Gudetama Cafe, Singapore

Gudetama Cafe was where Mom and I had lunch during our last day at Singapore. The dinning place is located at Suntec City, just a few MRT stations away from Fortcanning Station, yet a half an hour walk from where we got off since the mall is very big and simulating a never ending maze. I was terrified that we wouldn’t get ourselves a table since we arrived just in time for lunch, but thank God the place was far away from crowded. We got to chose where we wanted to sit. Of course I went for the booth. 

Water was provided on each table, along with a tablet that replaces print-out menus. There were numerous dishes to choose and, at first, I couldn’t decided which I wanted to get. My choice for lunch was between the Big Nua Breakfast and the “I’m Cold” Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict, while Mom immediately settles for the Rib “I” Don’t Care Steak although she showed a slight interest towards the Sun Tanning Pizza. After a long consideration, and a five-minutes bargain with one of the waiters about if the toasts in each dishes is changeable with extra veggies, I finally opted for the Big Nua Breakfast. No, I still couldn’t ask for extra veggies to replace my toast. Big bummer. It took around 15 minutes for my food to be served, while Mom’s took slightly longer. Hers was steak after all. 

I shall let you all savor the cuteness of both of our dishes down bellow. 

Big Nua Breakfast

My Big Nua Breakfast consisted of sauted mushroom, a big grilled sausage, a couple of sunny side-ups with Gudetama’s edible sticker stamped on each yolks, some generous bacon (I forgot to ask wether it was halal, or not), a piece of toast, a cupful of baked beans with tomato sauce, and some greens. Nothing could go wrong with this dish, right? Right!

All of the ingredients on my breakfast plate was delicious, but there wasn’t any wow factor or anything special from it. I really love how the chef didn’t overcook everything on the plate, even the sunny side-ups’ yolks were perfectly runny. The bacons were nicely fried, oily and delicious as always, and the baked beans were tender and not too sweet. Pretty sure they came straight from the can. I was not a big fan of the sautéed mushroom, but Mom, on the other hand, loved it. I ended up trading my mushroom and toast for Mom’s share of veggies. 

Rib “I” Don’t Care

Mom specifically asked for her steak to be medium well and it came medium well, thank God. The color of the meat was on point as it as dark brown on the outside while light brown and slightly pinkish on the inside. The meat was tender and the creamy mushroom sauce was a great pairing, making the dish very delectable. On the contrary, the mashed potato on top of the ribeye tasted okay.. as in, it could be better, but, hey, it’s a themed cafe anyway. Everybody knows that themed cafe priorities presentation more than flavor.

For every review on Gudetama Cafe Singapore’s Facebook page, we will be rewarded with either dessert, or beverage, of our choice. Being the gold digger that I am, I immediately went Carrie Bradshaw on their Facebook page and got myself a Citrus Pan. It was adorable!

Citrus Pan

Shaped like a sunny side-up on a pan, the dessert was actually a tart. Black in color, filled with meringue and citrus flavored hard jelly, the tart turned out very light and not the slightest bit sickening even though it was sweet. Mom and I managed to devour the whole thing and she even let out some compliments towards the free dessert. 

All in all, my first experience at Singapore’s Gudetama Cafe was not disappointing. Sure the price of the food was pretty expensive, we spent a total of 75$ for the whole thing, but it’s okay to indulge yourself once in a while.

Gudetama Cafe Singapore

Suntec City Mall

3 Temasek Boulevard

01-362 Suntec City Mall

Singapore, 038983

Opening Hours: 

MON - SUN: 10 AM - 10 PM 

(Hours might differ on Christmas Days)

Contact: +65 6677 6195

Pagi.

Pagi harinya Surabaya itu memang nikmat, ketika angin masih bertiup sepoi dan teriknya mentari belum tumpah memenuhi padatnya jalan raya akan kendaraan yang bersaing untuk sampai ke tujuan masing-masing lebih dulu. Setelah dua pekan aku habiskan dengan seragam, tanpa ada waktu rehat yang cukup untuk memanjakan diri dengan secangkir kopi, beberapa batang rokok, dan tempat yang nyaman dengan santapan cantik, akhirnya aku di sini. Di Volks Coffee. 

Flat White sudah menjadi minuman andalanku sejak dua hari yang lalu, ketika ia memperkenalkanku dengan secangkir kopi dan susu yang tidak kalah menarik dengan cappuccino bergambar angsa, atau teh hangat beraroma buah-buahan. Perbandingan susu yang lebih banyak daripada ekstrak kopi ini memang cocok untuk aku yang gampang bereaksi ketika bersentuhan dengan kafein. Selamat tinggal, tremor. Selamat tinggal, irama jantung yang pecah bagaikan kembang api di malam Tahun Baru. 

Aku tidak tahu, apakah rasa yang menjadi tujuan utamaku, atau penampilan. Tapi, yang pasti aku senang. Potongan-potongan buah bertaburan di atas perpaduan buah-buahan tropis yang sudah dilumatkan menjadi makanan pembuka yang sangat cantik pagi ini. Menjelang siang. Tapi, tidak apa. 

Volks Coffee

Jalan Tamrin No. 34

DR. Soetomo, Tegalsari 

Kota Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60264

Opening Hours: 

MON - SUN: 8.30 AM - 8PM

Contact: 

+62 813 5765 8829

What I Ate at Universal Studios: Singapore

The last time I went to Singapore was for work, and I didn’t even get to disembark the airplane because I had to immediately prepare my next flight plan for another sector, so a couple of weekends ago, my Mom and I decided to spend a couple of nights at the Lion City. We packed light, only a couple of bags and a small suitcase to store our clothes and future souvenirs for friends and family, then off we go. 

We spent our first day roaming around the neighborhood. We stayed at this beautiful and chick hotel named Studio M Hotel, located just a ten-minutes walk from Fortcanning Station. Our room had stairs that leads to the upper part of the room where sofas and dinning table was present to enjoy our takeouts from Seven Eleven. At night, we hopped on the MRT and headed to Chinatown, where we ate grilled squids on a stick, delicious pork dishes, and shopped a few bags of Tintin merchandise at this newly opened Tintin store. I also sent out a postcard to a dear friend of mine, Bernhard. I hope it’ll arrive anytime soon before Christmas. 

The next day, we spent the entire noon at Universal Studios: Singapore. It was our first time at the amusement park. The sun was rather nice, even though it made us sweat like a pig in a blanket, but later on came the rain. It didn’t stop us though. We managed to hop onto the last ride of Battlestar Galactica’s Human and Cyclone, enjoyed the endless loops and turns while having some drizzle of cold rain on our faces, just before it got stopped because of the worsening weather. After the ride, we were famished, so we visited some food stalls and got ourselves a bunch load of things. 

Gingy “Gingerbread Man” Cookie

It was none other than a gingerbread cookie. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Gingy the moment I laid my gaze on him. He was displayed in a jar, with a whole bunch of other Gingy, and the look on his face was like as if he’s calling for me. 6$ for a piece. I took out some Singaporean dollars and got myself the most beautiful and crack-free Gingy. Not that hard, slightly chewy, and it tasted weird (in a good way) like how gingerbread cookies are supposed to taste like. Although, I could taste a familiar flavor from the cookie as I’m a big fan of Indonesian’s roti gambang. 

Strawberry Christmas Churros

God knows how many inches this churro is. Crispy on the outside, whilst chewy and doughy on the inside, this churro is coated with cinnamon, sugar, and strawberry flavored sugar. It was too sweet and the strawberry flavored sugar was way too artificial for my taste, but it was edible and somewhat enjoyable. I mean, who would say no to a churro at an amusement park, right? 

Turkey Leg

Better than the ones the have at Disneyland despite its’ smaller size. The meat was decently tender and it was gusting with savory flavor. Not the slightest bit oily, it was smoked thoroughly to the bone, and the texture of the meat was anything like rubber. I totally recommend the turkey leg here for those of you who are on a no-carb no-sugar diet, yet hungry as hell and is struggling to find something to eat without having to break your diet. It’s only 10$ a piece. Great deal, no? 

Chocolate Milk Waffle

Mom is not a big fan of food, let alone dessert, but she loved the waffle. The milk chocolate coating the warm and soft waffle was sweet, but not too sweet, and it had a hint of bitterness here and there. “I love the chocolate coating,” she said. I had some chocolate sprinkles sprinkled on top as well, just for the sake of making it festive as hell, and it made the whole dessert became more fun to indulge. I, personally, love my waffle crispy on the outside, but I made peace with this one. 

Cornflake-coated Hot Dog

Not exactly like the ones I see in mukbang videos but, hey, it’s corn dog! I got me the one that had cornflakes coating on the outside. It was very crispy and not that oily, thank God. The batter was thin and the sausage had a spicy kick that made the whole being of the corndog less dull and bland. Although I’m not that fond with the taste of the batter, which was rather sweet and slightly sickening, the corndog was definitely enjoyable and tummy filling. 

Crispy Squid

Ain’t no other food at Universal Studios: Singapore can beat this delicious deep-fried delicacy. Even thought it was deep-fried, the squid meat was far from rubbery. It was perfectly tender, biteable, and super delicious! There was a dash of chilly powder on the bread coating and it escalated the level of deliciousness of this crispy squid. Mom and I shared the squid and it took us a period of time to finish the whole thing. I mean, who summoned the Kraken? 

Then came the last day of our stay at Singapore. But, that’s another story to tell, on another blog post to update.. 

Putting this here as an appreciation post because Kygo's new music 

video of Happy Now is breathtakingly beautiful. I cried in public watching this. 

What Kind of Waffle are You?

Banana Split Waffle
You are the adventurer. Like the toppings used in this particular dessert, you don't mind being different and stepping out of your comfort zone. You are not afraid to try something new because just going for the usual will just bore you anyway, right? This waffle is perfect for those of you who enjoy a burst of different flavor in one bite. The crispy and warm waffle are just to die for, especially combined with the cold and sweet Vanilla ice cream. Then again, who would have thought that chocolate sauce can go well with mixed-berries sauce if it weren't you?

Classic Maple Waffle
You are the happy go lucky. Ain't nobody can stop your from being the warm sun that beams out positive energy to those who are around you. Sweet surprises go along with your fun vibe, like the strawberry and the whipped cream to this waffle. Everyone likes you for who you are, but you have to know that there will always be that one person who doesn't like strawberry despite its' sweetness.

Salted Caramel Waffle 
You are the girl, or boy, next door. Everyone knows you for your simplicity and there's nothing wrong with being simple, and you know that. You are open for new and exciting things, just like the salted caramel sauce drizzled on this waffle, but sometimes it's nice to just keep everything subtle and drama-less. The waffle itself is great, let alone combined with a handful of almond chunks and the sweet and salty salted caramel sauce; just the perfect companion for your Sunday morning indulging on your newly bought novel of Dan Brown's Origin.

Brown Fox: Waffle & Coffee

Jalan Taman margasatwa No. 9C

Pasar Minggu, Jakarta Selatan

Opening Hours:

Monday - Sunday: 8AM - 10PM

Contact:

+62 819 9987 0041

Gangga Coffee, Ubud

It was a fine day in Pejeng. I woke up rather early that day despite last night's drinking session with Mom, Dad, and Sam. We had nothing planned for that day and Sam seemed a bit bummed up by the fact that he did nothing other than scrolling through his phone and playing with Lima. “Let’s head out to Ubud,” he asked, “we can use your Dad’s motorcycle”. I agreed immediately. The sun was not too intense and the weather was rather chilly, so it was very enjoyable for us to go downhill. 

Gangga Coffee is where we headed to hangout. The coffee place was recommended by a good friend of mine, Davie, when I asked him about good coffee shops that sell great manual brews. I promised him back then that I would be the first one, between the two of us, that would step into the coffee shop first. Then, there I was. 

Gangga Coffee is rather petite, yet beautiful in its’ own way and it has more than just a few photo spots for you Instagram people who are currently climbing the social ladder. I ordered me a V60, with beans which name escaped me, while Sam settled for an ice latte. I also got me something to munch on, which name also escaped me but it was the only waffle-based menu they have at the shop. It had a “Tropical Summer Waffle” ring in to it. 

The waffle had a beautiful and simple presentation, yet it looked a bit dead and dull as the garnish only stood out for each of themselves. Our drinks, on the one hand, was very simple.

My waffle sandwich had slices of banana, pineapple, and strawberry in between, along with a berry yogurt here and there. Again, same like the presentation of the garnishes, all of the element inside the dessert didn’t blend well. The waffle itself was plain and soggy, it didn’t even have the crispy edges like how I love my waffle to be. The fillings tasted like how fruits are supposed to taste like. “It’s not good, isn’t it,” asked Sam. I nodded in disappointment. 

On the contrary, the coffee was okay. I didn’t know how Sam’s was as I didn’t take any sip, but mine was light and very enjoyable. We ended up spending hours at Gangga Coffee chitchatting about work. 

Gangga Coffee

Jalan Raya Andong, No. 11

Ubud, Bali

Contact:

+62 361 908 2477

Opening Hours: 

MON - SUN: 8AM - 8PM 

Sego Sambal Mak Yeye

“Apa, sih, yang lo suka dari Mak Yeye,” tanya gue kepada Afif. “Ya, gue suka penyetannya, Kin,” jawabnya, “gue suka sambelnya, telornya, ikan peinya, tempenya. Ya, penyetannya!”. Jawabannya nggak ada yang masuk di nalar dan, buat gue, agak sedikit bias. “Sebenernya, yang bikin enak itu joroknya, Kin,” tambahnya lagi, “nggak tau, kan, lo di dalem sambelnya itu sebenernya ada iler Genderuwonya.”. Waduh. 

Sego Sambel Mak Yeye adalah salah satu kuliner legendaris di Surabaya yang letaknya hanyalah di sebuah gang kecil di Jalan Jagir Wonokromo. Tempat makan ini memonopoli gang tersebut, di mana di kanan kiri gang tersedia meja dan kursi untuk tamu makan, tapi lokasi penjualannya hanya satu dan sangat-sangat kecil. Ibarat semut mengerubuti remah martabak yang tercecer di lantai, beginilah situasi saat kami beradu urutan dengan warga lokal untuk memesan beberapa porsi penyetan. Kami berempat, ada gue, Afif, Ega, dan Mas Koko. Sementara Afif dan Mas Koko sibuk mengantri, gue dan Ega menyibukkan diri dengan hp kami masing-masing. 

Kurang lebih setengah jam lamanya gue dan Ega menunggu di meja yang kami tempati, di salah satu bangunan yang dijadikan sebagai tempat makan, barulah Afif dan Mas Koko datang membawa dua pasang piring berisikan nasi dan lauk-pauk yang terlihat biasa saja dan nggak begitu menggugah selera. “Dua asin, dua manis, kan.” tanya Afif memastikan. Punya gue yang manis, entah apa yang membedakan dengan yang asin karena tampilannya nggak ada bedanya. “Kalo yang manis itu dikasih gula, Kin,” jelas Ega, “jadi di sambelnya itu ditaburin gula biar manis.”

Kan, biasanya, khasnya penyetan itu adalah lauk yang dilumati (biasanya dengan ulekan, atau beban hidup) yang kemudian dicampur dengan sambal dan baru disajikan di atas nasi. Nah, sebenarnya, kalau mau dibilang “penyetan”, nasi dan lauk Mak Yeye ini nggak bisa tergolong sebagai penyetan karena lauknya nggak dibenyek-benyekin; lauknya hanya diletakkan saja di pinggiran nasi dan sambalnya dituangkan di atasnya. Kalau gue pribadi lebih senang menggolongkan kuliner khas Surabaya ini dengan “sego lawuh”, atau nasi lauk kalau diartikan ke bahasa Indonesia. 

Nasi pulen yang menggunung ditimpa dengan dua potong tempe goreng, satu telur dadar, satu potong ikan pei, dan tumpahan sambal yang kelihatannya pedas banget. Ikan Pei itu ikan apa? Gue awalnya nggak tahu. Gue udah keburu melahap beberapa suwir saat Afif memberitahu gue bahwa itu adalah ikan Pari. Hancur hati gue saat gue tahu karena gue udah berniat untuk nggak memakan ikan Pari. “Lho, kenapa emangnya, Kin,” tanya Afif. Gue udah beberapa kali menyelam di laut dalam dan terkagum-kagum saat melihat sekawanan Ikan Pari berenang berkeliling gue, dan mereka sangat-sangat cantik dan gue udah terlanjur sayang dengan ikan tersebut. Gue nggak sampai hati untuk sengaja memakan mereka. “Ya, masa gue makan temen, Fif,” jawab gue. Yang bikin gue makin sedih adalah ternyata rasa daginnya enak. Dagingnya manis dan empuk, dan rasa gurihnya agak-agak mirip dengan rasa daging ikan Tuna. Dagingnya diasap dan rasa asapnya terasa di setiap gigitan. Sama sekali nggak amis. Kalau kalian penasaran rasa ikan Pari kayak gimana, nggak usah ditanggepin, ya, rasa penasarannya. Please. Mau nggak mau gue harus menghabiskan jatah ikan Pei yang ada di piring gue karena gue nggak mau ikan itu mati sia-sia. 

Harus gue akui, sambalnya memang nikmat banget. Rasanya gurih dan manis, asinnya pas, dan pedasnya luar biasa gue sampai kehabisan nafas dan berucucran keringat. Kombinasi lauk yang paling top, menurut gue, adalah nasi, telur dadar, dan sambal itu sendiri. Telur dadarnya sangat berminyak, tapi gurih dan asin. Teksturnya kering, agak lembut di bagian tengahnya, dan tipis banget. Udah pasti telur ini nggak bagus buat kesehatan, tapi kadang justru makanan yang nggak bagus buat kesehatan lah yang enaknya nendang. Tempenya nggak berkesan sama sekali karena rasanya yang tawar dan pemotongannya yang terlalu tebal sehingga nggak ada garing-garingnya sama sekali ketika digigit meskipun sudah digoreng. 

Jujur, gue menikmati banget sambal yang disajikan di Sego Sambal Mak Yeye. Meskipun nggak ada faktor “wow” yang bisa dibanggakan, tapi gue tetap merekomendasikan sajian kuliner khas Surabaya ini bagi kalian yang belum pernah mencicipi. Tapi, boleh nggak gue minta satu hal? Kalau kalian mau makan di sini, nggak usah pakai ikan parinya, ya? Nggak tega. 

Sego Sambal Mak Yeye

Jalan Jagir Wonokromo Wetan, No. 10

RT005 RW006 Jagir

Wonokromo, Kota Surabaya 

Jawa Timur 60244

Contact: 

+62 821 4065 2797

Opening Hour:

MON - SUN: 9PM - 4AM

Available on Go-Food