Coffee Shop: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Of the many coffee shop in Indonesia, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has become one of the favorite places to chill out. To be honest, at first I was not so keen to try the coffee here because I had already fallen in love with the franchise coffee shop next door. But then, it was on my halal food list, so i'm kinda forced to try. HAHA kidding.

This time I took a visit to Coffee Bean Pejaten Village which is located at the ground floor near the back entrance. The place is not too convenient to do some works since it is located at the center of the mall where many people passing by. But it's still a comfy place to stay with free WiFi and electric socket. In fact, my friend and I did our work there, we're pretty much comfortable and didn't really care of our surroundings. 

 

Coffee Bean menu offers a wide variety of coffee and tea. In addition, they also offer some light meals such as cakes, muffins, and cookies. I would say the price is a bit high, for example, a cup of ice blended coffee price at IDR 50k. But wait! I'll tell you this. You can actually save up to 50% with Mega credit card or Mega debit card. Get 30% disc for any purchase at IDR 70k or above and 50% disc at IDR 250k or above. This discount is applied for all food & beverages except the drinking bottles (mineral water, and some juice).

My first visit was with my mom, I ordered cappucino (IDR 34k) and long john gyu teriyaki (IDR 59k) for a single perfect brunch. In the end I only paid for 70k after 30% discount with Mega debit card payment. I was quite satisfied with the food and service. So I was curious to come again and try other menu. The second visit was with a friend, I ordered ice blended mocha latte (IDR 49k) and teriyaki tori burger (IDR 59k). While my friend went with ice blended caramel machiato (IDR 46k) with additional whip cream (IDR 7k) and chicken open sandwich (IDR 60k). We also had warm chocolate muffin (IDR 35k) for our dessert. That was a bunch of meals for only IDR 70k/person after 50% discount. yum!

Hot Cappucino

A mixture of coffee and milk that mixed perfectly. The bitterness of the coffee mixed with sweetness milk make cappucino tastes so special.

Long John Gyu Teriyaki & Teriyaki Tori Burger

Basically they are made of the same ingredients, bread with fresh vegetables, meat, teriyaki sauce, and mayonnaise. The difference is, long john filled with beef teriyaki, while tori burger with chicken teriyaki.

Ice Blended Mocha Latte & Caramel Machiato

I like the ice blended at this cafe, the bitterness was perfect, coupled with lot of milk, especially when it served with whip cream. Caramel machiato was sweeter than mocha latte. You decide your own coffee style.

Chicken Open Sandwich
This menu contains of vegetables salad, fried egg 'sunny-side up', wheat bread, and scrambled chicken. Not quite a memorable dish, too dry.

Warm Chocolate Muffin

A chocolate muffin filled with melted chocolate and topped with powdered sugar to enhance flavor. Let it melt in your mouth!

Left: Cappucino || Right: Ice Blended Caramel Machiato with Whip Cream

Teriyaki Tori Burger

Chicken Open Sandwich 

Long John Gyu Teriyaki

Warm Chocolate Muffin

COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF

Pejaten Village 

Ground Floor Unit G-70 (near The Body Shop and Books & Beyond)

Jl. Warung Jati Barat No.39

Pasar Minggu Jakarta Selatan 12740

Phone: +6221 7884 7912

Hours: Monday – Sunday 10AM to 10PM

www.coffeebean.co.id

Busway stop: Pejaten Philips

Payment: 10% tax || cash & all cards accepted || 30-50% disc with Mega cards (conditions apply as I've mentioned above)

Facilities: Free WiFi & electric socket available

Halal meter: Certified by MUI

Food: ê궶¶

Coffee: êêêê¶

Ambience: êê궶

Visit reviewed: 12/2014

Map:

Bakery: Auntie Anne's Pretzel Perfect

A fresh, warm Auntie Anne's pretzel. Well I love it much. A chewy yet tender golden brown pretzel will have you savoring every last bite. It's a perfect tea/coffee companion for afternoon break. It's even perfect for breakfast. It's always been my all time favorite snack.

Auntie Anne's Pretzel originated from New York, America. But you don't need to go that far to taste pretzel with authentic flavor. There are already some Auntie Anne's outlets in Jakarta such as Gandaria City, Pondok Indah Mall 1 (PIM 1), Taman Anggrek Mall, Kota Kasablanka, Grand Indonesia, Lotte Shopping Avenue, Central Park, and Puri Indah Mall. This review is a visit to Auntie Anne's PIM 1. Auntie Anne's stores are usually operated in small retail spaces, a typical in-line store without any seating. Unlike the other stores, Auntie Anne's PIM 1 provides seating because it is located in the food court area.

Auntie Anne's not only offers you classic original pretzel (IDR 12k) but also other flavors such as sour cream & onion, garlic, sesame seeds, chezzy melts, chocs eclairs, cinnamon sugar, etc (IDR 17-19k), and Pretzel dog (IDR 28-36k). My favorites are original, chocs eclairs, and almond with caramel dip. Yep. they offers various dipping too price at IDR 7,5k; caramel, chocolate, cheddar cheese, and cream cheese. As for the beverage, they have lemonade and soft drinks.

Auntie Anne's pretzel is so delicious especially when it is served fresh from the oven.  It will get a bit hard if you left it for a few hours. So if you plan to take it home, then I recommend to heat it in the oven before you eat. Pretzel is one of my comfort food. The price is affordable and totally perfect to boost your mood. It is also a quick place to grab some snacks on the go. It never took you so long to get these perfect pretzels. Some pretzels are ready and displayed on the food warmer case to keep them warm and fresh.

Left: Chocs Eclair

Sour Cream & Onion

AUNTIE ANNE'S PRETZEL
Pondok Indah Mall 1
Jl. Metro Pondok Indah
Jakarta Selatan
1st Floor, Island Unit 3 - Area 51
Open hours: Monday - Sunday 10 AM to 10 PM
www.auntieannes.com

Payment: 10% tax || cash & credit card accepted || Mandiri debit card accepted (min IDR 50k)

Kid friendliness: kid friendly dishes

Busway stop: Pondok Indah 2

Visit reviewed: 12/2014

[Pejaten Village] Ah Mei Cafe

A bright yellow tone welcomes you as you walk in. Ah Mei Cafe, a place where you can eat Singapore hawkers food. Ah Mei Cafe is best known as restaurant that serve Halal menu with true Singapore taste. Ah Mei Cafe is located at several areas in Jakarta. This review is a visit to the one at Pejaten Village, the nearest shopping mall from my home. There are indoor and terrace seating. 

The menu choices are quite varied, as they serve multi-ethnic of Melayu and oriental food: various choices of noodle & rice (char kwetiau, wonton mee, nasi lemak, etc), nasi briyani, murtabak, roti prata set, snacks, and dessert. I went there with my mom. I ordered Laksa (IDR 37.5k), while my mom went with nasi briyani curry chicken (IDR 40k) and tea tarik (IDR 20k). All the meals and drinks are well priced. The taste of food is just OK, but it is definitely a place to go if you are looking for Halal Singapore hawkers food. Laksa and tea tarik are recommended.

Ah Mei Cafe Open Kitchen

Nasi Briyani Curry Chicken (IDR 40k)

Laksa (IDR 37.5k)

Hot Tea Tarik (IDR 20k)

I visited Ah Mei Cafe for the second time. This time I ordered KL wonton mee (IDR 35k) and nasi lemak set (IDR 35k). KL wonton mee is noodles with wonton (small dumplings with savory filling), minced flavored chicken, kailan, and green scallions. The taste is somehow similar to our 'mie ayam'. Nasi lemak is similar to nasi uduk. Nasi lemak is usually served with many fried side dishes such as anchovies, peanuts, egg, mackerel, chicken, and chili paste.

KL Wonton Mee (IDR 35k)

Nasi Lemak Set (IDR 35k)

AH MEI CAFE

Pejaten Village 

1st Floor Unit 50/51

Jl. Warung Jati Barat No.39

Pasar Minggu Jakarta Selatan 12740

Phone: +6221 78830233

Hours: Monday – Sunday 10AM to 10PM

www.ahmeicafe.com

Busway stop: Pejaten Philips

Payment: 10% tax + 5%  service charge || cash & all cards accepted

Kid friendliness: high chairs available, some room for strollers

Halal meter: Certified by MUI

Food: êê궶

Ambience: êê궶

Visit reviewed: 12/6/2014

Map: 

IKEA Alam Sutera

GOOD NEWS!! IKEA is finally open in Indonesia! IKEA is a Swedish retail company specializing in ready-to-assemble modern style furniture, appliances and home accessories. Founded in Sweden by Ingvar Kamprad. Thus IKEA is made up of the initials of Ingvar Kamprad, Elmtaryd (the family farm where he was born), and the nearby village Agunnaryd. IKEA stores are usually spacious buildings with blue and yellow accents which represent Sweden's flag. The stores are designed in a one-way layout, leading customers to see the store in its entirety. The stores also display the products as it is in real rooms or houses.

IKEA Indonesia is located in the Alam Sutera area of Tangerang, near Alam Sutera Mall. It is quite strategic location and easy to find. It offers wide range of items, though the price a bit higher compare to IKEA Taiwan (far as I know), and some items in the catalog are not available in the store.

Tips:

1. I recommend you to come on weekdays, since it will be too crowded on weekend. If the parking lot at IKEA is full, you can park your car at Alam Sutera Mall and take shuttle bus to IKEA.
2. Wear comfortable shoes as you will walk a lot along the IKEA showroom.
3. Bring your own plastic bag/shopping bag if you are going to purchase some products. Unless you forget, you can buy IKEA blue plastic bag for IDR 9,9k at the cashier.

IKEA Alam Sutera Indonesia has 3 floors including basement for parking and prayer room. First floor consist of market hall, bistro, and Swedish food market. There are ATM and lockers as well on the first floor. Second floor is for showroom and restaurant, this is where your journey begin.

IKEA lockers

IKEA a-home-like showroom

IKEA RESTAURANT

Located on the second floor, after passing the showroom area. There's a shortcut if you want to go straight to the restaurant. But I personally prefer to take a look at IKEA products first, so I got hungry by then. 

IKEA restaurant offers plenty of space for you and family to pop in for a quick snack or stay for a leisurely breakfast, lunch or dinner. It offres great range of meals to choose from including Swedish meatballs with cream sauce and mashed potato (IDR 40k /10pcs, IDR 50k /15pcs, IDR 60k /20pcs), pasta with tomato sauce (IDR 20k), Swedish poached salmon (IDR 60k), baked chicken leg (IDR 35k), some sweet tooth like mazarin cake and cinnamon bun, and self-service coffee/tea (IDR 7k). Unfortunately, its famous Swedish meatballs was not served with the iconic cranberry jam as in the picture. I hope they will serve it by next year or soon. Overall, the price is relatively affordable for such a good quality food.

Food Trolley at IKEA

Swedish Meatballs with cream sauce and mashed potato (IDR 40k)

Chicken Drumsticks (IDR 32k /4pcs)

Additional two scoops of Mashed Potato (IDR 16k)

Pasta with tomato sauce (IDR 20k)

IKEA BISTRO

Located on the first floor, towards the exit to parking lot. This is where you can grab a drink or quick bites on the go. It serves vanilla ice cream in a sugar cone for just IDR 4k, chicken hot dogs (IDR 8k), buns, and soft drinks (IDR 7k).

Try an ice cream today:

1. First buy cone and token at the Bistro counter, 1 token for an ice cream.
2. Place cone into holder with slight pressure.
3. Insert token and press the dispense button once.
4. When machine has finish filling the cone with ice cream, take the cone and enjoy it:)

SWEDISH FOOD MARKET

Located on the first floor, right next to the bistro. It sells imported traditional Swedish meals, snacks, and drinks such as fruit jams, biscuits, ginger snaps, and other stuffs. Nyakers Ginger Snaps come up with different flavors like orange, vanilla, almond, and original.

Nyakers Ginger Snaps (IDR 39k)

Holiday Gingersnaps (IDR 80k)

Fruit Jams Danish Selection

IKEA Alam Sutera
Jl. Jalur Sutera Boulevard No. 45
Alam Sutera
Serpong, Tangerang
Phone: +6221 2985 3900
Store open hours: Monday - Sunday 10 AM to 10 PM
Restaurant open hours: Monday - Sunday 9.30 AM - 9 PM
www.ikea.co.id

Payment: 10% tax

Kid friendliness: kid-friendly restaurant (high-chairs, kids menu, microwave ovens, and bottle warmers are available), kids play area, baby changing facilities.

Other facilities: ATM center (BCA, Mandiri), prayer room / musholla at basement level, lockers, free parking, services to help you shop (product picking, delivery, and assembly), disabled facilities (wheelchairs and wheelchair accessible toilets are available).

Visit reviewed: 11/25/2014

Map:

Memorable Trip to Japan

A short trip yet memorable to Japan, specifically to Osaka, Kyoto, & Japan. We traveled for 5 days with extremely dense schedule (1/18/14 - 1/24/14). I traveled with a friend of mine. I departed from Taiwan, while my friend was from Jakarta. I will have another post to list down required documents to get Japan visa in Taiwan. It is actually pretty easy, especially if you are student. Also, you can visit my other post on Japan delicacy here.

Before we get started on the trip. There's something you might want to know for travel preparation. These are must-bring-items when you travel abroad in winter season: 

Winter coat, comfy boots/sneakers, hat & scarfs, toiletries & cosmetics (handcream, moisturizer, etc), Lonely Planet/other travel guide book, water bottle/tumbler, camera, smart phone, power bank, passport & ticket, small diary & pen. 

Tips:

1. Download useful app such as *Hyperdia (android only), Tokyo Metro Subway / Trains.jp (iOS only), and Google Maps / MapsWithMe (iOS & android). Some apps need an active internet connection. Hyperdia offers the route and the timetable of the railway within Japan. Unfortunately, this app is not available on iPhone for free. All iPhone user need to do is opening Hyperdia website in Safari.
2. Rent Mifi (Mobile Wifi router provide you a high speed Internet access in Japan). You can order it in advanced from Japan-wireless.com or right at the airport.
3. Bring water bottle/ tumbler to save cost on drinks.
4. Leave some space to your luggage when you leave, as you will end up buying some cutesy things when you get back. 
5. One coat or two is enough. Bring more scarfs and hats, so you can mix n match it with your coat for your daily looks. 
6. Bring more inner thermal wear since it is so cold out there.
7. If you already know where you going in Tokyo, you can purchase discount ticket of Metro Line with your boarding pass. Make sure you know which metro line you are going to take. Read more information here.

Day 0 (1/18): Arrival in Kansai Airport

I was arrived at a small airport in Osaka. After waiting for a while, I realized it was not Kansai International Airport. It was apparently Peach International Arrival area. FYI, Peach is a low-cost airline based in Japan. Peach offers flight service only to Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan. Peach airport is part of Kansai International Airport and there's shuttle bus every an hour that can take you to Kansai airport.

I met my friend once I arrived at Kansai int airport. The plan was to reach my cousin place to stay there for couple days. In fact, we were stuck in the airport since it was too late to take train to Suita City where my cousin lived. So we spent the night at the airport.

By the way, I was so amazed with every single tech they have, including toilet. It was winter, but the toilet seat was warm and has a remote control on it. There are several buttons but this one impress me much, the music button, to disguise the sound when you pee or poo. Anyway, that was for my first night in Japan, sorry for me being too tacky about toilet. I just thought that was one of my fabulous finds. LOL

Day 1 (1/19): Osaka

Woke up at 5. We had our first breakfast in japan at McD, and took off to my cousin place right after. It's quite a long way to reach Suita City from Kansai airport. We finally arrived around 10pm. Since we don't have too much time, we decided to go shopping straight away. And there we were in Osaka City, around Namba, Dotombori, and Shinsaibashi shopping area. I tell you that it was huge. No wonder people around the world come and shop there. From the top brands like Uniqlo, H&M, Zara, Forever 21, and Disney store, to street stores including second hand store, to infamous Fugu fish restaurants, to street snacks, everything was there! And there's a giant billboard of running man, a logo of Glico, where you should take picture in front of it.

Day 2 (1/20): Shiga Biwako Valley ski resort.

The main purpose of winter trip was to see snow. We were so excited when we first saw the snow, especially when it was snowfall. Shiga Biwako Valley is famous for skiing. When we arrived at Shiga station there's a bus that took us to a higher place. From that point we need to ride cable car to reach a top of a mountain where the skiing area is actually took place. The price of skiing/snowboarding set is ¥9,800 or about IDR 1m. The package includes ski/snowboard, skiing clothes, goggles, shoes, a meal, and one return cable car trip. Too bad we didn't take enough pictures because it was way too cold to take off our gloves and took snapshots. Neither skiing nor snowboarding was easy, my body felt like cracking after fell off too many times.

Tips:
Join a group training for additional  ¥1,000. That will be so much help for newbie.

Day 3 (1/21): Kyoto

We departed from Suita City to Kyoto as early as we can. We scheduled for only a day in Kyoto. My friend had planned it very well. As we all know, Kyoto is a well known city for its history. There are tons of temples and traditional houses there. We went to several spots as we planned, Arashiyama bamboo groove, Kinkaku-ji gold temple, Ginkaku-ji temple, and Gion. Unfortunately, Ginkaku-ji temple was closed at 4.30 PM and we arrived there at 4.45 PM. Even after we ran to get there, we still couldn't make it. Anyway, we're still happy because we found the green tea puff store in front of the temple. Then, we finally at Gion area strolled around the city before we departed to Tokyo.

Arashiyama Bamboo Groove

Kinkaku-ji Gold Temple

Day 4 (1/22): Tokyo

Arrived in Tokyo at 7 AM in the morning. We reserved backpacker hotel at Sakura Jimbocho. The hotel was quite clean and cheap, price at ¥7,850 /person for 2 nights. It's suitable for backpackers. We got a private room for two persons, a bunk bed with air conditioner, TV, WiFi, and a shared bathroom. Since it was for backpacker, you can do your own laundry at the basement level. After putting our bag in our room, we decided to go right away. We bought 1-day ticket for Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway price at ¥1,500. We went to Asakusa for little shopping and had our lucky wishes there, to Tokyo skytree to find Tokyo banana store, watched sumo tournament at Ryogoku (¥4,900), and finally headed back to hotel. Well, it was quite random trip I've ever had. We didn't intend to watch sumo but the tournament was held right when we were there, we're just curious to see. 

At Asakusa temple

In front of Tokyo Skytree

Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku

Day 5 (1/23): Tokyo

We bought 1-day ticket of Tokyo Metro & JR Line price at ¥1,580. We went to Tsukiji fish market in the early morning. Tsukiji is one of the largest fish market in the world which located in central Tokyo. I saw many kind of sea creatures, I even saw extremely big tuna fish that is probably bigger than me:)) We continued our trip to Harajuku, it is best to go on Sunday if you want to see Japanese cosplay. Then to Shibuya to see the overly crowded Shibuya Cross. Starbucks in Shibuya is the best place to capture that moment, but remember to take pictures or video secretly, because we are not allowed to do so. We also visited Hachiko statue near Shibuya station, and lastly we went to Ikebukuro to look for Kit Kat store. Sadly, all Kit Kat unique flavors were sold out:(

Tsukiji Fish Market

Harajuku station

Day 6 (1/24): Departure to Taiwan

Finally that was the end of our trip. It was a time for me to go back to reality, back to a student life in Taiwan. I was early at the airport, I wanted to buy something for friends and family back home, and I got plenty of Kit Kat unique flavors and Tokyo banana. Happy ending trip:)

Visit my other post on Japan delicacy here.