Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine October 2017 | Page 82

Explore | Flavours
1 A restaurant’s presentation of sego
cawuk, Banyuwangi’s staple breakfast dish.
1
2 Another of Banyuwangi’s popular dishes,
nasi tempong.
As well as nasi tempong, be sure to try the refreshingly
sweet and savoury rice dish sego cawuk. Usually consumed
for breakfast, sego cawuk is traditionally served on
banana leaves.
2
For culinary delights, two of Banyuwangi’s
most prized dishes draw influence from the
sea. Nasi tempong, which you can try to your
heart’s content at eateries owned by Mbok
Nah, Mbak Sum, Mbok Wah or at Nasi
Tempong Sukowidi, is freshly made, and
super fiery. The sambal tempong works really
well when served with an array of steamed or
boiled vegetables such as spinach, aubergine,
papaya leaves or long beans. To top it off,
choose from steamed fish with herbs (pepes
ikan), seafood or catfish. You can also swap
the seafood toppings for chicken or other
options. The sambal itself is made from
native tomat ranti (heirloom tomatoes),
bird’s-eye chillies, terasi (shrimp paste),
salt, sugar and lime juice.
As well as nasi tempong, be sure to try the
refreshingly sweet and savoury rice dish
sego cawuk. Usually consumed for breakfast,
sego cawuk is traditionally served on banana
leaves. A portion of rice is accompanied by
cooked desiccated coconut and grilled young
corn. Also poured onto the rice is kuah
pindang gendam: made using fish, asam
wadung (rare and native to Banyuwangi,
usually as a substitute for tamarind),
caramelised sugar, galangal and local herbs.
Lastly, add an assortment of pepes ikan,
tendon, dendeng (jerky), egg or gecok teri
(shredded young coconut mixed with
anchovies). Sego Cawuk Bu Mantih
is among the best places you’ll want
to visit for this delicacy.
Labuan Bajo
Heading further east to one of the islands of
Lesser Sunda, beyond Bali and West Nusa
Tenggara, lies the island of Flores and the
town of Labuan Bajo of East Nusa Tenggara
province. Pulau Komodo, which now can be
accessed aboard a comfortable cruise boat
from Labuan Bajo, is known as the natural
habitat of Komodo dragons.
With Garuda Indonesia now offering a direct
route from Jakarta, it is easier for everyone to
witness first-hand the awesome power and
size of these ‘mythical creatures’ while also
enjoying the relaxing island life. A must-see
is the spectacular sunsets viewed from atop
Gili Lawa Laut.
As expected of true island life, seafood is the
centrepiece that brings people together. Even
from day one, the offerings from the sea and
the much-anticipated sunsets are what drew
people to visit Treetop restaurant on the
seafront at Labuan Bajo. On the eastern
shore of Pulau Komodo, picnic on a pink
sandy beach enjoying barbecued seafood for
an unforgettable experience.
As for traditional delicacies, East Nusa
Tenggara has the well-renowned se’i (smoked
beef or pork) or corn-based dishes such as
catemak jagung and jagung bose. However,
seafood plays an important role as well.
Start with the freshest catch of the day at
Kampung Ujung, where you can ask for your
prawns and cuttlefish to be fried or grilled by
the locals, or enjoy your share of ikan kuah
asam (fish cooked in sweet and sour stock) at
Philemon. Also tuck into the simple sambal
ikan teri (anchovy sambal) paired with kolo
(grilled rice in a bamboo) and lawar ikan
(mixed vegetables, coconut, fish and
herbs), which offer a colourful addition
to the menu.
Are you planning your next foodie
trip around Indonesia?
Visit ayoliburan.garuda-indonesia.com
for more information.
80