Eggs Benedict

Egg is a basic ingredient of almost every food. From eggs we could make sweet or savory dish, and from egg itself we could make variety of dishes with it as the main ingredient, from a simple dish like sunny side up to a complicated dish like eggs benedicts. Eggs benedict or Eggs benny is originated from New York it is a whole another level of cooking eggs. It’s not simple at all and requires skills and finesse. Eggs Benedict was first discovered in 1894, a man called Lemuel Benedict wandered into a hotel called Waldorf Hotel looking for a dish to cure his hangover. He ordered buttered toast, poached eggs, crisp bacon and hollandaise sauce. The dish that he putted together turned out amazing and from there the eggs benedict become famous with a little bit of modified. Eggs Benedict is not like any other egg dishes, it consists of English muffin at the bottom, bacon, poached eggs and topped with the hollandaise sauce. The first thing to do is to make the hollandaise sauce from scratch, first thing to do is to beat egg yolks, add lemon juice, and cayenne pepper and then whisk it whilst heating it. It has to reach the right temperature or else the sauce will break, it’d either get too thick or too watery, so you have to put it on and off the heat while still whisking it.

After making the hollandaise sauce prepare the English muffin and toast it with butter, don’t forget to cook the bacon. Now the second hardest part is to cook the egg, the egg should not be over cooked or under cooked. First thing to do is to fill the pot with water and wait until the water heats, swirl the water and then carefully break the egg. If the water swirls too fast the egg will break. Cook the egg for 4 minutes until the white is set and the yolk still runny, if the yolk break you have to cook the egg all over again.

This dish is an incredibly technical, difficult dish to pull off. Everything has to be perfectly executed, the hollandaise sauce has to be on point and reach the perfect texture. The egg has to be poached perfectly with the egg yolk still running.

Xena Aprilianti

1806240984

Killing Two Birds with One Zomato Gold

They say the best kinds of foods are free ones, but I believe it is more than just that. Well, I have great news for you hungry people out there who crave good food, grand place, and obviously great price. We must admit that we city folks eat not just to fill our tummy and satisfy our taste buds but also to live up our lives as the Upper East Siders who eats breakfast at Tiffany’s we watch on TV. Everyone is on a quest looking for the hippest place to eat, the prettiest looking food or drinks that deserve a spot in our Instagram feeds. Either way, whether you are the type of person who has genuine love for tasty food, orders cappuccino for content, looking for a spacious restaurant for an event, or even Zomato is your knight in shining armor.

Zomato won our hearts as it has made our day-to-day food “quest” so practical by providing information and review of restaurants, including images of menus and ambiance within a few clicks away on your smartphone. Not settling until we fall head over heels for them, they kept innovating and recently launched their exclusive “Zomato Gold” where members will be indulged with privileges such as 1+1 on food or 2+2 on drinks at partner restaurants only Rp250.00,00 for a year long.

In order to diminish your curiosity and doubts, today I will be sharing my recent experience with Zomato Gold. Approximately last week, when I went on a movie date at Setiabudi One and discovered a not-so-new restaurant which now, I would consider as my long lost love. On my way to Setiabudi, I was already doing my ritual whenever I go out to hang out or eat which is picking out restaurants with good vibes and luscious food to complement and stumbled upon Tapas Club, a gorges wine cellar-themed interior with elegant design and a shady outdoor terrace near the building’s water fountain. Casually romantic, especially with the breezy flamenco music that will boost the mood.

I have been dying to eat Spanish as long as I can remember, which lead me to order Lubina A La Bilbaina, Seabass with garlic and chili sauce and mashed potatoes as my choice of sides for Rp150.000,00. As for my boyfriend, he went to try Filete De Ternera, or we simply may know as beef steak also with mashed potatoes for FREE. The mashed potatoes we had was different than the ordinary, I'd classify it as a puree rather than a side dish. Nevertheless, it was soft and creamy without overpowering the main dishes. As for drinks, I had a Schweppes Tonic and my boyfriend had San Benedetto (Sparkling). In total, we paid Rp210.00,00 when without Zomato Gold, we were supposed to pay for Rp360.000,00.

Overall, we were overjoyed by our experience with Zomato Gold at Tapas Club. Everything was great, even the services. They did not give us any reason to complain about anything. On the contrary, they successfully made our date felt like a trip to a piece of Spain in Jakarta.

––Sekar Jasmine Noegroho, 1806174660


Photo courtesy: Tapas Club at Zomato

Food and Identity

For years, Indonesia and Malaysia have been at wars with each other. As one Malay Archipelago, both countries would undeniably share similar cultures with one another, and sure enough, Indonesia and Malaysia are at war with each other – especially when it comes to cuisine. Rendang, nasi goreng, satay, otah, curry chicken, ketupat. The list goes on, and so does the debate of “ownership”. However, this post is not going to talk about whose side is right or wrong. We aim to find the relation between food and identity while celebrating unity in diversity.

Food plays a big part in our cultural identity. Especially in Indonesia, each ethnicity is defined by their food and taste palette and religious festivities are linked to specific cuisines. Javanese are known to have a sweet tooth even in their chili, the Sundanese prefer something less subtle and less sweet, and Padang is all about the spice. How did these connections come about? The main factors are geography and lifestyle. The vast island of Java is full of palm trees and sugarcanes as well as spices, allowing experimentation of food and relying on sugars. The Sunda lands are filled with foods such as pete and tomatoes, giving the distinct sour Sunda taste with hints of spiciness and spices. Padang people are known to be anak rantau or travelers, working as sailors or migrating to bigger lands for new opportunities. Hence, their food has to have a long shelf-life without much re-cooking required through slow cooking and specific spices. All these different circumstances and needs are specific to regions and ethnicity, leading to diverse food tastes and preferences and a wide range of culinary experience within one nation.

Not just in Indonesia, but in other diverse countries as well such as United States and Singapore, where different territories have different ethnicity population, affecting the region’s choices of food like in Chinatown of US where Asian food is more readily available and Little India of Singapore where a variety of north and south Indian and Middle Eastern food. Specific food may define specific cultures, but a wide range of cuisines in one country may represent a country’s identity of diversity and cultural acceptance. In the United Kingdom, one of their five British values is tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs, and this is evident in their wide choices of cuisines, from the traditional fish and chips to the many middle eastern cuisines available and Nando’s chicken restaurant which infuses the African spices into their food. Hence food is not merely just an identity of an individual and their great ancestors, but also of a nation and their pioneers.

Now that the relationship between food and identity has been established, it is no wonder Indonesia and Malaysia are at war. They feel as though they are of different cultures because of their different nationalities, and so they do not feel as though they should share the same food as well. However, though some foods have similar names and characteristics, they are still distinctive. Indonesian rendang is much drier while the Malaysian rendang has more gravy, the Malayan’s roti canai is much thicker and doughier than the Indian prata and Japanese sushi is simpler than Korea’s kimbap. Despite this, let us recall one of the rare moments of unity in diversity – the “crispy rendang” saga – and embrace our differences.

Gustiaulia Nabila

1806240782

How Drinking Celery Juice Affects Your Body

How Drinking Celery Juice Affects Your Body

What is celery juice?

Celery juice is made by blending and straining celery. Whole stalks of celery packs tons of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K, vitamin A, potassium, and folate.

Celery has also long been believed to be a drug to treat various diseases, ranging from hypertension to diabetes. The leaves which have the Latin name Apium Graveolens are rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, K, calcium, and magnesium. A number of nutrients and nutrients are what play a major role in curing diseases.

The humble celery is commonly used in combination with other ingredients to create highly nutritious, raw, fresh juices. But did you know that pure celery juice has unique regenerating and healing properties which are enhanced when it’s juiced on its own? 

No matter who you are, where you live or what diet you follow, drinking celery juice will be an extremely beneficial practice to incorporate into your life. Here are 6 suprising things that happen when you drink celery juice:

1. Lower blood pressure

Celery has long been a favorite for treating high blood pressure. The combination of vitamins K, C, B6, potassium, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and iron in celery serves as a catalyst that contributes quite well to lower blood pressure. Chemical compounds in celery, such as phthalides, coumarin, and apigenin also play a major role in treating hypertension. These compounds can supplement the production of tyrosine hydroxalide, which is an enzyme in the stress hormone, and helps dilate blood vessels. However, do not consume celery excessively because the sodium content can actually increase blood pressure.

2. Makes sleep more peaceful

One of the problems suffered by the majority of people is the lack of quality sleep. Celery is rich in vitamins and mineral salts that are believed to help you sleep better. Eating a glass of celery juice before going to bed is guaranteed to cure insomnia and improve sleep quality. To get rid of the smell of celery, mix celery with fruits such as grapes or strawberries for juicing.

3. Overcoming digestive problems

One of a series of benefits of celery is healthy digestive system. Celery has high water and fiber content, so it is good for preventing constipation or constipation. In addition, celery is also able to help the detoxification process and food remnants that are not beneficial in the body, so guaranteed after consuming celery the body will be clean and free of toxic substances.

4. Strengthen bones

A glass of celery juice will make your bones stronger. Rich in vitamin K, calcium and minerals, making celery a drug to increase bone strength and density. Not only that, calcium in celery plays an important role in the formation and enhancement of bone work, so making celery as a good medicine is consumed to repair broken bones.

5. Protect the heart

The human body produces amino acids, or commonly called homocysteine, which can interfere with the normal function of blood vessels. Disruption of blood vessels will cause cardiovascular disease. The content of vitamin B9 or folate in celery can turn these amino acids into simple molecules, so you will be protected from heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.

6. Anti-diabetes drugs

The high fiber content in celery can increase sugar metabolism and insulin production, so that blood sugar levels will be more stable. Taking celery regularly can avoid shortages and increase blood sugar. In addition, celery can also protect the function of the pancreas.

By knowing many benefits of drinking celery juice, let’s start the healthy live now! I promise you'll be on the road to a healthier inside and outside. 

Dinda Amira Eri, 1806174572

The Art of Gastronomy

The Art of Gastronomy

Food is a basic necessity in our daily life. It is one of the 3 components of survival living standards, which are: clothes to wear, a place to stay, and food (also drink) to consume. We eat food to survive and stay alive, that’s how many people would reappraised, but not to everyone. Some people actually takes food for a deeper meaning. Take (late) Anthony Bourdain as an example, he was an American celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian who starred in programs focusing on the exploration of international culture and cuisine. His love from food came from the first time he tried his first oyster on a fisherman’s boat on a family vacation in France. Since a lot of people are getting more and more curious and interested on food and it’s innovations in term of joy, the study of gastronomy appeared.

The first question that pops into our heads must be what exactly is the correlation between food and gastronomy? Well, culinary as we know, is the act of cooking, while gastronomy is the art of good food. It can also be concluded as observing, loving and connoisseuing good food. The concept of gastronomy is not only by instinct or palette, since each individual’s taste senses are different based on their own preferences and history towards certain food context. Gastronomy can be observed or done by the studies between the food and it’s culture. It can be traced back to the combination of the food’s color, smell, texture and of course the taste. 

There are 5 types of gastronomy. The first one is practical gastronomy, it deals with the practice and study of the preparation, production and presentation of food and beverages from various countries throughout the world. The second one is theoritic gastronomy, it supports practical gastronomy by studying the processes, systems, recipes, cookbooks and other writings. Next we have technical gastronomy, it reviews systematic evaluations of anything in the gastronomic field that requires assessment / measurement. After that we have food gastronomy, it is related to food, drinks and their making. Lastly we have Molecular gastronomy, it is is a scientific study of gastronomy that studies physiochemical transformations of food ingredients during the cooking process and sensory phenomena when they are consumed. 

As we can see, gastronomy is a really interesting field to enjoy or even study. Not only that, it is also a promising career and business opportunity to pursue in. Everyone must be introduced and included in the world of gastronomy.

Minarsha A, 1806174566