Wirastani

Friday, January 9, 2015

Homemade Es Teler

Es Teler is a well known traditional fruit cocktail in Indonesia. You can mostly find this dessert at every Indonesian restaurants. It is very simple to make this fruit cocktail, as you just need to combine various fruits with condensed milk. The basic ingredients to make Es Teler are avocado, coconut meat, cincau (or grass jelly), jackfruit, coconut milk, condensed milk, syrup, and sugar but it's okay if you want to use other ingredients like I did.

In this post, I will show you a super easy step-by-step tutorial on how to make one for yourself. Do take notes that I didn't include any measuring of the ingredients because I just made the dessert based on my liking. Don't be afraid to experiment!

Ingredients:

- Avocado

- Coconut

- Kolang-kaling

- Syrup

- Condensed milk

- Ice cubes

How to Make:

- slice the avocado into two and scoop out the meat into a bowl

- prepare your coconut by separating the coconut water and the coconut meat into different bowl

First, you cut the upper part of the coconut, then pour the coconut water into a big bowl. Then, cut the coconut into two, and scoop out the meat.

- prepare your kolang kaling

It doesn't have to be kolang kaling. I used this particular canned fruit because I couldn't find any grass jelly and jackfruit at the Supermarket. It worked just fine, and it tasted delicious as well.

- make your punch

Simply mix the condensed milk with sugar, water, and syrup. You might want to be careful when you combine the ingredients because you have to taste the punch whether it tasted creamy and sweet, or tasteless because you pour too much water in it.

When all of the ingredients are all prepared, take out your bowl and put everything in it. Put in the avocado, coconut meat, kolang kaling, the condensed milk mixture, and some ice cubes and voila! your very own Es Teler. Very easy to make, right?

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Reese's NutRageous

Reese's NutRageouss was, and still is, my favorite chocolate bar. I found this gem back in 2012 when I was in Doha, Qatar. Mom, Dad, and I were grocery shopping and the bright orange wrapping immediately caught my attention. How could I not? The chocolate has its' own shelf at the 'Chocolate & Candy' aisle at Family Food Centre. So, I grabbed a couple bar and put them in the grocery cart to take home with me.

Reese's NutRageous consists of Reese's peanut butter topped with peanuts and caramel, then enveloped with a milk chocolate coating. The chocolate bar was flavorful! The peanut butter gave out this delicious saltiness, while the gooey caramel and the milk chocolate had a strong presence of sweetness - it had that kind of sweetness that can make you nauseous when you have too much of it. I just love the peanuts that made the chocolate bar became even more rich in flavor. But, I have to admit, the chocolate bar had "diabetes" written all over it - and it was too sweet, even for a sweet-tooth like me.

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Deutschland 101: What to Eat When You're in Berlin

Strut, Momma. Strut.

Dear Readers,

when you travel, make sure you feast upon everything edible in sight. It's a motto I live by every time I globe-trotting. As a curious gastronomer, I find my motto very helpful to overcome my fear of trying something new - or, in this case, eating something I have never ate before - plus it also helps me in gaining knowledge about the background and the culture of the gourmet itself.

On December 2013, Mom and I went for a quick getaway to Berlin, Germany. Dad couldn't join us because he got aircrafts to pilot, so it was just the two of us. Home of the Berlin Wall has got lots of delights and cuisine and, I can assure, Mom and I gained a few kilos after we roamed the city for three days.

For those who are planning to travel to Berlin, I might have some list of the food that you must introduce to your taste buds. Most of them are budget-friendly, as they are available for you to get from the food vendors by the road, at any Christmas Markets on sight, and at small cafes at the corner of the streets. Although, there is this fancy restaurant named Maximilians that I always visit whenever I go to Germany. The food is a bit pricey, but the food is overwhelming. A definite must-try!

So, are you ready for the list?

Hopping on the Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe

1. Bratwurst mit Brötchen

Bratwurst refers to the sausage, where brat means grilled or pan-fried and wurst means sausage, and brötchen stands for the bun. It's a german version of hotdogs. The sausages are made of either veal, pork, or beef - thicker, longer, and juicier than any other sausages I have ever eaten in my life. They are usually grilled to perfection - crispy and rubbery on the outside, but as you penetrate your canine tooth into it, you will find a sponge-like savory chunk of juicy meat and savory goodness.

You can find Bratwurst pretty much everywhere because it is one of the most common food in Berlin. Most of them are sold on food trucks, or food carts - but I have seen a hotdog man carrying gas tank on his back and stove on the other side, grilling those juicy meat under his nose, and selling it to people.

Don't you just want to have them for breakfast everyday?

See, I didn't lie about the hotdog man!

2. Fisch mit Brötchen

It shares the same concept as the previous dish I mentioned before. The only thing different is the filling that they use to stuff the buns with.

Fisch is, well, fish. This seafood hotdog can be found at any seafood stand, or Fischhaus, that you encounter. They either sell smoked seafood or deep-fried seafood, and not only you can enjoy it with rye bread, you can also indulge with potatoes and french fries.

The type of fish that I had was an Alaska Seelach-filet, or an Alaskan Pollock. It was perfectly deep-fried, all golden brown and crispy on the outside, while you have a soft and oily white meat on the inside. Alaskan Pollock is related to Alaskan Cod, but since I am not familiar with fish, I find the meat simply delicious.

Just look at that perfectly fried filet

3. Leberkäse

Still share the same concept as the above, Leberkäse is a traditional bavarian food that is similar to a meatloaf. Leberkäse is made from grinned corner beef, pork, bacon and onion. All of the ingredients are then placed in a bread pan, hence the shape of a loaf, and baked in an oven. I personally love this particular dish so much because the meat is very delicious and rich in flavor, especially when it has cheese fillings inside.

Yum, my favorite!

4. Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen hearts, or heart-shaped ginger bread cookie, is an everyday sight when you visit Germany. All of the lebkuchen are decorated with colorful icing sugar, so that they will look appealing and attractive to people, when actually they don't taste as pretty as it looks. The cookies are wrapped in plastic and are attached to a string on the upper part, which is then necklaced by the buyer later on.

Isn't it adorable?

Which one is lucky enough to be taken home by yours truly?

5. Gebrannte Mandeln

This one is one of my favorites! Gebrannte mandeln is a burnt sugar almonds, or caramelized sugar-coated almonds, that tasted super sweet. For those who are not fond of sweets and have sensitive teeth, this snack might be a pain in the butt. But, on the other hand, gebrannte mandeln is a treat for the sweet-toothed. You should definitely give the almonds a try when you bumped into one, you won't regret it!

My share of sugar-coated almonds

6. Heisse Marroni

We can enjoy this particular munchies during the winter season as they bloom and harvested within a chilly and cold climate. Roasted chestnut is one of the winter treats Mom and I love to indulge in when we have our winter gloves on. They are usually served fresh from the oven and it is a pleasure to peel the stiff and burnt skin off to enjoy the delicious insides, as the chestnuts overflows with warmth.

Perfect during winter season

7. Christmas Market Munchies

Christmas Markets are like the constellations in the night sky. The constellations are numerous, but the stars within in outnumber the constellation itself. The same thing goes for the booths and stands at a Christmas Market.

During winter, numerous Christmas Markets will pop out at every corners of the street, and each Christmas Market will hold a serious number of booths to visit. Some of them sell knick knack and everyday needs, like candles and lamp shades, but most of them sell something that can fulfill a gastronomer's needs: food. So, while you are at the market, why not spend some Euros on budget-friendly, yet stomach-filling, snacks? And don't forget to eat everything in sight!

An entrance to a Christmas Market in Berlin

Chocolate-covered Banana, yum!

Flat bread topped with cheese and bacon bits

Waffles smothered in chocolate syrup

A ball of chocolate-coated cookies

8. Maximilians

Bored of eating off the street? Why not dine at Maximilians!

I recommend you to get the Knuckle Pork when you go to the restaurant because it is to die for! My Mom, who is not a big fan of eating, could finish the dish all by herself simple because it was just that good. The knuckle of the pork was as big as my calf, so you might want to be careful not to eat in when you're half full.

The knuckle was cooked to perfection. It had crispy golden brown skin that goes crunch! crunch! when you bite into it and a tender juicy meat on the inside. The dish is served with german-style potato, or bratkartoffeln, sprinkled with greens and poured with flavorful gravy.

When you see this statue, then you've come to the right place

The sight of the Knuckle Pork

9. Pretzel

Mandatory business, a pretzel is. Pretzel is one of the signature munchies in German. By having washing soda poured into the dough before it gets shaped and baked in the oven gives a pretzel its' signature stiff skin and flavor. I simply love pretzel for its' unique texture and funky flavor, especially when one is topped with sea salt and cheese.

It ain't German if you haven't eat Pretzel

You can buy a pretzel pretty much anywhere

10. Glühwein
Calling all wine lovers, you ought to try this hot beverage! Glühwein is a hot beverage that you can easily find in Berlin during winter season. The ingredients to make this particular beverage is, obviously, red wine, spices, and raisins - mix them all together and serve it while it's tongue-burning hot. I'm not a big fan of wine, so I didn't quite enjoy this drink. But, Mom loves it because it warmed up her body and it tasted exquisitely fine.

A glass of mulled-wine with take-home souvenir glass

11. Paulaner Weissbier

Mom and Dad said that if you want to enjoy a glass of beer in Germany, make sure you get yourself a Paulaner Weissbier - they believe that it is the best beer in Germany. Unfortunately, I don't like beer as much as they do. I simply dislike the bitter after taste and the annoyingly fizzy liquid, so I can't enjoy Paulaner Weissbier like my parents did. Bummer.

PROAST!

12. Hot Chocolate

What's better than a cup of hot cocoa when it's cold outside?

I always get myself a glass of hot chocolate every time we make a quick rest at a cafe. What I like the most about having a cup of cocoa abroad is that they use genuine chocolate instead of instant cocoa drink like they mostly do in Indonesia and every cafe has its' own way to make and serve their hot chocolate. I like my cocoa topped with whipped cream. No apparent reason, I just do. And it's a 50-point-plus if the cafe serves my hot beverage with cookies on the side. Don't you just love it as well when you get freebies?

Look at all those creamy goodness on top of my cocoa

Congratulations, you are at the end of the list! So, enjoy your holiday in Berlin, I hope my list helps you get familiar with German cuisine in a way or two. Remember, feast upon everything edible in sight.

With love, Kinan L. Wirastani

Friday, January 2, 2015

ilovebazaarjkt: Black Christmas

December 20, 2014, was the day I went to Grand Indonesia Shopping Town to attend ilovebazaarjkt's event: the Black Christmas. The event was first held on October 2012 and it has been going on up until last year, and will be continued this year. At I Love Bazaar Jakarta, you will find hundreds of local brands and online shops that fulfill your daily needs, starting from fashion, food, knick knacks, home-living, and even kids needs. I was very lucky to be able to pop up at the last minute at the bazaar to enjoy the delightful christmas atmosphere and indulge in some of the food available.

A map of the Black Christmas event

Entrance gate

The sight of the food stand area

It gets crowded as the sun goes down

My first stop was at Yi•kon, the first Seoul cane ice cream in Indonesia. What makes Yi•kon special is that they use this korean traditional corn snack named jipangyi as the cone. This cone shares the exact same texture with an Indonesian snack named Momogi - I'm sure a lot of Indonesian are familiar with it - it was very light, airy, and it got a lot of holes within the pipe; it can be seen as we bite into it.

The cones were available in three different shapes: J, V, and U. I went for the J because I think it is the most unique shaped cone among the three of them. Next, I get to chose the flavor of my ice cream, which can be mixed, yay! I defied oddity by having chocolate and green tea ice cream. The cone was injected with the ice cream, then was garnished with pocky, cereals, almonds, and chocolate chips.

Yi•kon, the first Seoul cane ice cream in Indonesia

Pick your cone

This ice cream costed me Rp25.000,00

After I was done with my ice cream, I went to another food stand and it was selling this batch of homemade Tokyo Banana. Tokyo Banana, ladies and gentlemen, is very popular among Indonesian. It is an omiyage, or Japanese souvenir, consisted of a batch of super soft sponge cake filled with banana custard. In my opinion, Tokyo Banana is very much overrated, but nonetheless still are delicious and delightfully enjoyable.

The name is Mainichi. The food stand had various flavors of its' homemade Tokyo Banana. Each costed Rp12.500,00 and I decided to have the one with Red Velvet flavor.

True, Mainichi's homemade Tokyo Banana tasted very similar to the original Tokyo Banana. What makes them different were the shape of the sponge cake, which was round, and the different colors within every flavor. Mine was pink as it was red velvet flavored and the banana custard filling was not that thick and slightly airy.

Delicious, but overrated.

Mainichi - Homemade Tokyo Banana

I went for the Red Velvet

Banana cream filling inside

My last stop was at Dolci's Kue Cubit stand. Kue Cubit is a popular traditional snack in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta. It is basically bite-sized shaped pancakes. Now, at this particular Kue Cubit booth, there were selections of available flavor and toppings, unlike any other Kue Cubit vendors that you can find in Jakarta. I was very curious with the green tea one, so I ordered a batch and waited for more than half an hour because the queue was just that long.

It didn't taste quite like how I expected it would be. I was hoping my Kue Cubit to be sweet and has that hint of bitterness from the green tea, with strong matcha flavor inside out, not to mention the runny batter on top because I ordered my Kue Cubit to be medium-well. But, instead, my batch of bite-sized pancakes were lacking of sweetness and green-tea flavor. It was a bit disappointing. Even the chocolate sprinkles on top didn't play a big part in enhancing the flavors.

Make your decision!

In the midst of making Kue Cubit

My green tea flavored medium-well Kue Cubit

Wanna grab a bite?

Overall, I enjoyed the Black Christmas bazaar at Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, despite the fact that some of the food I ate was overrated and far from expectation. But, it was fun while it last. I'm planning to attend next year's bazaar, and I'm hoping that there will be more choices of food available in 2015.

P.S. I made a quick stop at Potatoo's booth at the bazaar. Potatoo sells temporary tattoos with cool and unique designs. Each tattoo costs Rp20.000,00 and they were on sale that day, so I went home lots of Rp100.000,00 worth tattoos. So much fun!