Donut Of Curiosity

Donut Of Curiosity is the newest donut shop in Jakarta that just opened last Sunday (Sep 8) at Ashta District 8 and will surely be the talk of the town (at least for the next few weeks) because of their unique store concept. Adopting a more simplistic approach, the store is decorated with just one artistic artwork inspired by the shape of donut dough being mixed. The enormous floor-to-ceiling knot-like concrete pillar structure that stood tall in the space is surrounded by concrete walls, soft pink carpeting and it also serves as a display for their donuts that are exhibited like artworks in a museum. The whole store screams modern and artistic and definitely invites curious gazes from the passerby. Although this kind of donut store might be the first of its kind in Jakarta, I have to say it also reminds me (in a good way) of Gentle Monster stores and Nudake cafes which adopted similar design concept and vibes.

Other interesting fact that I found out was Donut Of Curiosity is created by the same team behind the famous Scarlett’s brand. It’s said that it took the chef 1.5 years to research and develop their current dough recipe, which apparently uses 3 different kinds of flour for the mix resulting in their soft and chewy donut texture.

Currently, they are offering 10 different flavors—2 savory and 8 sweet options—for their donuts:
• Maple & Beef (32k)
• Truffle & Garlic Butter (32k)
• Valrhona (32k)
• Earl Grey & Milk Choco (30k)
• Brûlée & Yoghurt (28k)
• Lemon (25k)
• Pistachio (30k)
• Matcha Strawberry (28k)
• Smoked Vanilla (28k)
• Salted Honey & Kinako (25k)

(11 Sep) An update from one of the owners regarding the current ordering system:
Ordering system is split into 3 batches per day.
Batch 1 — 11:00 am
Batch 2 — 2:30 pm
Batch 3 — 6:00 pm

For those who lined up before the opening time, you can purchase donuts right away from Batch 1 until it’s sold out.
For Batch 2 and Batch 3, you can line up to place your order and payment anytime and then come back to pick up your order at 2:30 pm and 6:00 pm respectively.

If you don’t want to go back and forth, you can try to come near the time when the donuts are being restocked but availability of flavors is not guaranteed (while if you place an order prior to Batch 2 and Batch 3 time slot, then your order is guaranteed. At least this is how I interpreted the message that’s posted on the owner’s IG story. I’d suggest you to double check with the staff during your visit to make sure that the rules still apply just in case they make any changes to their ordering system).

Maple & Beef (32k) | 8.5/10

I tried one of the savory options—the Maple & Beef—which is also their recommended menu. The donut is soft and chewy. The sweetness from the maple glaze and the savoriness from the beef bacon were very balanced. And the arugula and mayo were nice additions to the overall flavors. A solid 8.5/10 from me. Also, would definitely recommend to consume these donuts right away.

The store has no seating so you can only do take-out for the donuts. There are round height tables available in front of the store where you can eat your donuts standing if you choose to. 

Also, special thanks to @munchandsnap.jkt for taking me to the pre-opening and getting me an early access to these donuts.

 

Donut Of Curiosity

Address: Ashta District 8 (UG Floor Unit 07), Jl. Senopati No.83, Jakarta Selatan, DKI Jakarta 12190, Indonesia
Hours: 11a.m-Finish

Instagram: @donutofcuriosity

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Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati

If you’re looking for a variety of delicious katsu menu and great Japanese Highball on tap, Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati is the place to be. Genbu announced their presence in South Jakarta by opening their third location in Senopati last December.

Still true to their original concept, Genbu Senopati carries all the elements that their flagship PIK location has—beautiful interior, delicious food and great service (you can read my full review on Genbu PIK here). What makes this location different though, is the presence of a highball machine at their bar that dispenses perfectly portioned, carbonated, and chilled highball from the tap. Imagine having a refreshing highball with their delicious katsu. That’s probably a good way to end the day after a busy work day or simply to chill with a friend or two.

Genbu Senopati has one small private room that could accommodate 6 people for special occasions or if you simply want a more private setting.

The Drinks

Horange-Cha (39k) | 8/10

Instead of ordering my usual Kitkat Mintini, which is usually my go-to for my every visit, since Genbu has added a bunch of new items to their menu, I tried their Horange-cha which is basically a mix of hojicha and orange juice. Pretty refreshing and I like it.

The Food

Salmon Aburi Canapé (59k) | 8.5/10

Chopped Aburi Salmon, Nori, Crispy Wonton.

Started my meal with the Salmon Aburi Canapé. The chopped aburi salmon was seasoned well and it was flavorful. But, unexpectedly, the highlight of the dish for me was the tartar sauce. The tartar sauce was the bomb and it really goes well with the salmon. I’m telling you, you got to dip it to the tartar sauce to get that wholesome flavor (seriously, you won’t regret it). I didn’t really care for the fried wonton because the size is a little bit too big for my bite and the texture was a bit soggy (maybe because I didn’t eat it right away). Maybe if they’re a little smaller and crispier, I’d give this dish a 9. But overall, it was still a great appetizer.

Salmon Rare Katsu (139k) | 8/10

Fresh Salmon, Crunchy Katsu.

Salmon Rare Katsu is another new addition to the their menu. The concept itself is pretty unique. They nailed the raw and fried texture giving it an interesting contrast when you bite into it. The deep-fried crispy breading sticks to the sashimi which is pretty impressive. The sashimi was fresh and tender and the size and thickness of the cut were also just right for a bite size. I do wish that the dipping sauce is a little saltier because it was a bit under seasoned for my personal taste.

A5 Wagyu Katsu Set (990k) | 9/10

A5 Kagoshima Wagyu Cutlet, Moritama Egg Yolk, Cabbage Salad, Rice, Kinpira, Japanese Pickles, Akamiso Soup.

If you read my other review on Genbu, you probably remember how I said that the breading of their gyukatsu was a little bit of a disappointment for me. I’ve given it a second chance after the chef revise the recipe but it still wasn’t as satisfying as I’d like it to be.

One and a half year later after my very first Genbu gyukatsu, I can finally say that their current version of gyukatsu is worth trying for. The chef has been going over revisions after revisions on their gyukatsu recipe to make sure that the breading sticks to the meat and doesn’t fall apart. And he finally did it. The breading does stick to the meat and doesn’t fall apart. It really has came a long way from the first version.

The meat is super tender and (I think is) best grilled to a medium for the doneness level. I still love the salt the most from the three dippings provided. The wasabi is actually also pretty good. It wasn’t too spicy for me and it gave that extra flavor and fragrance to the meat. Really enjoyed this dish.

Liquor on tap

After I had my meal, I ended up at the bar trying the different selections of liquor they have on tap while the chef explained each of the drinks to me.

Kakubin Highball (角ハイ) (120K) | 9/10

First, I tried the Kakubin Highball which is Suntory’s most iconic whisky mixed with soda. Served in a Suntory Kaku Whisky Highball chilled mug glass, the gold colored liquid is very light, smooth and refreshing. I imagine this would make a perfect pairing with Genbu’s dishes because it could help cut down the greasiness of the deep fried katsu.

Matsui Umeshu Brandy Soda (120K) | 9/10

Matsui Umeshu Brandy Soda is a mix between Japanese plum liqueur and brandy with soda. This one is sweeter and even lighter than the Kakubin Highball with a hint of aromatic ginger that came through in the aftertaste. I enjoyed this one as well.

Amaro Spritz (120K) | 8.5/10

Amaro Spritz is made out of Italian Vermouth from Cocchi with soda and orange peel. Very fragrant and the orange peel immediately hit my taste bud after my first sip. Would probably order this if I feel like I need a drink.

Daiyame Shochu Highball (120K) | 7/10

Mixed with an award-winning shochu made from 100% special ripen sweet potato in Kagoshima-Japan, Daiyame Shochu Highball has a unique lychee-like aroma with burnt-lemon after taste. Although it’s still on the lighter side, this one is the most bitter for me out of the four I tried.

Overall Experience

Genbu is probably the only restaurant in Jakarta (that I know) that has a very extensive selection of katsu with premium ingredients as well as menu that’s frequently updated with new interesting dishes. And that’s what makes going back to Genbu fun for me because I get to try different menu on my visits. I enjoyed the food that I had and trying their selections of liquor on tap was a fun experience. I’m not one to drink a lot of alcohol other than the occasional sip when I feel like it, but I have to say their on tap selections might make me inclined to order a drink in the future because they are all so light and smooth.

For those who knows me in real life, they know Genbu is one of the restaurants that I go back to pretty often. I’ve taken a bunch of my friends to try their katsu and every single one of them enjoyed their food. This visit was no different than my previous ones. I had a great meal and service was good as well. Will I go back to eat at Genbu again in the future? You bet I will.

 

Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati

Address: Jl. Suryo No.25, Rw. Bar., Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12180, Indonesia
Telephone: +62813 8153 0133
Hours: 11am -12am

Instagram: @genbu.jkt

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Milou Farm House

Milou Farm House is a newly opened cafe/restaurant in South Jakarta that had its soft opening just last week. Adopting the concept of a farmhouse, the building of the place resembles one which certainly makes it stands out from its neighboring buildings.

First thing you’ll notice is the barn style structure with a big revolving door (that I’m pretty sure will be one of the main thing people share on social media) that leads to the inside of the restaurant. The first floor of the restaurant is where the salad bar, buffet stations (which will be coming soon in the upcoming weeks), and gelato bar are located. This is also where you’ll place and pay for your order before proceeding to the second floor where the seating areas are.

The second floor is divided into semi-outdoor and indoor seating area. If you want to take pictures of yourself or the food, the semi-outdoor area is definitely the better choice because of the natural lighting. But if you want to avoid the sun and prefer to be in a cooler space, definitely go for the air-conned indoor seating area.

The Food & Drinks

The whole concept of this restaurant is actually farm to table buffet where you can pick what you want to eat from a selection of dishes they’ll put on display on different stations. They also offer a wide range of a la carte menu that you can choose from. Since I came just a week after their soft opening, the buffet stations are not available just yet. So the food and drinks that I tried were from their a la carte menu.

Sunset Carnival at Malibu Beach (39,5K) | 7.5/10

For the drinks, I ordered based on the server’s (and bartender’s) recommendations after I told her that I prefer non sour drinks. The first one is the Sunset Carnival at Malibu Beach. The red color on the bottom worried me at first because I thought it’ll be sour (I usually associated red with berries flavor, which for me is sour), but it actually wasn’t. The drink was refreshing and not too sweet.

Tea Sorbet (39,5k) | 8/10

One of their signature drinks is the tea sorbet. I tried the Temple of Rose / La Vie En Rose + Black Tea + Strawberry Basil (I couldn’t remember which Rose I chose honestly but it looks like the pictures above). Again, when it arrived on the table, I was worried that it was going to be sour just because of the color. But once again I was pleasantly surprised by how light and refreshing the drink is. Nothing is overwhelmingly sour or sweet and it’s definitely a unique combination that’s perfect for a hot day.

Buffalo Chicken Wings (59,5K) | 7/10

For appetizer, I tried the Buffalo Chicken Wings that come with the sides of vegetable sticks and ranch dressing. The sauce is really bold and flavorful and covered the five pieces wings thoroughly. This is a good option if you want to order a light appetizer to share.

Spicy Chicken Burger (79,5k) | 7.5/10

Served with homemade brioche buns, glazed with spicy buffalo wings sauce and homemade coleslaw, the portion of the spicy chicken burger is definitely big. I had to eat it open faced so it could fit into my mouth. The buns were nice and soft. The chicken was cooked nicely. The breading on the chicken is crispy and definitely well seasoned. The sauce is the same sauce as the buffalo chicken wings, so maybe order a different appetizer if you’re planning to order this as your main course. The fries is well-seasoned and crispy. Overall a good chicken burger.

BBQ Beef Brisket Steak with Fusion Jimbaran Sauce (159K) | 8/10

36-hours sous vide tenderized smoky beef brisket with homemade BBQ sauce infused with rosemary and thyme, served with garlic parmesan mashed potatoes (or the option of truffle fries). This is probably my favorite menu out of all the dishes I tried. The steak is well cooked, tender and cut in a good bite size portion. The sauce is tasty and definitely unique since they made a fusion of BBQ and jimbaran sauce. The sides were also well cooked and seasoned.

Belgian Waffle (49,5K) | 7/10

Served with mix fruits, honey maple syrup, and brown sugar coconut glaze jam. The portion of the waffle is pretty generous. The waffle is not too thick and I personally think the texture of the waffle is a little bit on the softer side (I usually prefer my waffle to be a little crispy on the outside but soft on the inside).

Lastly, I also got to try some of their gelato. Milou Farm House makes their gelato in-house and they offer 24 different flavors for you to choose from. After tasting a couple of different flavors, one thing I noticed about their gelato is all of them are not too sweet, which is always a plus in my book. They taste light and fresh with the right amount of sweetness to end your meal.

Flavors that I tasted were Peanut Butter, Hokkaido Japanese Milk, Cookie Monster, and Black Charcoal. I give 7.5/10 for the Peanut Butter and Hokkaido Japanese Milk (this one is actually pretty different than any other Hokkaido Japanese Milk flavors I’ve tasted before). A 7/10 for the Cookie Monster (the blue one on the picture below) because the chunks of cookies mixed in with the gelato were a little big for my preference and so it felt a little disconnected from the flavor (almost like an ice cream with a cookie crumble topping instead of a cookie flavored ice cream if you know what I mean).

Black Charcoal (35k) | 8/10

Black charcoal was the best one out of all the flavors I tried, maybe because I like black sesame which is one of the main ingredients of the flavor. The black sesame flavor definitely came through on this one. If you like black sesame, definitely try this flavor out.

The Service

The service was good. The servers were very polite, friendly and they definitely know the menu because when asked for recommendations, they were quick to give answers. The food came out in a timely manner. They also brought out new individual plates out when they noticed our plates were already full of sauces from previous courses which was nice.

All and all, had a good time during my visit to this place. If you want to visit the place and check out their buffet, I suggest you check with the restaurant first on when they’ll have that available. But if you’re okay with just their a la carte menu, then you should be good to go anytime since they’re already open for public.

 

Milou Farm House

Address: Jl Ciranjang No 30, Kebayoran Baru, Jakart Selatan 12180, Indonesia
Telephone: +622127099488
Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM | Sat-Sun : 8AM-8PM

Instagram: @miloufarmhouse

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Penn Deli

Say hello to Penn Deli, a newly opened cafe in South Jakarta brought to you by the same team who brought you Penn Restaurant that’s located in the same building one floor above it. Penn Deli opened its door to the public just last week, offering fresh-baked pastries, sliced cakes as well as delicious sandwiches inspired by New York City’s delis. The small cafe that’s neatly decorated with hip modern artworks and wooden furnitures accommodates about 12 people or so and is a prefect place for a weekend brunch if you’re looking for a great sandwich selections.

The Ambience

I love the design of the place. My favorite part is probably their menu boards which were reminiscent of one of those broadway signs and retro movie marquees in New York. The interior feels very hip and modern yet nostalgic at the same time. The one thing about their relatively small space is that the AC was way too cold for me personally. I visited during a hot sunny day and I was freezing inside. I guess it’s a good thing if you like cooler space, but for me, the temperature could’ve been turned up a notch.

The Sandwiches

Penn Deli’s hero menu is their sandwich selections which are available in limited quantity daily and usually sold out fast. I tried two of them and I can understand why they’re proud of their sandwiches.

Broadway Sandwich (155K Full Portion/83K Half Portion) | 8.5/10

Sliced steak, grilled onions, pickled jalapeño and cheese. This was my favorite menu from my visit. The steak was tender, cooked nicely, and was cut in perfect bite size. Add that to the combination of grilled onions, cheese and the sauce, my first bite was heavenly. It was super flavorful and juicy and everything works together really well. I also really like the sauce. Not sure what it’s made out of but it tasted like barbecue sauce with an asian twist (like sweet onion teriyaki sauce maybe?). It was really good.

The Park Ave Sandwich (95K Full Portion/53K Half Portion) | 7/10

Grilled chicken, pesto, tomato and cheese. Overall, this was also good. The pesto really was the main hero of the dish. The juicy tomato gave it a fresh note to the bite so that the pesto is no too overwhelming. Took off points because the chicken is a little dry for my taste. But overall, a solid sandwich.

Strawberry Danish (25k)

S’mores Cake (65K)

Butter cake, cracker, chocolate ganache, and marshmallow meringue. The portion of their sliced cake is pretty big. It’s probably good for 2-3 people to be honest. The s’mores cake is a little too sweet for my taste, but it might be perfect if you’re having it with a coffee.

 

Penn Deli

Address: Jl. Wolter Monginsidi No.25, Jakarta Selatan, DKI Jakarta 12180, Indonesia
Telephone: +6282299996366
Hours: Weekdays 09:00 am - 09:00 pm | Sat & Sun 08:00 am - 09:00 pm

Instagram: @penndeli

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