The Ambassadors Round Table: Edition 2
In our last issue we featured the first of our series of Ambassadorial interviews, aptly named: “Ambassadors’ Round Table” where our Founder Alistair Speirs interviews and discusses the challenges facing Jakarta, Indonesia and the world over a delicious lunch in Amuz Gourmet Restaurant. The first Ambassadors to be interviewed were from Austria, Germany and Holland
AANOUKIS Swimwear Founder Alexandra Adamiak on Empowering Women Through Fashion
With a stunning flagship store in Bali’s famously fashionable neighbourhood of Seminyak, and pieces sold island-wide and in premium summer destinations around the globe, AANOUKIS Swimwear transcends fashion. Bridging Bali’s tropics with an elegant, European flair, this island-born brand strives to empower women through its style and story. Founded in 2015 by French national Alexandra
Sitting Down with Sudamala Resorts’ Ben Subrata
Sudamala Resorts on Bali, Lombok and Flores-Komodo are locally-owned and managed and achieve standards of style, service and luxury which have gained international respect and admiration. To find out how this all came about, Publisher Alistair Speirs speaks to an old friend, passionate CEO and Founder of this boutique hospitality group, Ben Subrata, whose vision
75 Years of UK-Indonesia Relations, with H.E. Dominic Jermey, British Ambassador to Indonesia
NOW! Jakarta Founder, Alistair Speirs, sits down with H.E. Dominic Jermey, British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste. The topic at hand: the 75th Anniversary of the relationship between Britain and Indonesia, a milestone moment in diplomatic relations. His excellency shares on historic royal visits of the past, including of Her Late Majesty the Queen,
Growing Naturally: Meet Michael Lorenti, Founder of Sensatia Botanicals
Photography graduate turned adventurous surf-traveller turned skincare entrepreneur, Michael Lorenti’s previous life offers a glimpse as to why he runs Sensatia Botanicals the way he does, i.e. full of heart. As CEO and Founder of this wildly successful, Bali-born skincare brand, Michael Lorenti has imbued his love for nature and community into the very fibre of
The Ambassadors Round Table: Edition 1
The Ambassador’s Round Table highlights the important diplomatic relationships Indonesia has with the global community, made possible through well-established, Jakarta-based embassies. Hosted by NOW! Jakarta Founder, Alistair Speirs, this forum gives a platform for prominent Ambassadors to Indonesia to share more about their respective country’s programmes and on-going objectives here in Indonesia. Edition 1 welcomes
Rahel Stephanie: Reclaiming Indonesian Food Abroad
From supper clubs to Sunday morning TV shows, Rahel Stephanie is on a quest to educate Londoners and the British public on Indonesian cuisine. Tempe has started to really kick off in the UK. With plant-based lifestyles becoming the norm, the fermented soybean has become a go-to protein alternative. The irony? No one knows its
Kevindra Soemantri Explores Dining in Jakarta Through the Ages
‘Jakarta: A Dining History’ is a book by Kevindra Soemantri that explores the development of the city’s restaurant scene from the 1820s through to the 1990s. Published back in 2021, the book outlines ‘eras’ in Jakarta’s distinct dining past, and presents how the socio-cultural, political and economic shifts at the times transformed the food and
Meet Charles Toto: The Jungle Chef
“The forest, for Papuan people, is a market where they can get their daily needs such as vegetables and side dishes, all for free.” – Charles Toto Compared to other large islands in Indonesia, Papua’s forest cover figure is the largest. The area reaches 34,4 million hectares or around 82% of the area of Papua.
The Music Markers: Ibu Giok Hartono and Avip Priatna of The Resonanz Music Studio
NOW! Jakarta speaks to Ibu Giok Hartono and Avip Priatna of The Resonanz Music Studio, who share about the musical arts in Jakarta and Indonesia. For those of you keyed into Indonesia’s music world, there will be names that you know. Avip Priatna (AP) is certainly one of them, a highly celebrated conductor, and Director
Petty Pandean-Elliott Sets The Indonesian Table
Featuring 150 accessible recipes, interspersed with recollections of her culinary journeys throughout the archipelago, the latest book by Petty Pandean-Elliott, ‘The Indonesian Table’, is a love letter both to a country and its cuisine. Over her now 20-year career, Petty Pandean-Elliott has received many accolades. The award-winning chef, writer and entrepreneur has been a judge
‘The Garlic Peanut Story’ and the Power of Forgiveness
In ‘The Garlic Peanut Story’, author Jonathan Rachman hopes to convey how powerful unconditional love can be. He shares through his memoir lessons of letting go, of releasing ones grudges, and how to fully appreciate the special people in our lives. A world-class interior designer, whose fame in the field has reached international renown, Jonathan
Devina Konatra, Designing Success in Hospitality
Tanly Hospitality is one of Indonesia’s rising stars. It is a growing hospitality management company with three hotel brands under its umbrella, including VASA Hotel Surabaya, one of the city’s top five-star destinations. Leading the charge is Devina Konatra, CEO of Tanly Hospitality, whose success in the business is proving to be an inspiration for