Jplus 2016 02 28 lores

Vol. 3 No. 15 I February 28 - 5 March , 2016

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE TRAVELS THROUGH THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

battle of the bartenders finding jakarta's best UNDER BLUE SKIES COTIGNAC TO CÔTE D’AZUR OLD AND YOUNG masters ART at AUCTION IN BALI

Editor's note

Check List

WHEN IT DRIZZLES I love the rain, even though Jakarta’s weather means that none of the other things I love, such as sporty raincoats and classic walking umbrellas, can keep me dry if I dare to stroll the streets when it drizzles.

Given the monsoon storms this week, it’s a perfect time for us to visit the French Riviera.

For our cover travel story (p4-9), JPlus writers Linawati Sidarto and Aulia R. Sungkar take us on a voyage through the south of France, from Cotignac to Côte d’Azur, with a stop in Toulouse.

To whet your appetite for the region’s blue skies and blue seas, take a look at the vintage travel poster from the famed Art Deco illustrator Roger Broders (right).

Meanwhile, our In the Spirit column (p14), also offers a French twist, albeit in the form of Julian Decraene of Potato Head Pacific Place, who we previously profiled.

The Frenchman, who has been working in Indonesia for several years, is one of 10 mixologists sparring to be named the nation’s best in the Diageo World Class (DWC) bartending competition.

Our contributor Banyubening Prieta caught up with Decraene as well as Rizky Sanjaya from Artoz, Yosi Pranantaka from Cork & Screw and Kiki Moka from Cafe Milano for a cocktail crawl.

ArtPLUS (p10-12), which will move to

the third week of the month starting in March, features a brace of stories by Richard Horstman, including a preview of Larasati’s auction of old and new Balinese masters slated for Feb. 28.

There’s also an ArtPLUS story by our staff writer Sebastian Partogi, who takes on an important question: Whether it’s better to draw inside or outside the lines.

On that topic, however, we offer no answers: JPlus will maintain its journalistic impartiality.

Enjoy the weekend!

Chris Razukas jplus@thejakartapost.com

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mark my words

love connection I BROWSE FOR MEN LIKE I BROWSE FOR SHOES. ONLINE. WORDS avi Basuki

I love the Internet. I can’t live without it. I’ve never been attached to anyone or anything as much as I’ve been attached to my smartphone.

I use it for almost everything: To set my agenda, to make notes, to take photos and videos, to do my work, to chat with people around the world, to shop online–and lately, to browse for single men.

OK, I said it. I browse for men online. Like I browse for shoes.

No, that might not sound very elegant.

But if I’m too busy to look for shoes in the shops, how can I find time to look for other humans who are decent enough to carry an interesting conversation?

I’m also a single mom with a young child, which also limits my time.

In any event, social interaction is mostly online nowadays, whether you like it or not.

It’s just one facet of technology that has shifted our existing sensibilities to a more “present” and connected existence.

I love meeting people–and not meeting weirdos and bad smelling people. However, the older you get, the more difficult it is to meet people in your age range.

I do go out when I have the time, which is very rare. Most of the people I see around, though, are either much younger than me–or don’t seem that interesting when sober.

I’m pathetic, but not desperate. I know there’s hope, so I carry the torch for every

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other single 40-year-old woman out there.

After nagging from my more courageous friends, I decided to ask my smartphone to do some “magic” for me: Please find me a man.

The problem is finding the right app.

I’ve seen a few interesting websites to meet people, such as A Small World, which used to be an elegant medium where you could meet posh peeps at gatherings.

However, now it charges around 80 euros a month, which has made me switch to something more economical.

A friend of mine met her now husband through Indonesian Cupid, a site for Indonesian women looking for serious relationships.

Some friends had loads of fun using Badoo, which was too scary for me, after my messaging window was overloaded by messages from eerie men; others more business-oriented used LinkedIn to meet people, although I’d rather keep linked solely for work purposes.

Then I heard about Tinder. I gave it a try.

After all, I only needed someone to share my love for gourmet coffee and to have some interesting conversations about life in general. Maybe even to share a few sunsets.

Getting the right profile was the most important step, along with using a good clear recent photo to help you avoid the weirdos and unwanted.

The nice thing about Tinder, though. is that it gives you several options for secrecy.

You need to use your Facebook account to

log in, although it won’t tell everyone that your’e using Tinder.

It’s easy: Just download the app, choose your profile photo and write an introduction and start swiping, to the right if you’re keen to chat, to the left to see the next person avaiable.

Better than online shopping. Discreet and efficient, no embarrassment involved.

It’s up to you what to do next. A friend of mine suggested to let the men make the first move, since that’s what gentlemen do.

But, if you are a bit in a hurry, then you can use Bumble, a more feminist version of Tinder, where the girls are in charge and can choose the men.

A friend in London likes to use Happn, a dating app that lets you see the people nearby, for those who don’t have the time to travel too far.

The question remains, does it work?

Can you find a soulmate through your smartphone?

The answer remains the same: It’s difficult for some, easier for others and yes, you might strike gold–if you're lucky.

While finding love is never be an easy task, there are fun ways to make it happen. Even better, you can do it while you’re in your pajamas from the comfort of your room.

Happy swiping!

Mark My Words shifts focus between fashion, food, parenting, technology and travel each week.

ArtPLUS From Denapsar to Darwin

A la mode Paul Andrew’s stilettos

JPlus Team Editor Christian Razukas Art Director Budhi Hartono Graphic Designer Hengky Wijaya Marketing & Advertising Sales & Marketing Director Ady P. Pamungkas

ady.pamungkas@thejakartapost.com

Marketing Executive Faisal Ahmad

faisal@thejakartapost.com

@JPlusSunday

SundayJplus

thejakartapost.com/jplus

On the cover

Boats on Salis Beach in Antibes Photographer: Patrice Coppee, AFP

oh, the places you'll go MUSIC

Kids

Fine Arts

Java Jazz Festival

All about Lego

For art lovers

When: March 5-6 Where: Kartika Expo Center, Balai Kartini Jakarta info@bricksindonesia.com

When: March 1 to April 1 (Pirous), Feb. 20 to March 4 (Dia.lo.gue) Where: Lobby Area, World Trade Center Building 2 (Pirous), Dia.lo.gue Artspace, Jl. Kemang Selatan 99a (Dia.lo.gue) vip.enquiries@isaartadvisory.com; dialogue-artspace.com

The nation’s largest jazz festival is back with diverse line-up of local and international musicians, including Glenn Fredly, Larry Coryell, Robin Thicke and Naif . While the Java Jazz Festival 2016 itself isn’t until March 4, music lovers can enjoy an official pre-event concert at the Pendopo Lounge at Hotel Borobudur Jakarta on March 2, featuring Berget Lewis and Idang Rasjidi from 8-10 p.m for Rp 288,000.

When: March 2 (warm-up) March 4-6 (main event) Where: Hotel Borobudur Jakarta; Jakarta International Expo www.javajazzfestival.com

Calling all Lego fans: Dunia Bricks 2016 is coming. The event, hosted by Lego community Bricks Indonesia, is set to run from March 5-6 as part of the Jakarta Toys & Comics Fair 2016. It’s the country’s biggest gathering for enthusiasts of the Danish toy brand. The event will feature numerous dioramas, including ones for Star Wars and Duplo. There will also space for Lego fanatics to show off their own personalized creations.

Islamic painting pioneer A.D. Pirous will be showing his latest creations at the World Trade Center Building 2, in an exhibit titled “Spiritual Calligraphy”. Visitors can check out Pirous’s works daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. They can also take part in the gallery’s March 1 opening ceremony via RSVP. A more secular form of artistic enjoyment is available through Dia. lo.gue Playground, an art program from Dia.lo.gue Artspace where families and children can explore the fun side of art.

Notable participants include Anggun, Sanchia Hamidjaja and Tisna Sanjaya.

talk of the town OMEGA BRINGS MUSEUM TO CAPITAL OnFive at the Grand Hyatt; SCBD, Central Jakarta

Omega is unique among luxury watchmakers for many reasons: Its timepieces have been standard issue for astronauts, for example. It’s also unique for its dedicated museum of horology in Biel, Switzerland.

Museum curator Petros Protopappas recently brought a traveling exhibit from the museum to Jakarta, showing off two-dozen-or-so timepieces, including one used by undersea explorer Jacques Coustaeu and several that have been to the Moon and back. The exhibit made its bow to mark the local arrival of the latest Omega Globemaster.

BORDEAUX VITNERS VISIT JAKARTA

US AMBASSADOR CELEBRATES NAPA VALLEY WINES

Fairmont Jakarta; Senayan, Central Jakarta

JW Marriott; MegaKuningan, South Jakarta Vitners from 18 famed chateaux in France’s Bordeaux wine-making region were on hand for an afternoon tasting session at the Fairmont Jakarta on Feb. 24, courtesy of local firm Dwimitra Sukses Perkasa.

The event, touted as the 5th “Bordeaux Rendezvous: Le Tresor de Bordeaux” (Treasure of Bordeaux), was capped by an exquisite pairing dinner held at the Fairmont Jakarta featuring premium wines boasting aromatic complexity, great clarity and admirable depth.

Oenophiles and gastronomes united at the JW Marriott on Feb. 24 for an evening of wine and food hosted by US ambassador Robert O. Blake (second right).

The pairing dinner introduced the hotel’s talented new executive chef, Francisco Holmes Brown (left), to the media.

The Argentine-Brit teamed up with Kristen Araoz Gridley (second left), brand ambassador for Napa Valley based Beringer, to devise a bespoke menu, balancing the winery’s famous California chardonnays with Francisco’s genius.

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cover Story

A Day in Toulouse Discovering France’s pink city on foot Words & photos Aulia R. Sungkar

T

oulouse gets a fraction of the visitors received by other cities in France such as Bordeaux, Nice or Lyon.

However, the metropolis of about a half million souls has many charms, a crackling cultural scene and beautifully ancient buildings that will reward any traveler.

The capital of the Midi-Pyrénées region is also known locally as La Ville Rose (The Pink City)–a nickname it earned thanks to a host of buildings made from colored terracotta bricks.

You might also call Toulouse a river city, as it sits at the confluence of the Garonne River and the Canal du Midi, a navigable waterway, built in the 16th century and linking the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.

If you’re not into walking, rent a bike from VélôToulouse, the pick-up/drop-off bicycle rental system and explore the lush greenery that surrounds the canal.

While dusky pink bricks have reigned supreme in Toulouse for more than 1,500 years, when it was the capital of the Visigoths; the city is thoroughly modern.

Toulouse is also the center of European aerospace industry and home to the Airbus factory.

No visit to Toulouse is complete without visiting La Cité de l’Espace, Europe’s best space museum. From afar, a life-size (400-meters-plus!) version of the Ariane 5 rocket can be seen.

You can experience a simulated satellite

launch and explore a mock-up of the Mir space station.

However, during a recent visit, I only had one day to explore the city, which is about seven hours’ drive from Paris.

Fortunately, I was in Toulouse in the autumn, when the temperature was around 10 degrees, making it an ideal day to explore the city by walking.

I spoke with an old friend, Adriana Ariasti Martin, a long-time resident of Toulouse, and here’s some of what she told me to do.

The Game’s Afoot My first destination was Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau, the city’s main railway hub, which dates to 1905.

The station is connected to the Toulouse Metro and is only steps away from downtown, where my eyes caught an older, yet still function building, which, remarkably, was actually a McDonald’s fast food chain restaurant.

A little further down the road was a multi-story building: Galeries Lafayette, France’s most famous department store, displaying the latest fashions in a building with a neo-classical architecture style.

A few more blocks took me to the Place du Capitole, the city’s magnificent main square and the heart of Toulouse.

The building’s neo-classical façade and pink marble columns were completed in 1760, ten years after construction started.

Toulouse was also home to Antoine de SaintExupery, the author of Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince).

He lived in Toulouse when working for Aéropostale as a commercial pilot.

Visit Hôtel du Grand Balcon, a block away from Place du Capitole, for interesting information about his life and works.

If you’d like to take a break, find a table at one of the many cafes and order a drink or the famous Philippe Faur ice cream and people watch.

Or you can walk south and you’ll come across the Vieux Quartier, or Old Quarter-a tangle of lanes and leafy squares brimming with cafes, shops and restaurants.

There were quite a few pavement cafes where local residents could be spotted sipping coffee or quaffing an early aperitif.

Take the opportunity to try Toulouse’s signature dish: Confit de canard. It’s duck leg that has been cooked slowly in its rendered fat over a long period of time at low temperature.

The Basilica of St. Sernin was my next destination.

In halting French, I spoke with man

who told me that the redbrick edifice was another UNESCO World Heritage site–as well as one of best-preserved Romanesque structures in the country.

Another church, albeit somewhat further afield, is Saint Aubin Basilica, which hosts a Sunday market with a great and convivial atmosphere.

You can find everything here: vegetables from local farmers, organic products, fish, South American empanadas, clothing and hat stands, shoes, fresh eggs, and even live chickens!

Back on the road, I stopped at Pont Neuf, or the New Bridge–no relation to the one in Paris.

Despite its name, the bridge, which dates to the 16th century, is one of the oldest in France and boasts panoramic views.

On the grounds surrounding the bridge are several private homes built several hundred years ago and still in operation.

Nearby are a wealth of impressive hôtels particuliers, or private mansions, and another old quarter.

How time flies! I had already spent over three hours of walking–something that I’m reluctant to do in Jakarta. Yet even more was just steps away–something that I will have to save for a second trip.

Place du Capitole

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On the road IN PROVENCE AND THE CÔTE D’AZUR WORDS Linawati Sidarto

I

rewarded with endless fields of lavender or grapevines. Best yet: It’s only about an hour’s drive from the sandy beaches and sapphire blue waters of the Côte d’Azur, better known in English as the French Riviera.

Provence and Côte d’Azur only started getting popular among French tourists at the beginning of the last century, said Paris-based journalist Sophie Dupré.

“They were previously known to the French as rather common places–even a bit dirty and provincial,” she adds. “The bourgeoisie preferred to go to places like Normandy.”

For the Indonesian traveler, however, Provence offers an exotic glimpse into life in a small town in the French countryside.

COTIGNAC One of the culture gaps this Jakarta native had to overcome when moving overseas was understanding how sacred vacations were for Western Europeans.

Traveling twice a year is normal. More often is not unusual. For many, however, travel doesn’t necessarily mean going to new places, but rather returning frequently to a favored location.

Last July, I spent two weeks in a villa in Cotignac, sometimes dubbed the St. Tropez of the Var. My days would start with a five-minute walk downtown to the bakery, which opened at 7 a.m. Come a few minutes late, and the line of people getting their baguettes and croissants snakes around

the corner.

I often could not resist stopping for a coffee at Modern Bar just off the town square, accompanied by local residents reading their morning papers.

Many of these “locals” apparently came from elsewhere and chose to make Cotignac their home, such as stainedglass artist Dany Ely. The 72-year-old said she was accidentally stranded in the village two decades ago after a motorcycle accident.

Ely never left and now runs a charming bed and breakfast Le Pra de Pe. “I sell and exhibit during the summer, and work during winter.”

On days when the market is closed, the small Spar supermarket next to Modern

Photos linawati sidarto, afp

t can’t get much better than the Tuesday market at Cotignac.

The village square, shaded by tall trees, becomes a feast for all the senses, with stalls selling gorgeous vegetables, fruit, flowers, breads of all kinds, sausages, honey and a plethora of cheeses. There’s also fresh fish, poultry and meats-and wine, of course.

No worries, though, if food is not your thing: Local craftsmen offer textiles, glassware, ceramics, perfume and clothing.

Tiny Cotignac–population 2,000–is one of the many ancient villages dotting the Var, a lush, hilly area that is part of France’s Provence region, about sevenand-a-half hours from Paris by car.

Driving in the vicinity is often

Bar, the fishmonger and the butcher have everything you need to cook your own meal.

Breakfast I enjoyed on a huge veranda overlooking the town, with a giant fig tree and a swimming pool keeping me cool. The problem was that one could happily sit there the whole day and not do a thing.

Fortunately, the town is too pretty to ignore. Cotignac is perched at the base of a majestic limestone rock formation, dotted with ancient caves that used to shelter people and animals.

The hike to the caves is actually a pleasant stroll through a leafy, cobblestone path.

Overlooking the town are two square

towers dating from the 12th century.

Like all French towns, Cotignac has several churches, the grandest being the 16th-century Notre Dame de Grace. The best thing about Cotignac is that strolling along its narrow winding streets– frequently interrupted by little squares with fountains–never gets boring.

I also visited surrounding villages, like the night market in Carces, and the majestic 12th-century Le Thoronet Abbey, where you could well imagine Harry Potter flying around the corner.

A must is taking long dips in the cool, clear waters of the Cote d’Azur, a places where blue skies meet blue seas.

Following are some places that are not to be missed.

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cover Story

Cassis The best beaches in Cassis are only reachable by boat, or via a hike up and down its steep limestone cliffs, or calanques, that over the millennia have formed dramatic fjord-like coves between Cassis and Marseille. The waves were quite high for my tiny motorboat, but the breath-taking view of the inlet and swimming in the crystal blue waters were certainly worth it. Athletes will enjoy climbing the cliffs and taking a swan dive into the ocean.

St Paul de Vence Just a stone’s throw from Nice, this picturesque 16th century village was a favorite haunt for artists. Picasso and Modigliani used to stay here–and paid for their room and board with their artwork.

Not to be missed is the Fondation Maeght, a private museum started in 1964 by Marguerite and Aimé Maeght, art dealers and friends of heavyweights like Joan Miró and Alberto Giacometti. Even if you’re not an art fan, go there to enjoy the magnificent sculpture gardens overlooking the Cote d’Azur far below. If you’re into art, you cannot miss this rare collection of gems. Then pop over to the old town for a wonderful outdoor dinner at Le Tilleul, which is blissfully located next to an ice cream parlor.

FREE A presentation by Mr. Marc Grossman

Spanyol Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago

MOVIE SCREENING

The Spain Tourism Board would like to invite you to the special movie screening of the documentary film, Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago. Learn more about the important checklist to prepare when you want to visit and walk the Road to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Admission is free of charge. First-come, first-served basis.

Date Time Venue RSVP

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Ad-JakartaCaminoFilm255x70.indd 1

JPlus February 28, 2016

JA K A R TA

1 March 2016 (Tuesday) 1400H to 1700H CGVblitz Grand Indonesia

West Mall Level 8 Jl. MH Thamrin No. 01 Jakarta Pusat 10310 Rizky Rais RSVP@skpr.asia Or: caminodesantiago.jakarta2016@gmail.com Mobile number: 0817711989 latest by February 26 (Friday) Please print invitation and present during registration

Jakarta to Santiago de Compostela on Turkish Airlines 2/26/16 4:07:46 PM

cover Story Antibes This ancient port town was home to the Greeks and Romans–and the French, starting around the 10th century.

Old city walls and castles line its magnificent coast. The crown jewel is Chateau Grimaldi, which houses the Picasso Museum.

The Spanish artist lived and worked here for several months in 1946 and donated all the work he’d done in that period to the museum.

Enjoy lunch at the Royal Beach restaurant and take a dip on its private beach. Otherwise, stroll to the old city and buy some bread and cheese at the daily fresh market.

Photos via afp

Giens Of all the towns on the Cote d’azur, Giens had my favorite beach. It seemed like the water here was intensely sapphire,and just the right temperature.

Hotel Le Provencal has a private beach–rocky, not sandy–with a swimming pool perching onto the ocean. The hotel has two outdoor restaurants with fresh seafood.

TIPS • If possible, never go to France in August, as the whole country is on holiday and vacation destinations are jampacked with the locals.

• Get your bread early at the bakery, or you’ll end up empty-handed.

• Do not expect many French–even those working in tourism and hospitality–to speak anything but French.

• Most locals who kindly asked where I was from pulled a blank face when hearing my answer.

• When driving, expect to stop frequently on freeways to pay toll fees: they can really add up.

Have coins or a credit card handy.

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Singapore Airlines

A380-800 Business Class Photos via seat advisor, singapore airlines

Singapore to London

Words Aulia R. Sungkar

S

ingapore Airlines’ new business class seats on its A380-800 service to London boast a contemporary design with a curvaceous shell. Coupled with the use of metallic colors and textures, each seat is sophisticatedly crafted to enhance the comfort of passengers. Flight SQ308, which took me to London, was a double-decker flight. My business class seat was on the upper deck, just ahead of economy seating.

Pre-Flight Checklist I arrived at Changi Terminal 2 at 7 a.m. for flight SQ 308 to London. I followed signs for Lounge D. It was quite a walk before I reached the business Silverkris lounge, which you can access either via elevator or escalator.

Food was average, although I was too rushed to enjoy. I was happy with the lounge’s fast Internet connection. Singapore Airlines has two lounges at Changi. The other is the first class Krisflyer Gold lounge.

Away We Go A flight attendant greeted me with a smile while offering to stow my carry-on. I was offered a choice of water, juice or champagne. I took champagne. It’s one thing that I like to do before taking off. What I liked more was that the flight took off on time at 9:05 a.m..

The Seat I enjoyed the airline's new fully-flat business seat.

SQ308 featured a total of 55 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. I was in 26F and

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noticed how roomy it was. Crafted in retro beige leather, the seat had a width measuring 30 inches (76.2 centimeters) and a seat pitch of 55 inches.

The length of the bed was 76 inches.

The in-flight entertainment screen was large at 15.4 inches. The tray table was big for dining, but not for working on a laptop. I instead put my computer on my lap using a blanket as a base.

I also liked my in-seat AC power supply with several power outlets. I was able to charge my mobile phone and laptop at the same time.

Yes, there’s in-flight Internet service on this flight. You can surf, tweet and send text messages for US$9.99 for 10MB of volume-based service or $11.95 for an hour for time-based service. Rates vary depending on the connectivity service provider for your flight.

Food, Wine & Service Meal service started around 45 minutes after take-off. The breakfast menu was pretty rich.

The warm sandwich with Thai style chicken and tom yum spread was just delectable.

The lunch menu also fueled me up. I started with Singapore chicken and mutton satay as a canape, followed by goose liver on wild rice as an appetizer and North India fish curry.

The supper menu was terrific. I had seared beef fillet with madeira sauce and creamed corn.

This main course was exclusively created for Singapore Airlines by Alfred Portale of Gotham Bar & Grill in New York. There was a great selection of cheese and bread, as well items from the light bites menu.

Included on the wine and champagne menu were a 2010 Vina Errazuriz La Cumbre Syrah from Valle de Aconcagua, Chile; a 2007 Taittinger Brut Millesime, Champagne from

France and a 2013 Mt Nelson Sanvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand.

Service was excellent. Flight attendants seemed to know exactly what I wanted. As I tried to convert the seat into a fully flat bed, a flight attendant came quickly to help. The flat bed was convenient. I had no trouble sleeping.

Arrival & Transit We arrived on time after 13 hours and 20 minutes. I had three hours at London Heathrow before my next flight, BA 376 (British Airways), to Toulouse, France.

Final Tally The seat in the business class was second to none. Coupled with good food and friendly service, this was an exquisite flight.

Departure Time 9:05 a.m.

Journey Time 13 hours, 20 minutes Aircraft Type Airbus A380-800 Configuration 1-2-1 Seat Pitch 55 inches Seat Width 30 inches Price Midweek business fare for departure in March starts at around US$4,641 Contact singaporeair.com

Photos Aulia R. Sungkar, Hotel Pullman toulouse centre

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Hotel Pullman Toulouse Centre Words Aulia R. Sungkar

Background Operated by Accor and occupying eight stories, this five-star contemporary hotel exudes a minimalist feel and an art-themed ambience. Launched in 1989, the Pullman Toulouse Centre underwent renovation in 2004.

What’s It Like?

Entering the lobby, my eyes were directed toward a beautiful array of contemporary paintings and photographs. Many were colorful and abstract. Noteworthy were the works of Dominique Viet, a local artist known for creating poetry with shapes and colors.

Decor is minimalist, trendy and stylish, reflected in the simple sofas and benches in the lobby. Receptionists are friendly, reflecting the best of French hospitality.

Where Is It? The hotel’s location is one great advantage for those seeking

a convenient city tour. In the heart of Toulouse, the Pullman is within walking distance of several historic sites, such as the Place du Capitole main square, the Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau railway station and the Basilica of St. Sernin.

Stay The hotel’s rooms and suites are decorated in two-tone brown and ecru with accents blending orange, yellow and light gold. Colors are well designed for the elegant setting, which matches the minimalist interior design. Each room boasts a contemporary painting. In the deluxe room I stayed in, a window faced the main street, affording a view of fascinating old buildings.

Room rundown Choices include 28-squaremeter superior rooms with a choice of a king-size or twin beds; a 25-square-meter classic room with queen-size bed;

a 30-square-meter deluxe room with king-size bed, and 60-square-meter deluxe suites, featuring two rooms and kingsize beds.

Aside from complimentary bottled water, tea and coffee making facilities; rooms are equipped with safes, walk-in rain showers and separate toilets.

Deluxe suites feature bathrooms with tubs and separate showers.

Rooms also come with 32” televisions and desks, while suites allow you to relax in front of a 40” television or enjoy quality sounding music from BOSE docking stations. Rooms are no smoking and come with free high-speed Wi-Fi. Dine The hotel’s SW Restaurant serves a complimentary breakfast for guests. Offering bistronomy, or French casual fare, the restaurant is open for lunch from noon to 2 p.m. and for dinner from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Opposite the restaurant is the SW Lounge, which is open from 7 a.m. to midnight. Guests can enjoy a choice of cocktails from the bartender. On one late afternoon, I had a light bite paired with a couple of glasses of Sauvignon Blanc in a comfortable armchair.

The laid-back ambience is fit for me-time. In the evening, the lounge features live jazz music.

Down to business The second floor is home to the hotel’s business center and meeting facilities. Occupying the entire floor, the facilities boast hightech equipment and sa pace that can be converted into up to nine private rooms accommodating anywhere from 12 to 180 people, in addition to existing rooms.

It’s an ideal venue for organizing large business gatherings, such as seminar, workshop or convention.

There is a dining room that can also be converted into a private area, offering a choice of buffet or a la carte service.

Take five The fitness center, while not big, is well equipped with treadmills, exercise bikes, weights and dumbbells.

View Hotel Pullman Toulouse Centre differs from other Pullman hotels, especially those in Jakarta. While small, the hotel is vibrant and worthy of its status.

This can be felt in the hotel’s warm hospitality, comfortable furniture and beds, and interior setting. Above all, this is a strategic hotel where all the city’s amenities and attractions are within range.

Highlights Located in the heart of the city. Excellent business facilities.

Rooms The hotel features 119 rooms, including 6 deluxe suites, with the remainder given over to superior rooms, classic rooms, deluxe rooms.

Price Rates start at US$178 Contact Hotel Pullman Toulouse Centre 84, allées Jean Jaurès, 31000 Toulouse, France Telp:+33 5 6110 2310 pullmanhotels.com ✓ Free Wi-fi ✓ French restaurant ✓ Bar ✓ Fitness center ✓ Business center ✓ 13 meeting rooms

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S E E I N G

T H E

B I G

P I C T U R E

Cruise Control Indonesian artists explore the outback WORDS and Photos Richard Horstman

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ew people have a chance to experience the remoteness, grandeur and soul of the desert landscape of Australia’s Northern Territory.

Traveling in the region requires commitment and preparation and sometimes special permission from the authorities, while gaining insights into the character of the outback is only possible with the indigenous, or Aboriginal, people who first settled the land.

It was remarkable, then, when six Indonesian artists ventured from Denpasar to Darwin last winter for an artist’s camp.

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For five weeks, the artists–Made Budhiana, Wayan Wirawan, Made Sudibia, Made ‘Dalbo’ Surimbawa and Ni Nyoman Sani from Bali; and East Javanese artist Suryani–delved creatively into new territories, both visual and conceptual.

Traveling by car, plane, boat and on foot–while stopping along the way to paint and sketch–the artists stayed with diverse indigenous communities, learning about local culture and painting with local artists.

Fruits of this extraordinary engagement went on display at an exhibition titled “Cruise Control Indonesian – Top End Artist’s Camp Exhibition”, which recently closed at the Northern Center of Contemporary Art (NCCA) in Darwin.

The show featured works of the Indonesians mentioned above as well as Australian painter Rupert Betheras, who joined part of the camp, and featured collaborations between Betheras, Budhiana and the Aboriginal artist Lionel Possum.

“The exhibition is hung more along the lines of a place, attempting to give a sense of the environment encountered by the artists, rather than a grouping of individual works,” NCCA Director and 2015 Artists’ Camp organizer Maurice O’Riordan said.

The camp, which was previously staged in the Northern Territory and Bali in 2012 with an additional iteration in Bali in 2014, is the initiative of Australian art lover Colin MacDonald and Made Budhiana.

The pair worked with the NCCA to expand on the original Artists’ Camp in 1978.

In 2015, the artists had physical and metaphorical journey, traveling as far as Alice Springs, 1,500 kilometers south of Darwin, experiencing the shock of an outback desert winter and crossing the waters north to Melville Island.

The artists developed connections with the Aboriginals, whose culture was not unlike their own–deeply rooted in the environment and the spiritual world and sharing similar universal cosmological views.

The Indonesians’ sensitivity to the nuances of the physical and the non-physical worlds was translated into potent intuitive works, confirming that despite geographical and genetic differences, they shared many similarities with the Aboriginal artists.

Wirawan, on his second visit to NT, crafted the evocative, moody and expressive works Munupi and Pukumani Pipes (Burial Poles) while on Melville Island, where the artists were guests of the Tiwi Aboriginal community of Pirlangimpi.

“I was inspired by the aura and mystery communicated by the pukumani pipes and the area in which they were erected,” Wirawan said. “How quiet and serene it was.”

Meanwhile, this was Suryani’s first experience with the NT’s raw beauty and wilderness.

Her Beswick-Darwin features red, green, blue and white dots pulsating upon a black background, capturing the primal essence of the environment.

Renowned abstract painter Budhiana has

visited the NT on several occasions.

His In the Darkness of the Night captures his nocturnal observations of the Aboriginal people–and how the spirit of the people becomes more evident at night.

Sudibia and Dalbo also contributed powerful semi-abstract impressions of their experiences, while Sudibia’s two untitled renderings of people set amongst the landscape are outstanding.

Installations by Wirawan and Sani provide contrast to the sketches and mixed media works on canvas in “Cruise Control”.

Wirawan’s Buaya & Raganda provides a light-hearted encounter in the meeting of two individual icons of Bali and the NT. While Sani, Bali’s most prominent multidisciplinary woman artist, delved into music, photography and painting in the NT; her installation Sound of the Heart reveals her imaginative depth and passion and for fashion design, such as with a costume dripping with colorful acrylic paint creating an abstract composition on paper positioned beneath on the gallery floor.

Andre Siregar, Indonesia’s consul in Darwin, and NT Chief Minister Adam Gilies opened the exhibition.

“My government is committed to a vibrant ongoing relationship with Indonesia,” Gilies said of the exhibition, which was sponsored by Commonwealth Bank Indonesia, the Australia Indonesia Institute and the Indonesian Foreign Ministry.

“It is a relationship not built on trade alone, and the Artists’ Camp 2015 is part of our commitment. Art and cultural engagement is genuine and enduring engagement.”

Starting in March, ArtPLUS will appear on the third Sunday of the month.

f o cus

between The Lines Coloring books and art therapy offer unique ways to de-stress

Photos via oasis heritage restaurant

Words Sebastian Partogi

M

onty Satiadarma is a clinical psychologist and painter who believes in the healing power of art.

Literally.

“Drawing pictures regularly is useful for you to engage in periodic catharsis, which is very important to dump unnecessary tensions from our minds,” he said during a recent art therapy class held at the Oasis Heritage Restaurant in Cikini, Central Jakarta.

“It’s no different from our physical cycles,” Monty said. “We can’t take food and water all the time without excreting occasionally.”

More people are making the connection between art and mental

health these days, as evinced by the stacks of adult coloring books found in any local bookstore.

According to Esthela Yeanette, the product specialist for fiction and literature for Gramedia, adult coloring books started trending last year, which prompted the publisher to release its own versions, with illustrations by artists such as Yulianto Qin and IBG Wiraga and featuring patterns inspired by batik or Balinese art.

It’s a big business: Gramedia releases about two new coloring books a month with sales topping 2,000 copies, Esthela said.

Illustrator Yulianto said his adult coloring book, titled Batik, was inspired by the eponymous textile, wayang kulit

puppet shows and traditional masks.

“Adult coloring books help people de-stress by coloring a certain pattern in a repetitive manner, almost like meditation,” Yulianto said.

Monty, however, is skeptical about coloring books, saying that art is more therapeutic when you don’t try to keep within the lines.

“Coloring is quite beneficial to distract yourself from stress for a minute, as it requires you to concentrate on a task for a while through coordinated eye movements,” Monty says.

“In the long run, however, it doesn’t really serve as a good outlet for your creativity because you are required to follow a pattern that has previously been set by somebody else,” he adds.

Some people might feel additional pressure to keep up with patterns and complete an entire illustration, according to Monty, who says that making your own pictures is cathartic.

“It helps humans to express emotions through non-verbal symbols, which are pictures and colors in this case,” he says.

When you create art, you activate all your senses, not just your vision. When you paint a rose, for example, you can imagine the smell of that flower. This activates the limbic system, a part of the brain related to emotional regulation, which has a calming effect.”

Creating art was also more tactile–and beneficial, he added. “When you draw a picture, you stroke the canvas or the paper with certain amount of pressure, which already serves as an emotional release.”

Making art also helped balance the “emotional” and “rational" parts of a person’s brain, he added, citing the picture of an empty swing made by one workshop participant.

“In order to reap the maximum benefit of visual arts as a de-stressing mechanism, you need to do it regularly,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to start drawing pictures because you’ll eventually sharpen your sensitivity and skills with practice and time.”

Oasis Heritage Restaurant is planning several art-themed events in coming weeks, including “Art for Balancing” in March and “Mirroring Art Creation” in April. oasisjakarta.com

NEWS FOR YOU

Sotheby’s Hong Kong to auction Ali Sadikin PAINTING Ahead of an auction in Hong Kong from April 2-6, Sotheby’s will preview 40 pieces at its Jakarta office at The Capital Residence.

On display are paintings from Southeast Asia, including one of Jakarta’s late beloved governor Ali Sadikin: Hendra Gunawan’s Ali Sadikin During the Independence War. The vibrant yet chaotic painting renders the statesman as the cynosure of all eyes, ensconced within a motley crew of guerrilla fighters armed with machine guns, rifles and bayonets.

Preview ends Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. Contact Tania +622157973603 or TaniaSandy.Putri@ sothebys.com for an appointment.

Java’s role in Indonesian identity A dialogue and exhibition at the National Gallery is slated to examine notions of Java and identity.

Curated

by Agung Hujatnikajennong and hosted by award-winning artist Hanafi, the event is titled Pintu Belakang|Derau Jawa (Backdoor|Java’s Roar).

The exhibition, slated to run from March 1 to 15, features workshops or talks with artists Riyadhus Shalihin and Stanislaus Yangni and with Enrico Halim and Cecil Mariani from March 3 to 7. studiohanafi.com.

JPlus

February 28, 2016 11

Photos via LARASATI

rep o rtage

for more info Viewing: Feb.28, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Auction: 2.30 p.m. S Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) Jl. Raya Pengosekan, Ubud larasati.com

for Auction Larasati’s auction at ARMA is sure to attract attention from local and international collectors WORDS Richard Horstman

L

arasati Auctioneers will mark the 10th anniversary of its Balinese Modern Traditional and Contemporary Art auctions at Ubud’s Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) on Feb. 28.

Emphasizing quality over quantity, the 81 items on the block will feature a parade of beautiful works, including sketches, watercolors, woodcarvings and paintings by old and young Balinese masters.

“Our intention was simple when we began promoting traditional Balinese art 10 years ago,” Larasati Auctioneers CEO of Daniel Komala says. “We wanted to revive the ‘dying’ market.”

Holding two auctions a year in Ubud, Larasati has opened an international forum for trading high quality traditional Balinese works, especially paintings.

One of the many highlights is expected

to be Lot 40, Tari Joged Bumbung, 2008, acrylic on canvas by A.A. Gede Anom Sukawati (b.1966, Ubud).

Anom Sukawati is an artist from a great lineage with a unique talent for constructing compositions and excellent colorist skills.

Note his attention to detail in the costumes of dancers, accentuation of movement and positioning of color to create powerful contrasts. Priced between Rp 80 million and 120 million.

Ida Bagus Made Poleng (1915-1999), a master from the influential 1936 PitaMaha artists collective, is arguably the most talented Balinese painter of the 20th century.

Lot 80, Legong Dance, estimated auction price of Rp 850 million, featured on the rear cover of the 2008 Puri Lukisan Museum’s 50th anniversary catalog.

It is a rounded composition of exceptional quality with good, balanced coloration that is

Blissfully Sleeping, Ida Bagus Nyana

12

JPlus February 28, 2016

rarely available on the market.

Lot 79, The Witch and the Servant,

by Bali’s greatest modern artist, Gusti Nyoman Lempad (1862-1978), is priced between Rp 130 million and 170 million.

The ink sketch on paper beautifully frames two demons in the bottom corners observing and functioning as commentators, while trees at the top complete the framework to surround the central characters and perfectly balance the composition.

The finest woodcarver from the village of Mas, Ida Bagus Nyana (1912-1985) was the first to depart from the popular elongated figurative style and created works characterized by their plumpness.

Most of these feature figures squatting or sitting, however Lot 77, Blissfully Sleeping, is a fluid reclining figure with legs that disappear downwards. Rich in warm brown tones, this excellent and rare find has an estimated price of between Rp 270 million and 350 million.

Larasati’s first auction at the Maya Resort in 2006 debuted Ubud painter Made Sukada (1945-1982), who has since become a highly sought after artist. Lot 81, Boy with Bamboo Stick, 90 x 70cm, tempura on canvas, is reasonably estimated between Rp 80 million and 120 million.

Close inspection reveals Sukada’s extraordinary commitment to detail with fine speckled gradations of color creating wonderful skin tones.

From Left: Tari Joged Bumbung, Anom Sukawati; Triwikrama, Gusti Ketut Kobot; Boy With Bamboo Stick, Made Sukata.

Soft blue-greys with white highlights are the trademark of the Pengosekan style-and are beautifully featured in Lot 78, Triwikrama, by Gusti Ketut Kobot (1917-1999), another PitaMaha master. At a low estimate between Rp 70 million anf 100 million, this represents an excellent buy.

Another fine work with a low estimate of between Rp 38 million and 48 million is Lot 38, Arja Dance, by Wayan Sudana (1966).

This is a beautiful and daring composition featuring the lead dancer as the focus of attention of the four other dancers.

The foreground and the background, however, seem to reflect differing worlds, causing a sense of disconnection and disruption of visual rhythms.

Dark, moody and incredibly detailed, Lot 39, Pementasan Calon Arang, an early work by Ida Bagus Putu Sena (b.1966), is estimated high at Rp 150 million and 200 million.

Works in the modern and contemporary genres include Lot 60, Bima Kroda, an unusually strong composition by the influential artist and art teacher Nyoman Gunarsa, priced between Rp 80 million and 120 million; as well as Lots 13 and 62 by Dewa Putu Mokoh, (1936-2010) and works by artists Chusin Setiadikara, Krijono and Huang Fong.

Art experts say that Balinese Modern Traditional paintings present good buying opportunities and are considered undervalued.

This auction is sure to attract the attention of local and international collectors, investors and novices alike with many highly regarded artists, a wonderful array of attractive works in different mediums and sizes, catering to various tastes with attractive prices.

Tips If planning to bid via phone and you cannot attend a pre-auction preview, contact Larasati and ask about the color reproduction accuracy of images in the online catalog.

Condition reports outlining a painting’s current state are available upon request, along with information on provenance and data on prior owners.

a la MODE

Chic, elegant,

joyful &

comfortable AWARD WINNING DESIGNER PAUL ANDREW KNOWS WHAT WOMEN WANT

Photos via on pedder

WORDS Christian Razukas

P

aul Andrew is best known for an apparent contradiction: Comfortable stilettos.

The British-born designer, who spent 15 years at iconic houses such as Donna Karen, Calvin Klein and Alexander McQueen, won the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2014 along with a year-long apprenticeship under Tory Burch.

Speaking with JPlus before a personal appearance at the On Pedder boutique at Plaza Indonesia, Andrew talks of his penchant for architecture, craftsmanship and comfort that have made his shoes a favorite of fashionistas from Singapore to San Francisco.

“When you hear women saying they bought the shoe, they wore it all night long, then they went dancing in it–and they weren’t taking the shoe off and cursing my name at the end of the night– it’s such an honor,” Andrew says. “That only encourages me to push forward and make it better.”

AT EASE Andrew commutes between New York and Italy every two weeks, outlining the first pattern and making the first heel prototype for every shoe–a relative rarity among contemporary designers.

“There’s nowhere I’d like to be more than working with these people,” he says of the artisans in his factory in Parabiago, in the northwest of Milan.

“They’ve followed in the footsteps of their fathers and their fathers before

them. There’s a real sense of pride in what they do–and such passion.”

However, it’s been tough getting the traditional workers to adapt to his vision for contemporary shoes, which is based on a survey of 500 women around the world done before launching the brand.

“Everyone’s feet have changed so much,” Andrew says. “Now everyone wears a [expletive deleted] sneaker–and everyone does sports and yoga. Feet have really changed.”

He said he had to convince the artisans that the modern woman had less cushioning collagen in the balls of her feett, which were wider and more arched. “’We need to change the inclination of the insole and add more padding’,” Andrew said he told the artisans–and it paid off. “It was a real struggle, because, of course, they felt that they knew better–but now that we’re seeing such results–and women really do come to me and tell me how comfortable the shoes are-it’s energizing for them.”

TRAVEL AND TRENDS Also infused in Paul Andrew's shoes is the spirit of wanderlust.

“My whole creative process

is informed by my travels,” Andrew says. His shoes tell the story of a city, with each season inspired by a metropolis he’s visited, such as Athens, New York or Istanbul.

His Spring 2016 collection, for example, had its origins in Andrew’s first trip to Hong Kong.

“It was such an inspirational city,” Andrew says. “This incredible architecture wherever you looked. This modern metropolis–yet on the street you really feel the history and the culture of both China and the colonization of England.”

He continues. “I went home and watched by favorite film, In the Mood for Love, by Wong Kar-wai–and that really triggered [the] collection.

Many of the jacquards and the prints and the embroideries are based on those of the cheongsam dresses of Maggie Cheung in that film.”

For Hong Kong, Andrew said he indulged in sculptural heels for plain or patterned-cheongsam black-suede stilettos with skyscraper-spire chromed heels.

A liking for bright colors shines through in Andrew’s Chrysanthemum pink suede wedges, Green Tea Lurex Raffis heels and a kitten heel in Indigo Blue, while he plays with drama for gladiator stilettos with transparency and lightness in mesh heels in Nude or Dragon Red.

MAKING MOVES Andrew recently announced his move into men’s shoes, where his love of architecture and construction would be more evident. “In men’s shoes, [this] really comes through much more obviously. These bench-made detailshand-stitched soles and hand-polished and hand-stained leathers–all of those things interest me.”

Sporting wine Oxford laced boots, however, Andrew says he’s no Imelda Marcos when it comes to his own footwear. “I’m a creature of habit. I believe in buying the same pair of shoes in multiple colors–even the same color.

I’ve actually sort of streamlined my life.”

Meanwhile Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain, Lupita N’yongo and Emma Watson have all been seen in Paul Andrew shoes on the red carpet this awards season, although the designer remains humble when discussing his A-list clientele.

Andrew says that while he’s been fortunate to call some of those stars friends, there’ll be no one-off celebrity requests diluting the brand. His focus remains on the contemporary woman, whether in Asia or the West, although he has his limits.

“There’s certain cities where they only want kitten heels and flats–and then there’s certain cities like Dallas and Miami and Toronto, where women don’t seem to walk anywhere. They have a driver and they can stand for a few moments,” Andrew says, “They’ve really been pushing me to do staggeringly high heels-and that’s not something I’m really so interested in doing.”

I think that women look more comfortable when then can actually walk. There’s nothing less attractive than a woman struggling down the street in cripplingly high heels.”

Paul Andrew Spring 2016 Available at On Pedder Plaza Indonesia, First Floor Telp. +02131927853 10 a.m. -9 p.m.

JPlus

February 28, 2016 13

in the SPIRIT Clockwise from top: Yosi Pranantaka, Henry Maraben, Julian Decraene, Rizky Sanjaya, Kiki Moka.

Grab your

LET THE POURING COMMENCE FOR THIS YEAR’S DIAGEO WORLD CLASS BARTENDING COMPETITION WORDS Banyubening Prieta

M

ixology is not simply a question of choosing between shaken or stirred.

It’s also a reflection of the artistry of hospitality.

Celebrating the firewater culture, Diageo World Class (DWC) Bartending Competition recently invited the ten best bartenders from Bali and Jakarta to showcase their cocktail creations.

The event, dubbed a “Cocktail Crawl”, was held in several bars around the Senayan Central Business District, including Artoz, Potato Head, Cork & Screw and Three Buns Senopati.

The mixologists on hand, comprising those who made the cut after the DWC’s elimination rounds, will be under review until April, when two winners from Jakarta and Bali will compete in Southeast Asian Finals, which are slated to be held for the first time in Bali in May. The victor will represent the Red-and-White at the DWC Global Finals in Miami.

From Jakarta, the chosen ones were Upay from Union Street Gallery, Rizky Sanjaya from Artoz, Yosi Pranantaka from Cork & Screw Pacific Place, Julian Decraene from Potato Head Pacific Place, Kiki Moka and Muhammad Fadli from Cafe Milano, Albert Yacob from Bluegrass, and Sabda Adamyah, Widya Prasetyo and

14

JPlus February 28, 2016

Henry Maraben from E&O. On the menu were Diageo Reserve Brand’s best-selling Ketel One vodka, Bulliet bourbon and Johnnie Walker Gold Label scotch.

Prominent British mixologist and DWC judge Tim Etherington was on hand to share his experience.

Etherington, named the “Global Whiskey Guy” for Bulleit, said he didn’t expect to find a fast-growing bartending culture in Indonesia. “They come from various cities and have their own signature styles,” he said.

We sampled the concoctions of 28-yearold Cork & Screw mixologist Yosi.

From Wonosobo, Central Java; Yosi crafted a tipple combining Ketel One vodka with the traditional Javanese drink wedang uwuh, which is made from organic waste, such as the old leaves of clove, nutmeg and cinnamon trees.

“Exploring traditional culture is the key to distinguish yourself from others.

It makes you exotic,” Yosi, who has bartended in Jakarta; Surabaya, East Java, and Yogyakarta.

Henry, the Kupang-born mixologist at E&O, echoed Yosi. “As bartenders, we know the classic formulas–but how the gimmick is created is the issue.”

Henry chose to use the John Collins, the classic 1860s drink, as a base, incorporating

the sweetness of Ambonese banannas.

“I used pisang ambon, pandan paste and a honey-tasting [liquor] like Johnnie Walker Gold Label to produce a papeda flavor,” he said, referring to his childhood breakfast of Maluku’s staple sago congee.

Rizki of Artoz used different approach.

“As a guy who lives in the city, my breakfast is bread and Nutella spread. This is where my drink comes from.”

Knick-naming his concoction the “Bulleit Breakfast Flip”, Rizki combined Nutella’s chocolaty taste with borboun and Lagavulin whiskey, which gave a gentle sweet taste when sipping, with a tad of freshness emerging from mint leaves.

“I created this drink last Christmas, which is why it is feminine in design and gentle in character,” Rizki said, as he ornamented the plate with nutmeg, vanilla and mint as a final touch.

However, no matter how delicious the drink, your experience can amount to naught if the bartending is off.

Etherington says that the key is hospitality, citing Kiki Moka, who he first met at the DWC competition in Dehli in 2011, as one of the nation’s top mixologists. “Bartending is how you host people–and Kiki is an amazing host. He smiles a lot and is very humble.”

Before Etherington started bartending 13 years ago, he visited Indonesia and fell in love with Sumatra.

Etherington said he remembered an apt piece of local wisdom he’s applied in his life as a bartender. “Treat your guest as a king.

That is what people said when I was living in Lake Toba. As hosts, we should do that.”

Photos via DWC

shakers On the development of the local scene, Etherington is phlegmatic. “It’s a slow evolution. There is a great demand for professional bartenders across the globe.

Sometimes bars steal bartenders from another bar and that what makes them travel.”

One example of this is the Frenchman Julian Decraene of Potato Head, who moved to Indonesia after working as a bartender in New York and London.

Decraene chose the famous New York Sour–a whiskey sour twist, and transformed it into his signature “Forget Me Not” quaff. “This is to celebrate my 10th anniversary abroad. This is the first cocktail I created when I worked in New York.”

Performing with a suave attitude and evincing in-depth knowledge, Decraene described his technique.

“With this drink, I use no ice–known as a 'dry shake' technique, to help get the whites foamy without diluting the drink.”

Decraene has a great zest for entertaining guests, suggesting that guests pair his drink with a good New York steak with pepper sauce.

The event ended at Three Buns, Senopati, where Etherington showed his own skills when crafting his favorite tipple, the mint julep.

The connoisseur elegantly created the cocktail while he the poet quoted from Joshua Soule Smith: “Then comes the zenith of man’s pleasure. Then comes the julep–the mint julep. Who has not tasted one has lived in vain.”

tasteBUD

a taste

of

spring A recipe for Minestrone Vegetable soup

Words and photos Theodora Hurustiati

T

he first signs of spring are starting to appear here in Italy. Maybe it’s just an illusion, but it seems that the grass is getting greener. I know for sure that I’m longing for sunny and warmer days. I could really use some long walks in a fresh green wood to recharge my batteriesand to forage for some wild herbs. In the meantime, I guess I’ll have to make do with a culinary green therapy.

One dish that reminds me of spring is minestrone–an Italian comfort soup prepared using seasonal vegetables. You can add whatever greens you like or that you have lingering around in the fridge. The more the merrier. I suggest not using cauliflower or broccoli, though–their taste tends to prevail over the other ingredients.

If you’re wondering which vegetable is the white bulb in the center of the picture (right), it’s fennel. It has a nice, refreshing taste, similar to aniseed. In Indonesian cooking, we’d typically use its dried seeds to make bumbu paste. Fennel is often eaten raw in salads and is also delicious if steamed, boiled or even baked with some grated cheese on top. Skip it if it’s not available at your local grocery store; the soup will still be good.

The vegetables for minestrone are regularly cut in small chunks. I pureed my husband’s portion, as he prefers creamy vellutata–velvety soup. Now you have two recipes in one!

Serves 4-5 1 onion, chopped 250g potatoes 250g carrots 250g celery 250g zucchini 200g (flat) green beans ½ (200g) fennel

100g spinach 1 spring onion 2,5 liters of water Pepper, freshly ground Nutmeg, freshly grated Extra virgin olive oil Salt

• Peel potatoes and carrots. Dice into about 1.5-cm cubes.

Cut celery, zucchini, green beans and fennel into cubes of approximately the same size.

• Heat a small amount of olive oil, just enough to cover bottom of a 5-liter pan.

• Sweat chopped onion until fragrant and translucent. Add a touch of water if it seems to be browning too much.

• Insert potatoes, carrots and celery, since they need more cooking time. Add salt, generous pepper and nutmeg to taste–I usually use ¼ of it. Saute for several minutes before adding water.

• Cover pan with lid and simmer for about 15 minutes until this first batch of vegetables starts to become tender at the edges.

• Add zucchini, green beans and fennel. Put lid back on and boil for further 15 minutes until all vegetables are cooked and tender.

• Roughly chop spinach in smaller chunks and slice spring onions into thin rounds. Insert into soup and cook for a couple of more minutes, just until the spinach is wilted and the spring onion is milder.

• By now your minestrone should have reduced to about 70 percent of its original volume. Adjust seasoning, in case it needs more salt, pepper or nutmeg.

• The soup is ready as it is, but I usually puree about 1/3 of it and mix it back into the pan to slightly thicken.

• Serve hot with a drizzle of olive oil and garnish with few slices of spring onions and a couple of sprigs of fennel leaves.

Jakarta-born chef Theodora Hurustiati, a 13-year resident of Udine, Italy, was the runner-up in the TV cooking program La Scuola – Cucina di Classe (The School: Classy Cooking).

JPlus

February 28, 2016 15

trend DIAL VÉLOSOPHY BICYCLE

The tulip-inspired Vélosophy bicycle is designed by Jimmy Östholm, who believes that bikes are meant to make people happy. The cycles feature aluminium frames accented by brightly-colored wheels, handlebars and saddles. His company makes two versions, “Sport” and “Comfort”, which both offer pre-mounted carrier systems that can hold either baskets or flat carriers for convenient storage. The “Sport” has more comfy seat and bars. The company also donates one Vélosophy bike to a schoolgirl in Ghana for every bike sold through UNICEF. Check out the project at buy.velosophy.se.

URBAN DECAY XX VAULT

Celebrating the brand’s 20th anniversary, Urban Decay is bringing back its most iconic shades! Things start with the UD XX Vice Ltd Reloaded Eye Shadow Palette (US$56) as well as its latest set: Urban Decay XX Vault: 20 Years of Beauty with an Edge. It’s a treasure chest of 20 shadows and 20 liners, including 24/7 liner pencils in colors from ranging glitter-flecked bronze to chocolaty plum. Even their shimmery white highlight shadow Roadstrip is making a comeback. This precious vault will be available from Feb. 23 online for US$375, a steal versus individual purchase, which would set you back $780.

shadows &dreams

CYCLES BEAUTY WITH AN EDGE

XO, VICTORIA EAU DE PARFUM

Victoria’s Secret angel Romee Strijd just unveiled the brand’s latest fragrance, “xo, Victoria”. This sexy vibrant floral perfume is inspired by springtime energy and comes wrapped in a frosted white bottle with vivid watercolors and Victoria’s iconic bow. This free-spirited twist on the original Victoria fragrance was built around the trademarked Victoria Rose and Twilight Orchid scents.

Inside “xo, Victoria”, sparkling citrus notes and Lady Apple give a sunny feel while English Ivy offers a woody scent. Available online and in Victoria’s Secret stores.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN WINTER/FALL 2016

Alexander McQueen’s Winter/ Fall 2016 collection was full of diamante embroideries that hovered over the body. For those who are fond of night and dreaming, this collection perfectly captures that essence with gauzy dresses in knit featuring surreal symbols including pocket watches, butterflies, horseshoes, lips and eyes. Designer Sarah Burton seems inspired by Dalí’s paintings with her offbeat cuttings and choice of a color palette of mainly blacks and white crèmes, as if to create the contrast of dreams and reality. McQueen’s most recent show also indulged in sweet dreams, wrapping with models in tulle gowns and capes gleaming with shooting stars.

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JPlus February 28, 2016

BVLGARI SERPENTI TUBOGAS WATCHES

This year, Bvlgari decided to revisit its signature symbol, the Tubogas bracelet, bringing out elegant versions in rose gold and 18K steel and the luster of polished steel. Taking inspiration from the legendary Art Deco style Tubogas bracelet, Bvlgari offers 35mm steel or 17-kt pink gold or steel curved cases set with brilliantcut diamonds and abochon-cut pink rubellites for the crown. These are simple wrist watches that carry large indexes and Roman numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock. Get this elegant collection via bulgari.com. +Banyubening Prieta