midnite lily's: Foodie in Jakarta

Up ahead, alot of photos and a quick food review of things I've had while I'm here. Alot of Western dishes, though. Because this time around, my stomach seems to disagree with alot of the local food. I'm really suffering. I've been warned about the water, but I can't afford Western food or fast food all the time with my meagre allowance. Things are alot more expensive here in Jakarta than in KL.

Soto Kudus at Sarinah, Thamrin Soto is pretty common around Jakarta at the roadside warung or food courts. I've had quite a few already, and think this is the most tasteful kind. Kudus is a town near central Java. What you see is rice and the soto soup served with pekedil (potato cake) and cockles on a stick.

Ambassador Mall food court
Ambassador Mall, Food Court Pretty much standard issue for food courts in a mall. Like our own Malaysian food courts with variety, you can find Indonesian food from different regions in one place. Manado style, Padang, soto... sometimes even Western stalls. Just next to this mall is another one, connected, called ITC Ambassador. I was there last time around and had my favourite nasi bebek (duck rice), it was so good and freshly cooked I didn't take a picture! LOL.

Ambassador Mall food court
nasi ayam goreng at Ambassador Mall, Food CourtI should've gone there again though. Because the nasi ayam goreng (fried chicken rice) I had this time can't quite compare. It's served in a nice bamboo plate lined with a wax paper, tempe (fried tofu beans), tofu, salad and a soup.

Koi cafe, Kemang Two doors away from Aksara in Kemang is also another wi-fi spot, Koi cafe & gallery. The place is full of nice woody decor, furniture and ambient lighting, paintings and sketches for sale. Aside from it's exoticness, the food is amazing here and the cafe's 3rd best International restaurant rating is well deserved.

Koi's fried shitake mushrooms
Fried Shitake mushrooms at Koi cafe, Kemang My colleagues and I had three main dishes, and two side dishes. This one was my favourite. Delicious! Tempura styled, with a balance of flour.

Koi's lamb chops
Lamb Chops at Koi cafe, Kemang This was my yummilicious main course! Lamb chops, marinated perfectly, and cut to chomp down with your fingers! They served it in a nice bamboo plate lined with a banana leaf accompanied with a nice garlic condiment and salad. I was served french fries with this, while mash is also an option. *drools*

Koi's beef lasagne
Beef Lasagne at Koi cafe, Kemang

Praline
Praline French Cafe, KemangAfter dinner at Koi's, my colleague took us to a delightful French crêperie called Praline also in Kemang. I love the place, being absolutely quaint with decor right out of 1920s Paris. With red velvet curtains and booth seats. Between us, we ordered two servings of crêpes and a towering ice-cream.