READ NOW - Jakarta Magazine

la brasserie’s new revamped look at le meridien:
gearing up for le tour de france culinaire
BY Risti BRophy
Business has
been picking
up well for Le
Meridien Hotel
in the past few years,
so much so that the
need arises for the
exotic hotel -known
for its flare in mixing
European and local
tastes harmoniously- to
add an extension to its
popular coffee shop, La
Brasserie.
A new section has recently
been completed, adding
the much needed floor
space and expanding the
seating capacity to 250 from
previously 170. The main
entrance has also been
renovated, with large glass
walls and dark wooden
frames bringing in light and
a contemporary ambiance.
Light wooden patchwork
details adorn the walls and a
touch of terracotta and ochre
yellow on the chair cushions
make the setting comfy as
well as cheerful.
Overlooking the pool,
La Brasserie now has an
expanded food station
area, allowing guests
to browse around more
comfortably. Executive Chef
Thiery Guineau continues
to maintain his signature
touch of French cuisine
in the extensive buffet
selection, with mouthwatering
appetizers which
include a variety of homemade
terrines, puff pastries
as well as salads with an
endless option of dressings;
and main course selections
which include, among others,
the delectable Chicken
Belle Femme, lamb roll and
breaded veal – all classically
French. But those with a
palate for Asian tastes need
not worry. The charming chef
ensures that a selection of
Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese
and more traditionally
Indonesian dishes are also
on the menu. Even the
locals would jump for joy
to know that the all-time
favourite ‘Mie Bakso’ (noodle
with meatballs) is always
available at La Brasserie.
But no visit to La
Brasserie is complete without
a trip to the dessert station.
Brace yourself if you’re on
an extreme diet, as once the
sight of Le Meridien’s famous
mille-feuille catches your
eyes, there is no going back!
Other luscious items include
blueberry cheesecake, a
variety of mousse, puddings
and sweet pastries, as well
as the crepes section – with
all sorts of fillings including
strawberries, choco chips,
nuts, etc., topped with a
deadly chocolate sauce and
paired with milky vanilla ice
cream.
Also available at La
Brasserie are the latest
breakfast recipes of three
Michelin-starred Chef Jean-
Georges (JG) Vongerichten,
famed for his innovative,
ground-breaking cuisines.
At all Le Meridien outlets
worldwide, the breakfast
ritual features the unique
‘JG Eye Openers’, which is
a refreshing blend of juices
with a twist. There are 7
options to help guests start
the day off with a bang,
including carrot-orangepassion
fruit, strawberrybanana-lime
and raspberrypineapple-clove.
Another signature JG
Breakfast Menu presents
guests with 6 different
items of which 2 variants
are available each day
and includes items such
as smoked salmon and
steamed silken tofu with
fresh raspberry vinaigrette,
buckwheat crepe with
spinach and herbs, as well as
the classic croque madame.
With its new revamped
look, La Brasserie is gearing
up for its much-awaited Le
Tour de France Culinaire on
2-24 July, in conjunction with
the famous French cycling
race. Starting from Passage
du Gois La Barre-de-Monts
in Vendée, this year’s journey
will travel through Italy and
across 10 regions of France.
During Le Tour de
France Culinaire, held in
collaboration with the CCF
Jakarta and is a part of the
annual French festival, Le
Printemps Francais, Chef
Thiery Guineau and team at
La Brasserie will showcase
signature dishes from each
of the 10 regions: Pays de la
Loire, Bretagne, Normandie,
Centre, Auvergne, Aquitaine,
Midi-Pyrénées, Languedoc-
Roussillon, Rhône-Alpes,
Italy and Ile-de-France.
Definitely a great way to
mark the 100th anniversary
of Le Tour de France!
For more information please
visit: www.lemeridien.com/
jakarta
PHOTOS: AGUNG NATANAEL.
34 | MAY 2011 www.nowjakarta.co.id
www.nowjakarta.co.id MAY 2011 | 35