Eat like a Bogorite (1) 8 July 2007

Am more than surviving Bogor, Indonesia … terima kasih (thank you)! Wandering around this picturesque city on a motorcycle is the way to go! There is no shortage to street food eateries with huge signs declaring their fare.

The food has been fantastic and even the simplest looking of dishes is always so flavorful. All Indonesians eat with their hands, so even in small eateries, a bowl of water with a small lemon slice is commonly given as soon as you sit down. Higher-end eateries always have a sink with soap and water. And they always have a box of tissues on the table.

As I am well to becoming an Indonesian foodie, I do need to start eating with my hands. I really stick out because I use a spoon and fork!

Just some of the great stuff I’ve been getting stuffed on …
I’m already familiar with satay - sate in Indonesian. We tried the sate kambing (barbequed goat meat). It is cooked upon ordering and you tell the vendor whether you want your sate with some fat (10 sticks per order). Then you dip those deliciously smoky sticks in sambal kacang (a chunky peanut sauce) or sambal kecap (a sweet soy sauce with some hot green chilis) and gobble up with some nasi uduk, steamed rice with the mild milky taste of coconut milk and spices. Break up the spiciness-nuttiness of the sate kambing with slices of cucumber and tomato … and wash it all down with some of the very popular teh botol (sweet bottled tea).

I seriously need to do some sit-ups to get rid of this pooch I am developing from all this great eating in Bogor!