Had a nice Christmas dinner last night. Well, since I won’t be staying out this year like previously, I decided on switching the budget to dinner instead.
By chance, after the film camera user group offline meeting, I saw that Cafe Batavia in the Jakarta old town is having a special promotion for Christmas eve.
225k (+21% tax and service). For the menu, still reasonable for me. Made a reservation.
This is the second oldest building in the square and renovated into a restaurant. Of course the price level is quite high for most locals visiting the place (mostly photographers) so I more often saw tourists going there.
On this eve, there’s also not that much guests. But there are several tables holding family dinner. Well, as an old establishment, the place is really proud of the heritage and old city feel. Not to mention from the second floor windows facing out to the city square, you can watch the night market activity and sometimes, somebody would launch (consumer grade) fireworks to the sky.
The seat is tight because I’m alone so it’s hard to get good angle. Not to mention the room is dark so I’m counting on my desktop tripod to get the pictures.
At first, I think they thought I’m still waiting for someone (well, Christmas dinner alone is kind of sad, don’t you think?) so I need to remind them I’m coming alone and let the meal be served (after waiting like almost an hour).
The starter is French Duck Orange Mousse (in the background) and Fennel Vegetable Terrine.
Well, I don’t really understand the mousse. But I like the terrine. Or, I usually like these kind of prepared vegetables (also grilled vegetables).
These are served with a glass of eggnog cocktail. I should’ve asked the waiter for a non-alcoholic version because it burns ^^;; I’m quite troubled when they said it has to be finished…
Next is the soup. Fish consommé is served. Clear fish stock with a nice taste. I’m still curious about the stringy thing inside the soup though. Is it fish ?
After checking about the dish, seems like an interesting menu to try too at home. Heard it’s a delicate and difficult dish, but shouldn’t be afraid to try, right ?
Served with glass of white wine which the waiter poured slightly more than what I could finish (again). Frankly, I can only taste the alcohol's burning sensation down my throat and nothing more. I strongly suspect this has nothing to do with quality of the wine itself. My taste bud just can’t taste anything other than the frikkin ethanol.
Next menu, the Entremets, is supposed to be a set of grilled salmon and scallop. But I don’t like scallop so I had it switched with another salmon.
Taste, well, grilled salmon for me. But the tomato and that green dressing really tasted good.
Can’t comment much on this one, probably as to be expected. But maybe because of the size, the inner side is juicier and better than that more expensive restaurant I went with my family previously.
And finally the main course. There’s choice of Grilled Lamb Loin and Foie Gras with Gorgonzola sauce Polenta cake (served with red wine) or Pan fried Sea Bass with Veloutte sauce served with grilled asparagus and roasted potatoes (served with white wine).
I choose the lamb, mostly by curiosity about the foie gras which… doesn’t really taste that good for me. The lamb loin is quite hard, maybe too well done ? Or I’m just more used to beef rather than lamb. Maybe choosing the fish is not that bad choice.
By the way, is red wine usually stronger than white wine ? Same as the white wine, my inexperienced self really shows. ^^;;;
Since they gave blackcurrant sorbet already, I passed the mango mousse.
All guests for the Christmas eve package got a Yule log cake. Well, something to bring home to enjoy with family. ^-^
