Holycow Steakhouse: Camp Bonjer and Camp Senopati

Meat, meat, and meat. Once again, this shallow tummy went in search for the best affordable meat in town. And there it was! With a slogan "This is where wag(Yu) belong", Holycow offers a comfortable eating space where the customers would feel like they're home already. Like they belong here. The price range itself is completely affordable compared to other brand in its genre.

Though to be honest, I was kinda disappointed with their camp in Kebon Jeruk. The camp Kebon Jeruk is much wider, with more humanely tables compared to the ones they have in Senopati. With a lot more comfortable parking lots as well. The food on the other hand, was a little bit of a let-down. My friend ordered her meat well done, and it arrived, well, well done on the edges, but super raw on the core of the meat. My order was fine, but the meat was a little bit too hard to chew. I like the food in camp Senopati better.

Anyhows, what I like about Holycow is that it offers various choice of sauce, and you can have them as much as you want. They have mushroom, barbeque, black pepper, Buddy's special, and the recently created sauce, W sauce. I found the latter one interesting. For some people it might not suit their taste (as to what my sister said, it was too salty), but for me it works just fine. It's green and you can taste some herbal spices in it. I'm not really sure what they were, but this smart-ass tongue thinks it tasted mint and thyme in it. Ha. But hands down, it still cannot beat two of my favourite sauces, mushroom and Buddy's special. We're talkin' about garlics and creamy mushroom here, baby. The other thing that I like about it is that it offers free refills for tea. That includes lemon tea, green tea, and blackcurrant tea. Generosity never kills, baby (Okay, pardon me, just how much exactly am I going to say 'baby' again? It's just all this talk about meat and steak makes me feel like a hot baby!).

In general, Holycow offers you a whole new level of steak experience. Meat lovers, you are welcomed to drool yourselves all the way down here.

 Prime Rib Eye (with Buddy's Special sauce)

Camp Bonjer

IDR 82500

Prime Tenderloin (with Mushroom and BBQ sauce)

Camp Bonjer

IDR 87000

Wagyu Rib Eye (with W and Mushroom sauce)

Camp Senopati

IDR 127500

Sirloin Young Beef (with Buddy's Special and Mushroom sauce)

Camp Senopati

IDR 87000

Personally, I prefer beef than wagyu. It's hard to explain but you'll understand when you eat it. They're not really different, and even at some point, you'll find the wagyu meat harder to chew. My personal recommendation for you would be Sirloin Young Beef and Wagyu Rib Eye. Also make sure to try ALL the sauces. Why? Because they're free! Why else would it be? :D

Sincerely yours, shallow tummy. Godspeed!

Rumah Makan Baji Pamai and Rumah Makan Marannu: Authentic Ujung Pandang Food

Last week, I was wandering around Boulevard Street Kelapa Gading and texted my friend: "Do you have any recommendations of food worth-trying here?" And she replied: "Just try out anything randomly. Everything on that street is guaranteed delicious." It's true indeed. This area is considered to be one of so many Jakarta's food paradiso. Seafood, Japanese, authentic Indonesian, Chinese, Malaysian, all genres of food, you name it. They're here.

Being an insecure tummy that I am, I decided not to try out on anything new and went to two of my subscribed restaurants: Rumah Makan Baji Pamai and Rumah Makan Marannu. Both  serve authentic Ujung Pandang food. I've been a loyal customer in both restaurants since I was in kindergarten. Lately, I haven't visited in a while.

First, I went to Rumah Makan Baji Pamai. Located on Boulevard Street, next to Nasi Kenanga. Its specialty is Bakmi Ujung Pandang. I saw the place had been upgraded here and there. The design is way cleaner and more modern, and how I love the bathroom. The closet's been upgraded with seating and eco-washer, like those you would encounter in big malls. It's kinda out of topic, but I really appreciate restaurants that provide comfortable bathrooms for the customers. Hygiene first!

Bakmi Spesial Kecil

IDR 26000

Bakmi Biasa Kecil

IDR 24000

The  noodles was like nothing you ever tasted. I couldn't recall any kind of Chinese noodle that has an alike texture. This noodle was big and thick like spaghetties, but chewy and curly like Chinese noodles. It's unique in all of its entity. I ordered Bakmi Spesial and Bakmi Biasa. They were just the same, only that the Spesial had more pork toppings and the chicken toppings was the breast part, while the Biasa was the thigh part.

One portion is served with three dumplings and you can ask whether you want 'em all to be fried or boiled. Or you can have both, boiled and fried. For me personally, the small portion was already fulfilling enough. Probably it was the noodles, because they're so thick and chewy.

Next, I went to Rumah Makan Marannu, still on the same street, but it's on the other side of the street, across Indomart.

Es Pisang Ijo

Coto Makassar

Konro Bakar

I forgot all of the prices and didn't keep the receipt either, but they were probably ranged from IDR 20000-50000.

The Es Pisang Ijo wasn't really like the modern version that you would find in booths or food stalls, it is more of the traditional kind, only consists of banana, shaved ice, vla, and syrup. No other overrated toppings such as cheese, or chocolate, etc. The smooth texture of the green coat; the sweetness of the vla, banana and syrup all combined in one bowl is a heaven-like combo.

The meat in the Coto and the Konro Bakar was cooked just right. They might look too small at first, but after finishing it, trust me for regular tummies, you would be full. In the right amount. The Konro Bakar was served with peanut sauce (almost satay-sauce like) and a bowl of coto soup, which I found pretty useful to neutralize all the greasiness from the meat and the savory from the sauce.

When planning to visit Marannu, I suggest that you don't wash your hair first, and try not to wear your best outfit, because it would be such a waste. The whole place will be covered with smokes from the roaster and the griller, and they will patched onto your body instantly.

Overall, if you want a good ol' dose of Ujung Pandang food in Jakarta, make sure to visit these places. In my opinion, Marannu still serves the best Konro Bakar in town. Nothing can beat it, so far. So if you have anything in mind, that could probably beat Marannu to second place, just lemme know!

Have a great day, and enjoy your meal wherever you are now! Godspeed :)