ITADAKIMASU PIK JAKARTA

The moment I saw those kawaii panda pictures posted on my foodie friends, Hans & Julia's instagrams, my thought was "okay another one at PIK soon to be spotted with long queue". It's not a secret that Pantai Indah Kapuk are filled with those trending hipster cafes with cuteness overload and instagram worthy kind of food.

[CLOSED] Societea

When the number of bubble tea shops at Pantai Indah Kapuk reached a dozen, I actually thought it would be the last one. I was wrong. A local bubble tea shop, Societea opened around few weeks ago with one of the prettiest design concept among the bubble tea shops lining up at PIK.

GeorgPeck Indonesia

It's been a while since I wrote a full post on bubble tea. Normally, I will only include the new one I tried into the bubble tea list, but I feel like this one need a self coverage in Ivy's life.Yes, it is that good. 

The first time I heard and knew about GeorgPeck was from some friends' IG photos. They were all raving on Georgpeck's Fresh tomato with honey iced blended. My curiosity was raised although not so much as it used to be when it comes to new bubble tea, as most of those new bubble teas came to disappointment to me. Lack of flavor, nothing worth to drink twice. 

Spoiled with various choices of bubble tea at PIK

On the early stage of bubble tea's popularity months ago, with only few brands around, Cha Time, Come Buy, Boba Inc... Queuing line were seen in almost every stalls. Nowadays, line of queue almost never seen, but it doesn't mean that they have lost their popularity. Even worse, I feel like Jakarta were attacked with bubble tea virus, so many that I simply forced to write a separate bubble tea post beside the one I posted quite some time ago. Click here.

Dakasi: Bright shiny stars from Taiwan

Tuesday night...
During Keeping up with the Kardashians...
Beep beep
Got a bb message from a friend of mine,
"Hey why your recent posts lately cover those places at PIK only? Don't you go anywhere further than that place?"

I smirked, replied... 
"You talk to your new governor, tell him to do something with that traffic on his 7k highway, then I'll start to review all kinds of new places you want".

I noticed. Guilty as charged, I have not really been myself lately. I never like the traffic in Jakarta, but it used to never stop me from hunting new cafes in town.
These couple months, just the thought of getting the car out of garage, side by side with those traffic easily convinced me to change my mind from having lunch at south to randomly sauteed whatever I can find inside the fridge.

I'm not a grumpy, I know that traffic jam is a done deal package for people living in Jakarta. I used to not really bother by it, but lately I don't know man... Is it just me who thinks the traffic just getting worse and worse?

So, for the time being... Please bare with me when my post mostly limit to cover places at PIK. ;)

The Lab: Get your drinks prepared by ScienTEA

Another local bubble tea shops emerged at Pantai Indah Kapuk. It was not more than a month during my "sabbatical" weeks that I didn't step my foot at PIK, and here I was stunned of how many new cafes emerged at the same row as the famous Ikkudo.

[CLOSED] Fat Bubble PIK

I just came back from an impromptu short trip to Hong Kong. Despite I've been having so much fun there enjoying the cool weather and no traffic hassle, now it's reality check time. Clicking Ivy's Life and surprised to see the number of posts I've had lately. Only 5 posts in October, and so far also only 5 posts in this month. Boy, I have not been a good student in doing my homework. 

Anyway...

B-Side Wakai Cafe

Last week, I went to Plaza Indonesia by my self. A menswear which my hubby likes was having a 50% off and that was my visit's purpose until I spotted a new cafe connected with a Japanese fashion's brand, I remember a fellow blogger, Cindy, reviewed it a while ago on her blog so I decided to stop by for a quick bites. 

Starbucks Autumn 2012 Media & Food Enthusiasts Gathering

Yesterday, several bloggers and I were invited to Starbucks' media & food enthusiasts gathering at Kota Kasablanka. As always, Starbucks comes with selections of their seasonal F&B and this time the gathering was held to introduce their Autumn's food & beverage. We were spoiled with kept on coming bread and cakes selections, not to mention their newest soon to launch Autumn blend coffee and Sea salt caramel mocha. 

Ochado bubble tea

The first bubble tea in Jakarta which originated from Japan and not from the bubble tea country, Taiwan. The word of Ocha means tea, and Chado means culture in Japanese. Stepping inside their shop at PIK, loud music were heard. Hmm... loud music at bubble tea shop, that's new. Interior came in dark wooden furniture giving it sort of mystic modern ambiance.

Cha Cha Bubble Tea

Spotted another new bubble tea originated from the bubble tea country, Taiwan. Located at the 4th floor of Pluit Village next to Shilin. I love what they did with the menu board, it was sketchy and colorful to look at. They have selections of fresh tea, milk tea, fresh milk and ice blended with various unique flavor that I haven't found in other bubble tea's brand such as Irish cream, butterscotch, creme brulee, tiramisu and marshmallow. I was going to try one of the unique one's when I saw they also have one of my favorite tea flavor which is rose, so for my first attempt I tried Rose black tea with pop passion fruit boba (21k) and my friend chose Oolong milk tea with egg pudding (21k). 

Artease & Share Tea Bubble Tea

Artease bubble tea 

Tried: Apple rose tea (detoxifying effect) with aloe vera ($5), Oolong milk tea with custard puddings ($4), Plum green tea with mini pearls ($3).

Fact: Come with quite many selections from milk tea, fruit teas to coffee. Their branch at Orchard Cineleisure is in collaboration with a Japanese restaurant so we can have options of Japanese food to be eaten there. The pearl topping is free while the others like pudding, aloe vera, grass jelly cost around 0.5 cent to $1.

Bubble tea fever in Jakarta: Which one you like best?

You know how you are on diet and there's just one thing that you simply cannot let go, and you just let it ruin your diet plan? Well, for me that thing came in plastic cups with toppings. I love bubble tea and simply can't get enough of them. Who's with me?

Update: For bubble Tea brands located at PIK, pls click here.

CHA TIME  (franchise from Taiwan)

Strong points: Comes with the most variants among others bubble tea, generous toppings and the richest flavors of others bubble tea. Originate from Taiwan. Their plum tea is the best, rich in flavor, really can feel the sourness.

Price range: 18 - 21k for regular, 21 - 24k for large.  

Recommendation: Taiwan plum green tea & Sour plum green tea with aloe vera toppings. Both are top notch.

Available at: Central Park, Ciputra, Gandaria City, Senayan City, Living World, Mal Artha gading, Mal Puri Indah, MKG 3, Ace Bintaro, Plaza Semanggi, Kota Kasablanka, Grand Indonesia, Mall Taman Anggrek, Emporium Pluit, Pantai Indah Kapuk, Baywalk.

Read complete review here. 

Hong Tang (Sweet Poetry)

 

Anyone into Ice Kachang? 

Actually they not only serve ice kachang, Sweet Poetry is more about Chinese traditional desserts. They used to have Hong Kong's fruit desserts such as the famous Mango Sago, but nowadays they're back to having only traditional Chinese dessert, Tong Shui (soup base). 

Besides traditional Tong Shui like almond soup, black sesame soup, they also have types of soup base from green beans, grass jelly and Q ball (salak seeds). It was a bit confusing for a first timer like me as the menu comes with many selections, and the waiter was not really mastering the menu, if I may say. When I asked for recommendation, all he did was repeating what had been stated in it. At the end, out of confusion, we randomly picked red bean + peanuts + pearl in green beans soup base (18k) and yam + barley + mochi in grass jelly soup base (18k).

CALAiS Artisan Bubble Tea & Coffee

Last Sunday, I went to Kuningan City with my mom. Most of the tenants were still under renovated so there was nothing much to do there. I remember someone told me there was a bubble tea joint here, so I looked around and found CALAiS in the lower ground, across to Killiney KopiTiam. 

Boba Inc Bubble Tea

Spotted a new bubble tea in front of Yamagoya Ramen. Seems like more and more bubble tea outlets mushrooming in Jakarta nowadays. Well, fine with me, more to come please. ;)

It was my first time knowing Boba Inc although the one at UOB Plaza is their 4th outlet. They were having promo "buy 1 get 1" during that time (only until 15apr). In comparison with other bubble tea joints in Jakarta such as Cha Time, Bobabits and Come Buy, Boba Inc came with lesser selections. One of their best seller was Nutty Professor, hazelnut milk tea with honey boba. I noticed they have some unique toppings like honey boba, pink boba, strawberry boba, yogurt boba, etc.

Introducing Starbucks Blonde Roast

Several days ago, I was invited by Starbucks Indonesia to attend "New Starbucks Roast Spectrum" held at fX Sudirman. Lately I have been getting several food tasting invitations, but I never had the chance to go due to some reasons, so this was the first food tasting I managed to go. Yay! 

Starbucks introduced their newest blonde roast which was a smooth lighter type of coffee. In the event, they explained to us that the reason they created blonde roast was to satisfy customers who are looking for a lighter not too strong coffee. There were two variants for the blonde roast which are: 

Veranda Blend

Combination of chocolate & peanuts from Latin America that is best pairing with food containing milk chocolate and peanuts.

Willow Blend

This coffee is from Latin America & East Africa with citrus flavor, creating a very light beverage type which is best pairing with food with citrus flavor. 

I am not a coffee expert as I don't drink coffee, but I did taste a small cup of Veranda blend and it was lighter than the one I sipped while ago from my mom's coffee cup. At the same occasion, Starbucks also introducing their four new variants of spring foods. 

VIA Red Velvet Cake Roll (25k)

I think it was a good idea for Starbucks to create their own Red Velvet along with so many red velvets in town. What makes theirs different was that they added VIA coffee inside the roll cake. 

For my personal flavor, I didn't really like the coffee taste in the cake as to me the coffee taste was too strong that it dominated the red velvet flavor. 

Fillo Chocolate Raisin Pastry (27,5k)

This one was my favorite. The combination between the chocolate with almond, vanilla, butter and raisin covered in the crispy crunchy fillo pastry was to die for. I really enjoy my every single bite.

Chocolate Raspberry Danish (22,5k)

The danish was a very crisp pastry covered in sugar glazed with combination of chocolate and raspberry  in the center. It was a little bit too sweet for my taste.

Toffee Almond Bars (21k)

This one was also my favorite. The crunchiness of almond, white and dark chocolate was just simply delicious. It had toffee taste so it was not too sweet. I like! 

Aside from the blonde roast, Starbucks also had two new beverages to offer for this spring which was Cocoa cappuccino and Caramel cream coffee jelly frappucino. They didn't served the cocoa cappucinno on the food tasting as cappucinno was best to drink while hot due to the foam, but I got to taste the caramel cream coffee jelly frappucino and it was good. At first I thought it will be too dairy as it was mixed of milk, ice and caramel syrup with whipped cream, caramel sauce and coffee jelly, but turns out the milk was not over powering, I actually like this one. 

Overall, I had a pleasant afternoon. It was a new experience for me accompanied with delicious pastry and smell of coffees. Not only they didn't let us go back on empty stomach, Starbucks also didn't let us go back empty handed, we were each given a lucky bag with one tumblr and Dark Sumatra roast coffee inside, and I answered right on a question games so I got an extra cute mug. ;) 

Thank you Starbucks for having me, it was fun. :) 

Cha Time

Ah Cha Time... What can I say about you except love you to the max!

Cha Time @ Velocity

Cha Time @ Central Park

I had been on dieting mode for the past few days but yet one thing I can't let go is drinking bubble tea. Actually it's not only about bubble tea, I love beverages, I used to always order Starbucks Lemonade Zen Tea when Jakarta hasn't been attack by so many different brands of bubble tea. I'm not sure why but every time I go to mall, I will make sure there's a cold beverage accompany me wandering.

Sadly, I never found any really yumm bubble tea in Jakarta. The thing is I like sour things for my drinks, but all the sour teas were just not sour enough. Until I met Cha Time. I knew Cha Time just a week ago when I went to Spore. On my way to Wee Nam Kee, I exit Velocity and saw Cha Time on my right near exit door, so I stopped by and order their Taiwan plum ice tea w/ aloe vera ($2,9). It was so gooood. The sour was in perfect portion, love it! Very very refreshing.

When I got back to Jakarta, I remember I heard my friend said that Cha Time had opened in Central Park and Mall Puri Indah, so the second day I got back, I quickly went to Central Park with bestie. It was located in front of May Star and crowded. I ordered Sour plum green tea w/ aloe vera (21k) and my bestie ordered Taiwan plum ice tea w/ bubble (21k). Service was awfully slow but totally worth the wait, right amount of sour plum with the refreshing tea. Yumm to the max! 

Few days later I went back to Central Park and bought my self a large cup of Taiwan plum ice tea, this time the service was quick, nicely improved from the last time. Cha Time, you're definitely my favorite bubble tea so far in Jakarta.

Cha Time
Central Park Mall LG Floor
(in front of May Star)
Jl. S.Parman Kav 28
West Jakarta
Ph. +6221 99465288

Other outlets:
- Chatime Puri Indah Mall, inside Ace Hardware (+6221-92298000)
- Chatime Alam Sutera (+6221-91273700)
- Chatime Gandaria, inside Ace Hardware (+6221-99229905)
- Chatime Artha Gading Mall, inside Ace Hardware (+6221-91273629)
- Chatime Kelapa Gading Mall, LG (+6221- 93286008)
- Chatime Bintaro, inside Ace Hardware (+6221- 99509434)
- Chatime Ciputra Mall, LG (+6221-99507823)
- Chatime Senayan City, 2nd flr (+6221-72781214)
- Chatime Grand Indonesia, 3A flr (+6221-23580068)
- Chatime Kota Kasablanka, LG 
- Chatime Plaza Semanggi, 3rd flr
- Chatime Emporium Pluit, 1st flr
- Chatime Pantai Indah Kapuk, ruko crown

Also available in Surabaya and Bali.

Gong Cha Bubble Tea

For me personally a visit to Spore means a many visits to any bubble tea outlets they have. Too bad I only have the chance to visit two bubble tea there. I always looked for something sour when it comes to bubble tea, but not many bubble tea outlets in Jakarta who served the type of sour drink I like. They were all just to cheap on putting the plum or kumquat so it wasn't sour at all.

Gong Cha was claimed as one of the best bubble tea in Spore and one of the outlets was located in Raffles City shopping mall where linked to hotel I stayed and the two times I went there, it was always had this long queue. On my first visit, I told them that I want something sour, they recommended me Purple plum tea with Ai-yu jelly ($2,8). The Ai-yu jelly was good but not on the tea. I mean what is purple plum? It wasn't sour at all and did not blended with the tea. On my second visit, I chose Passion fruit lemon tea w/ Ai-yu jelly ($2,8). It was better than the purple plum but to be honest, I really dont know what is it that make Gong Cha so popular. I guess maybe the milk tea was good. 

Purple Plum Tea w/ Ai-Yu Jelly

Passion Fruit Lemon Tea w/ Ai-Yu Jelly

Note: 1 SGD = IDR 7160

Gong Cha

B1-71 Raffles Shopping Centre

252 North Bridge Road

Singapore

Ph. +65 63369282

Other outlets: City Square mall, Novena Square, Plaza Singapura, Vivo City, Orchard Central, The Central, Bedok Point, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan Junction 8. 

Hui Lau Shan Hong Kong

This place had always been my favorite. I love love love their healthy dessert and drinks. The type of beverages they served was not bubble tea type, more to fresh blended fruit from water melon, mango or grape mixed with choices of aloe vera, sago, aloe jelly, etc. They also served desserts like Mango with Sago and many more. It was amazingly yummy. All were using fresh fruits, that's why they were so popular. For this trip, I think I had more than 5 visits to their place. 

They have many branches from Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and many other places. The one in Tsim Sha Sui nearby Harbour City but the selections were fewer than other branches. They only have Mango selections. 

As I stayed at Causeway Bay, I often visited the one across Sogo. The one in Causeway Bay didn't have the signage name in English, instead only in Mandarin but it was not hard to find. When you saw Sogo, just cross the street and you will see Bee Cheng Hiang in the corner. Hui Lau Shan located 2 stores from it. You will not miss it due to the queuing line.

The price per cup around $26 - $29, where they have promotions if we buy 2 drinks from the same series (example Mango series), the price will be much cheaper. 

I have tried their Water Melon w/ Jelly, Grape w/ Aloe Vera and Mango with Aloe Jelly. They were all great, no comparison although their best seller is Mango series. Missing them right now as I typed. =(

Hui Lau Shan 

MTR Causeway Bay Exit D (Sogo)

Across Sogo, 2-6 Yee Woo Street

Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Other branches: Multiple locations in Hong Kong