Bea Kitchen: Indonesian Culinary Vacation October 2011

I decided to return alone and earlier than scheduled to Jakarta this year. I took the flight from Finnair with 40 minute transit in Helsinki and twelve hours flight to Jakarta. The flight is quite smooth, the food is OK, anyway it is not so important for me. The entertainment is quite boring, cause they put old movies but I can sleep ucause in 4 seat row, filled only for two persons, me & another passenger, a fat woman, who doesn't stop moving during the flight.

This is my first Indonesian vacation after condamned as histamine intolerant patient two years ago. I take the precaution by bringing lots of allergic medicine and carefully choosing what to eat but still enjoying my Indonesian Culinary Trip.

Nevertheless I was sick for about 4 days with diarhea which is not exactly my allergic reaction but it's the gastric problem ! I lost 2 kg during my vacation but yet still can enjoy eating (more close to taste than eat) whatever I want to eat.

B A N D U N G

The first week of vacation, we went to Bandung for the weekend. The trip started smoothly by stopping on the way to Bandung, for Bakso Goreng (Indonesia Deep-Fried Meatball) with Candlenut Chilli Paste and Strawberry Yoghurt Icy Drink with Whipped Cream for Breakfast !! I also taste the Mushroom Crackers which is not bad at all... In Bandung you can find food everywhere ! Any kind of food from snacks to drinks.

DEEPFRIED MEATBALL

YOGHURT ICY DRINK

At night we still have a little space so we look for snacking and we found a Spring Roll Vendor accross the street. Cool... It's again very spicy but very delicious.

GIANT SPRINGROLL in front of our Hotel

You can find oleh-oleh to buy from Bandung at Kartikasari. Always crowded & busy. I bought Tempe Crackers for my hubby, lots of snacks & sweets etc. While waiting for everybody in front of the shop, there is something catch my sight... A cart decorated with fruit I'm longing for since two years, Durian. It is the vendor of Durian Icy Drink.

DURIAN ICE VENDOR

On our second day in Bandung we went for lunch at Kampung Daun. Nice ambiance, chalet restaurant with delicious food. For less than 500 000 Rp or about 43€ I treat my sister's family & mother. As we are in Bandung, so I decided to order West Java Specialty 'Nasi Timbel' Rice rolled inside banana leaf served with lots of accompany from chicken, cucumber to salted fish.

POSING IN FRONT OF KAMPUNG DAUN

NASI LIWET SOLO

GRILLED OXTAIL WITH RICE

NASI TIMBEL & COMPANY

J A K A R T A

As my trip is really for Culinary Tour, I really want to enjoy as much as possible without being sick (if possible) but unfortunately I was sick after abusively eating Nasi Padang (Indonesian Rijtaffel with lots of spices & chillies) in Jakarta. They are rich in colesterol and spicy, cause mostly sauce made of coconut milk.

Anyway it doesn't stop me from enjoying my holiday, I went to the doctor, get some medicine, eat carefully & avoiding chillies, as I'm not used anymore eating spices & chillies.

NASI PADANG

Last day before leaving to France, my sister treated me to Makassar Restaurant, eating the best Indonesian Grilled Rib !!! To bad I don't have any picture of it, but I made some photo of my favorite curly crackers & Pallu Butung Ice

my fave CURLY CRACKERS inside tin container

PALLU BUTUNG

The week before I went to Lampung, there is Culinary Exposition in Serpong Mall & I take the chance to visit too.. I eat my first Nasi Bakar, which is new invention in culinary. The rice rolled inside banana leaf as Nasi Timbel but filled with some spicy vegetables & meat then grilled a while.

NASI BAKAR

BANDAR LAMPUNG

Seemed that everyone want to spoil me for my vacation, my niece brought me to Teluk Betung near Pasar mambo to one canteen with its speciality 'Stir Fried Locupan' noodle made of rice flour.

STIRFRIED LOCUPAN

In the evening my brother in law treats me & my mom for Sop Kikil Sapi (Indonesian Cow Feet Soup) at night market. The taste is very delicious a bit chewy but bit tangerin taste from lime juice, serve with Emping (Crackers made of fruit called Paddy Oats)

SOP KIKIL SAPI

One day in the late morning a call from my friend.... She wanted to treat me eating South Sumatra traditional snack Pempek. Fish cake dipped into sweet sour spicy sauce. Check out the recipe here. Soooo delicious....

PEMPEK KULIT

My second sister came from Makassar, South Sulawesi to spend couple of days with us. I was invited for lunch at my eldest sister house and in the menu there is roasted Petai. The fruit we eat with chilli paste.