Halloween Kids Party

PS : Sorry for a very late entry. Halloween was ages ago but I just managed to have time to do some editing.  

I love this kid! He's so adorable and you don't need to tell him what to do, he just know how to be in action. But not just him who are adorable, the rest of cutie pies at Good Shepherd's kindergarden school too. So there was I, holding my camera trying to capture the little angels expressions; trying to be so focused but couldn't stop admiring them inside of my heart - 'aw, so adorable'! 

So there was I celebrating Halloween with these little precious ones although we celebrated earlier. It was fun seeing them roaming around, yelling, posing, and cheering up for each other too. Though there are some ages differences yet they are still able to have fun playing together too. I did forget my 'adultery' world for almost 4 hours because of them and I realized that we need to love life like how a kid love each moment of their freedom! and who's agreeing with me?

They were playing Trick or Treat and musical chairs before they entered the "scary room" that their teachers made. I've to admit the teachers decorated the room spooky enough but these kids weren't even frighten. They didn't care about the spiders, blood patterns or the big skulls that were hanging! Why would they bother when they were allowed to hunt lollies!!! Shockingly, none of them were fighting against each other. They were peacefully looking for their own so called 'lollies territory'; picking up the lollies then roamed around without a need to pull each other leg, cute! :)  

 DONE  with the lollies hunting, its the group photo time and look how it turned out to be! More like I'm capturing Candid group photo but hey, their expressions are priceless. Look, look! Adorable right? and hey some of them even know how to pose properly! But I mean overall, these kids do know and always ready to be in action whenever I approached them, how lovely!

 

Aren't they just too adorable? I love their costumes too but you know kids; the costumes won't last more than an hour or even less LOL.

O yeah, I forgot to clarify that "Aozora Photography" is the name of my Photography service and all the photos are captured, edited and uploaded by me, myself, and I. Normally, I only do a simple retouching but this time I did it on purpose to do some editing. Simply, I'm adding more of yellow color to each photo and trying to make it like a half vintage and old photo (whatever it's meant to be called). What I wanted to make is that to create the "halloween" spooky but fun feeling so I hope I made it right. If not then I apologized because my photoshop skills is just totally average ^-^

Well what do you think about me and my kids photography? Definitely, I'm looking forward for the comments. Personally, I like the results of the unedited though. Each time I see the photos, I'm still smiling like the time when I captured them. But the most is that, my client likes them. So hope Good Shepherd's Kindergarden likes the original photos (unedited).

Of course there are more photos that will be uploaded later. For more updates, please kindly join my Photography Facebook's Page called Aozora Photography. I try to upload more photos ASAP. Check out more photos from there and please suggest my page to your friends. Thank you so much :D

Yoshinoya's Food Review

I ate at Yoshinoya in Grand Indonesia. Saw the que was kinda long so I decided why not give it a go anyway. I like beef bowl at this old Japanese restaurant that I used to eat since I was on the 6th grade called Goiza. I wonder where Goiza is at nowadays in Jakarta? :-) (Do tell me if you know, thanks)

So I decided to eat the same menu "Beef Bowl", one of the house's specialities. Personally, I found it just alright - too plain I think. Even Hoka-Hoka Bento's Beef teriyaki tastes better. I tried to eat it with their Mayonnaise and it tastes a lot better but still I was expecting somehow the same taste as Goiza does. The price it's around 22 Rb ($2.2) for the Regular Size; not too pricy but still better eat at Hokben if you are a food lover. 

Then my friend ordered their "Teriyaki Chicken" rice bowl. Shockingly they only gave 4 pieces of Teriyaki Chicken slices and the bowl is just full with vegetables. Okay! this one is highly NOT recommended whatsoever. It seriously tastes crap! At least when I tried it did.

Honestly, go to Hokben is better or if you really curious about how they taste just try the Beef bowl for safety. My other friend also tried their "egg rolls" and she was totally hated it. The beef bowl is alright but you know, the tastes is just too plain. I don't know why the que was long each time I saw but for me, I kinda mind on going back there. I still want to try their Yakiniku Beef Bowl though but later sometimes when I have no other option at Grand Indonesia! ha-ha-ha!

For the price itself, it's reasonable starts from 20 rb and the place is not that bad too for hanging out with your friends. What else? Oh yeah you'll also be getting Miso Soup. Well, that's all about it. But really if you ever tried Goiza (though their place never look cozy), you would be disappointed by this taste. Or might be I've a high expectation? 

It's still eatable and since the price is reasonable, so it isn't a bad place to hang out. But if you are foodie lover like myself, then just bare by its tasteless food. And don't forget to ask for Mayonnaise and ignore that "looking weird" face that the waitress might given to you because she was giving me 'what-the' face to me when I asked for her to put Mayonnaise on top of my Beef Bowl! >.<!

Jakarta Culinary Festival 2010 (PART II)

Here is the 2nd part of Jakarta Culinary Festival. Some more photos and this time is about my experienced on testing the Chef's Demos.  

Look at this photo! Phew! Delicious isn't! Feel like buying each of them and start cooking!!!! Their Smoked Beef Cheese is a must to try ;)

Apologized for being silly but this is the only menu "Turkey Sandwich on Multigrain Bread" that I captured from Four Season Hotel. I didn't give myself a good since its multi-grain and its kind pricy in a way 40 Rb ($4) if I'm not mistaken. Beside of that, it didn't fancy my eyes! And also I remembered they served "Cinnamon Bread" that I thought at first it was Sultana which costs around 15 Rb ($1.50), which I think worth to buy.

Look at the Local goes International chefs in actions! Don't mind the weird expressions I captured. I love Candid Photography ha-ha-ha :-)

I love her Macaron's! Simply delicious sweet but it does tickles your tongue! A must to try but since the cooking demo is only until today (the 7th Nov) then, sorry to say. he-he-he! But it's good, delicious :)

Grilled Lamb Chopped from Andhika Maxi (Medium Rare) It's easy in making when he told us the HOW! but why don't we give it a try! I like his Grilled Lamb Chopped but it's kinda of course losing the Local's touch. It's great but it tastes more like eating steak than lamb. It's good but not awesome, it could had been juicer and tastier. But this chef is quite friendly giving good tips too. Thanks Chef :)

Then I went to this beverage Demo by Santos by using Magnum Ice-Creams. It's varieties of Magnum Ice Cocktails made by Santos. Unfortunately, I only got a chance until the 2nd ones since my friends were kinda tired so had to go back earlier. But I did try of his menu and don't ask me the name but both tastes good ^-^

The bartender behinds of it :D!

Since I've got no one to drink coffee with, I just captured the small cafe-look-alike stand. I like it though! Next visit, a must to try ^-^

Gelato Ice-Creams anyone? How I'm not craving over it! I can't eat them or else my sore throat gonna kills me! I want to try the Bir Bintang (Bintang's Beer)'s Gelato Flavor!  Pretty interesting isn't? I want to try, I want to try, a MUST to try LOL! Gonna review you of how it tastes my next visit :)

Free drink anyone from Kitchenette Magic Potion On the Wall. I'm in love with this free Soda drink with syrup...  I only tried the 'Red' potion and of course liking it a lot.

Well done with the eating, tried the chef's demo food, free potion drinks and overall good food, I'm not forgetting myself to donate a bit of money to the Charity's box. This charity is for Indonesia, so spend bits of money in that box would be helpful, right? Since I know I'll be planning on going back there, so I only give a bit of it.

Overall : Honestly, it's quite entertaining in a way/ I love how the inside ambience but the space needs to be wider. I understood the sense of "eating while standing" but how could you even stand if the space of standing is small? I love how the places make you feel like you really are in a big restaurant rather than in a food festival. But I dislike on how they put the local dish outside and I missed out the local dishes which is sad in a way.

The food are nice, tasty but not awesome. Its mainly western food being sells there but where are the deserts? Since its Culinary shouldn't they have a proper section of "deserts" and "beverage" Yes! beverage! Only one stand for beverage that I noticed or might be I wasn't really paying attentions.

Some food offers good prices but mainly they are. Bring a lot of money because you won't be realizing how much money you have spent it by just paying for around 30 Rb for one food. Bring as much friends as you can so you can share the food together at least 3 people would do :P!

However, as a food lover, I quite enjoy it. Feel like in heaven, an event that need to be considered on visiting. Watch out for the 'fancy' names because it doesn't look or taste as beautiful as its name he-he-he! Sadly, they are only selling ordinary food where I was expecting something different kind of food experience since its Culinary Festival. But It's alright, go for it with your friends and family to have fun with  ^-^

and I'LL BE BACK BEFORE IT ENDS CAPTURING BETTER PHOTOS AND TRYING MORE FOOD ^-^

Jakarta Culinary Festival 2010 (PART I)

This is the first time I ever went to Culinary festival in Indonesia. Usually, I'm pretty much lazy since it would be crowded but since this one held in my favorite mall, Grand Indonesia, so I gave a go. There was so much "cooking demos" that I wanted to go but I only went to few. Basically the festivals starts from 5th November - 30th of November but the cooking demo with famous chefs (some are international) only lasted for 3 days. 

There are various of food being sell down there but mainly they sells western cuisines. Famous restaurant like Blowfish, Potato Head, Sarong, Four Season are there too but you know, you always need to be selective. Well, there are also Local menus outside this exclusive restaurants but I didn't have time to try *sad* ( I'm definitely going back there again! - feel like in heaven :D)

The place itself has a nice decoration but quite small in a way. I went there with my friends on Saturday around lunch time and I thought it would be so damn hectic and crowded but I was wrong. So I guess I was so blessed to be actually enjoying the ambience and didn't need to wait forever for the food to be served.

Since I'm still sick from yesterday (fever, sore-throat, feel-like-vomiting and headache) I'm too lazy to capture any photos. I didn't even remember to capture the ambience. All attention towards the food before my body is totally collapsed LOL! Here we go and check out the 2nd part too!!

This is the first menu we ate; As you can see its basically a pasta with chopped beef I may said. But anyway this food came straight from a cooking demo from Gianfranco called Maccheroncini with Beef Fillet . Honestly, I didn't like it nor any of my friends do not because of the presentation or whatsoever but the taste. You gotta be kidding me on how so ordinary it tastes. I mean for a professional and famous chef cooking this so ordinary Pasta that can be made by anyone is just sorry not impressive. It's okay for cooking pasta with beef fillets as he called it but the beef itself is too tasteless and the pasta is just like the taste of tomato juice in a way. so Just okay! Sorry for whoever his fans; so not impressive. Or its either I like much stronger taste and herbs or might be I never try a real Italian pasta :)

Disappointed with that food, we really started our Culinary Journey. So, we tried the food from Social House and Blowfish. Both of them pretty much shared the same booth. My friend tried the "Orgasmic" sushi from Blowfish while I tried "Garlic Shrimp" from Social House. And all of us like their decoration, pretty cute!

Sorry! My friend to me to pose, so I pose!! ha-ha-ha! look at my face! looking tired hey!

Ready to make our Sushi and the others too! * I was just too bored so I captured this* :p

 These are the Orgasmic Sushi from Blowfish. Basically its just a Normal sushi with grilled Prawns on top of it. Personally, I had a bite of it and I like it. It tastes good and 20 RB ($2) for 4 Sushi is cheap right? Its nicely wrapped, sweet but a it spicy too.  Recommended to try and its their 'favorite' Sushi on the list too, so do give it a try for this delicious 4 Sushi. 

What does this look to you? Yes, Garlic Prawns melted with butter, garlic and Oregano served with Garlic Bread. Hmm! Comment? I'm not being rude but this isn't delicious at all. Well, I was expecting of getting myself big prawns but for the price of 20RB ( I think so), its totally not worth it, right? Its just alright but just skip this from your menu, okay! :)

Third destination is this cafe that fills with few restaurants and I didn't capture the photo of the place! See, so smart of me! Anyway, I tried their "Eggcellent Prawn" and since I'm an egg lover, I found it nice but not delicious. Its mainly the white egg with mushroom (ew! I hate mushroom) and prawns and it reminds me so much like Kiyadon's Cawan Mushi. Well it's the same somehow! In other word of saying Eggcellent is a Cawan Mushi and the best Cawan Mushi I had is at Kiyadon. So this one is like the Sushi Tei's version of Cawan mushi. 

They also sell two kinds of Sushi  : Chicken Rica-Rica and Chicken Kalio Sushi but I didn't try any. First of all the price is quite expensive and second, it doesn't make you feel like trying. More like it doesn't look like Sushi in a way! So who am I to judge it taste since I don't give it a try but its merely spicy though.

 For this one, you gotta zoom in the photo, so just click to have better view. My friend got this for himself so I gave myself a try. Ordinary pasta but the cheese and spice makes it worth to try :)

Hello Potato Head... !! our 4th Destination and we tried most of their menus except the deserts. They have additional menus which they didn't put on the list and now I wonder what its called :p

Three of us + William (who captured the photo) were waiting for our food to be served :p

Definitely not my menu whatsoever, I hate mushroom! This is called "Field Mushroom Cream Soup & French Bread". Don't ask a Mushroom hater to review Mushroom soup but my friend likes it. She said its pretty delicious and when I smelled it, it does though. But when I tried, I felt like vomiting! But do give it a try! 25 RB for that big cup is totally worth it!!!

Don't ask me its name but this one is pretty delicious. I love on how the rice itself tastes. It didn't taste like rice since they kind of chopping it into pieces or whatever they do to it but its pretty delicious. The chicken is grilled well with some Middle eastern seasoning though its rather like Indian cuisine in a way, but overall it's good. Give it a try and I think its around more/less 35 RB :)

Their Philly Cheese Steak is also delicious despite of the bread that I'm not fond of. The Cheese grilled on top of it is great, the meat itself also taste like "Spicy Beef Yakiniku". Overall it's great but for the price, it's so not great so better share this with your friend(s) if you are still craving for more food. If you eat this yourself, you'll definitely full! And also, this Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich of Potato Head is tastier than Cheese Cake Factory but adding with some mayonnaise inside of it would be great!