Epicurina - Bali Food Adventure Blog

While it might sounds foreign to the latest foodie generation, having my interest in eating out sparked up more than a decade ago, the name "Java Bleu" left a lasting impression as one of the top eating destination in Jakarta that serious foodies are sought after.

However despite its fame, Java Bleu (@Java_Bleu) is not a fancy five stars hotel restaurant nor it is set up anywhere fancy; instead it's set up in a place so uncommon for a serious eatery: a 2nd floor Ruko in Jl. Fatmawati, South Jakarta. On top of the quirky location, Java Bleu interior is also furnished with chairs and tables which looks like it's snatched from a nearby Sekolah Dasar Negeri (SDN), a government owned public elementary school. Nevertheless, Java Bleu was famous for serving classic French cuisine so good even for other food veterans, hence one lifestyle magazine branded the place as "where chefs eat" destination in Jakarta.

Lucky for me, from Rian (@gastroficionado) I recently learned that Pak Antoine Audran (@antoine_audran), the mastermind behind this legendary Java Bleu is indeed living in Bali at the moment! However what got me into further surprise is when finding that he's not directly in the restaurant business anymore. Turned out, the chef has shifted his interest into developing a "serious" artisan grade Ready to Eat (RTE) food business, and he's inviting me to visit his factory in Denpasar!