Food and drink (page 2)
Regional dishes, fruit, jamu, coffee and restaurants.
Stir Fryin' in Indonesia
Though I generally like to cook whenever I am craving a certain dish, I sometimes am unwilling to cook when the weather is hot and humid, or if I have to do something else that takes a lot of time.
Candy is Big Business in Indonesia
Casinos and tollroads are highly rated by entrepreneurs as guaranteed money-makers, second only to the mint itself.
Fast Eddie's: Jakarta, West Java
There may be a time when people are uncertain as to whether to go to an Italian or American pizza outlet to enjoy one.
Boemi Joglo Restaurant: Bandung, West Java
More and more people today are increasingly concerned with the atmosphere of a restaurant than with its menu.
Burger King Opens: Jakarta, West Java
There was nothing more amusing for Ayu Ningsih weeks ago than hearing that Burger King would open up in Jakarta . Since hearing the news from a friend, Ayu waited for the big day.
The Colours of Food
In Indonesia chemical food coloring is not really needed, as many plants provide natural dyes that can be used instead.
Kembang Goela: Jakarta, West Java
Seated on a carpet on the floor, two pesindhen (Javanese singers) perform Javanese songs to the accompaniment of a gamelan orchestra comprising 13 men, all dressed in Javanese costume with krises…
Coffee as Art: Bali
Kopi Bali House , located on the bypass Sanur has long been the hang out of choice for Bali's coffee aficionados.
Fashion & Food Festival: Jakarta, West Java
The 4th Jakarta Fashion & Food Festival (JFFF) that would expose multicultural heritage not only from Indonesia but other countries would take place here on May 11-17, a spokesperson said.
Taro in Indonesia
Dropping in to visit a friend recently, I was served a slice of fried taro , or talas goreng in Bahasa Indonesia . It was delicious with a cup of hot sweet tea.
Sangre to a Fried Chicken
Traveling around Jakarta's outskirts looking for interesting culinary experiences from the overflowing capital, my friend came along to Condet , a region near Kramat Jati in East Jakarta.
The Urban Kitchen: Jakarta, West Java
How often, when dining out as a group, do friends or family argue about where to go for lunch or dinner? Some may want Thai food while others may crave Japanese seafood or, perhaps, pasta.
Ceremonial Rice Dishes: Indonesia
In many regions of Indonesia rice is cooked with several herbs and spices and is served at special events, like weddings and circumcisions.
Ayam Taliwang: Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara
A tour of Lombok , West Nusa Tenggara , will not be complete without tasting the local Taliwang Chicken -- Ayam Taliwang -- to explore the mystery of its flavor.
Bandrek - Traditional Drink: Bandung, West Java
Nana was leading a quiet life until two years ago, when she was invited to join some other women in Cimahi regency, West Java , working for a small business.
Bakpao: Indonesia
All along the streets of big towns one can spot vendors selling a type of hot steamed bread filled with beef, chicken or beans.
Manisan for the Sweet Tooth
Many Indonesians seem to have a constant craving for sweet foods, and to satisfy it manisan (candied fruits/vegetables) is made from various fruits and vegetables.
Palembang Duku Fruit: Palembang, Sumatra
Ask any sidewalk duku vendor in Jakarta and chances are they will earnestly tell you that the round yellow fruit they sell come all the way from Palembang .
Bogor Café: Jakarta, West Java
The Bogor Cafe at Borobudur Hotel is inviting guests to enjoy the different taste of a variety of teas especially for after-work relaxation.
Durian – A Gourmet of Smell and Taste
Delightful Durian !. Candika loves it and I dislike it. I do, however, like Durian ice-cream but even that is rare to find these days.
Sago - The Eastern Islands' Staple: Indonesia
I have never been a great lover of Sago but when accompanied with other main dishes like fish or meat, it tends to be palatable.
Tomatoes - the Love Apples: Indonesia
Adam and Eve chewed on one and looked what happened!. The delicious tomato has a lot to answer for but in Indonesia they are used a lot in cooking.
The Humble Potato in Indonesia
Often referred to as a ‘ spud ’ in western countries, the humble potato in an Indonesian’s daily food intake is actually not as a staple food but in some ways used as a dressing.
Lesehan Food: Yogyakarta, Central Java
Yogyakarta is not only considered the cultural heart of Java , it is an epicureans delight with literally hundreds of restorans and warungs from which you can choose the delicious foods of Indonesia…
'Ibu' Oka's: Ubud, Bali
Go travelling up country anywhere in Bali and sometime or another you will come across a roadside stall cooking Babi Guling , the delicious odours you can smell a mile away.
Gudeg Yogya: Yogyakarta, Central Java
Gudeg Yogya is Yogyakarta’s traditional dish . Jalan Malioboro probably has most gudeg places and you can buy off the kaki lima or enjoy sitting and having your meal lesehan style.
Bencoolen kitchen: Bengkulu, Sumatra
The province of Bengkulu was a renowned trading post in the early 19th century among societies scattered around the Indian Ocean.
Eating in Papua
The province of Papua is not like any other island in Indonesia where you have warungs and restorans catering for travellers.
Cething Restaurant: Jakarta, West Java
There are literally thousands of restaurants, warungs , and food stalls in Jakarta serving virtually all the delights of the archipelago.
Legian Garden Restaurant: Yogyakarta, Central Java
One of the many restaurants my wife Candika and I frequent is the Legian Garden Restaurant located on Jalan Malioboro , an upstairs glass-fronted building seemingly suspended over the sidewalk.
Peanuts in the Indonesian Archipelago
I am a nut freak!. Any kind of nuts and I devour them and especially Cashew nuts. We should all be thankful that peanuts did not remain an obscure South American delight but became popular in the…
Restaurants in Yogyakarta: Central Java
The cultural heart of Java, Yogyakarta , is not only famous for its temples and antiquities, culture and friendly people it is also renowned for its great food.
Cats on the Menu?: Surakarta, Central Java
I have to admit, I have tried just about every manner of delicacy on my travels, including dog!.
Traditional Madurese Beef: Madura Island
It may not have spectacular panoramas or beaches like Bali but Madura , an islet off the coast of East Java , is just interesting, thanks to its rich culinary tradition.
Pisang Goreng: Indonesia
Fried bananas!. One of the most tastiest delicacies you could devour and a great in-between-meals snack. In Indonesia they are called Pisang Goreng .
Mango – A Delicious Delight: Indonesia
There is nothing more appealing on a hot day than to have to a cold mango juice, or better still, peeling a mango and slicing it up into a fruit salad.
Upcoming Chinese New Year: Yogyakarta, Central Java
If there is one festivity I enjoy then it is Chinese New Year and especially in Yogyakarta . Being married to a Chinese-Indonesian, I get to go to all the parties and festivities around town.
Jambu Biji (Guava): Indonesia
I have never been a lover of Guava . The best guava, it is said, comes from Central Java .
Pagoda Food City: North Jakarta, West Java
I have never been one for fancy restorans or even semi-upmarket eating establishments much preferring to eat at warungs or off the kaki lima (street vendors). But, I adore food bazaars!.
The Cafe: South Jakarta
I for one are very suss about restorans of café’s that are located in hotels because, more often than not, they are expensive.
Riau Archipelago Foods: Riau Islands, North Sumatra
This oil-rich province of Indonesia was, over the course of history, the gateway to South-East Asia and was a major leader in trading throughout the Indonesian archipelago.
California Sandwiches in Jakarta
I have talked to a lot of tourists on my travels in Indonesia . A lot, but not all, who have been on holiday for a while have said they are tired of eating rice and all the local fare and would give…
Bubur: Indonesia
Some people say it’s baby food, and others comment, “What to do, nasi sudah menjadi bubur ” (the rice has already become porridge) — meaning it’s hopeless, because something has been done entirely…
A Glass of 'Jamu': Java, Indonesia
While French cartoon character Asterix has his magic potion and the secret to biblical figure Samson’s strength was in his hair, Jakartans rely on warung jamu street stalls to get them through the…
Street Cafés and Eateries: Jakarta, West Java
I mentioned in an article the other day about the Pelangi Café and how Jakarta literally has thousands of these places making it a cosmopolitan metropolis.
Pelangi Cafe: Jakarta, West Java
I can think of nothing better than relaxing in a café enjoying a drop of the local brew and chatting with friends. Even better, people watching as you sip that Java Arabica .
Bakso - Meatballs on the Go: Indonesia
One of the foods with Chinese culinary overtones is bakso , which literally means pork ball in some Chinese dialects.
Jl Embong Blimbing: Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
Surabaya is one of those cities that I don’t seem to visit enough and I really should as it is an historical city with magnificent colonial architecture, and even better, it has some great warungs…
Just Love that Apokat: Indonesia
My favourite drink/meal in Indonesia is without a doubt Apokat . It’s amazing the variety and names given to this scruptious drink throughout the archipelago and I have tried it on many of the…
Spicing: An important Balinese tradition
Unlike in other cuisines where spicing can be something creative, in Bali spicing is still done strictly according to the methods of age-old traditions , and many Balinese still cook according to…
Salted Duck Eggs: Java
Travel anywhere in Indonesia and you will see duck eggs for sale and in particular, salted duck eggs . They are considered daily fare and delicious.
Coffee Facts and Potpourri
I am a great lover of coffee. In fact I probably drink more coffee than I do anything else!. One type of coffee I have yet to try is Kopi Luwak . I like to refer to this as ‘ shit coffee ’!.
Sister Restaurants in Ubud: Bali
I try and spend a reasonable amount of time in Bali when I can and it’s not because of the maddening tourism scene.
Durian – Deliciously Smelly!: Indonesia
I remember the first time I ever set eyes upon this fruit, the nectar of some crazy god. It was way before Candika and I were married and I visited her in Yogyakarta at her house.
Pasar Kranggan: Yogyakarta, Central Java
Several years ago I visited the local market of Pasar Kranggan , located just north of the Tugu Monument , to do a photo-shoot in black & white.
The Benefits of Tempeh: Indonesia
I love eating Tempeh , and, especially oseng-oseng tempeh . Ever wondered about this delicious addition to the meals you buy in Indonesia at the warungs or from the kaki lima ?.
Illegal Coffee Threatens Rare Species: Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra
What is it with these multi-national big companies that have total disregard for the environment, the animals that reside there and the laws of a country.
Shake a Coconut: Indonesia
The water of young coconuts , which has a delicate nutty flavor, is one of the most popular natural thirst quenchers in the tropics.
Pomelo Fruit: Bali
I was reading an article in the Jakarta Post a while ago about the Bali Polemo fruit . The homestay where I reside when in Bali , Prawita Cottages , has a few of these trees growing in the gardens.
Papaya - A Versatile Fruit: Indonesia
The papaya is one of the most versatile tropical trees. It grows easily in nearly any type of soil and its fruit is available throughout the year.
Beans is Beans: Indonesia
I don’t really think of beans ( Buncis ) when I am devouring them in a Gado-gado or another delicious Javanese dish.
Yogyakarta -The Cultural Heart of Java
Peacefully cradled at the foot of the Menoreh Mountains in Central Java is the city of Yogyakarta .