Indonesia stamps|Indonesian Traditional Foods -2

INDONESIA TRADITIONAL FOODS

BANDUNG, WEST JAVA

ES CAMPUR

Es campur literally means ‘mixed ice' and although you may expect an ice cream cone or a sorbet, the ice in this sweet little dish stands for ice cubes. The ice cubes float in a mangkok (bowl) filled with milk, coconut shavings, avocado, nangka (jackfruit) and several kinds of jelly.

Indonesians seem to have a thing for jelly. With Es Campur, you have the chance to taste three kinds of jelly at the same time. First of, there are little cubes of cing-cau jelly made from the cing-cau leaf. Next there’s sekotang which are little pink balls made of tapioca. Finally there is the cengakeleng which is made of coconut.

They all differ in taste and texture but share the ever present sweetness factor. Es Campur is a very colourful dessert with the green of the avocado and the pink and black of the jelly. As far as taste is concerned, it is probably a tad on the sweet side for the average Westerner. Still, the Sundanese prove to be masters in combining different tastes turn out to fit together. Es Campur can be found in most food courts located in malls or in traditional Sundanese warungs. Make sure the milk that is used is fresh and the ice cubes are made of purified water which in this day and age is almost always the case. Expect to pay about Rp.5000 for a large bowl of jelly filled sweetness.

Lotek Bandung

A traditional Sundanese vegetable dish that is both delicious and nutritious goes by the name Lotek. It basically consists of several vegetables such as tahu (tofu), cole, kangkung (waterspinach) and taugé (beansprouts). It is added with a spicy peanut sauce and topped with kerupuk. The best way to eat the Lotek is to crush and sprinkle the krupuk and mix the pieces with each spoonful of this saucy delight. There are two versions of preparation. The first being the raw lotek and the second being the steamed version.

It sort of resembles another Indonesian favourite called Gado gado but the spices that make up the peanut sauce as well as some of the vegetables used are different. Lotek is usually eaten with steamed rice or lontong, sticky cubes of rice that are neutral in taste thus complementing the spiciness. It is especially popular amongst ibu ibu (older ladies) for its healthy qualities. Although the idea of eating raw vegetables with a spicy sauce might seem foreign to foreigners (no pun intended), it actually works very well. As long as the vegetables aren't overcooked, its crispy bite offers what is needed for coping with the spicy after taste of the peanut sauce.

One of the best places to savour this traditional delicacy is Warung Lotek Cihapit which is located on the street of the same name. It has been in business for over 30 years and has since become the lotek specialists that they are today. Fans of this dish flock from all over Indonesia to get their fix. It is a modest establishment that maintains the traditional warung concept. The menu consists of several Sundanese specialties served with a no nonsense style and prepared with pride.

Other good lotek warungs can be found on Jalan Kalipah Apo which is near Alun Alun (the central square of Bandung ). Typically, the price for a generous portion of lotek is around Rp.5000 which is a rather fair price for a dish filled with the vitamins and energy that it provides.