Kampoeng Tempoe Doeloe: A Flashback of Childhood Memories

La Piazza yard was transformed into (what feels to be) a big schoolyard full of jajanan pasar*, bringing some of my fondest childhood reminiscence back.

I wasn't born that long ago, I had to admit, compared to some of my peers. Therefore I'd like to claim no expertise in talking about the oldies Jakarta. Yet, I can claim that I have a pretty solid memory of the street food snacks I ate growing up in the city.

Kampeng Tempoe Doeloe is a part of the Jakarta Fashion and Food Festival held in La Piazza, Kelapa Gading on May 14-29, 2011.

I've never really been a fan of a site that makes me do a lot of scrolling, so here are the pictures in a slideshow format (no, no tacky ballad song that auto plays simply when you didn't ask for it).

*jajanan pasar = street food snacks.

Going Back to My Roots Pt. 1

A plate of roasted duck from Grand City Restaurant located inside Sunlake Hotel, Jakarta

It's been pouring cats and dogs lately-- which almost works like a curse sent by nature. The city's traffic is already detrimental and inescapable by default. A lot of times my evening plans are at the clemency of the weather; that particular factor itself has potential to increase my already-uncivilized- travel time by double.


The all-time classic black pepper beef

In case it's not obvious enough, finding the drive to putting my fingertips to work and writing again has been tricky. Oh yes I have been taking pictures of food. I just haven't been putting it up for consumption. My taste buds are spoiled more than ever, mostly with grubs that take me back and remind me of the family festivities I used to go to when I was a little kid (sans the annoying aunties and uncles part).


Szechuan-style string beans

These photos were not recent, I'd have to say. These were taken during the Chinese New Year weekend in which several family gatherings took place. These were exactly the kind of food I had missed during my stay in the U.S. My relationships with these folks go waaay back.


Breaded pork ribs with slices of orange in a cointreau sauce


Seafood soup with mushroom


A cup of melon sagoo dessert with little sago beads, chunky melon balls, and coconut milk.


A smile-generating mango pudding-- with its tanginess as a refreshing wrap up to the entire meal.

Nevertheless, I'd like to make it clear that I would never whatsoever recommend anyone to spend a fortune at this place. It's unwise to judge the way these folks taste from the way they look. It will do an injustice to some street food out there that truly deserves to bear the 'mouth-watering' title. The restaurant service was outstanding yet too bad the price tag doesn't reflect the quality of the food.

Starting up the engines...

A beautiful work of art by Sapto Djokokartiko, Indonesia's young and talented fashion designer -- a souvenir from Elle Style Awards, edited by my partner in crime, Clarissa Kwok.

Ok- I guess five is the magic number here. It's been five months since the last time I blogged. FIVE whole months. That equals to about 150 days. Which is lots of hours. Enough time to train for a half- marathon. Or to build a Japanese garden complete with a gazebo in it in my mom's case. Have I been hibernating? Not physically neither mentally. I went through a few changes and just needed some new air.

I am now back in my hometown. That's Jakarta, Indonesia, the mall and traffic capital of the world. I started my new job about three months ago in which it takes me a painful 90 minutes to get to my downtown office. And I have rekindled with my old friends. All in all, everything's good. Some things are better. And by some things I meant food, food, and food. But not all of them. Some are still better back in the States. There, I said it.

I have also been thinking to change my blog name, but still haven't found the one that fits me the most. Some that I thought do, happen to have been taken by other peeps that, I guess, are faster in doing things in life than I am. Thoughts?

As for now, I am having a good time running and hopping around with Jakarta as my playground. There will be more proofs. In less than five months I promise.