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Garden rendezvous at The Dharmawangsa
THE DHARMAWANGSA: (Courtesy of The Dharmawangsa) Whether it's raining or dry in Jakarta (the seasons are getting more unpredictable these days), a nice dinner with friends or family in a garden setting is always a great experience
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THE DHARMAWANGSA: (Courtesy of The Dharmawangsa)
Whether it's raining or dry in Jakarta (the seasons are getting more unpredictable these days), a nice dinner with friends or family in a garden setting is always a great experience. Under the condition, of course, that the food must be excellent.
It was raining when The Dharmawangsa invited The Jakarta Post to their "Epicurean Evening", but it did not lessen the gastronomical pleasure a bit.
This delightful event offers guests the chance to savor French cuisine and delicacies in the cozy atmosphere of the Jakarta Restaurant garden. This special dinner is available every Thursday.
Kick the evening off with some Red Berry Iced Tea or a legendary Chocolate Martini, and a good time is sure to follow. The garden even boasts a live instrumental jazz band to enhance the mood.
The buffet dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and finishes at around 10:30 p.m.
"The dishes available here are what we normally have in France when we gather with friends or family," said executive chef Olivier Piganiol, who has plied his craft at the hotel for the past two years.
Olivier began his hotel career at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas, in the Virgin Islands, as a chef de cuisine for The Fine Dining Restaurant. He has built up an impressive resume with extensive experience in Michelin-rated restaurants, such as the Pierre Gagnaire and the Bernard Loiseau.
"What's unique about this Epicurean dinner is our Pyrenese Milk-Fed Lamb. The lambs are only 45 days old at the most. They are fed exclusively on milk and don't eat any grass," Olivier said.
The lamb has a light pink tone and is tender and fat-free. It possesses none of the usual strong lamb aroma, and is the only kind of lamb meat that receives AOC (Appellation d'origine contr*l*e) certification.
"I usually enjoy the lamb without any sauce. But some people here may like to have the lamb with sauce, so we also put a few sauces on the side," he said.
The Fine de Claire Oysters from Britanny are also a must try, Olivier said.
"The oysters are grown in a different environment, with a special water quality and temperature, so the taste is unique," he said.
"If you pair the oysters with the right wine, they taste sumptuous."
Unlike in other regular oyster bars, oysters here are opened in front of the guests to ensure freshness.
After dinner, guests can choose from a great selection of wines and light up a Cuban cigar, but these options are not part of the "Epicurean Evening".
For appetizers, the salad and oyster bars offer a cornucopia of fresh food. Chef Olivier mixed up a fresh salad with pan fried seafood and foie gras. A Norwegian salmon, strategically placed on a carving table next to the salad stall, tasted heavenly with toasted rye bread, sour cream, salmon caviar, chopped herbs, hard-boiled eggs, onions and capers.
In addition to the lamb entree, the Black Angus Prime Rib is also on offer, with dollops of mouthwatering side dishes, such as gratin dauphinoise, baby vegetable ragout with truffle oil, asparagus with truffle sauce and red wine sauce.
I was about to delve into some cheese before attacking the entree, but Chef Olivier suggested we have the cheese after the entree -- which is the French way. It was the right way, of course, and it certainly felt it.
The restaurant offers several types of cheese, including Tete De Moine (Monk's Head), Reblochon, Epoisses, Brie De Melun and Aisy Cendre.
The various desserts include the Tutti Frutti Tart, Almonds and Apples Tart, Strawberry Tart with Puff Pastry and Mousseline Cream, Chocolate Tart and Key Lime Tart.
On Fridays, the hotel hosts a Garden Barbecue night at the restaurant. Besides soups and salads, the live cooking stations include juicy sizzling chicken, steaks, grilled seafood and lobster.
"If you have a dinner here, you will forget all about the negative aspects of Jakarta," Olivier said.
"Including the traffic."
The Jakarta Restaurant at The Dharmawangsa
Jl. Brawijaya Raya No. 26
Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta
Phone: (021) 725 8181
