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Jakarta: Six Degrees

Burhan Abe
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Jakarta: Six Degrees

“Indonesia’s capital is transforming itself into a more creative megapolis. Six locals tell us who’s making a difference.” (Aulia R. Sungkar)

Burhan Abe

Occupation: Editor-in-Chief Business: MALE Digital Interactive Magazine  

“Jakarta is a growing metrosexual city”  

Burhan Abe helms a new digital magazine, MALE. From the name, people can be assured that the magazine is designed for male readership. “Yes, it’s true, but I know quite number of women who enjoy reading it, as we also design the magazine for partygoers looking to find the city’s happening hangouts,” he says.  

The magazine’s sensual appeal has led to mixed reviews from the public, but Abe doesn’t see this as an obstacle. Jakarta has turned into a metrosexual city, and the people are becoming more tolerant and open-minded, says the guy who enjoys chilling out at a coffee shop with his gadgets around.    

Dianah Ng

Occupation: General manager, marketing & sales Business: Pazia  

“People are building a destination for their IT lifestyle”  

Dianah Ng has played an important role in running dozens of Pazia Shop IT retail chain outlets, operating under Indonesia’s giant IT company Pazia Pillar Mercycom. There are dozens of Pazia Shops across the country, each selling various gadgets from several top brands. It’s the only IT store in Indonesia featuring a café to hang out inside, and the one in Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta, is indeed one huge venue.  

“It’s an IT lifestyle destination as we want to provide customers with a comprehensive IT shopping experience,” says Ng, who is always on the go, and sampling various international authentic dishes is what she often enjoys in her leisure time.      

Dave Graciano

Occupation: F&B consultant

Business: Wolthers-Graciano (F&B consultant – hotel management)

“Wine is becoming lifestyle in this city”  

Guests are greeted by a European atmosphere infused with Asian hospitality as they enter Vintage Wine & Grill on the outskirts of Jakarta. It’s a great concept created by Dave Graciano, an F&B consultant who is also known as a wine expert.  Graciano designs various concepts of wine and dine establishments in Jakarta. According to him, the city is always thirsty for new creative concepts.  

Absolut Vodka

Burhan Abe
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Absolut Vodka

Melakukan dengan Cara Berbeda

Diluncurkan di kota New York pada tahun 1979, Absolut vodka telah menciptakan revolusi baru dalam dunia vodka. Hal ini didukung dengan warisan kebanggaan Swedia yang telah berusia 100 tahun yang berasal dari sang penemu yaitu Lars Olsson Smith, Absolut vodka kini merupakan vodka premium nomor satu di dunia.    

Bahan mentah untuk Absolut semua berasal dari satu sumber: Åhus, yang terletak di selatan Swedia. Setiap produk Absolut  juga diproduksi di sini sehingga mempermudah pengawasan penuh untuk setiap tahapan proses. Sumber mata air untuk Absolut berasal dari mata air Åhus sendiri. Disaring secara alami melalui bedrock selama ribuan tahun membuat air murni disini memiliki karakter lembut dan nikmat.

Winter wheat sebagai bahan baku juga berasal dari ladang di sekitarnya dan memberikan Absolut karakter rasa unik. Meniru metode pertama yang digunakan oleh Lars Olsson Smith pada tahun 1879, proses penyaringan berkesinambungan hingga ratusan kali menghasilkan intisari yang sangat murni.  

Visi Baru dalam Pembuatan Vodka

Absolut Elyx merupakan visi baru yang berasal dari Absolut dalam hal pembuatan vodka. Absolut Elyx terinspirasi oleh kecintaan yang sama atas metode yang terunggul. Produk ini berasal dari substansi yang nyata yang memperkenalkan visi baru dalam pembuatan vodka.

Absolut Elyx terbuat dari 100% bahan-bahan alami. Vodka ini diproduksi secara bersamaan, terbuat dari hasil panen dari satu ladang winter wheat yang sama. Setiap hasil produksi dapat dilacak dari benih hingga botol. Absolut Elyx merupakan puncak dari tradisi pembuatan vodka dan semangat orang Swedia selama ratusan tahun.  

Gandum dari Satu Daerah

Setiap seri produk vodka Absolut Elyx terbuat dari hasil dari ladangwinter wheat Swedia yang dipanen dalam tahun yang sama. Gandum ini berasal dari satu daerah bernama Råbelöf yang memiliki salah satu jenis tanah terbaik untuk menanam gandum di Swedia.

Gandum yang ditanam di Råbelöf mengandung jumlah air yang tepat dan kadar protein serta zat tepung yang seimbang untuk memproduksi vodka dengan kualitas tertinggi. Setiap hasil panen selama setahun menghasilkan satu set produk Absolut Elyx.  

Untuk Rasa Murni Alami

Keahlian penyulingan yang dihormati turun temurun dipraktekkan di pabrik penyulingan tua milik Absolut di Åhus, di mana bahan mentah vodka diubah menjadi vodka Swedia terbaik: Absolut Elyx. Proses penyulingan tradisional unik yang menggunakan satu unit alat proses penyulingan berkesinambungan terletak di jantung pabrik penyulingan ini yaitu Column 51. Seluruh alat ini terbuat dari tembaga yang berasal dari tahun 1929.

Turkuaz – Authentic Turkish Kitchen

Burhan Abe
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Turkuaz – Authentic Turkish Kitchen

Turkish Jewel in The Heart of Jakarta

WITH the rise in popularity of Turkish cuisine, Turkuaz is designed to be one of the leading restaurants in offering of a truly memorable authentic dining experience. Opened in July 2011, the essence of true enjoyment of the dining experience is influenced by the food, service and ambience which are found in this restaurant.  

Turkuaz – Authentic Turkish Kitchen, named after Mediterranean oceanic blue colour, opens for lunch and dinner, offers authentic Turkish cuisine, lead by Proprietor and Head Chef Sezai Zorlu, a visionary and innovative Turkish chef.

Outstanding dedication and an endure love of Ottoman cuisines are the understatement excellence that Chef Sezai Zorlu demonstrated during his 20 years culinary experience. Chef Sezai Zorlu is excited to continue to share his cuisine in his new restaurant, knowledge, skills and undoubted expertise with everyone in Jakarta.  

Situated on Jalan Gunawarman No. 32, Kebayoran Baru, Turkuaz is a restaurant with modern elegant Turkish décor that is suitable for bothformal and casual dining experience. A combination of the colours – blue Turkuaz and grey – along with a colourful and stunning Turkish chandelier give the restaurant being like an art gallery, while watching your bread freshly baked in the wood oven. ”The richness and depth of our culture and customs are reflected in the atmosphere in our restaurants and our aromatic food that is cooked with passion from age-old recipes of Ottoman Empire handed down through generations” explained Chef Sezai Zorlu.  

Menus at Turkuaz include the vast culinary influences of the Ottoman times, prepared with Ingredients are specially imported from Turkey and Middle East and are chosen with the utmost care, to ensure that the healthiest, freshest and finest produce are used in the preparation of enticing cuisine served with a stylish presentation.  

Sezai Zorlu, Turkish cuisine ambassador in Indonesia since 1999 serving the people of Jakarta, will showcase his culinary skills as he transforms fresh ingredients, herbs and spices into tasty, healthy and sumptuous dishes.  

Turkish food lovers will relish on the signature dishes such as Lamb Shank, overnight wood oven baked fork tender shank of lamb, and Adana Kebabs freshly minced beef, lamb or chicken with chili paste spices char grilled on skewers served with icli pilav. Other favorites that will whet the appetite include Yayla Kebab, Kofte’s on sautéed lavas bread, dry chili & homemade yoghurt garlic sauce, and Sis Kebabs, overnight marinated fillets of beef, lamb or chicken cubes char grilled on skewers served with icli pilav.  

Guests may round-off the meal with a selection of sweet Turkish desserts as the must-try is the popular Baklava, baked layers of fillo pastry with butter and pistachio sweetened with original homemade syrup and Rice Pudding, wood oven baked creamy cold rice pudding as well as Turkish tea or coffee to conclude the culinary journey. In addition, a variety of flavored Nargile (Sheesha) is available to enjoy for a complete Turkish experience.  

Tulip Private Room

Tulip Private Room is beautifully designed to complement the restaurant which accommodates up to 8 people comfortably or even a friendly 10, the perfect place for family get-together, business meetings or dinner parties.  

This turquoise color dining room is elegantly decorated with charming blue chandelier that suit perfectly with the dark brown wooden ceiling and tulip ornaments on one wall. The Mediterranean window overlooking the colorful chandelier of the restaurant adds to the whole experience as if you are in a Mediterranean dining room.  

Outside Catering Services

Turkuaz Outside Catering Services offers a truly memorable dining and catering experience with fresh cooking at the convenience of your own venue for special occasions. Ingredients are brought in with utmost care to ensure the healthiest, freshest and finest produce are used and grilled to perfection in front of guests to create delightful dishes. Delectable authentic Turkish kitchen, freshly prepared food, personalized service is Turkuaz all about.  

Opening Hours

Sundays to Thursdays : 11.30am – 10.00pm (last order)

Fridays and Saturdays : 11.30am – 10.30pm (last order)  

Please call 021 7279 5846 or 021 7279 5853 for reservations.

Chef Sezai Zorlu

Burhan Abe
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Chef Sezai Zorlu

Passionate Head Chef & Owner of Turkuaz – Authentic Turkish Kitchen

Chef Sezai Zorlu, Head Chef and owner of Turkuaz – Authentic Turkish Kitchen, has a long and distinguished journey in culinary world, also known as the ambassador of Turkish cuisine in Indonesia since 1999. Coming from a small town called Iskenderun, South East of Turkey and surrounded by fine food his entire life has made his love to food grown stronger since early age. Growing up with 4 brothers, some of them had to help his mother and grandmother in the kitchen. The magical hands of his mother and grandmother have transformed simple dishes that use only few ingredients into an amazingly tasty dish as the food are cooked passionately with love for the family.

“Eating is a joyful event for families in Turkey and we spend hours on a daily basis, eat slowly and chat about the day events, because this is where everyone get together to see each other as a family after a long day of activities,” he explained.  

The love for food he earned from his mother and grandmother allowed him to learn cooking in every aspect and decided cooking as profession. In addition, his experience during military time where he became the personal assistant of General’s wife, who was an excellent cook, also added even more to his culinary knowledge.  

For Chef Sezai Zorlu, food is about life, “We have a say in Turkey, the way that pass to your heart will pass through your stomach, so you cannot live and love without good food,” he mentioned. The love he has for food had started from the family stays until now and will never go away because those are the childhood memories, the most beautiful and enjoyable moments in life with the family that could never be erased.  

Chef Sezai Zorlu is a charismatic individual who has never taken his success for granted and possess a remarkable work spirit. In 1995 he moved to Singapore to work with his father in his 4 Turkish restaurants.  

This gave Chef Sezai Zorlu chance to elevate his cooking skills and knowledge from his father, who worked as a chef for the royal family in Saudi Arabia. In 1999 he had the opportunity to move to Indonesia and started to introduce his hometown Turkish cooking. His culinary reputation and quality had been recognized since then where he cooked for high profile people such as ambassadors, ministers and Presidents of Indonesia.  

Guests may round-off the meal with a selection of sweet Turkish desserts as the must-try is the popular Baklava, baked layers of fillo pastry with butter and pistachio sweetened with original homemade syrup and Rice Pudding, wood oven baked creamy cold rice pudding as well as Turkish tea or coffee to conclude the culinary journey. In addition, a variety of flavored Nargile (Sheesha) is available to enjoy for a complete Turkish experience.  

After 12 years of living and working in Indonesia, he decided to pursue his dream to open his own restaurant. To reminisce his childhood memories, he serves simple comfort village food and keeps the ingredients fresh without disturbing the cooking process.

“We let the ingredients do their job, we cook with personalized touch, love and respect to the ingredients that at the end creates a character to the food. You cannot disrespect and play with the process because this is how it is supposed to be done, if you play with the process then you are not going to end up with the same result.”  

Majalah Digital Interaktif: Play with Your Finger!

Burhan Abe
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Majalah Digital Interaktif: Play with Your Finger!

MENGOMSUMSI media dalam format digital menjadi pilihan yang menyenangkan saat ini. Apalagi dengan makin banyaknya fitur-fitur yang interaktif dan menghibur, termasuk majalah MALE yang ada di tangan Anda saat ini.  

Yang menarik, Anda hanya menghabiskan sedikit waktu di awal untuk men-download, selanjutnya Anda bisa membaca majalah ini kapan pun tanpa perlu online.  Membuka-buka halaman MALE pun menjadi sangat mudah. Selain tersedia navigasi yang melihat keseluruhan halaman, di daftar ini, Anda tinggal mengklik judulnya, langsung terhubung dengan artikel yang Anda inginkan.  

Tampilan artikel MALE di aplikasi ini memang sangat interaktif dan dinamis. Play with your finger! Cukup gerakkan jari Anda ke atas atau ke bawah untuk membaca artikelnya.  

Membaca majalah bukan satu-satunya hal yang bisa Anda lakukan di sini! Karena di aplikasi ini, Anda bisa menikmati foto-foto tentu saja, bahkan video, mulai dari Behind The Scene, hingga thriller film yang diulas. Semua isi (artikel dan foto) media cetak bisa direplikasikan ke format digital, termasuk iklannya, dengan segala potensi interaktifnya. Menarik, bukan?

Majalah de digital interaktif memang barang baru di Indonesia. Bahkan ada yang berpendapat, pasar majalah dengan format ini di Indonesia belum matang, tapi menurut kami ini hanya persoalan waktu, apalagi dengan makin membaiknya kualitas koneksi Internet di Indonesia.  

Josh Gordon, ahli periklanan di bidang online, meramalkan bahwa format baru ini dalam waktu yang tidak terlalu lama akan makin mendapat tempat tersendiri, bahkan mengalahkan online yang konvensional.

“Digital magazines can win and keep advertisers by creating interactive experiences for readers, not just delivering impressions and clicks,” tukasnya.

Selamat menikmati!  

Burhan Abe

Editor in Chief MALE Digital Interactive Magazine

Interactive Digital Magazine

Burhan Abe
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Interactive Digital Magazine

Digital magazines can win and keep advertisers by creating interactive experiences for readers, not just delivering impressions and clicks.

In the past, most media buyers have been understandably skeptical about placing ads in digital magazines. Despite the tens of thousands of digital magazines in circulation, ad campaign success stories were rare. But even during that time of skepticism, through my Ad Sales Blog I discovered that there were some very successful digital magazines that were generating advertising results, revenue, and repeat ad business.

As an active blogger in the market, I interviewed several based in the US and UK, and posted the stories of a few of them. I soon realized they were publishing a fundamentally different kind of digital magazine. Instead of being digital replicas of print magazines, their product was a whole new animal, designed from the start to be digital.

I also discovered that they were all operating in similar ways, but it seemed that few of the publishers had ever spoken to one another, because each had “reinvented the wheel” on their own. Did these publishers just get lucky, or had they discovered a successful business model for digital magazine publishing? In an industry devastated by steeply declining print revenues, had these pioneering publishers found a way to reinvent the magazine?  

I know that advertisers are smart and skeptical when it comes to testing new advertising media. The fact that these digital magazines had a lot of repeat business was key in getting my attention and motivating me to pursue this project. I had a hunch that there was an important story here, one that needed telling. Having done media research for many years, I knew that there would be ways to document it in a research study, and I determined to do this.  

It is important to note here that, by digital “interactive” magazine, I am not referring to the thousands of digital replicas of print publications that are created by transferring content from a print magazine to a digital, page-turning document.

Those publications have never achieved widespread acceptance as an advertising platform, or the full potential of their digital form. Instead, I am referring to the next generation of digital magazines, or “interactive” digital magazines, that are designed from the start to be digital and to compete for online readers and advertising.  

Photo by Christopher Campbell on Unsplas

The success of this study depended on surveying only those digital magazines that were successfully selling advertising. To start, I created a list of every digital publication that appeared, at least superficially, like it might be successful, and found quite a few of them. Then I contacted every one that was located in the US, as well as a few from the UK, and interviewed representatives from over 25 of them.

The Trans Luxury Hotel

Burhan Abe
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The Trans Luxury Hotel

The Warmth. The Opulence. The Grandeur

INTRODUCING Indonesia’s newest luxury hotel, The Trans Luxury Hotel, a sophisticated blend of rich Indonesian tradition with refined contemporary interpretation in the heart of the city of Bandung, the capital of West Java, Indonesia.

Strategically located in close proximity to the Central Bandung Business Districts, this iconic 18 storey hotel with 282 guest rooms and Suites is situated in the heart of the Trans Studio Complex consisting of a Mall, largest In-door Theme Park in Asia and an array of Dining and Lifestyle options.

Inaugurated in June 2012 by The President of Indonesia, Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, The Trans Luxury Hotel is setting a new benchmark for luxury hotels in the country with its’ finest attentive service, sumptuous cuisine, and elegant ambience.

Redefining the hospitality landscape in Bandung, its State-of-the-Art Contemporary style is richly embellished with exclusively designed architecture pieces. Guests enter the welcoming Lobby with Serpiente marble from Italy which has darker veins to ensure perfection in design, and be greeted with a magnificent 11 meters long Crystal Dragon, made of Swarovski crystals as a distinct Royal Symbol. Our experienced staffs are ready to welcome you at the reception desks, which depict hand painted Chinese Art. The drawing took 3 months to complete and shows and symbolized the Chinese hard work, team synergy (gotong royong) and prosperity.

Luxuriously designed and lavishly appointed guest rooms use the same Italian Serpiente marble, as well as hand-tufted carpeting which pattern is especially designed and hand-picked for The Trans Luxury Hotel. All guest rooms and Suites are all featuring 46’ LED interactive TV, Acqua di Parma luxury amenities, exclusively customized luxury linen with 320 thread-count Egyptian cotton, exclusively designed bedding, i-Home (iPod, iPhone, and iPad docking station), complimentary wireless HSIA in all areas, electric decorative curtain, coffee and tea set up facilities, personalized mini bar, personalized amenities, double-glazed window (sound proof), separated standing shower cabin and bath tub.

Exclusively for the Celebrity Suites and Presidential Suites, we are providing a 24-hour personal butler service; with expanded luxury of a private Jacuzzi and kitchenette for butler with private access for the Presidential Suite.

The President of Indonesia, Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and family, have graced the Hotel by staying at our Presidential Suite on state business and family holiday. Other respectable public figures who have enjoyed the Hotel’s impeccable service include Mr. Dahlan Iskan (Minister of State Enterprises), Mr. Agung Laksono (Minister of People’s Welfare), Mr. Hatta Rajasa (Minister of Economics), and various high rank guests, including Hotel Owner, Mr. Chairul Tanjung.

We have also had the pleasure to attend to foreign delegates such as Mrs. Rebecca Riley from US Mission of Asean and wife of US Ambassador, and esteemed business icons and celebrities such as Mr. Peter F. Gontha, Mr. Setiawan Djody, Mrs. Mien Uno, Ms. Reggy Lawalata, Mr. Jeffry Woworuntu and Mrs. Ruth Sahanaya.

The Trans Luxury Hotel is committed to providing guest with distinctive Indonesian hospitality and service from caring people. This promise will become the major point of differentiation and the very cornerstone of its reputation as a world-class hotel.

The Trans Luxury Hotel

Jl. Gatot Subroto 289 Bandung 40273

Phone +62 (022) 8734 8888

Fax +62 (022) 8734 9999

Email: [email protected]

Marina Bay Sands – Asia’s Dining Destination – Part 1

Burhan Abe
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Marina Bay Sands – Asia’s Dining Destination – Part 1

SINGAPURA, meski kecil, mampu menjadi magnet dunia. Maklum, negeri yang luasnya hanya 710,3 km2 itu, tergolong kreatif, menawarkan pesonanya. Selain terus berbenah diri dengan membangun gedung-gedung yang unik, juga mengembangkan tempat pariwisata modern, berkelas global dan masa kini, sebutlah Esplanade, Singapore Flyer, Studio Universal, Marina Bay Sands, hingga Garden by The Bay.

Undangan dari Marina Bay Sands, seperti pucuk dicinta ulam tiba. Saya dan 9 orang lainnya, yang terdiri dari jurnalis dan blogger, akan mendapatkan pengalaman kuliner yang luar biasa, dalam acara yang bertema Asia’s Dining Destination selama tiga hari (03 – 05 September 2012).

Di acara ini kami setidaknya merelakan “kehilangan” Orchard Road – shoppingarea yang wajib dikunjungi di Singapura, karena selama tiga hari hanya berkutat di Marina Bay Sands (MBS) saja. Memang, kegiatan wisata kuliner ini hanya di MBS, tapi melihat daftar venue yang harus kami kunjungi serta kegiatan yang akan kami ikuti, rasanya tiga hari tidaklah cukup.

Setidaknya ada 10 bar dan restoran yang kami datangi, yakni Todai, Waku Ghin, Rise Lounge, Mozza, Au Chocolat, db Bistro Moderne, Sky on 57, Guy Savoy, CUT, dan Ku De Ta. Belum termasuk mengunjungi pameran Harry Potter: The Exhibition dan Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal, serta menonton teater Slava’s Snowshow.

Perjalanan yang menyenangkan tentu saja, bagi saya, juga bagi peserta lain: Arie Parikesit @arieparikesit (konsultan dan organizer penyelenggaraan event kuliner), Jed Doble @sj_knight (managing director majalah Dreams), Ellyna Tjohnardi @ellynatjohnardi (food blogger), Rian Farisa ‏@gastroficionado (food blogger), Reza Idris @rezz46 (Garuda Inflight Magazine), Bunga Sirait @siraitbunga (farragoindonesia.com), Galuh Tathya @galuhtathya (Hi-End), Muthia K. Achadiat @MuthiKa (Dewi), Graham Pearce (Viva Asia), serta Rifka Suryandari @RifAriadhi dari pihak PR, Stratcom Indonesia.

MBS, yang dibuka akhir April 2010, adalah destinasi hiburan, rehat, dan bisnis terkemuka di Asia, yang dinaungi landmark Sands SkyPark—57 lantai di atas tanah. Di lantai paling atas, yang disebut Marina Deck, ada kolam renang, yang panjangnya 150 meter, tiga kali lipat ukuran Olympic, tercatat sebagai kolam renang di alam terbuka terluas di tempat tertinggi di dunia. Pemandangan terbaik Singapura bisa dinikmati dari sini. Bukan sekali ini saja saya menginap di MBS, tapi tetap saja merupakan pengalaman yang menyenangkan tinggal di hotel mewah kelas dunia, yang menjadi ikon Asia.

Dari Sushi hingga Pizza

Petualangan rasa dimulai dari Todai, yang dikenal sebagai restoran seafood dan sushi, dan akan berakhir di Pizzeria Mozza, restoran ala Italia yang menyajikan pizza terbaiknya.

Pagi kami berangkat dari bandara Soekarno – Hatta, Jakarta, siangnya sudah sampai Changi, Singapura. Sempat terjadi “huru-hara” sejenak, karena paspor saya akan expired bulan depan, padahal menurut peraturan internasional untuk untuk bepergian ke luar negeri minimal harus berlaku 6 bulan ke depan. Syukurlah, dengan berbagai argumen, saya bisa lolos dari Imigrasi Jakarta, juga Singapura.

Selepas check in, tanpa membuang-buang waktu kami langsung mengunjungi Todai untuk makan siang. Restoran yang terletak di  B2-01A The Shoppes MBS ini menyajikan makanan premium, mulai dari hidangan dingin termasuk sushi (maki, nigiri, gunkan) hingga sajian khas seperti kaki kepiting salju, kupang, dan udang cocktail.

Sebagai yang pertama di Asia Tenggara, Todai sebetulnya tidak hanya tersedia seafood dan sushi “all you can eat”, tapi ada pula sajian lainnya, baik Asia maupun internasional. Sebutlah pasta & pizza Italia, churrasco brazil, sashimi jepang, BBQ & kimchi korea, serta makanan favorit lokal seperti laksa, kepiting cabe dan lada hitam. Sementara di The Dessert Bar banyak pilihan buah dan pastry campuran internasional. Sungguh awal yang menyenangkan.

Setelah makan siang kami sempat melakukan property tour, dengan melihat fasilitas MBS, mulai dari Sands SkyPark, melihat Hotel Suit, fasilitas Banyan Tree Spa, serta fitness club. Kemudian kami kembali berkunjung ke restoran. Kali ini ke Waku Ghin. Nama ‘Waku Ghin’ diambil dari dua kata Jepang: ‘Waku’ berarti ‘muncul’ (seperti air yang keluar dari mata air panas) dan ‘Ghin’ berarti ‘perak’, yang merupakan warna favorit Chef Tetsuya, yang dapat ditemukan di seluruh restoran yang memesona ini.

Marina Bay Sands – Asia’s Dining Destination – Part 2

Burhan Abe
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Marina Bay Sands – Asia’s Dining Destination – Part 2

Kuliner, Pameran, Teater

10 wartawan dan blogger asal Indonesia mendapat undangan dari Marina Bay Sands untuk mengikuti Asia’s Dining Destination selama tiga hari (03 – 05 September 2012). Berikut pengalaman salah satu pesertanya, Burhan Abe @BurhanAbe

HARI kedua kami awali dari Rise Lounge. Sarapan ala hotel pada umumnya. Terletak di atrium hotel yang ramai, venue yang menjadi episenter sosial di hotel ini tidak hanya menawarkan serangkaian pilihan makanan lezat, tapi juga menjadi tempat pertemuan sosial dan ideal untuk menyaksikan lalu-lalang manusia dari berbagai negara.

Acara berikutnya, yang masih “nyambung” dengan acara pokok wisata kuliner adalah mengunjungi dapur Marina Bay Sands (MBS). Di situlah kami tahu bagaimana makanan diproses, mulai dari bahan mentah hingga bisa dihidangkan kepada para tamu. Tidak sekadar urusan masak-memasak, tapi lebih dari itu adalah manajemen sebuah dapur raksasa, yang menyangkut pengaturan makanan, pengorganisasian orang, serta perhitungan biaya.

Siang itu kami melupakan sejenak wisata kuliner, kami mengunjungi pameran Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal (yang berlangsung 17 Maret – 21 Oktober 2012)  dan Harry Potter: The Exhibition (2 Juni – 30 September 2012).

Andy Warhol adalah seniman pop legendaris, yang karyanya bisa dinikmati di pameran tersebut. Mencakup berbagai tahap keseniannya mulai 1940-an hingga 1980-an, pameran ini menyajikan lebih dari 260 lukisan, sketsa, patung, film, dan video. Sementara Harry Potter, tokoh rekaan masa kini, yang lekat dengan dunia sihir. Di pameran itu terpajang ratusan kostum dan properti otentik dari delapan film Harry Potter.

Makan siang di Sky on 57 boleh dikatakan adalah yang paling berkesan. Bukan hanya karena tempatnya di lantai tertinggi MBS, tapi kami dijamu langsung oleh chefnya langsung, Justin Quek.

Terletak di puncak tertinggi di MBS di Sands Sky Park yang menawan, Sky on 57 menawarkan cara modern dalam menghidangkan masakan lokal dan Asia – menggunakan bahan-bahan premium, teknik yang halus, dan disajikan dengan dosis hangat keramahtamahan Asia.

Keandalan Justin Quek tidak diragukan lagi, ia sudah dilatih dengan cara klasik kembali ke akar Asianya di mana seleranya telah terbentuk dari kecil dengan rasa pedas, asam, asin, dan manis keunggulan dari masakan lokal. Di Sky on 57, Chef Quek mempersembahkan makanan modern Asia yang terbaik karena dia memberikan interpretasi baru dari beberapa masakan tradisional, sebutlah Nordic Crab Vermicelli, Maine Lobster Hokkien Mee, dan Wagyu Beef  “Cheek” Rendang.

Restoran berukuran 12.000 kaki persegi ini mempunyai bar and lounge yang akan menyambut tamu saat mereka datang, dengan ruang makan utama dan empat sudut pribadi untuk makan siang dan makan malam yang tertutup serta teras di luar dengan pemandangan panorama Singapura yang tidak terlupakan.

Istanbul: Once in a lifetime World Class Experience

Burhan Abe
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Istanbul: Once in a lifetime World Class Experience

Berlin, Istanbul, dan New York adalah tiga destinasi yang dihadiahkan kepada pemenang program Marlboro Connections tahun lalu, yang akan berlanjut ke tahun-tahun berikutnya. Intinya, program tersebut memberikan pengalaman tak terlupakan kepada pemenangnya, berkunjung ke kota-kota yang menjadi mewakili gaya hidup kelas atas, perpaduan kejayaan masa lampau dan gaya hidup modern masa kini. “One in a lifetime world class experience,” ujar Lala, salah seorang pemenang. 

Sebenarnya, apa menariknya kota-kota itu, sehingga Lala dan kawan-kawan, mendapatkan pengalaman yang luar biasa selama 13 hari? Berikut ini adalah cerita dari Istanbul. 

Istanbul adalah kota kedua yang dikunjungi ada peserta Marlboro Connections. Tidak heran, kota ini sangat unik, kota modern, terbesar di Turki, tapi masih menyisakan warisan lama – bisa dilihat dari jejak bangunan-bangunan yang berdiri di kota itu maupun tradisi yang masih dijaga oleh penduduknya.  

Hingga 1930 kota ini lebih umum dikenal dengan nama Konstantinopel oleh orang-orang Barat; beberapa orang memanggilnya Stambul, khususnya pada abad ke-19. Jauh sebelumnya, kota yang berdiri pada abad ke 7 sebelum Masehi ini juga pernah dikenal sebagai Bizantium atau Byzantion. 

Pada tahun 330, kota ini pernah menjadi ibu kota kekaisaran Romawi Timur, tapi pada 1453 Konstantinopel jatuh ke tangan Kesultanan Ottoman di bawah pimpinan Sultan Muhammad II. Nama Konstantinopel kemudian diganti menjadi Istanbul yang berarti kota Islam. 

Dengan populasi sebesar sekitar 15 juta, Istanbul adalah kota yang terpadat penduduknya di Turki dan merupakan salah satu kota terbesar di Eropa. Meski modern, Istanbul adalah kota yang asri dengan pemandangan yang indah. 

Istanbul adalah kota paradoks, tua dan besejarah, sekaligus begitu modern dan dinamis. Benteng dan bangunan yang berasal dari masa lampau, bersatu dengan bangunan modern. Budaya Eropa yang menyatu indahnya dengan budaya Asia. Semuanya terlihat menjadi satu kesatuan hampir tanpa susah payah. Saling melengkapi demikian indahnya. 

Turis mana yang tidak terpesona, sepanjang jalan adalah bangunan unik dengan taman-taman yang terjaga rapih. “Jemari saya yang biasanya sibuk mengambil foto tanpa saya sadari terhenti. Saya begitu terpana melihat betapa indahnya kota ini. Langit biru musim semi dan tulip berbagai warna yang bermekaran di seluruh penjuru membuat kota tua ini tampak begitu mempesona. It took my breath away!” seru Lala tak bisa menahan kegembiraannya. 

Sebelum sampai hotel, para peserta sempat mampir ke jembatan Galata, kemudian naik ke menaranya untuk melihat pemandangan Istanbul yang indah dari atas. Pengalaman yang indah itu bahkan mereka rasakan sebelum tiba ke Hotel W, hotel ultra-trendy tempat mereka menginap selama tiga hari. Hotel W Istanbul dekat dengan Bosphorus dan Nisantasi, kawasan belanja paling fashionable. Terletak di kawasan Suleyman Seba, distrik elite yang dipenuhi berbagai restoran, kafé, dan galeri, Hotel W ini memang luar biasa. Hotel W mempunyai dua restoran, gym modern, serta spa. Tata interior hotel dan kamar yang memukau, juga tak lupa tempat tidur empuk dan nyaman, tentunya. 

Dari Suda hingga Spice Bazaar 

Malam harinya mereka bisa menikmati dinner di Suda, sebuah pulau buatan terapung di tengah selat Bosphorus. Meskipun udara dingin berhembus kencang, pemanas di antara meja para tamu restoran mampu menghangatkan tubuh. Bagaimana dengan makanannya? 

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