Google local guides had held an event themed food crawl in Surabaya, an event held on 20 November 2016, is located in GWalk CitraLand, Niaga Gapura street with meeting point at Kedai27. A short story on 8 november 2016 I got an invitation email from Google Local Guides to join the exclusive food crawl event in Surabaya, those who received the email are level 3-5 because space is limited and priority is given to top maps contributors. Immediately, I register and a few moments later I got an email stating that there are no free spaces at this event and I just placed on waiting list, but a few days later got an notification email that I have a space to attend the event and I was very excited.
My Arriving at the meeting point, I immediately warmly welcomed by organizers of the event name is Isabella Wibowo, I saw some other were gathered and were discussing something. Because it was still 16:15 and the event started at 17:00 I was welcome to order anything and everything for free but I just order ice cappuccino, a few moments later one by one the participants began to arrive and we be acquainted, very fun to meet new people in the google local guides community. Before the event started we were divided into several groups, a total of 10 groups each group had 10 person and I join in group 1. Each person was given an envelope containing manual tasks to do and two local guides sticker then also given a local guides pin or badge, this is the most I like. Isabella Wibowo, explained that worldwide all of the local guides who've participated got that the same pin or badge and this is the first google local guides food crawl event in Indonesia so I was the first person in Indonesia who got this pin #maybe. The main purpose of this contribution of local guides is to help people find the best places that fit the way they want.
The challenge given to us is to go to as many locations, order 2 menus each location, and contribute to google maps reviews, photos, edit info and answer the questions. The main purpose of this event is the validation of information about the places that have visited for example the opening hours, telephon number, and etc. Each team is given a sum of money that can be used to buy food or drinks, the time provided only 3 hours. The organizer has prepared a number of prizes to the winners of the two criteria. first, the group with coolest photo in front of the locations with the local guides logos. Second is the most group visiting locations.
The challenge given to us is to go to as many locations, order 2 menus each location, and contribute to google maps reviews, photos, edit info and answer the questions. The main purpose of this event is the validation of information about the places that have visited for example the opening hours, telephon number, and etc. Each team is given a sum of money that can be used to buy food or drinks, the time provided only 3 hours. The organizer has prepared a number of prizes to the winners of the two criteria. first, the group with coolest photo in front of the locations with the local guides logos. Second is the most group visiting locations.
Our strategy was to go as much as possible the location and then reviewing the location information that we go and upload photos of the outside of the location, if we feel that location is interesting from the environment and menu are provided, then we'll go in and ordered some of the menu and then on a further review the environment inside the location, servicing and food or drinks are served, do not forget to capture the moment while our togetherness by displaying Local Guides Logo then upload on social media with the hashtag #LocalGuides and mention to @LocalGuides, so that the organizer can know our activity as the first assessment criterion of the challenges. I feel fortunate to join in group 1, as it have people who have sophisticated equipment, there are have Portable Wifi, DSLR Camera, 360 Camera and etc.
A little review about our meeting point is Kedai27, this shop is open from 06:30 until 21:30 selling a variety of beverages such as various coffee, tea, blended drinks, cold drinks, hot drinks, some snacks menu, and the main course is some Indonesian foods. Building models is open without a door, it is suitable for just hanging out with friends or spend the time, the mainstay menu is a variety of coffee, I have tried ice cappucino. well, it's delicious not too sweet with special cappucino flavor and refreshing aroma, they serve quickly and friendly, about the price is also very reasonable.
The first place we visit is Yoo Hoo restaurant, open from 12:00 until 23:00 selling typical Korean food and dessert menu is very varied, had outdoor seating, had doorman who is ready to open the door when guests come and go, you should not miss the environment in the room, there were some unique spots, I call it romantic with beautiful minimalist ornaments, very suitable if you bring your girlfriend or boyfriend there, but also available for groups because there are long table. I ordered the Black Burger because its look unique and I never seen before, why it's named balck burger because the burger bun is colored charcoal, with a juicy chicken fillet that tastes spicy and with sliced cheese. well, I give 5 Stars for this restaurant.
The second place we visit is Ayam Kluruk restaurant, open from 16:00 until 23:00, had outdoor seating and they had doorman too, classic style building from the outside to the inside room suitable for those who want to reminisce, of course the main menu is kremes (crunchy) fried chicken, the chicken meat is very soft and when bitten tasted crunchy equipped with kremes (crunchy) topping, the specials beverage menu here are ice kluruk & ice chocolate grass jelly. Overall I give it 5 Stars for service, environment and flavor of foods.
To pursue the time and number of reviews, our group decided to split into two, the rest of the money too. The third place we visit is Kapok Lombok restaurant, rustic atmosphere Javanese typical instantly felt there with the shape of the building as joglo traditional house, the waiters dress in traditional Javanese, the main menu are Javanese traditional food, among others are Nasi Kucing, Satay, Pepesan, Botokan, Nasi Kuning, and etc. also had variety of Javanese traditional snacks and drinks. we buy Ote-ote, Tahu Isi (stuffed fried tofu), Martabak, Sate Ayam Bumbu Pedas (chicken satay spicy seasonings), black rice ice, the chicken satay is spicy flavor was not burned with charcoal as madura satay but was like in steam and then wrapped with the spicy flavor, very smooth and spicy. when we take some photos the environment inside and the foods the waitress asked about our activity, once we explain that we are following the activities google local guides and doing some reviews of the locations that we visit the waitress finally allow and explain that the restaurant was a bit worry they mainstay menus will be imitated.
The fourth place we visit is Goodies Pizza, open from 11:30 until 22:00, had outdoor seating and no doorman there, the environment in the room was very comfortable with the wall display texas style, there are about 11 menus of pizza variants, some desserts and cold and hot drinks. we ordered one seafood combo pizza, one chicken rush pizza and 1 pasta authentic goodies. the thickness of the pizza is very thin makes it crunchy, very tasty, topping with fits composition between the main topping and cheese not excessive, did not take long time from we order until the food was served, I give it 4 stars for this restaurant.
Because the time is running out and there is no enough money for us then we go back to the meeting point and few moments later the organizer announce group most visiting locations and reviewing is not from my group. Well, even we did not win but I am very happy to be part of the google local guides food crawl surabaya this time, I was able to meet with new people, with the great people of google Indonesia, and knowing the purpose the activity of local guides community. I cannot wait to join in the next event
