Drove back from beach a few weeks ago and noticed a tiny Indonesian restaurant/takeaway minutes after we had dinner. Not like the abundant Chinese-Indonesian but looked like a livingroom+kitchen turned into mini restaurant. Second time, closed. So today we figured lets give them a call first. He didn’t have much left but we were like doesn’t matter, we’ll take it, we’re on our way (25miles drive).
When we arrived he gave us samples of almost everything he had (plenty of choice, just not much left of everything). Didn’t take him long to figure out we really loved everything. Gave us some stewed ajam (=chicken) sambal and looked like he expected something like oh that’s too hot. It was not, it was awesome, I ordered a bunch. He goes “it’s
not too hot is it?”, as if people complained it was and he was looking for confirmation he reduced the amount of sambal far enough already. Yes I got all that from a question and his look.
He tells me there’s a lot more he’d like to cook but “it has to sell”. I said it before, dutch people don’t realize how spoiled they are. We have a saying “what a farmer doesn’t know, he doesn’t eat”. That’s why so many order nasi or bami with satay, not cause they all known it’s the best on the menu.
Anyway, 20 minutes of overload on Indonesian dish names and talking about various versions of nasi and bami he starts scooping food for us. Closing time so took it home. Truly a sweet old man. People say food connects, which is true obviously but appreciation for good honest pure food connects even more.
Wife’s plate: Ajam sambal at top, nasi, center left is mackerel (tasted like the dab my grandpa used to dry on clothing lines). Don’t remember the names of the veggie dishes, top left includes cabbage, bottom pak choi.
Don’t remember the name of this veggie dish either, mostly green beans with “kerrie” he said. ”Kerrie?”, I asked slightly surprised. Kerrie, based on the word curry, is something many dutch assume is just another spice, while it’s a sort of dutchified westernized mix, mostly turmeric. “No, not really kerrie“ he responds, it’s turmeric and a few others”. Anyway, it was really good, I can’t quite describe it. Sweet without being sweet. Soft… dunno. Funny thing is, hours later it’s not the sambal or ketjap I still taste but this tasty stuff.
Top right is ajam ketjap, bottom ajam sambal. And of course the bami.
Time to get drunk