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! 

A Thought : Passion Vs Talents

http://www.law.georgetown.edu/graduate/images/CareerOptions_000.jpg

Yesterday, I went to this group meeting called DATE and the topic is about "Passions, Talents, and Career". We didn't talk much about it but we are all agreed that "passion, hobby and talents" are different. In order to find our passions, we need to get through quite lots of obstacles. Sometimes, some people had a funny and strange or difficult ways to actually find out what their passions are. But well not everyone knows what their really passionate about.

There are people who are lucky enough to be economically rich from getting paid doing what their passionate about. But, not everyone like that. What are your passions? Or precisely what are the 'things that you do that make you forget yourself and time?' There must be something and for me its photography and culinary. I found my peace of being a photographer and chef which is funny in a way. I believe everyone have more than one passion but I'm not sure how long that passion will last in your life. 

Passion and talent is different. In my opinion, only because you are talented in some areas, it doesn't mean you really are passionate or fully dedicated yourself in it. Like myself, I've a talent to be a writer but whether I'll be a good/bad/great writer, I don't know. But I've talent in writing, I enjoy writing but after I'm done with writing something, I barely have a 'wow' effect feeling inside of me. If I did good, then I'll feel relieved and a recognition that "I've talent in it", no memory left. 

I had my Diploma degree in I.T with Marketing Communication bachelor degree. When I was in Senior High School, I thought I.T was the best one for me. I had no idea what I wanted to by owning the degree but I just felt like doing so. So I did and well I did a good score but I didn't enjoy it apart from C++! But my parents told me to just get my degree in I.T. I wanted to take Management Information System but instead, they enrolled me to Business Information System where flowcharts, algorithms and mathematics got involved. And what happened was that, I failed the I.T subjects on my 2nd year and only passed Behavior Management subject. See! I wanted to do something but my mainstream got changed though its still the same under the flag of I.T but I didn't do well.

I hate mathematics; it has became my weakness ever since I was a kid. I had no idea why but I hate it. Instead History, Management and others subject that requires a lot of thinking fancies me. But honestly, you know what? When I was in high school, I wanted to be a Criminal Psychologist; crazy? Not really! I've a big curiosity on what make someone become mentally ill or do things that they aren't meant to do. I like to investigate, to analysis and summarize what actually had happened and why it happened. It's fun to learn Law and human behaviors and of course that job requires a full working hours of your brain and I love that. But well to get through the course, you have to be on the top of your school english class which is impossible for me anyway! But before, before and before of that, my childhood dream has always be a job regarding entertainment. Thought of wanting to be a comedian, being a DJ, owning Production House, movie/videoclip director, and I don't remember what else!

Often, I told by friends or aunties that marketing is suitable for me even my mum said so. So it thought WHY NOT! While I was doing my Diploma in I.T, I did a part-time job as a Marketing but what happened I didn't like it. Only because I'm down-to-earth, love to talk and friendly person, it doesn't mean I like to introduce myself to a stranger and promote whatever I'm promoting. Challenging yes but it's boring for me. But anyway, I gave a try as an experienced which now I know 100%, I'm not a good marketer nor PR. I can ensure you that because of my 'other unsupportive personality' inside of me.

http://modernservantleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Emotional-Business-Team-500x300.png

Remember : Passion and talent is different. In my opinion, only because you are talented in some areas, it doesn't mean you really are passionate or fully dedicated yourself in it. For instance, I thought I've a passion to be a writer; I really wanted to be a Journalist and I got a job of being a Jr. Journalist at one of design magazines in Indonesia. At first, I had to admit, I quite enjoyed the job but after a while, I got so bored. Why on earth am i doing with the same old tasks? Then, I lost appetite in writing and took a while to bring it back.

Now, the question : Do I have passion of being a writer or do I just enjoy writing? Well, you know the answer! I just happened to have talent in writing and thankful to have a career as a writer. At first, I enjoyed it but couldn't resisted the boredom invasion in me. Despite of me getting bored but I still did every little thing my best shot because its my responsibilities. You can't run away from your responsibilities. I asked for it and I got what I wanted though now, I'm no longer being a Jr. Journalist :)

Life is funny somehow for some reasons. We thought we love being this, being that; wanting to have a job like this, like that. wanting to work with "dreamy company" or have position like you always dreamed off. It's not all about " wanting, dreaming, hoping nor wishing". It's merely about your capabilities and passions.  Are you capable enough to do the job you would love to be doing? If you think Yes you are, then the next question to ask is " How long would you like to hold that position?" and the last question is " Is It a job where your passion at?". 

If you want that 'dreamy job' of yours for the sake of prestige or whatsoever, then don't expect peace within yourself while doing the job. You can get the job you want but you'll be under a lot of stress. I'm not kidding. When you know where your passion is and you are doing it with love, you'll find a different kind of enjoyment and peace at the end of it. You'll be so peaceful no matter how much its taken your time and your effort, at the end you'll be thankful and happy.

Of course, there's a jealousy rise inside of you when you see someone who is as passionate as you do receive greater payment than you especially if their work is just ordinary. Well my dears, Don't worry! If its your passion, that jealousy will just fade away in a click. I don't say I'm not being jealous as a photographer. Yes I do but the love towards the job is greater than my jealousy. And yes, I'm doing  the job I'm passionate about where the earning comes from here but really, no matter how much the money does matter, it can always be compromised. Being a photographer make me like a little girl who live so innocently in her own world without care enough of anyone and even at herself. The tiredness just swift away easily.

This is life! You need to experience lots of things. You shouldn't be afraid of choosing the wrong career or doing the job you thought you have talents with. Just give it a try first while you are still young. As a Youngsters, our curiosity level is quite high; so treasure them. You never know until you give it a try, right? But don't have any high expectations when you are on the field. Everybody has different kind of experienced though they are working under the same title. The active ones would be having more experiences and shining faster. While others who aren't an opportunist takes longer time to climb. 

Working things you like requires supporting personalities too. No matter how talented you are, your personality needs to be your backbones! Yes, you are smart , very talented, so extremely creative but remember there's always "another you" unless you are the numero uno! So adjust your personalities! Of course you can be so proud of your achievements, you can have " I don't give a sh*t" attitudes but look, you aren't the greatest neither. People 'll be proud of you and of course you are but one mistake you do, they'll hate you more than they adore you. 

http://www.careerealism.com/home/jtodonnell/careerealism.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/09.16.10-4-Truths-I-Have-Learned-from-Career-Transitioning.jpg

Dears, No matter how great you are, only one in billions who can create something purely original. The rests like myself is a developer; so keep learning and being humble is very important. Nothing in this world that you can't learn - books are everywhere and talking with older people is helpful though they aren't on the same stream as you are. Really no matter how the mature ones look silly, they have something to make you think.

In conclusion is that " Do the job you are doing with LOVE" whether it's your hobby, talent or passion. If you hate do what you are doing but it's giving you a great payment then stick with it and do some money-savings for your future. If you think you have passion is whatever areas, then don't be afraid to give it a try for a year to know whether its where its the right passion or not. However, if you are like me (career with passion), then deal with the consequences of finding self-satisfaction first then money. Just Deal with it and ready for whatever that shall comes on your way.

There are more people in this world who are taking longer time to find out where their passions at. Don't worry about that. I'm not sure how long passion can last but nothing lasts forever is for sure. You can be so passionate about photography for a year but after you are being so busy of other things, the passion is just gone. If it's gone then seek for more. Passion usually starts with hidden talents within you. We have lots of time to treasure ourself, our likes and dislikes, our naturally born talents or a talent that you find an interest and learn it.

I know talking and writing is so easy but really do you have another way to deal with the boring job you are doing right now? If you hate your job but you love the money then you only have one option : find a new job or deal with it. If you aren't a risk-taker with thousand of reasons, then what's the best way for you? LOVE and COMPROMISE. Love the money you'll be receiving but don't hate the work you are doing. If you believe in whatever you are doing, have a strong faith in it and have positive attitude towards it, The ALMIGHTY will open your ways. How fast HE'LL open your ways is depend upon HIM. Just do it with love and compromise and ignore the rest the best you can :)

PS : When I said "youngsters" means when you are under 35. Under 35 is the age where you'll be experimenting and experiencing different career or different level of careers :)

Be Passionate, Practical and Patience

FRESH from Mz.g!e's Oven!

  

This one is totally FRESH from my kitchen. I woke up in the morning (not too early anyway) with mum told me to cook the meats she brought. She thought I would be making Beef Teriyaki (well she was hoping so) but instead I surprised her with something. And surprisingly, my dad also likes it despite its too spicy for him. So its like lovely, very :)

I don't need to think of its name since mum already gave its name and I just added it. This one is called "NARBARBUL" Nasi Bakar Bule which simply means Western Baked Rice. It sounds funny when I have to translate them to English but anyway yeah! (Thank you mum). Anyway, another imagination of mine but since I'm so not too artistic in a way, I need to work out on how to make this food looks eye-catchy! 

The looks isn't how I wanted it to be but the taste and its smell alright. The taste is rather strong - its spicy, cheesy, salty, sweet, a bit oily with BBQ smell and a lot more in it. I can't tell you the whole thing right? *giggles*.  This one gonna be on sale once I know how to make-up the food LOL!

I already posted a different photo of this desert I made on Friday. But this one is a recent ones where I decided to make one for my friend for a tester today. Well, now you can see the texture more clearly to its details right? that's why I love my hubby, he's just perfect! I still haven't make a proper sauce for this I still not sure what to give name to, but soon I must too. At the moment, I called it as "PUKAJUL" - Puding Coklat Keju or Chocolate Cheese Pudding. 

However, it's not fully a pudding anyway. It's really taste like eating a soft cake rather pudding but its not too soft for a cake neither. Seriously, I don't know what to call. I can't help it, its my imagination LOL!! Just like my blog's title : The Dreamer and Obsessions in Me". So really, you rather just try them! It's totally good for breakfast or supper and healthy especially for your kids! Not kidding, it's gonna be on sale too! what? ha-ha-ha! yea, planning to :D!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ??!

Well, it's passed midnight down here in Indonesia, so I guess we are on Halloween Day! Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to go to any party or do whatsoever with Halloween theme in it. But however, I decided to just "Edited" some photos which I took yesterday. Well, on Friday, I had to capture a Halloween Party at this kindergarden. The teachers were so creative that they decorated the so called "Haunted" room so expressively. And surprisingly the kids weren't horrified or whatsoever. Anyway, no further talk, these photos I took from the Haunted room is retouched and hey, what do you think? Spooky enough? " HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2010" ^-^

Mz.g!e's Homemade

Okay! These are "new food" from my kitchen. Well, I do cook once in a while when I'm in the mood of doing so. Most of time, I try not to copy from anywhere. I look for the basic menu and combine this and that;whatever imagination ran out in my mind. Most of time, I didn't know how to make it but I do know if I learn how to cook properly, I can make quite a lot of food combination ha-ha-ha! Better just look for a chef to do so if I want to open a restaurant (AMEN). 

And pardon me for the "not so good looking" food because I don't know how to make it look nice in terms of colors. However, don't judge the book by its cover; give it a try, then you won't regret ;)

Another version of Chips that I made. Added some seasonings then added with Mayonnaise and Chili Sauce on top of it make this spicy herb sweet chips be the rice's companions. Yes, eat these crunchy chips with warm rice with Sweet Ice Tea as your drink is Just sooting!

I'm not sure what to call this experiment of desert I made. I failed on my 1st attempt and the second one did turn out to be very well. I left it in the fridge in the morning and when I got back home, half of it was gone eaten by mum. Pretty happy that she loves it but she just said "she likes it" since i need to improve a bit more. Well yeah, I need to add a bit more of milk in it but one thing for sure it isn't sweet at all. It tastes like Marble cake (mum said so) but it isn't. It's half pudding, half bread, half cheese but its not soft! A NEW MENU from me, try on! ha-ha-ha-ha!

Look at the title! Cheese Bread Pudding. It looks nicely baked right and I really am loving the color. Frankly speaking, when you eat this cheesy bread pudding of mine, it tastes more like "cheese cake". Not kidding mate! Made it purposely for half baked and then put it in the fridge to frozen it. And ended up, it tastes like eating "cheese cake" but in less sweet version!

This isn't an experiment. Nothing new about this but the different lies on its Pie Crusts. I made some modification in it. And well for the stuff, I just added potatoes in it. I made this one especially for my mum to welcome Halloween he-he-he!

Yopin & Erwin -WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

I think this is my first entry of "Celebration of Love" a.k.a Wedding. Obviously, these photos are edited since I was in the mood of being an editor. I just uploaded some random photos from  Erwin & Yosephine's wedding and lots more to check and edit, at least retouched. Well more photos will be added in facebook : Aozora Photography 

Don't forget to join my fanpage on facebook and hey! Comment, comment and comment :D!