August in Jakarta, the brainchild of chef-owner Hans Christian, a skillful chef, and Budi Cahyadi, a seasoned hotelier and F&B professional as managing partner, has received the 2023 American Express One To Watch Award. Hans and Budi took the stage to receive their trophy during Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards night held at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore on 28 March 2023, presented by Mrs. Perriz Azwir, Director of American Express Indonesia.
The American Express One To Watch Award is presented to a dining establishment outside main Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list but is identified as the region’s rising star that demonstrates the potential to break into the main Asia ranking. In collaboration with its regional experts, the awardee is chosen by the organizers of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants to recognize the restaurant’s outstanding performance. August has also been ranked #95 on the expanded Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 51-100 List, and is the first restaurant in Jakarta to ever make it to this list and is the only restaurant in Indonesia acknowledged this year.
William Drew, Director of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, says: “August’s success in such a short space of time is evidence of its commitment to excellence, backed by culinary skill and a deep sense of hospitality. We congratulate Chef Hans, Budi, and the entire team on the positive impact they have had on Jakarta’s dining scene. We have no doubt they will go on to fly the flag for Indonesia and the wider region.”
Debuted in November 2021, August is the first restaurant in Jakarta to receive an acknowledgment from Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Budi and Hans have created a dining space that is elegant but not intimidating to patrons at Jakarta’s Sudirman Central Business District. The restaurant offers a unique culinary experience with a DNA firmly connected to modern techniques while championing Indonesian ingredients and flavors. Apart from being the founding duo’s birth month, the restaurant’s name also conveys their goal of being respected and impressive, a theme that the team translates into both their personal service and the cuisine they present.
“Jakarta is generally known as a business destination, rarely as a culinary destination. We believe that this award will help us put Jakarta on the map and show there is so much this city can offer to the global culinary scene. We are honored to be able to contribute positively to the city,” says Chef Hans about winning the American Express One To Watch Award for August. “This recognition means a great deal to myself, Hans, and the August family. We don’t see this as just an award – it also signals a huge responsibility for us to work harder and push our craft even further. The team has never been more motivated and driven,” added Budi.
The August experience is contemporary and elegant, with conscious efforts made towards creating an inviting space. The intimate 50-seat restaurant in Jakarta’s Sudirman central business district features warm lighting and earthy colors. An open kitchen, along with bookshelves lined with the team’s personal collection, helps create an immersive and cozy dining experience.
August’s Chef’s Journey Tasting Menu comprises 14 courses, including 7 snacks. This menu invites patrons to immerse themselves in the stories behind the dishes that Chef Hans draws from his travels, childhood memories, and fruitful relationships with suppliers to create his dishes. Chef Hans tries to source the best produce, championing fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients at all times, which inspired him to create not just delicious dishes but interesting stories on his plates. For example, their seasonal line-caught fish is from Empak Locale, which sources from the waters around Bali and Lombok, while other ingredients such as eggs come from James & Jen’s Farm in Bogor, specialty vegetables from Lembang Farms near Bandung, cheeses by Mazaraat Cheese in Yogyakarta, fresh vanilla pods from Experience Vanilla in Sukabumi, and single-origin chocolate from around the archipelago by Pipiltin.
August joins a prestigious line-up of recent One To Watch award winners, including Eat and Cook in Kuala Lumpur (2022), Meta in Singapore (2021), Masque in Mumbai (2020), JL Studio in Taichung (2019), Toyo Eatery in Manila (2018), TocToc in Seoul (2017), and Florilège in Tokyo (2016).
August’s Dynamic Duo
Hans Christian and Budi Cahyadi are both seasoned F&B professionals with complementary experiences under their belts. Budi was born and grew up in Lombok, and he graduated from the Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. After which, he then began a 12-year career with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, including ten years at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, and two years at Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta, with his last post being Director of Food and Beverage.
After leaving Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, he joined a privately owned food and beverage operator in Indonesia as Director of Operations, overseeing two upscale restaurants and one coffee shop in the capital. Meanwhile, Hans is a true chef at heart. His love for cooking started at home, his mother loved to bake, and he would usually observe her while she baked.
Hans then went on to study at Taylor University in Kuala Lumpur, majoring in Basic Foundation French Cuisine for two years before continuing his studies at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. While living in the United States, Hans polished his cooking skills by working at various top-notch restaurants in New York and Chicago. After returning to Indonesia, Hans joined the team at VIEW at Fairmont Hotel Jakarta as Chef de Cuisine. During his three-year stint at VIEW, Hans steered the team to win multiple restaurant awards, establishing himself as one of the city’s up-and-coming chefs.
August
Sequis Tower – Ground Floor #03-02, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman No.Kav. 71, Jakarta, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12190
Offers Authentic Indonesian Experience">
