RIAN FARISA

While mostly known for its delectable Western dishes and good drinks, Otel Lobby actually provides interesting options from the Indonesian side. In this issue, Chef Maya Aldy tells us a bit about what’s behind these wonderful local favorites and why we should give it a good try.

Sometimes, the good old memories from the past are what drive you to be creative. Yes, I’m talking about what my mom and grandmothers cooked for me with all my favorite Indonesian dishes I found on the dining table for lunch and dinner when I was a kid. Each was made with special attention and love for the family. Those are the memories that inspired me when I devised the menu for Otel Lobby.

We may not have a lot of Indonesian food here specifically, but we present you with some of the finest dishes that Indonesians are fond of enjoying on a daily basis.

Indonesian comfort food!

We love oxtail. So we give customers the flexibility to have it in their favorite way, whether in soup, grilled, or fried. What makes every oxtail dish special, though, is the broth, so we do something special with it. The challenge is how to make it feel light but still packed with awesome flavors. At Otel Lobby, the key is with our slow cooking method over a low flame. As for the sauces, feel free to ask for either our signature black pepper sauce, balado, or the simple but sure – kecap manis.

For nasi goreng, we are specifically cooking it using our black steel pans to impart the classic smoky flavor into the rice. We then serve it with pickles to provide that additional crunch needed to complete the spectrum of texture essential in an Indonesian dish.

For the soto mie and mie goreng, we are making our own noodles in-house. It is simply because we want quality that is free from any preservatives and other unpronounceable ingredients that we wouldn’t serve our own family.

Additionally for soto mie, we make our own rissole. We then add fresh vegetables, garlic chips, and our killer homemade sambal. Since it is my favorite, I decided to also add a chunky buntut sapi to the dish. This makes it really special and elevates the soto mie to a restaurant grade dish.

Lastly, our pride and joy is the nasi kuning campur. We occasionally change the elements here and there to keep it interesting. Some past treatments have included sautéed vegetables using rendang sauce and an egg balado – cooked the Spanish-way, breaded and fried first and then combined with sambal balado. But one thing that never changes is that everything is made to order to ensure freshness and optimal flavor – from stir-frying the tempe to grilling the chicken. Each is made special for our customers.

So be sure to give these classic comfort dishes your attention when you visit, and enjoy Otel Lobby’s special touch at some of our most personally beloved Indonesian treats.

Salam,

 

Maya Aldy

—–

INDONESIAN DISHES AT OTEL LOBBY

1. Oxtail Soup/Grilled/Fried – with all the trimmings
2. OTL Fried Rice – crispy duck/seafood/beef
3. OTL Soto Mie Jakarta – oxtail meat, yellow noodle, cabbage, lime
4. OTL Bubur – chicken/short rib
5. OTL “Nasi Kuning Campur” – with complete offerings from our kitchen
6. OTL Fried Noodle – crispy duck/seafood/beef

—–

OTEL LOBBY
Halal-friendly (liquors are served)
Some menu suitable for vegetarians

Address: The Annex Building of Bakrie Tower, Epicentrum Kuningan, Jakarta – Indonesia

Opening hours: Everyday, 11 am – late

RSVP: +62.21.2994.1324

—–

Dedicated for my personal favorite chef and one of the best restaurants in Jakarta.

—–

Featured in THE FOODIE MAGAZINE July 2014 edition

Download it for free here via SCOOP!

Photos by: Dennie Benedict