Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Jakarta Guide, Issue 8, Spring/Summer 2014. Published on Elite Traveler, the Private Jet Lifestyle Magazine, Asia Edition.

The following is my original copy from my article "Jakarta Guide" as published by Elite Traveler, the Private Jet Lifestyle Magazine, Asia Edition, Issue 8.

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From A To Z
From the same culinary geniuses behind the enduring success of Amuz, Jakarta’s legendary fine French dining helmed by local celebrity chef Gilles Marx, comes their newest creation, Auroz Gourmet Grill, already voted as one of top three must-try new restaurants in Jakarta by the city’s critics and luminaries. Auroz’s closest competitor at this time is the equally excellent and equally new E&O (Eastern & Oriental) restaurant headed by another culinary heavyweight, celebrated chef Will Meyrick of Sarong and Mama San fame in Bali. But where E&O is a victim of its own success, in which getting a table upon walk-in is these days proving impossible, Auroz still has that underground vibe where dining can still be enjoyed in a fairly relaxed, intimate setting.

And that’s really Auroz’s raison d'etre. Chef founder Gilles Marx explained, “We learned that many guests are too intimidated to eat at Amuz save for special occasions. So, we decided to create a new concept, one that is much less intimidating and casual and bistro-like without abandoning style. We deliberately chose an off-site location for Auroz in a new building, so that diners can hang all that pretentiousness at the door and just come here for the food.” The concept behind Auroz is that of a gourmet grill bistro that blends French bistro cooking with modern American steakhouse. Obviously, grill is its specialty and its premium quality steaks selections grilled to perfection are of the highest recommendation. Order anything from the USDA Prime Ribeye to the Australian Wagyu Tenderloin Grade 9+ and your trip to Auroz will have been wholly vindicated. A selection of very decent and truly quite excellent wines such as 2008 Amuse Bouche and Bordeaux Left Bank (notable: 1998 Chateau Leoville Las Cases Grands CrusClasses) and Bordeaux Right Bank will complete your evening.

Auroz Gourmet Grill, Menara Merdeka Ground Floor, Jl. Budi Kemuliaan 1 No.2, Jakarta 10110. +62 21 2957 3690 

PR & VIP Contact: Chef founder Gilles Marx, Mobile +62 815 1130 7110


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The Great Exodus
The latest mega-nightclub iteration to rock Jakarta comes from the same group which launched one of the most controversial, yet successfully epic nightclubs in the history of the city – The Stadium Jakarta. If you’ve been to this place, you know what I’m talking about. Their second concept is no less glitzy, boisterous and promises the same kind of star-studded hard partyings as its sister property, but with the respectability of a location in South Jakarta, where most of the socialites and celebrities reside. Hidden in a somewhat demure, also newly-opened shopping mall called Kuningan City on Casablanca Road, Exodus’s penchant for glam and the extravagant makes it easy to find: three floors of socializing space, spanning a restaurant, a lounge and a flagship club, each equipped with an array of the latest and greatest audio / video system.

The flagship club, Exodus 5 CLUB, features a swanky, 750-square meter space boasting classic Tiffany-era décor fused with stainless steel, mirrors and blue shades. Luxurious, oversized leather VIP sofas allow freedom of sight while ensuring privacy. The piece de resistance however is the HD LED screens that wrap around the entire span of the walls, streaming audio/visual mash-ups in high definition. The party atmosphere is further enhanced by Martin Pro Lighting, German Laser light show, 50,000+ audio watts by Funktion One, FFA and Logic Systems, and Exodus’s unique Liquid Oxygen (LOX) injection system blasting the dance floor in white clouds of pure oxygen. 

Gentlemen will appreciate rare and ultra-premium spirits such as Macallan 30 Years Old, The Glenlivet XXV Twenty 25 Year Old or Martell L'Or de Jean Martell, while the ladies will be pleased with the club’s selection of very decent premium well cocktails such as the Grape & Basil Martini (fresh grapefruit juice, Grey Goose Vodka, lime juice, simple syrup) and The Red (fresh strawberry juice, Belvedere Vodka, Light Rum, Grenadine and lime fruit).  

Exodus Jakarta, Kuningan City Mall floors 5, 6 and 7. Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio Kav. 18, Jakarta 12940. +62 21 30056285 / 86 / 87

PR & VIP Contact: Addo Arsyad, Mobile +62 812 9163 8381, addo@exodus-jakarta.com (resigned, no longer in Exodus) 

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To read the final, edited and published article, please visit: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ytxbc9si7vojlcz/Jakarta%20Guide.pdf

Read more about Elite Traveler: http://www.elitetraveler.com/magazine-library/elite-traveler-asia-springsummer-2014






Stay tuned as I'll post more fun images from the photoshoot of each property tomorrow!  

Thanks for reading.