Chef's Diary: San Pellegrion World's Top 50 Restaurants

We recognize San Pellegrino as Premium Italian bottled water brand. What does it has to do with World's Top 50 Restaurants?

It turns out that they are the sponsor of the annual crowning event. Together with Michelin Star, they are two most prestigious award for restaurant around the globe.

SPANISH DOMINATION

General knowledge would tell us, sitting at the summit of the world culinary industry is France. It's not completely true. Instead, Spain shows dominance in top 10 lists by having two representatives, taking 1st, and 6th - El Celler de Can Roca, and Mugaritz respectively. 

Surprisingly, top French representative only hold 11th, outside top 10.

El Celler de Can Roca - Girona, Spain

ASIA's BEST

Tokyo's Narisawa was named as Asia’s best restaurant, ranking 8th in the world. Hailing from Southeast Asia are Gaggan (10th - Thailand), Nahm (22nd - Thailand), Ultraviolet (24th - Shanghai, China), Amber (38th - Hongkong, China) and Restaurant Andre (46th - Singapore). Restaurant Andre is perhaps the closest one you can visit. The venue is walking distance from Outram Park MRT station.

Narisawa Natural Landscape Themed Dish

PERU - DARK HORSE

Another fact that might surpise you is Peru having three restaurants in the list. Their best restaurant even ranked 4th this year.

WOMEN IN TOP 50

Mani from Brazil, successfully made it as the only woman in the list, only 1 in 50.

For complete list, visit http://www.theworlds50best.com/

images taken from 
http://www.theworlds50best.com/filestore/jpg/header-sp.jpg
http://www.tripsforvips.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/celler.jpg
http://www.four-magazine.com/files/images/articles/1812/

Venue Focus: The Thirty-six Medan, Velvety Tulip Cappuccino

Download EATalian app for more info & reviews

Located across the shophouse complex of Multatuli, right by the main street, occupies a whitebrick mansion called The Thirty Six. A rustic and unpretentious decoration embellishes the building.

The venue boost typical design of Australian coffee establishment, from old-fashioned string lights to industrial pallet furniture, along with hand-drawn murals, gray concrete floor, and glass dominated walls, It recently underwent renovation, but retains its good old industrial looks.

Expectations flew high when we saw quotes of “Food is on the menu, but it’s the caffeine that will get you to our door”. Considering the recent café-booms in Medan, that is a bold statement to make. Yet, as soon as we had our first sip of latte, we were SOLD! Perhaps it was the magic of barista and La Marzocco epsresso machine that made it possible.

Typical dinner here would cost IDR 90K/pax for a main & drink, still a money worth paying for the comfy venue, great coffee and decent food.


Jalan Multatuli No.36, Medan
+6261 4530970
hello@thethirty-six.com


Well Done
The Coffee & Fish n Chips
Comfy industrial style decor
Parking spaces

Can be improved
Mac n Cheese & Pasta dishes, esp on presentation
outdoor seating needs stronger portable air-con / fan





PS: News has it that they are preparing to open a new outlet in Ring Road Citywalk Mall. (TBC)

Chef at Home: Prawn Spaghetti Aglio Olio

Aglio Olio, literally translate to garlic and (olive) oil, is pasta at its simplest, pasta - usually spaghetti - tossed with garlic, olive oil, herbs, and chilli flakes.

For this version, we add a little twist to the humble recipe, fresh seawater prawn.

INGREDIENTS

1. Spaghetti 120gr

2. Garlic 5 cloves

3. Salt to taste

4. Paprika pinch

5. Oregano 1/2 t.s.p.

6. Mix herb 1/2 t.s.p.

7. Chili flakes to taste

8. Olive oil 3 t.s.p.

9. Fresh Prawn 80Gr

10. Cheese for garnish

INSTRUCTION

Bring spaghetti to boil, drain and rinse with cold water and let it rest

Chop garlic to thin slices, and deshell prawns

Heat olive oil on pan, add chopped garlic, paprika, oregano, salt mix herb, chili flakes, and prawns

Put spaghetti on top, and toss throughly

Voila! Prawn Spaghetti Aglio Olio is done!

Instructional video by Awesome Cook

TIPS

How to deshell prawns - by TheHookandTheCook

Dos

#boil pasta in salt water

#watch garlic while cooking

#garnish with fried garlic

and chili flakes

Dont's

#completely drain the pasta

water, add it while tossing

Picture from http://www.noobcook.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/prawnsaglioolio.jpg

Travel Log: Thailand, The Land of Thousand Smiles

Salty, sweet, sour, spicy, bitter.
Not many other cuisines in the world consist of all these tastes in a single dish, except for Thai food.

My buddies and I had made such frequent trips to Bangkok that we knew how to get around the city by BTS (Bangkok Subway System), but we also managed to avoid usual tourist traps like temples and floating markets. Our main mission is to hunt for Glorious food! Here’s our typical feast fest

Brunch

We headed to Siam station. There’s a mini food court right beside the Novotel Siam Square that sells classic Thai dishes such as Thai chicken rice, braised pork rice, and fish-ball noodles, and lastly, washing all these with Thai iced-tea. Yuh!

Tea Time

Within walking distance from the food court is Siam Paragon mall. The mall
houses a gigantic food hall integrating a food court, restaurants, and individual vendor stands. Our favorite list includes Thai-style sausage lathered in sweet chilli sauce and Thai crispy crepes (sweet and salty).

Dinner

I caught up with a local Thai friend, Fai, who brought us to local best kept secrets. We went to Sam Yan market near Chulalongkorn University, a large food court. Our Thai friends do the
ordering since the vendors rarely speak English. You know they serve great food when they speak only local language. A few dishes that we love include deep fried kangkoong, stir fried eggs in curry sauce, fried pork with garlic, tom yum soup, and ground chicken with basil.

There’s more to Bangkok beyond the usual tourist traps. Open your mind to try new things, you will definitely have a good time. Till our next trip, take care!

Regards Stefan Pratama

FLIGHT

AIR ASIA (KNO to BKK)

via CGK approx. IDR 2,000,000

STAY

5* Shangri-la Hotel - IDR 2,000,000

4* Novotel The Square - IDR 1,300,000

3* Lemontea Hotel - IDR 700,000

Chef's Diary: Professional Chef's Salary

Considering career as professional cook as career, but doubted the amount of salary you will earn? Well, think again. The fact below will surprise you!

Meet Jamie Oliver, a Briton crowned as the wealthiest chef in the world. Jamie's made his fortune from his TV shows, cooking classes - Recipease, Restaurants - Jamie's Italian, Barbecoa, Jamie's Diner, etc, cookbook, personal label products (pasta, olive oils, spices mix, dips, ready to eat food, food containers, and many more).

INFOGRAPHICS

Kitchen Guide: PASTA!

Legend has it that pasta was first introduced to Italy by Marcopolo, who brought it over from ancient china. Since then, pasta spread across Italy. Each region in Italy developed different shapes of pasta, ingredients, processing methods, and sauces.

The followings are nine popular pasta noodle that are widely consumed.

1. Spaghetti
shape : Noodle
variant : Bolognese (grounded beef & tomato sauce)

2. Fusilli
shape : Spiral
variant : Al-Pesto (fusilli tossed in pesto)

3. Macaroni
shape : Bend hollow tube
variant : Mac & Cheese (grilled macaroni in cheese bath)

4. Lasagna
shape: Sheet
variant : Beef Lasagna (grounded beef & tomato sauce)

5. Fettuccine
shape : Flat noodle
variant : Alfredo (cream & herbs)

6. Penne
shape : Hollow tube
variant : Napolitana (tomato sauce & herbs)

7. Ravioli
shape: Handbag pouch
variant : Four Cheese Ravioli (ricotta, mascarpone, pamersan & mozzarella)

8. Tortellini
shape: Ring pouch
variant : Tortellini Primavera (Tortellini tossed with carrots, mushroom, asparagus, & other veggies)

9. Gnocchi
shape: Cylindrical
variant : Gnocchi Gorgonzola (wheat flour, egg, cheese & potato dough in Gorgonzola cheese sauce)

 In your next visit to Italian eatery, you can impress your mates with know-what on Pasta!