Comfort Food and Modern Pastry Blend Color Urban Culinary Trends

Kitchenette and FLOR open their newest outlets at Plaza Indonesia (Photo: ISMAYA Group Doc)

JAKARTA - The urban culinary world continues to grow, not only in terms of taste, but also in the way people enjoy food in their daily lives.

Now, more and more dining rooms are combining two different approaches in one place: a warm and filling main dish, and modern pastries with high techniques that emphasize detail and precision.

This concept reflects the changing lifestyles of urban people. Eating is no longer just a necessity, but a part of a pause, a meeting, and a small moment of comfort in the midst of the fast pace of the city.

Two brands under the ISMAYA Group, Kitchenette and FLOR officially opened their newest outlets at Plaza Indonesia. Both are present in the same location, bringing a different approach to enjoying everyday food, but meeting at the same point, namely attention to quality, comfort, and experience.

This presence also marks Kitchenette's return to Plaza Indonesia as their 19th outlet. On the other hand, FLOR opens its second outlet, which is the first to be located inside a shopping center. The combination of the two creates a space that offers two atmospheres, namely the warmth of comfort food and the precision of the modern pastry world.

FLOR is known for its precise pastry techniques, taste balance, and details in every process of making it. At Plaza Indonesia, this concept is translated into a space that invites visitors to enjoy a simple moment with a more mature touch, both in terms of taste and appearance.

There are a selection of pastries and desserts that have been specially curated, including some exclusive menus. One that caught the eye was Not Your Croissant (NYC), an entremet inspired by the shape of a croissant.

Behind its familiar appearance, this dessert contains layers of vanilla bavarois, brûlée, jam, and cake, resulting in a more complex taste than imagined.

There is also Maple Butter Saltbread, an interpretation of saltbread with a touch of classic pancake flavor. The filling of maple diplomat cream and the addition of butter on top give a soft combination with a balanced sweet-savory.

Meanwhile, Nori Cream Cheese Saltbread brings a different taste direction through the combination of nori umami and cream cheese. This creates an unusual savory character. Both variants show how FLOR plays in a wide taste spectrum without losing precision.

For chocolate lovers, Dubai Chewy Cookie is the choice with a more assertive taste character. This dessert combines 70% dark chocolate mousse, chocolate sponge, sea salt sable, pistachio cream, and Dubai's signature chewy cookie pieces. The result is a rich combination of texture and taste, while showing the exploration of modern techniques in the world of pastry.

From the details of the pastry that are precise, the experience then shifts to something more familiar through the presence of Kitchenette. This restaurant is known as an all-day Western restaurant that is attached to the concept of comfort dining.

In addition, it features a fresher design with a menu that still prioritizes comfort. Pasta dishes and Chickenette are still the mainstay, served as comfort food that is suitable for enjoying in various atmospheres. Starting from eating with family, casual meetings, to short breaks in the middle of the city's routine.

"Plaza Indonesia has its own role in ISMAYA's journey, including for Kitchenette. The return of Kitchenette here, along with the presence of FLOR in the mall for the first time, reflects how we view the dining experience, about comfort, quality, and attention to detail, both in terms of taste and atmosphere," said Cendyarani, President Director of ISMAYA Group from ISMAYA Group official statement.

"This opening is also part of our expansion step to be closer to the daily lives of customers, presenting the ISMAYA brand in spaces that are relevant to their rhythm of life." he added.

The presence of Kitchenette and FLOR presents a meeting point of two different approaches to enjoying food, namely warm family dishes and pastries with a detailed touch of technique. A space that summarizes the taste and moments of everyday life in one experience that feels more complete.