Where have all the foodies eaten this year?

Where have all the foodies eaten this year?

Kenny Santana, Contributor, Jakarta

The end of the year has always been the perfect time to look back
and reflect. And the food scene is no exception. You could say
that the food scene in 2002 was like flowing water: Calm, no
waves, just drifting. It didn't have a significant trend like
2001's wine lounge (thank God, cause we don't need any more of
that) but whenever a new place opened, it was right on the mark.

In a city where dining out has become a lifestyle, you know
when hot names like Starbucks and Coffee Bean finally came to
attack every mall one can think of, it's a sure thing that
everyone will attack them in return.

There's also the birth of the first real French creperie that
gives new meaning to a romantic date. Then Tanamur, Salsa, Tamani
among other places were renovated and reopened with a new
ambience to look even fresher than ever.

Even established names like William Wongso and Grand Hyatt
recharged their energy by opening new hip spots to hit. And like
that wasn't enough already, Kemang has expanded all over again
cramped with many new stylish places to dine.

It's been a great year for a Jakartan foodie. Looking at the
best among the places that opened through the year 2002; here's
what we come up with. Nine categories, 10 places, and one thing
in common -- the best. Dig into this, and then dig into these
places.

Best Food; Java Bleu; Kompleks D'Best Jl.R S Fatmawati No.15 Blok E31;
Tel: 769-7291; Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Forget the ambience, forget the location, you know you're here
for the food. The location is indeed way too strange, the
capacity is only for 20 people, and the bluish decoration could
not be cornier.

But with good service, and most of all, delicious and
authentic French food, isn't that all we need?

With the menu changing every couple of days, you'll never get
bored with the food. But then again, the food would never bore
you anyway.

It won't fail the French-born tongue or others who appreciate
fresh, well-prepared French food. With divine foie gras, flawless
tenderloins, and generous desserts, you will go ooh and aah over
the food.

Some snobs probably would be put off since they can't show off
their latest hairstyle or clothes here, but real food lovers will
find it a haven.

Must order: Inspiring foie gras with baked mashed sour apple.

Best Ambiance; C's; Grand Hyatt Hotel; Tel: 390-1234;
Opening Hours: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m., 6 p.m. 11 p.m.

Despite the great food they have, it's the lively atmosphere
that makes you want to come back again and again. The tasteful
attractive glass design, the merry sound of forks and spoons
fighting and especially its open kitchen where everything's
cooked before your very eyes increases your appetite.

The cutely named four private rooms also gives diners the
privilege of viewing the newly renovated Rp 14 billion fountain
at Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

You know you're in seventh heaven while finishing the
marvelous dishes in a beautiful place like this. This is how all
restaurants should be.

Must order: Their addictive mango pudding.

Best Place For Desserts; Praline; Plaza Bisnis Kemang I, Ground floor
(Behind Brasserie restaurant); Jl. Kemang Raya No. 2; Tel. 719-2320;
Opening Hours: 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. Corica; Jl. Sampit V No. 2 Mahakam;
Tel: 723-7418; Opening Hours: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Praline is the first creperie in town that serves lip-smacking
desserts featuring real French crepes (of course) and 18 flavors
of homemade ice cream and sorbet.

The beautiful Moulin Rouge-esque atmosphere accompanied by
courses that never disappoint simply makes it's a perfect place
for illusional dining. It has fantastic service as well.

If Praline is not enough to blow your diet, go for the
authentic Australian (Perth, to be exact) apple strudel in
Corica. Remember how juicy Australian apples are? Triple the
taste, that's how their strudel tastes. Crispy outside, tender
inside, a sweet heavenly finish.

Must order: Flavorful sweet crepes (for Praline), the apple
and blueberry strudels (for Corica).

Best Local Chain; Izzi Pizza; Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto No.122 Menteng;
Tel: 314-7220; Opening Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (weekends until 11 p.m.)

No local chain has ever made an impression like this before.
It opened early this year and suddenly there were six (Menteng,
Kemang, Pondok Indah, BEJ, Cilandak, Kelapa Gading) of them. With
colorful decor and friendly service, it serves better pizza and
pasta than the others in its class.

The choices are wide too. Best of all, it's reasonably priced.
You'll be pleased that food comes this good without have to burn
your pocket.

Must order: The creamy fettucine con funghi with extra smoked
beef.

Best Watering Hole; Burgundy; Grand Hyatt Hotel; Tel: 310-7400;
Opening Hours: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. (weekends until 2 a.m.)

Grand Hyatt renovated the old O'Reilly's into Burgundy, an
aesthetic hip place to be seen. Packed almost every night, it is
not difficult to see why.

A wine bar meets cigar room where you find a gorgeously
designed room, beautiful people, wonderful live music, great
service, and impressive drink list. And did I mention beautiful
people? The place tries to be chic and contemporary, and somehow
it works especially with the stunning see-through wine cellar in
this burgundy-colored surrounding. Be ready to blow your money
here.

Must order: Kick-ass oysters shooters and refreshing burgundy
crush.

Best Place for Private Parties; W Surabaya Cafe; Jl. Surabaya
No.20 Menteng; Tel: 3150363; Opening Hours: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

The place meets all the requirements for a perfect private
party. It serves up to 60 people (seating capacity). It has a
perfect location that can be reached from everywhere. It has both
an outdoor and indoor area. It has maestro-made food.

It charges you nothing extra. And while the garlic bread is
the city's best by far, the food, from the sandwiches to the
house favorite, tournedos nusantara, is all toothsome. Unlike
other places, where your parties most likely have to blend with
other customers, they're willing to close the entire place for
your private bash.

Bad thing for walk-in customers, great news for partygoers.

Must order: Melt-in-your-mouth garlic bread and tasty flaky
fruit pizza.

Best Coffee Joint; Starbucks; Opening Hours (varies at every
branch): Senayan 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.; (weekends until 1 a.m.)

There's only two noteworthy big coffee chains that came this
year, Starbucks and Coffee Bean. Starbucks has more choices,
better coffee, better desserts and flexible opening hours. It is
easier to find Starbucks with a total of eight branches in the
city.

It's crowded most of the time, mainly since everyone here
thinks it's so cool to be found dead holding a cuppa of Starbucks
coffee.

Must order: Satisfying cheesecakes (plain, strawberry or green
tea) with the great iced caffe mocha.

Best Jajanan (traditional snacks); Mie Ayam Stadion Menteng;
Lapangan Parkir Persija Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto, Menteng;
Opening Hours: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. (weekends until 1 a.m.)

Finding a good place to eat in the street is a risky business.
You wonder if it's clean enough, if it's not too greasy, if it's
reasonably spiced, et al.

These concerns are dispelled by this small clean place in the
soccer field Stadion Persija Menteng. The chicken noodle soup is
one of the best I've ever tried. With the right portion and
ingredients, not to mention lots of chicken chunks, they know how
to make your noodle taste good (better than swanky places) and
original (like the street hawkers). And the meatballs could do no
wrong.

Must order: Superb mie ayam baso (noodles with meatballs and
shredded chicken) and thick fresh juices.

Best Hangout for Foodies; Cilandak Town Square.

This new mall is popular with everyone from celebrities to
your next-door neighbor. It's not like the mall you used to know;
more like a big food court.

Yes, they have a department store, yes, they have cinema, but
that's not what matters. What counts is that visitors can spend
their breakfast, lunch and dinner there just because they have
all the choices. Thrilled? You bet. Newcomers like Nandos,
Amadeus, Tokyo Lobby and Gino's are side by side with old players
like Dome, Excelso and Mangkuk Putih here. Consider yourself in
for the battle of the food. You won't care if you end up in a
food coma.

Must visit: Eaton.