August, The Most Exciting Restaurant in Asia for 2023

August is more than its name suggests, and it is proudly raising the profile of the Indonesian capital on the global culinary map. The 50-seat relaxed fine dining spot, located in Jakarta’s central Sudirman district, is not only named after its founders’ birth month, but has strived to live up to August’s Latin meaning of ‘impressive and respected’ since its debut in November 2021, delivering a first-class dining experience that has earned the city’s restaurant goers’ admiration.

Hans Christian and Budi Cahyadi founded the restaurant after returning to their home country after extensive time living and working abroad. Cahyadi, the venue’s F&B wizard, grew up on the Indonesian island of Lombok before graduating in hospitality from the Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland and working for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group for 12 years, including ten at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London.

Christian, who was born in Bandung, West Java, grew up in Jakarta and is a true chef at heart, studying the culinary arts first in Kuala Lumpur and then in Providence, Rhode Island. During his time in the United States, he honed his skills in restaurants such as the one-star Michelin Next of the renowned Alinea Group in Chicago. Christian and Cahyadi met in Indonesia’s capital five years ago and quickly realized they shared the same vision.

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Walking into August, Jakarta-based studio Bitte Design’s open-plan look and feel reflects the pair’s mission to create the atmosphere of a friend’s home. With earthy colors, soft lighting, and bookshelves filled with the team’s favorite reads, the restaurant feels intimate, unpretentious, and warm.

The all-Indonesian team works primarily with local producers, such as farmers from Lembang and fishermen from Bali, Lombok, and Sumbawa, and employs many local spices and ingredients. Furthermore, all of the ceramics at August are made in Indonesia, reinforcing their mission to highlight what Indonesia has to offer.

August in Jakarta has won the American Express One To Watch Award in advance of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023. This award brings with it a lot of attention and recognition. Christian and Cahyadi, on the other hand, are keeping their feet on the ground. Because of their modesty, they are automatically looking beyond themselves to how the award will help the city’s fine dining scene progress.

There can be few better endorsements of true Indonesian hospitality, especially when combined with their vision to make the award have an impact far beyond the here and now. One to keep an eye on.

source: The Worlds’s 50 best

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