Portofino

Dear fellow tasters,

Still from my Hong Kong get away, this post is from the Macau day-trip.  After surviving the ferry ride, bracing through the throngs to get to the Ruínas de São Paulo, a disastrous Macanese lunch, casino-hopping, and more shopping, my friend and I ended at the super spacious Venetian Macao.  Traversing through this massive hotel-slash-casino structure was no easy feat and by the time we reached the main lobby where the Versailles-like dome and ceilings are located, it was past dinner time and our feet were screaming from too much walking.

Nannini’s Menu Tasting

Dear fellow tasters,

Several weeks ago, I was invited to a menu tasting event for Nannini which recently opened its second branch on the second floor of Plaza Indonesia.  The first and more popular Nannini in Plaza Senayan is a successful culinary establishment which has been serving an array of international and local cuisines since 1995.  The tasting that evening was organized by Goorme.com to introduce food bloggers, netizens and other guests to Nannini’s classic favorite dishes, cooked up by Executive Chef Francis Lim and his kitchen team.

Scusa – New A La Carte Menu

Dear fellow tasters,

Last month, I was invited to a food tasting lunch with several food bloggers at Scusa, an Italian restaurant located on the second floor of InterContinental Jakarta MidPlaza Hotel.  I have heard about the place but never had a chance to try it, so getting a lunch invitation there was very exciting for me.

Signora Pasta

Dear fellow tasters,

Two months ago on Christmas day, several food bloggers and I decided to try an Italian restaurant, recommended by word-of-mouth.  The restaurant, Signora Pasta, is owned and operated by an Italian family and is located in Cirendeu area, at the southern edge of Jakarta – a bit far for my preference but fortunately I was able to tag along a blogger friend.  The place is not really spacious; there are only five or six tables inside and two outside but it has a homey trattoria-like feel with nice Italian-themed decors hanging on the wall.

Spageddies

Dear fellow tasters,

It was after a wonderful conversation with two expecting couple friends in Senayan City, catching up and chit-chatting about maternal topics and others, that we felt a bit hungry and one pregnant lady suggested an early dinner at Spageddies.  The place is your typical family Italian restaurant with red vinyl sofa and homey decor and the menu selection is more on the traditional Italian side such as spaghetti and assorted pasta, pizza, primo, salad and other specialties.

Sopra

Dear fellow tasters,

It was before the Andrea Bocelli concert at Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place ballroom a couple of months back, that I decided to treat myself to a neapolitan dinner.  Choice of place: Sopra, a recent addition to the Cucina Italiana ristoranti in Jakarta.  The place is apparently snugged in a corner, just near Metro department store, not that spacious but with nicely-designed interior complete with a bar and black leather-clad dining area. 

Ocha & Bella

Dear fellow tasters,

After the fabulous Luna Negra dinner, with an enticing reason that she didn’t feel like going home just yet on a long Friday night, one of my friends impulsively dragged me and another lady to go for a quick after-dinner session.  Choice of place: another recent addition to the bustling culinary scene in Jakarta, Ocha & Bella.  Looking at the name, Ocha (Japanese green tea) and Bella (Italian for beautiful), the culinary establishment boasts a mixed menu of both east and west sides of the world. 

Mad for Garlic

Dear fellow tasters,

Fancy fighting vampires in your leisure time?  Then you might want to visit Mad for Garlic on a regular basis and use the garlic breath to scare off those neck-biting immortals.  This Korean-franchised Italian garlic and wine restaurant, located on ground floor West Mall Grand Indonesia, surely lives up to its name by offering various garlicky menu, from starters, salad, pasta, to pizza and other specialties.  Even the decor in the rustic medieval brick-walled dim-lighted dining area, like the chandelier, is made of garlic, or something that looks like garlic.

Pizza Marzano

Dear fellow tasters,

Other than the infamous Pizza Hut, there are many pizzerias around the capital which are definitely worth a try.  One of them is Pizza Marzano, a pizza franchise from the UK which has opened several outlets in Jakartan prominent shopping malls.  I’ve been there several times and when I rummaged through food shots from my mobile phone, I found pictures from two visits.

Capocaccia

Dear fellow tasters,

Sandwich is probably a casual food that we usually have for breakfast or lunch.  Even in most restaurants, it’s commonly featured as the second-class less-favorite non-specialty menu.  Regardless, if you happen to stroll around Jakarta’s elite shopping heaven, Pacific Place, do stop by Capocaccia for a taste of Italian sandwich dining with style.