Showing posts with label culinary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label culinary. Show all posts

WW: Cable Top Cafe at Kelburn, Wellington

We have been enjoying some good, sunny days lately here in windy Welly.
Well, spring should be around the corner although I have to admit that September is here and still we have freezing days.



When the weather is friendly, I really enjoy strolling around the city or Kelburn area, near my office. We have the Cable Car here and there's a cafe too called Cable Top. When time and work load permit, we sometimes walk up and have a quick breakfast here in the cafe.




It is really a good walk up to the hilly street to reach this cafe. The last time I came here with some friends, we had a good walk from the office and it took us around 10 minutes to reach the Cable Top eatery.

One of the brunch time we had here, I ordered their signature vegan shake. Well, shake with no milk and they put Feijoa, a unique fruit from New Zealand. Mixed with other fresh fruits, it's very filling indeed. 

the shake

In addition to that, we also ordered the cheese scone. I really love it as it's very creamy. 



If you want, you are more than welcomed to order gelato or ice cream and cookies as well pastries as they also serve many delicious flavours for that.






Well, all in all, I really enjoy this place and happy to go back here again next time.

Join us on (almost) Wonderful Wednesday and have fun with the link party

Tasting Middle Eastern Food at Abunawas Restaurant Jakarta

Are you a big fan of delicious mandi and biryani rice?

With lamb or chicken, both are so good by the way, on top of the rice?

Then join me here in this post as I am taking you to one of the best restaurants serving Middle Eastern food in Jakarta. Abunawas Restaurant.

Are you familiar with the Middle Eastern food? I have been enjoying more and more Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food when I was in New York City. My hubby loves lamb a lot and Middle Eastern food has been very famous fo their lamb menus. Since we lived in Astoria and there are many mosques as well as moslem communities in some parts of if, we also found many restaurants serving these wonderful cuisines and they are halal! Not to mention the famous Halal Guys, the food cart selling delicious chicken and lamb gyros as well as falafel. Oh my... I really miss them! That is why up until now we really miss this type of food.

So back to Jakarta, we do have some choices when it comes to Middle Eastern food. As you have probably be aware of, there are huge Arab communities in Jakarta and they do have their authentic restaurants. This place, Abunawas Restaurant, has been very famous for it Arabian cuisine and the setting as well as the ambience of the place is also beautiful.

When you arrive, the front part of the building is so lovely and it directly reminds of the jazeera, complete with shoe-horse shaped patio and door. As you step in, you will be transported to the Middle East as the coordinated theme and accents used depicts the unique Arabian cultures.




For sure the health protocol is implemented so the mask in obligatory and your temperature will be checked and you have to wash your hands or use the hand sanitizers. and physical distancing is also in place.

Abunawas Restaurant, Jakarta
health protocol is implemented.

As you can see here, the interior is wonderful and I really love the details. It reminds me of La Alhambra in Granada, Spain, as well as La Mesquita in Sevilla, Spain. The fresco, the color choice, the ceilings, the walls.. they are just lovely! I feel so nostalgic when I saw all this beautiful setting. It has wonderful murals and amazing sofa that I would like to bring home LOL. Take a look at them here.

Abunawas Restaurant, Jakarta, Indonesia

Look at the murals!


I am IN LOVE with this sofa!

Now.. Let'
s take a look at the menu here!

As I have mentioned before, they are very famous for their mandi and biryani rice. You can have this rice with chicken, lamb or fish. All of them are so good! There is also Zurbiyan rice but I haven't really tried it.


You can have the menu in individual plate or portion, or the portion for two, which for me, can accommodate 4 hungry people. 

Quarter lamb or chicken over your choice of rice is people’s favorite. You can have mandi or biryani rice, or half - half on them. Complete with spicy sauce as you like it.

Middle Eastern Food at Abunawas Restaurant Jakarta
Chicken over half biryani, half mandi rice

If you order any dippings, like babagamush or hummus, you will get the pitta bread as well. I also tried the cheese samosa and I love it. Tabouleh is so good and fresh, although I would love to have more lemon and fresh tomatoes on it so it has more kick.


I managed to try the smoothies as well. It has I chose the one with peanut butter, which is very nice and creamy. I guess the name of this beverage is Iskandaria Peanut Smoothie. It has a nice ring one it, right! Next time I will try the one with dates I guess!

Iskandaria Peanut Smoothie, anyone?
The restaurant has two floors so you can choose where you are going to eat. You can also have the tables or the ‘tent’ where you can sit on the floor for full Arabian experience. They have private rooms you can use as well. I love the ambience, it’s pretty with fountain, cave-like and tent-like decoration, murals on the wall and Arabic accents.

the tent looks so exotic

It has spacious parking lot, so it won’t be a problem. I am not sure it is disability friendly though, especially for those with impaired mobility. It has spacious room but to reach the second floor will certainly be problematic. I hope they will fix it soon.

So, what do you think? Will you try the food here? I will definitely be back here again soon with my hubby!

Stay safe and healthy, everyone.


WW: Culinary Adventures in Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary adventures in Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia


Welcome back...

Let's continue our adventure. This time, I would like to kindly invite you to join me in my Culinary Adventures in Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

As I have shared previously (READ:  Kanoman Palace, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia dan Sunyaragi Cave, Cirebon, West Java) , Cirebon is indeed a special place for me and my family as my late grandpa from my late father was originally coming from Cirebon. While we are here in Indonesia, we take some times to visit this city again and again as we still have many relatives to meet plus lovely attractions that I would like to introduce to my kids as well. That includes the culinary experience here.

Cirebon has ben well known for its delicious cuisine. Empal gentong, empal asem, tahu gejrot and nasi lengko are only few examples of this culinary heaven.  Not to mention the munchies, like ketan gurih, rengginang rebon and emping manis. The list can go on and on.

Empal gentong is the traditional beef stew from Cirebon, cooked with coconut milk and a mixture of Idonesian spices such as kemiri or bitter nut, sereh or lemon grass, laos/lengkuas or galangal, and daun salam or bay leaves. While empal asem is similar, but it is cooked withouth coconut milk. Instead, it uses tamarind water and belimbing wuluh, a special starfruit with has unique sour taste.  Both stew are served with fried onion and slices of fresh spring onion and celery. Tahu gejrot is a special mixture of fried tofu with a sauce made of garlic, chili, tamarind, palm sugar, and sweet soy sauce. My late dad loved tis so much and we cherish this special dish wholeheartedly. We sometimes cook it at home as well. Then nasi lengko is Cirebonese plate of rice with fried tofu and tempe, sprinkled with generous fresh cut cucumber, steamed bean sprout, fried onion, kucai  or chives, with spicy (or not) peanut sauce. Oh my, even as I write this, I am drooling and suddenly hungry.

I might need to write more details about more Cirebonese food at later stage but now, let's see some of those scrumptious palates. Tell me whether it brings out your appetite instantly.


Culinary of Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

Culinary from Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia

So, what do you think? 

Which one is your fave? 

Have you tried some of them?

Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday (click HERE) and have fun with the link party




WW: TimeOut Market NYC, Dumbo, Brooklyn

TimeOut Market, NYC

Apparently there are so many stories, photos, and videos that I have not published in my purple world, my blog. One of them is the story about Time out market NYC, located in Dumbo, Brooklyn.

I visited this lovely food court back in October 2019. 
That was way before the coronavirus pandemic. Now this place is temporarily closed, but I sincerely hope that it will open again after the pandemic is gone. Timeout, a free magazine that you can easily find in many corners in the Big Apple, gives us a lot of information and awesome guidance about what’s going on in NYC, including the latest, hippest and most-wanted restaurants and food vendors across the city. I really enjoy reading it. It’s like having your personal guide showing where to eat, what show to enjoy or parties to attend.



The Timeout Market in NYC houses around 21 food vendors, starting from Asian, Mexican,  Italian, Mediterranean, American, and many more. All of them are well curated and famous already, like Fish Cheek, Juliana's pizza, Alta Calida, Clinton St. and more.





I also put them in my YouTube channel so feel free to watch it as well 



Well, what do you think? Will you come and eat here as well?
Which menu do you think you will choose?

So here are some photos that I took while strolling around Dumbo and stopped at timeout market for a delicious lunch. I really like this area because it’s so alive in you can feel the vibe.

The view from the 2nd floor








My spicy veggie Ramen

Crispy Chicken in rice bowl with roasted seaweed

The famous blueberries pancakes from Clinton St. Baking Co

Bon appetit
It is located at Water St., Dumbo, Brooklyn. As I have mentioned, it is temporarily closed now due to COVID - 19. But I guess they will re-open once everything is better.




The view near the Market



Well, what do you think? Will you come and eat here as well?
Which menu do you think you will choose?

Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday through this link and have fun with the link party!

WW: Festival Jajanan Bango 2019


Festival Jajanan Bango 2019

Festival Jajanan Bango 2019

Have you guys heard or probably joined this event before?
Festival Jajanan Bango 2019 is the annual Festival held by Bango, one of Indonesia's leading brand for sweet soy sauce, which features traditional and popular Indonesian culinaries from different parts of the country. 


Welome to Festival Jajanan Bango 2019

It was certainly packed with food enthusiasts and those craving for Indonesian traditional food and those famous food outlets as well as hawkers. 


spent quite some time here.

There were around 83 vendors joining this event. Truly heaven for foodies like me LOL.


Tongseng, anyone?

Check out some photos taken during this event and tell me which one is your favorite!


Ready to enjoy...


Panggung utama di FJB 2019

Soto Betawi..with all its condiments


Check out as well my video about this festival which was held on 16 - 17 March 2019 at the 
parking area of Squash Field, Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex.




So that's some of the spoiler from the complete story, which I will share at the later stage.

Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and fell free to join the link party by clicking the link