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.