Ladies’ day out with Mba Fit usually begins with me doing nothing but being picked up. At around 09:20, she arrived in the lobby carrying not gossip, but food. The best kind of opening. She handed me a Wegogrill package filled with frozen chicken sausages and their signature smoked chicken—no flour, no sugar, no MSG, no eggs, no milk. Healthy and genuinely tasty. Thank you, Mba Fit and Wegogrill!
Next stop: Itjeher Salon. The plan was straightforward. I did creambath and blow, Mba Fit did creambath and manicure. Unfortunately, this time my experience was not as good as the usual. The massage lacked soul, the blowout lacked commitment, and the final result lacked longevity. By the time I stepped outside, my hair had already given up on life. Better remember the good therapist's name next time!
After that, hunger took over, as it always does. We headed confidently to Ramu Saji by Ashoka, our usual safe space. Only to be greeted by a sign that said Tutup. Closed. So we pivoted, like adults who have accepted disappointment. We briefly considered Omah Badok, but time was tight, parking was uncertain, and frankly, we needed emotional safety at that point.
So, we headed to Wheels Coffee Roasters. And as usual, their portions are not portions. They are statements. Their bowls are not bowls. They are washbasins. I swear, you could wash your face in them and still have food left. Everything came in massive quantities and, annoyingly, everything tasted amazing. My husband joined us there, just in time to witness the spectacle.
I ordered beef verde, thinking, “It’s a salad. How bad can it be?” Very bad. In a good way. Beef on top, greens underneath, and enough volume to feed three responsible adults. It was delicious and absolutely undefeated. I tried. I failed. Even with help from Mba Fit and my husband, the bowl stood victorious. My husband had a Wheels croissant sandwich and confirmed it was excellent.
Right after lunch, my husband and I rushed off because I was invited by the Ministry of Industry to speak at a BCIC/BPIFK gathering. The event was held at a participant’s workshop, a Betawi Batik Studio in Pengadegan, South Jakarta. And I arrived there just in time, while hubby stayed in the car for online business meeting.
The theme was funding cerdas for fashion and craft SMEs; sharing insights from angel investors and venture capital. In short, helping small businesses understand how investors think, without putting everyone to sleep after lunch, LOL.
I shared the stage as an angel investor alongside Mas Eko Prabowo from BRI Ventures and Setiyo Haryati from Universitas Ary Ginanjar. And special mention to Mba Isti Budhi Setiawati, the original spark behind this entire program. Special thanks to Mas Dickie Sulistya, Kepala Balai Pemberdayaan Industri Fesyen dan Kriya and Mbak Diah from Kementerian Perindustrian for inviting me.
As soon as the event ended, we sprinted again. This time from Pengadegan to Karawaci for Christmas Eve service with our daughters, who we had wisely sent ahead. After the service, we skipped eating out. There was still boxed rice from the event, and also, road trip packing does not do itself. Sadly.
Back at the apartment, we receive Sentra Bunga hampers from Jungle Venture, followed by ketan keju cake from Mba Aulia Qisthi. Unexpected, thoughtful, and deeply appreciated. It was one of those days that felt long, chaotic, funny, meaningful, and full... of food, conversations, responsibilities, and quiet gratitude.
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