Canteen

Located in the City's busiest street, Canteen Jakarta is one of the famous cool down place to go to. Canten has a restaurant + bar concept, and you can find most of your favorite western and Indonesian dishes. They also create special dishes on special events, like now in the holy month where they create lamb gulai dish.

I visited Canteen last Friday and they offer me a ramadhan special promotion :

so I ordered classic caesar salad and pan fried dori fillet with iced tea, while Eda ordered onion soup and pesto spaghetti. Our other companion, Otin, ordered spaghetti aglio olio, and Maico who came for a smoke decides on a cup of hot chocolate.

they add some mint leaves and basil seeds in your drink. I have to admit it compliments my iced tea as basil seeds fells funny as you bite them.

my classic caesar salad. crisp romaine lettuce, croutons, crispy beef bacons, half an egg, and grilled chicken. it is absolutely delicious and a lot! I literally have to take few minutes of break before I dig in my dori fish.I love how they use real caesar dressing, because I once ordered caesar salad where they use thick mayo as dressing. I never came back to that cafe, but canteen's caesar salad? I'm in love.

Eda's appetizer, onion soup with a slice of baguette and camembert. I'm actually never a fan of onion soup as they tend to be sweet, and I don't dig sweet but supposedly savory dish, but this soup is different. although its still a bit sweet, it is also savory and kind of pepper-y, especially when you bite the baguette after each spoonful of soup. I don't eat soggy bread, and this way of eating soup works for me.

Maico's hot chocolate. Bet he recognized my quirks by now as he repeatedly said "panda, panda! take a picture!". I now recognize his as I saw that is a monkey. But maybe its a hippo. I don't know. Hahaha.. So they serve the hot chocolate in a small glass cup with a small brownie cube. I didn't taste the chocolate nor the brownie, but judging by how Maico gulped it fast, I bet its delicious and rich in chocolate taste, but not too milky.

Otin's Aglio Olio. I never not loved Aglio Olios. I am in a deep affair with Aglio Olios. Canteen's Aglio Olios differs than any other that I have ever tasted as they toss bacon pieces, cheese grates, and some lettuce in it. Everything compliments the pasta. Simply the best Aglio Olio ever!

My pan fried dori fish, served with potato tartelle and tomato puree. They didn't mention a splash of pesto in the menu, but I'm glad they toss it in there. The only disappointment was that because it was a bit crowded, they served my fish before I finished my salad, and it gets cold when I took my first bite. I asked the waitress to reheat it, but they can't. maybe they didn't provide big enough microwaves to fit the plate, or afraid that it'll taste funny after reheat, but who likes cold fish? I didn't finish the fish nor the potato, but I did finish my broccoli, the only thing on that plate that still taste good cold.

Canteen gets crowded on weekends and you may need prior reservations to get a table.

Canteen

Plaza Indonesia Extension,

5th floor, #E02, E10

Jl. M.H Thamrin, Kav 28-30,

For Reservations : +62-21 315 6537

Central Jakarta, Jakarta

Travel options :

By TransJakarta Busway : Get off at Bundaran HI shelter, the mall entrance is on the left side of the exit. (costs IDR 3.500 for the TransJakarta)

By Taxi : Blue Bird taxis are available outside the mall. (cost depends on what taxi you're taking and where you're staying)

By Train : Get off at Sudirman or Cikini Station, then take taxi to the mall. (costs IDR 6.000 for the train, and around IDR 10.000 to 20.000 for the taxi ride)

J.

Quick escape from the city bustle : Bogor Botanical Garden.

The title said it all.
When you're tired of the bustling Jakarta with its famous traffic jam and pollution, come get a quick escape here in Bogor Botanical Garden. Located just 60 km (1 hour or closer if you stay in southern Jakarta) from the city, bogor is a great escape destination. Bogor is famous for its food and natural environment. It has big old trees everywhere you look. Although is has too much Angkot (mini bus) and it gets packed during weekends, it wasn't very crowded when I came, maybe due to the Ramadhan Month.

The garden entrance. It was recently fixed I guess, as I didn't recall ever passing this door when I came to the botanical garden in the past. 

The view from my picnic spot. quite pretty isn't it?

When you decide to visit the garden, a couple of thing that you need to remember :

1. There are no food stalls in the garden, so you have to bring your own, and make sure they are heat tolerate food as it may end up soggy on your way to the garden. Remember, Indonesia is a tropical country. I packed some fried rice and salad for my picnic.

2. Clean up as you go. Bogor Botanical Garden doesn't employ many cleaning services, but only landscape gardeners. They are not responsible for your trash, and any non-environmental friendly things you left behind may ruin the plants habitat. Don't forget that Bogor Botanical Garden is also functioning as a reserve area.

Have fun escaping! 

Kebun Raya Bogor (Bogor Botanical Garden)

Rangga Mekar, Bogor, Indonesia

Phone : (0)25 132 2226

Travel options :

By Train : Get off at Bogor Station, then take Mini Bus or Angkot to the Botanical Garden. (costs IDR 6.000 for the train, and around IDR 3500 for the Angkot ride)

J.