the place, both at the cafe and the hotel. (There is a Hotel Sarcher in Vienna and Salzburg).

The famous Sarcher Torte and Hot Chocolate

The moment of truth arrived and we were all very excited. It looked so good. I absolutely love the chocolate top. The apricot filling was terrific, if you love that kind of thing in your cake. I personally don't like a fruity ingredient on my chocolate. It is a fine cake, but it didn't make me crave for more. I do crave for more chocolate, which tasted heavenly in a form of my hot chocolate. I could drink that everyday and never get bored. It's rich; not too sweet. Just perfect.

One other thing. It's quite affordable, under 10 euros :)


always,
Hana

photos courtesy of Cafe Sarcher

Restrospect

I have to start with wishing....

and apologies for me not updating sarsaparilla for months. It's impossible to find a good enough internet connection and i just don't have much time anymore. But enough about that ...

the truth is I have been out and about capturing food again


Marenggo, Tebet Indraya Square




Ta Wan, Margo City



always,
Hana.


PS: I'm officially off lectures so I'm free now till February. So, I'll be sure to eat more *hopefully don't gain more*


Next eatery:
Holy Cow Steak!

Here Now

As much as the excitement of finally learning in college, it has its very bad downside. I already got loads of assignments which are always indefinite. Indefinite here means it's unclear how to get a good score at some of the lectures! Most of these assignments are papers and essays. I have no idea how to make a good essay and live up to the lecturers' expectations! I think it's the biggest difference with school assignments, especially when I study something like psychology.
But I think I made a good choice.
Because I'm stuck in campus for a long time and too tired to do anything after lectures most days, I only visited several eating spots.

Peach Gallery at Jalan Sawo, just a very steps from the street leading to the UI train station. I noticed this eatery has a lovely theme, unlike most eateries in Jalan Sawo.

Bakso Balor. Bakso with beef and fat, literally. But it's pretty good.

Nasi Capcay. The vegetables weren't cooked very well (they should've cooked it longer) but it tasted good

Kantin Budaya or Kantin Sastra. Since it isn't my faculty, I had no idea what's good but I tried this Bakso Arema. It was bad at all. But I was wondering do they really have this in Malang? It's different from local bakso alright!

I've tried lots of other canteens and eateries but those are the ones that made an impression on my tastebuds. I'm hoping to spend more time trying various restos and eateries around Depok. Any suggestions?

PS: I tried White Elephant at Citos yesterday but the images are in my brother's phone so you'll have to wait until next weekend!

always,

Hana.

Fishy Treat

So the story of my life: Mon-Fri at my beloved kost La Belle Maison, on Saturday afternoon my family scooped me and my dirty laundry back home. But I was totally excited to have dined out yesterday at GI. How I missed that it! So I'm always in a mood for Western style food so this is The Manhanttan Fish Market. I guess it's a bit like Fish and Co. I wanna have my Carl's Jr. next week, hopefully. So, there's a Ramadhan special for four so we just went ahead and order that. :P

The mushroom soup go with the specials. I have to say it'was too salty and savory. I was hoping for a good mushroom taste. But I like that it was blended, not the cheap cream and mushroom soup.

I love the fpur people platter. It got dory, french fries, flavored rice, prawns, fried mushrooms, clams and calamari. The taste that jumped at me was actually the fries. It was actually really good! I wish I can fry decent fries like that. The Dory was fine as well as the mushrooms and clams. Not so much about the calamari. It's a bit bland really. Can calamaris absorb flavors? Anyway, I managed to eat on prawn. You see, my lips won't let me eat prawns. So I have to put it on the end of my mouth and chew it quickly. Or my lips will feel weird and uncomfortable.

Yea, it was a great fishy treat. Although you have to pay a hefty price for these, it's worth the try!


PS: Went furniture hunting and saw this. That's very....interesting. Oh I just love strolling in an hardware or furniture store. I just want to scoop 'em and stuffed them in my room. They are gorgeous :D


always,
hana.

After a Long Goodbye

A very warm welcome from me to you, after a considerable hiatus due to the packed schedule of my uni orientation program. I've finally arrived at the final days of the program, having to start classes next week! So, I've been learning a lot about college learning system which I should say is so different from high school. Oh I just wish I can survive :D

So, since my last post I seriously didn't eat anything exciting. 'Warteg' is my food now! Anyway, I've compiled some older but delicious dishes!

Our first attempt at making a carbonara pasta, with premade seasoning! lol. It didn't taste very good, remember to add milk everyone!

Well, they say it's called Mie Taiwan. Don't be shocked with the dark broth. It's actually too salty. But the noodles is good.

Chicken Pepper Cream from Chatter Box. I like this one, the sauce is soooo good, a combination of mushroom cream sauce with black pepper. Awesome!

So that's my life now. Can't wait for college to start; which means a lot more time to try new dishes!

always,

hana.

Sweet Treat

Yoooohoooo yes I'm finally back in my humble home in Cipinang, after spending my first week away in Depok. After a general lecture, I immediately packed my laundry and went back to my Jakarta. A week there thought me a lot of things and new set of rules:
1. After fourteen years by car, now I go to campus on foot
2. I eat 'warteg' almost everyday, which is totally cheap compared to what I usually eat in Jakarta
3. I have to do chores I definitely didn't do for throughout my childhood: sweep, mop, scrub my bathroom and toilet, do the dishes, every other day. pheww :P


So enough about college (the euphoria is still on my head) I went to Epicentrum, lunch at Brussels Spring. It is a chocolaterie and dessert parlour as well as a fusion restaurant. Throughout the week I realize I didn't eat much meat, which was super plus so I ordered my biggest indulgent: pasta and chocolate.

If you read my previous posts, I actually have been to Brussels Spring Bandung, at Jalan Sumatera last month. But I didn't try the main meal so here they are.

Belgian Chocolate Milkshake. What a pleasure! Chocolate have that feel good effect, perfect to end the busy week. I love every drip of this shake. No guilty feelings here, I needed the boost :P One thing that struck me was how creamy the whipped cream. It actually tasted like cream, not just some fake tasteless topping. I loved it. This is 20k.

As always I order cream sauce pasta, this time was Spaghetti Ala Brussels Spring, with beef, mushrooms, red and green bellpeppers and onions. Coated with a layer of cheese, it was awesome! The portion was just right and I think the pepper added an exotic taste that made it very good, not just a plain cream, which if you eat too much will end up somewhat nauseous. Pastas go for 40k-60k.

Brussels Spring Jakarta is located at Rasuna Epicentrum Ground Floor. I have to warn you the space is not very large, but perfect for get-together or just enjoying ice cream on a sunny day.


always,
Hana.

Italian Birthday

Earlier today, I celebrated my bff Jess' birthday, with Rachel, Arti and Hosanna. Originally we were going to try De Jons Burger, but at 11.30, they haven't opened their doors yet. Disappointed, we went over to Izzi Pizza Pancoran, which was Jess' first idea anyway. And I can't complain! I love Italian!



For starters we had CAESAR SALAD with CHICKEN. The vegetables tasted fresh, and the grilled chicken tasted wonderful. I always love caesar, and always question what dressing they use. It was gorgeous :D This go for 55k (large) + chicken 17k

For pasta, we chose SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE, a style which I don't try so much (I'm a cream sauce lover :P) The pasta was good, not too hard. But I don't think the sauce blend completely with the pasta. The meat clumps together but not in a good way, too savory, not so tomato-y. Pastas range from 50k-below 70k

I like this one, Izzi Classico, with beef salami, cheese and of course mushroom. It's very simple yet amazing. I love that this is a thin pizza, and the topping was drenched in extra cheese, which made it mushy-like. That, I love! (85k for 6 slices)

This is Beef n Izzi, Rachel's favorite pizza. But it wasn't mine. The menu said it was suppose to be a bit spicy but in my mouth it tasted rather sweet. I don't know, maybe we shouldn't order extra cheese in a spicy pizza *wrote a mental note* (90k for 6 slices)


On the bright side, Lemon Tea at Izzi is bottomless.


always,
hana.

PS: gonna make more culinary trips so wait and see on Mon!

Time Travel

My family made a trip to Bandung last weekend and I've been searching online for the best restaurant in the city to try. For Saturday night dinner, we went to INDISCHETAFEL, at Jalan Sumatera No. 19. This is a Dutch inspired themed restaurant, designed to be like an old house in Indonesia during the Dutch settlement. As soon as you walk in, you'll see old gramophone, measuring device, grinder, fan, stuff like that. My grams said the floor and furniture really looked authentic.

For starters, we order this: bitterballen, but with a twist: cheese. The cheese was generous; it's so good, perfect for cheese lovers.

Dad order this smoked ribs, the house specialty. What can I say? It was gorgeous. It is well portioned, a real value for money. As ribs go, it was one of the best I've tried. It's tender and nice, but the barbeque sauce was a little too..tense and strong for my tastebuds. This goes for about 70-80 thousand IDR.

My brother's was this tongue steak. I was like 'What?' but when I tried it, it was heavenly. I really don't think it would taste so good. But try to avoid thinking about the actual tongue, or you'll have an unpleasant eating experience, like I did :P

My dinner was a simple sirloin with mushroom sauce and mashed potato. Meat quality, not so tender, but the portion fit. Oh, and the mashed potato tasted like potato, not so much spices going on. Warning, there is a lot of potatoes, you'll be full with it. The sauce was nice. Yum. Steaks go for around 50-60 thousand IDR.

The food flow was good, the food presentation was top notch, ambience not so much. Because it feels like home, everyone acted like they are really at home, laughing and talking too loud, and sometimes making jokes that failed to entertain. But through out the night, the radio played old Dutch songs, which really goes with the theme.

Oh, there is also the shop, selling cookies and baked goods.


always,
hana.

Do Nothing Birthday

I turn 18 today, don't feel like older though. But I have to say, I've got a lot to be thankful for in my 17th year on earth. Thank you, God :D My Facebook wall was full of wishes, I can't even reply them all. But I got my wish today, to watch Despicable Me, which is okay :D

with my cousin, Ribka.

Yesterday, I watched The Karate Kid (again). My friend Hosanna was treating us, how can I say no? He's going to Bandung for college. Gonna miss you buddy :D

jess, ben, hana, dimas, gabs, hosanna, kania

and had a late lunch at pancious, ordered the mushroom fetucine to compare with MOF's. MOF is still my favorite. This one isn't well portioned. It made me uncomfortably full. But the sauce is good, the pasta is good, highly recommend this for empty stomachs :D

Oh, and earlier last week, visited the Jajanan Bango Festival at Parkir Selatan GBK, Senayan and savor these Indonesian delights:

Mie Aceh: Perfect for those who love spicy food, alarming for me who don't. But I have to admit that is good.

Mie Koclok from Cirebon: I have broth was phenomenal and interesting, you don't see white broth often. Also very good. Gotta try that again when I go to Cirebon.

Soto H. Ahrie from Garut: it's basically meat soto with rice, plus peanuts! I hate peanuts; and the soto was okay. Didn't really made a big impression.


I'm going out of town next week, so I'll post a batch of food posts. Coming very soon.


always,
hana.

Merry Curry

Tried another new restaurant in Grand Indonesia brought by ISMAYA Group called Mr. Curry. As usual, ISMAYA sucessfully brought a unique eye catching theme, seen in the interior, the properties, the kitchen and eating ware plus the ever important menu book. Located at Level 3A just beside Kenny Rogers and across from the newly opened Yoshinoya, I guess it was worth the try. Wow, I go to GI quite a lot :D

This is the MANGO SMOOTHIE. Look at the tiny pitcher container. How adorable. But I think the ice wasn't soft enough, it's annoying to chew ice :P Mango Smoothie go for around 15.000

The recommended menu is CHICKEN KATSU CURRY. And it's pretty good. Well, IT IS chicken, still tastes like chicken. The curry is very nice, not so strange as I was expected. I thought curry was all about exotic herbs and spices, but it is good! This one is with spicy sauce, which is toleratable. Try the extra hot if you dare :D This one is 58.000

BEEF STEAK CURRY. There's some tasty juices oozing (huh?) from it, making an interesting new taste. But I gotta say the quality wasn't very good. I find it hard to shallow it :( This is NON SPICY ORIGINAL. Trust me, if you hate spicy food, the non spicy sauce is fairly okay. Just a pinch of pepper will get your nose a little runny :P This is 58.000

I love the pots and pans decorations. Oh, and behind that counter is a small room for private gatherings!


.....and if you order ocha, it's bottomless! Yippeeeee :D

I'll definitely come here again....once I collected more money.


always,
hana.

Mouthwattering Delights

always,
hana.

*all cakes, props are ncc's, not mine*

Walk Down Food Lane

Dear foodie, I haven't been trying the exciting new places like Yoshinoya or Mr. Curry. Forgive me but here are the highlights of my eating journeys.


I'm totally love KWETIAW SIRAM. I enjoy that gooey sensation! I usually buy Kwetiaw Kelapa Gading, but I tried Kwetiaw Hayam Wuruk, which my father said was very good. AND.IT.WAS. VERY.GOOD. I might be a little late for saying that. Are you kidding me? It's so good. Whoever blend all the spices is a genius. Although it doesn't stay gooey a long time but I think it's the best kwetiaw siram, ever.

My late night snack is definetely martabak. Said Martabak Favourite in Rawamangun is the best sweet martabak around so I had to give it a try. I can't tell you how good it is. It is indescribable. The cheese was so much, it's awesome. They use Weissman of course which made it so much more savory. But fair warning, eating it too many may cause some uncomfortable stomach feeling.

Fried Rice: Average

Butter Sauce Chicken: Good

Chicken Mozerella: Fair

Oh, and yesterday, I went out with my bff Amelia and Loren for Loren's farewell. She's going to Singapore studying design. We made her this book about our friendship. I think we did a pretty good job :D anyway, we went to Platinum.


I wish I've tasted more but I haven't got the time--and money, as well :P
be sure to stay tuned for more foodie adventures


always,
hana.