Challenge: Spicy Food

Who loves spicy food? I do I do I do
I loooove spicy food. I am pretty proud with my spicy food endurance level. Most Asians have a better endurance level. However, my husband who is half Asian and half white has weak endurance level against spicy food. 

So I have been force feeding him with spicy food little by little to increase his endurance level. I am proud to say he is a lot better than he used to be. 

Once in a while, I would challenge myself to a new spicy dish. Either Ramen with various level of spiciness, cassava chips from certain brand that also comes in levels, fire ramyeon, etc.

Fire Ramyeon

cup Fire Ramyeon

Our recent challenge was Fire Ramyeon from Korea. There are 2 types of packages; cup and the usual one. The cup one is slightly spicier than the usual one. So make sure to try the cup one if you wanna see how much you can endure the spiciness. 

I am sorry for the bad quality of our video. I am not a professional vlogger. I put this on video so my friends can see it, especially my co-workers who have asked me to do this.

Nasi Goreng Mafia

Our second challenge was spicy Nasi Goreng Mafia's food. I ordered Nasgor Berandal level 1 for him and Nasgor Preman level 2 for me. This time I didn't take video of it. As none has requested yet. 

In total, Nasi Goreng Mafia has 5 different level of spiciness from level 1 the least spicy to level 5 the most spicy.

Nasi Goreng Mafia's Menu

Nasgor Berandal Level 1

 After trying a few spoons of this nasi goreng, husband had to run to nearby store to buy yoghurt and milk. As you know dairy product is the best one to soothe down the burnt from spicy food. When he got back, he brought 3 yoghurts and pack of cheese (fake cheese that he usually hates but he said it is crucial for this fight). 

Getting ready with 3 bottles of yoghurt

 To my amusement, he kept continue eating the nasi goreng until half of the portion. I thought he already gave up after the first couple of bites. I have counted every bite of nasi goreng, he would jug a couple swallow of yoghurt. He seems suffering from all the burnt. 

A gift for all his effort

To celebrate his own achievement on eating spicy food. He made himself egg sandwich with fake cheese, mayonnaise, and mustard. He ate it all with the remaining yoghurts. 

On a side note, Nasi Goreng Mafia is pretty spicy even if it was just level 1 or 2. I could not imagine those who would eat level 4 or 5. I have tried only until level 3. 

Tell us what should we try next for our next challenge?

Culinary Trip: 8 Best Foods to Eat in Seoul, Korea

Korea, the land of a morning calm, offers a huge variety of culinary from the cheap street food to a decadent Korean cuisine. Believe me, if you visit Korea, this trip is the one that you don't wanna miss out the most.

Korea has always been a country that has a great awareness toward healthy delicious food and it is always down to perfection thanks to their love of beautiful plating. The combination of colors on the plate, the arrangement of the food, the decoration of the restaurant, the unique gimmick they are selling, are the main reasons why you don't wanna miss out on their cuisines.

These are our list of places to go and foods to eat;

1. Bindaetteok at Gwangjang Market

This might not be that famous around tourists and visitors, but I am certain that everyone should at least try to come to Gwangjang market once. There are so many food stalls in this market. Lots of these stalls sell sundae (blood sausage), bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), tteokpokki, odeng, sausages, varieties of jeon (pancake) from small to big one, etc.
We ordered bindaetteok and tteokpokki. It was the best decision ever for the bindaetteok. The tteokpokki was nice, but the one in Hongdae was probably better. However the bindaetteok was super duper yummy. Dip it to the onion dip and yummmm!!!!

Tteokpokki

Bindaetteok

the wall was full of hand writings

 2. Korean Temple Food

 I don't wanna say too much for this one as I am planning to write another post just for this one. Yes it is that good!!!

Menu in Balwoo Temple Restaurant

 3. Shamcheongdong Heotteok

This is one of the best street food in Korea or in anywhere really. Best for cold days, because you will eat it when it is still hot or warm. There are 2 types of heotteok these days; the sweet one filled with brown sugar and nuts and the vegetarian one filled with japchae (buckwheat/rice vermicelli) and vegetables brush it with the apple sauce like shown on the picture.

Yache Heotteok or Veg.Heotteok

This particular one we got from Samcheongdong Heotteok in Insa-dong. It is kinda hidden from plain eyes. So you need to follow direction to go there.

Follow this map; Samcheongdong Heotteok

4. Beverages

Korea has a lot of varieties of beverages. Most of them are healthy beverages. Of course I wasn't just talking about makgeoli (rice wine) or soju. There are actually more than 10 healthy beverages you need to try, especially on summer. Bellow on the picture is my favorite one, Omija Cha.

Here is the list of 20 Korean best drinks; Korean Drinks

5. Tteokpoki and Odeng in Hongdae

I forgot the name of this place. It was a cute cafe in Hongdae area. We were kinda confused on how to order food because you need to order from a machine and give the ticket to the chef. After a while, a guy helped us out.  We ordered 2 cheese tteokpokki for my husband and my friend and I ordered Odeng soup. It was really good, spicy but yummy. The rest of the banchan (side dishes) and drinks are free. Definitely cheap and delicious.

6. Home food at PARC

 PARC has a really cute concept. The exterior looks like a house but don't let it fool you. The interior looks like a greek house with waitress wearing navy uniform. Almost feel like we are in Greece near the doc. This restaurant was famous for its home cooked meal. They have different menu each time. If you are coming to this place and by any chance you got the same menu like we did, I recommended the Grilled Salted dry Mackerel plate. 

Aussie Beef Bulgogi Plate, my plate

Grilled Salted dry Mackerel plate, husband's plate. I could not get enough of this.

Here is their review and address on Trip Advisor: Parc

7. Ramyeon and Fried Rice

We went to this restaurant on accident. We barely remember the name of the place. But you can find it in Myeongdong, they are located in 2nd floor near the chicken restaurant. I thought I was going to regret this choice. We were going to go to the chicken restaurant on the 2nd floor but we went to the wrong restaurant opposite the chicken restaurant. Turned out it was the best decision. This was such a guilty pleasure meal, comfort meal, especially on cold nights.

8. Pizza from Pizzeria D'Buzza

We found this place while walking around near my friend's office looking for a place to eat. We decided to eat in PARC then. But we came back the next day to try this restaurant. This place is close to Ittaewon and you can take the subway till Hangangjin Station. It has a glowing review on Trip Advisor too.

Fried Shrimp, my plate

However, I was not happy with my order. I prefer a clean fried shrimp without the head and feet. It was annoying to try to separate the shrimp for its head and feet.

Buffalo Cheese Pizza, husband's plate

Husband claimed that this was one of the best pizza he has ever eaten (including the one in New York). He is a hardcore pizza lover. So I trust his judgement despite of me not being able to consume cheese or any dairy products. He said this pizza has authentic Italian taste. He has been bragging about this pizza a lot to anyone whose not fortunate enough talking about pizza with him ;-p

I would recommend these places to anyone visiting Seoul. Most of these places are not easily found. You have to follow the map and direction to go there. But rest assure, it is all worth the effort.

Enjoy your vacation in Seoul and Stay Awesome!!!

Trip to Alabama; Day 1

After 30 hours of flight from Jakarta to Narita to Houston (Texas) and arrived in Huntsville (Alabama), I got to meet my LDR boyfriend and his family. I arrived there around midnight time, so I didn't get to chat a lot with his family that first night. I went to sleep immediately eventho thanks to Jetlag, I can only sleep till around 3a.m and stay awake the rest of the night.

the room I slept in

On my first day there, his mom invited a lot of people to come to the house on lunch time. She wanted to introduce me to everyone, so I won't feel lonely next time I move there for good. I think they really wanted me to move there. They tried so hard to make me feel comfortable there. it was very nice of them.

Right before lunch time, I took several pictures outside of the house because it was a very bright day, despite the cold weather.

Happy face

First Selfie in America

The shy selfie mode

Windy Morning

I met with their nice neighbor, super friendly. He said he was also invited to the lunch gathering later on the afternoon with his partner. 

They both came to the house for lunch with a lot of other people from the neighborhood, and mom's friend from the Fitness Center.
They were all nice and so kind. They all welcomed me. Some of them were actually bringing gifts specially for me. An Ethiopian lady brought me a red rose bouquet, she is so lovely. The neighbor guy's partner brought me 2 travel size pouches with travel size make up stuffs from American Eagle brand, his place of work.

There were plenty of foods in the house that day, from American foods to Indonesian foods. The most popular one that day was the gado-gado (salad with peanut sauce, Indonesian style) and emping (Indonesian Melinjo cracker). Glad a lot of people here also appreciate Indonesian food.

I was surprised to actually find Indonesian foods all the way there in US. His mom, being Indonesian, might be the ultimate cause of that..lol

The only think that I was somehow suddenly craving for is bakso (Indonesian Meatball soup), since it was pretty cold that day. I could totally imagine hot spicy bakso. I am still craving bakso up till now. There is no way babang/mamang bakso will pass through the neighborhood with his food cart. 

Conclusion:
1. I love taking pictures
2. Everyone is super nice
3. We have Indonesian foods in America
4. I got jetlag
5. I miss bakso
6. Autumn is pretty cold for my equator skin.

Helping out with the Gado-Gado

Ritz Carlton Mega Kuningan: Asia Restaurant Review

I have been to Asia Restaurant back then when I just started working as PR for this Korean Company I used to work for. We often rent rooms for our guests in Ritz Carlton. I remember I used to pick them up in the hotel and they would offered me to have breakfast with them first. I usually took the offer because I love Asia Restaurant's foods. It was 3 years ago, but it was still vivid in my memory that this buffet could be one of the best or maybe the only best buffet in Indonesia.

I was in a mood to rekindle that memory, so I decided to go there again with Mr.Giant (boyfriend). We both love international buffet and have been trying plenty buffet restaurants and hotels in Jakarta. I told him what I remember about Asia Restaurant and he was so curious. He wanted to prove it that it is indeed the best buffet in Jakarta.

We went there on Sunday brunch. There was a lot of people there. These are my plates;

Dim Sum plate

Variety of Salads: Artichoke salad, Brussel Sprout salad, Soba Noodle salad, Fennel salad, Capri salad. This is the best salad bar I have ever seen. Their salads are to die for. Soba Noodle was the best out the best, like 10 out of 10.

Cheese Selection was not a lot of variety. Hoping to get more.

Mamacita Mamamiya Yummy Yummy Tom Yum Soup. Seriously one of the best I have ever tasted. Fresh yet very tasty.

Had to get more of Soba Noodle Salad

Wish to get more Dark Chocolate variety, but most of this were too milky for me.

Too milky. I prefer dark chocolate. Too bad they don't have any.

Generous amount of Beef Oxtail

Grade:

Service: 7/10

Food: 9/10

Place: 8/10

Price: 6/10

Overall: 8/10

Call for Price.

Where to go:

1. Address: JL. Lingkar Mega Kuningan Kav. E.1.1 NO.1, Mega Kuningan, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia

   Phone:+62 21 25518882

   Hours:

   
   

   Open today · 6:00 – 10:00 am, 12:00 – 2:30 pm, 6:00 – 10:00 pm