ONE OF STORIES FOR FOCUS ISSUE (Cafe and Restaurant) -- Feb.8

ONE OF STORIES FOR FOCUS ISSUE (Cafe and Restaurant) -- Feb.8

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Dining-Valentine-day

Valentine's menu
Express your love with a romantic dinner

Debbie A. Lubis
Contributor
Jakarta

Love colors our lives with tenderness and passion; sometimes
making our hearts beat faster or making us laugh more often. And
Valentine's Day always reminds us to share a little romance with
someone who cares about us and makes us feel special.

Lovers may set a lovely table with candles and whisper words
of endearment to their beloved, while friends try to make the
friendship so distinctive. Family members can have a little party
and give a love note or exchange inexpensive but meaningful
gifts.

To help people celebrate such special relationships in a warm
and fascinating atmosphere, major restaurants in Jakarta have
prepared their Valentine's Day menus.

Most of them also provide such things as soft music that
pleasures the ears, dim lightning that soothes the eyes and roses
that provide an enchanting fragrance for those in love.

Two lovers may welcome the occasion by toasting each other
with a glass of Andre Brut sparkling wine at Melt Restaurant,
which is located on the 9th floor of the BRI II Building on Jl.
Sudirman in Central Jakarta. Then enjoy a three-course meal for
Rp 300,000 (about US$35.30) per couple prepared by executive chef
Trevor Bilney.

A succulent Caesar Salad of baby greens with smoked beef,
Parmesan cheese, garlic and croutons topped with a zesty dressing
will make a light beginning. Then comes the Australian tenderloin
with baked potato, Indian ocean gindara teriyaki and Chinese
mushrooms, a distinctive dish that blooms with the flavor of
garlic and sauce.

Wrapping the evening in romance, Melt also provides cookies in
which are rolled papers containing words of wisdom from famous
figures such as Hellen Keller and General Douglas MacArthur.

"We always serve our guests this. You should pick the cookie
that is pointing at you. It is part of the Chinese culture that
we adopt," said Michael Milande, Melt's operations manager.

Valentine's menus will be available from Feb. 13 through Feb.
15, from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. "There will be red roses for the
ladies, live acoustic music and a lucky draw to get a membership
card for one year," he said.

Chocolates and flowers indeed can express heartfelt commitment
to your loved ones, but a nice dinner will help you express love
in an unforgettable way. An Asian fusion set menu for two and
cocktails for two, accompanied by acoustic music, at Buzz
Restaurant will surely light up the passion in your heart. For Rp
380 000, the couple will have the chance to get special lucky
draw such as a one-night stay in a deluxe room for two inclusive
of breakfast, a dinner voucher worth Rp 250,000 at Buzz and
beverage voucher worth Rp 100,000.

"There are also red roses for the ladies. The romantic dinner
will surprise your beloved with a magical evening to remember,"
said Anita Herawati, public relations manager of Alila Jakarta,
where Buzz is located.

Buzz currently also offers a breakfast buffet consisting of
four set menus that include fresh juices, salad and platter,
fruits and cereals, hawker bazaar and hot station that presents
breakfast favorites, Asian favorites, Oriental favorites and farm
egg station.

For a couple who want to show the essence of love, an
exclusive "Ti Amo" four-course set menu provided by Scusa, an
Italian and Mediterranean Restaurant at Intercontinental
MidPlaza, could help them to understand and better express how
they love their partner. With Rp 488,000, a couple can enjoy
Valentine's cocktail and the top 40s hits brought by Koena Band.

"They are also entitled for a lovely present," said Yudith
Nurwulan, public relations manager of Intercontinental MidPlaza.

Scusa also provides Express Lunch, a 45-minute three-course
set lunch menu which is specially designed to suit guests with
busy schedule. The lunch that is prepared by chef Luca Pezzera
starts from Rp 75,000 per person including coffee or tea. The
menus served among others are Mediterranean Seafood Salad, Pasta
with sauteed prawns, grilled salmon steak and traditional Italian
Tiramisu.

Yudith added that those who like to sample Asian to Western
food could enjoy sumptuous buffet served at Java Restaurant on
the second floor of the hotel at the price of Rp 130,000 per
person. "With an additional of Rp 50,000 per person, the dinner
will include free flow of champagne. Not to forget a special gift
for 'him and her.'"

Meanwhile, a table for the whole family is available on Feb.
14 at Sailendra Restaurant at JW Marriott. The package costs Rp
128,000 per person or Rp 158,000 per person including a glass of
Kir Royal.

"Sailendra is not only offering a special buffet but also a
photo memento for each couple, special gift for the lady, 'lucky
dip' for a couple who will win a diamond jewelry item to take
home, plus an exciting lover's tree door prize from Clarins,"
said Mellani Solagratia, public relations manager of the JW
Marriott Hotel Jakarta.

Currently Sailendra also offers a program of Indian Food Promo
called "Don't Worry Have Tandoori!", from Feb. 6 through Feb. 19.
Chef de Partie Arun Kumar and chef Ajay Chopra from the JW
Marriott Mumbai have flown in to recreate the diverse culinary
treasures of India.

For Rp 112,000 per person, a lucky guest can win two return
air tickets with accommodation at the JW Marriott Dubai.

"Indian food is one of the favorites in our open kitchen,
besides Western and Asian (Indonesian, Chinese, Malaysian,
Thailand)," Mellani said.