Custard-filled Taiyaki

I spontaneously went to AEON Mall, the one at Cakung, with a friend of mine who goes by the name Gavin, and we ended up strolling around the entire building while occasionally stopping by to some food places to get us some cheap munchies. This Custard-filled Taiyaki being one of it. 

Everybody knows AEON Mall for its' food market that sells lots and lots of cheap food, and I bet you're aware of it too. I mean, come on, where else can you find a piece of Salmon Nigiri (a kind of sushi where it's made of rice topped with a slice of fresh salmon) that costs only Rp6.000,00? Or a pack of rotisserie chicken that costs ten times the piece of Salmon Nigiri? Or a various range of meat on a stick that can be payed with a single magenta-colored value with a picture of Sultan mahmud Badaruddin II (yeah, I googled it because I flunked at History class back at school) on it? Even Pasar Sumber Arta doesn't provide this kind of luxury.

So, as Gavin and I were window-shopping at the food market, I happen to spot this particular stack of fish-shaped food located just adjacent to the sushi counter. My finger couldn't help but to point at that particular section, while my mouth automatically let out a rather loud, "Ih, itu Taiyaki!". Skipped my way through some people to get myself a good view of the Taiyaki and there I was at sea on which flavor of filling I should choose: red bean, chocolate, or custard.

"Lo mau rasa apa," said Gavin. I definitely wouldn't pick the red bean one because I know already how it will taste like. It was either chocolate or custard. Just before I got the chance to answer, he cut me already by saying, "Ya udah, gue yang isi custard, deh." (Damn, boy, wait for your turn to defend yourself! The court has its' order!) I immediately grabbed myself the one with the custard filling and said, "Gue rasa custard," and leave him with no choice but to choose the chocolate one. We ended up sharing each of our Taiyakis with each other, tho. 

The pancake batter was okay and rather decent. It didn't taste sour, it tasted slightly sweet, and the texture was acceptably rather crispy on the outside and not so soft on the inside. It was a bit rubbery too, but it a good way. Unfortunately, the filling of the Taiyaki was lacking. I could only bite a bit part of the Taiyaki that has the custard filling, which is on the belly part of the fish. The other parts were just plain toasted batter. The custard itself was nice and sweet, it reminds me a lot of an eclairs' filling. I tried a bite of Gavin's chocolate Taiyaki and it tasted nice as well even though it's not my favorite.

AEON Mall

Food Market, Ground Floor

Jl. Jakarta Garden City

RT001/RW006

Cakung Timur, Bekasi 

Homemade Choux

Today, I received a batch of homemade choux from Baruna, my adoptive junior - also known as adik asuh here at the institution. He made the choux all by himself and, boy, did he do a great job at it! 

The homemade choux was puffy and very light - it had this kind of texture and appearance that would deffinitely make me fall for it if someone were to tell me that the choux was bought at some bakery or cake shop. My batch of choux were made yesterday, which explains why the pastry was slightly flabby. 

They were filled with sweet cream that was very sweet and foamy. For me, the cream has this sickening kind of sweetness if you consume it too much. Yet, for Gita (my dorm mate whom I share the choux with), it was fine and dandy. The inner part of the choux was soggy from making contact with the cream. A bit disturbing because I don't like soggy pastry, but it was still enjoyable and delicious.

I'm giving a 7 out of 10 for these homemade choux! I would definitely add another one and a half if the choux was served fresh from the oven and the cream was thicker and more custardy. 

P.S. Happy Belated Birthday, Baruna! I wish you all the good things in the world. And thank you for the homemade choux, they were lovely! 

P.P.S. Pardon the lack of good quality in those pictures I used in the post. The lighting in my barrack did no justice to the choux.