Pre-Wedding Feast

Posted on September 14, 2024 Posted in PicsTagged Beef, China, Duck, Feast, Fish, Food, Indonesia, IRL, Jakarta, Jellyfish, Rice, Soup, Tofu

Clockwise from bottom right: Char Siu Pork, Peking Duck, Marinated Jellyfish

Clockwise from bottom right: Char Siu Pork, Peking Duck, Marinated Jellyfish

Boxing for my Dinner @ Haidilao

Posted on September 13, 2024September 13, 2024 Posted in PicsTagged Boxing, China, Dinner, Discount, Food, Game, Haidilao, Hotpot, Indonesia, IRL, Jakarta

After such a long time of seeing reels on Instagram, I finally tried dining at Haidilao. Apart from having a huge menu, I’m simply surprised by the loads of free stuff offered on the side, from free chips and ice cream while you wait, to a full-blown nail salon and shirt tie-dyeing! One thing that caught my eye was the boxing challenge to get up to 20% off the bill. Had a few practice rounds before I did an attempt, but fortunately someone who went before me showed the best trick: repeatedly hitting the last two spots where the lights appeared to rapidly get points. Thanks to that, I got on the leaderboard and that 20% discount. From the large bill racked up by the family group that night, the 20% really added up.

Hofbräuhaus Feast Platter

Posted on September 12, 2024 Posted in PicsTagged Australia, Chicken, Food, Germany, IRL, Melbourne, Pork, Schnitzel

Sure to leave a group of hungry friends satisfied. They have spots everywhere, including in Australia.

Sizzling Picanha @ Urban Wagyu

Posted on September 9, 2024 Posted in PicsTagged Chilli, Delicious, Food, Garlic, Indonesia, IRL, Jakarta, Picanha, Steak

Suspicious about how legitimate the “wagyu” is when looking at the menu here., but this is actually super tender, and the garlic with chilli oil just adds a “zing” to the rich meat.

Rujak Cingur

Posted on September 7, 2024September 6, 2024 Posted in PicsTagged Food, Indonesia, IRL, Nose, Salad, Surabaya

A Surabaya specialty, a “cow nose” salad is probably the closest English translation. It tastes a lot like the more ubiquitous “gado gado” with the same peanut sauce and accompaniments, but the addition of a cow’s snout is a measure to use as much of the animal as possible in the midst of hardship during colonial-era Indonesia. Ironic to be eating this at a fancy hotel. For those wondering, the nose itself tastes jelly-like and not gamey thanks to the peanut sauce, but overall I would not have this again.

A Surabaya specialty, a “cow nose” salad is probably the closest English translation. It tastes a lot like the more ubiquitous “gado gado” with the same peanut sauce and accompaniments, but the addition of a cow’s snout is a measure to use as much of the animal as possible in the midst of hardship during colonial-era Indonesia. Ironic to be eating this at a fancy hotel. For those wondering, the nose itself tastes jelly-like and not gamey thanks to the peanut sauce, but overall I would not have this again.

Tutti Frutti Ice Cream @ Zangrandi

Posted on September 6, 2024September 5, 2024 Posted in PicsTagged Cream, Dessert, Food, Ice, Indonesia, IRL, Surabaya

I haven’t visited Surabaya in many years, and even then never tried this ice cream shop, which had apparently been standing since 1930. Come for the colonial-era decor and old-style ice cream (not my personal favorite, but worth trying at least once), stay for the steamed peanuts you get from the sidewalk.

Padang Feast @ Pagi Sore

Posted on September 4, 2024September 3, 2024 Posted in PicsTagged Feast, Food, Indonesia, IRL, Lunch, Padang

Padang restaurants in Indonesia are known for their “feast” style of serving, with small plates of side dishes stretching wide and/or piled high. Fortunately, you only pay for what you actually eat. While Pagi Sore is definitely the more upscale as far as Padang restaurant chains go, I still managed to grab a whole feast of ayam pop, rendang, empal, perkedel, cassava leaves, jackfruit, rice and sambal for just over $10 per person. Plenty of other chain and individual Padang restaurants across Indonesia offering the same large fare, usually for even less.

Butterman Pastries

Posted on September 1, 2024August 31, 2024 Posted in PicsTagged Bali, Bread, Breakfast, Croissant, Food, Indonesia, IRL

They’re definitely hotter than your man, and have the taste to match. The queues are definitely crazy in their main store in Canggu, but fortunately they’ve opened up branches in other places and Indonesian cities – can’t say whether those are good though, I haven’t tried the other branches.

Chicken Nanban @ Bijin Nabe

Posted on August 30, 2024December 6, 2024 Posted in PicsTagged Chicken, Food, Indonesia, IRL, Jakarta, Japan

Because it’s Indonesia, there’s a properly spicy variant (orange) of the tartar sauce. Taken at Bijin Nabe.

Bing Chillin’

Posted on August 28, 2024December 6, 2024 Posted in PicsTagged Australia, Dessert, Food, Ice, IRL, Melbourne

Despite the possible double entendre, they’re known for their shaved ice, NOT ice cream.