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Get Pleasure from Peranakan Food
If you desire to be transported back in time in Jakarta, and eat in a
Batavin Peranakan setting, stop by Kedai Tiga Nyonya, which is located at Jalan
MT Haryono Kav 8, South Jakarta. This small restaurant serves ethnic Chinese Peranakan
food (a mix of Chinese food and Indonesian food, with its own distinctive
taste). Its décor is reminiscent of the 1900-s, just like the
setting in film Cau Bau Kan, starring Ferry Salim and Lola Amaria, from the
building, windows, floors, tables, drawers, doors, and lamps, all are unique.
The waitresses wear Chinese costumes.
It is not difficult to find this restaurant. Besides its strategic location
in Pancoran area, it has a huge parking lot, so you do not have to go round and
round looking for a parking space.
Once you enter this two-story tiny restaurant, Chinese Peranakan’s
hospitality
with Dutch colonial touch can be experienced. On the first floor, in one of the
rooms, walls are decorated with lotus and tiger frescoes. In addition, there are
large reproductions of antique photographs hung on the left walls.
In the main room, there can be seen an antique mirror, with carved wooden
frame. The carvings depict Chinese folklores, with mythologic animals, such as
Phoenix. To enhance the Chinese Peranakan decor, dining chairs and tables have
circular shape with bars as supports. There are also square tables with white
tablecloths and matte paper. Against the wall, there stands an armoir, with
holds traditional ornaments, such as jars, vases, and kerupuk (chips) tins.
On the second floor, there are two sets of tables and woods commonly placed
on veranda or formal living room. The tables have octagonal shapes, identical
with Ba Gwa shape. There is an antique door and Chinese-style drawers. In
addition, there is an altar, which is used as a table for antique jars with
their contents, such as keremes, kerupuk, and other snacks. Next to the jars,
there are traditional Chinese food containers. There are a few bird cages, which
hold lamps, hung to decorate the roof; very likely to make the atmosphere more
enjoyable when the night falls.
Opened on December 17th, 2003, this food stall is popular among
celebrities, fashion designers, young executives, and mainstream citizens
longing for its one-of-a-kind setting. Peggy Melati Sukma and her boyfriend
Teuku Zaki, Vira Yuniar, Dian Pramana Poetra, and many more visited this place.
They like the atmosphere in addition to the delicious and fresh foods. All foods
are kosher and healthy, no MSG used. The foods are a blend of Chinese and native
Indonesian foods (hence Chinese Peranakan).
Available dishes range from nasi lemak, chicken, fish, meat, to sate and soto
(soup). There are lontong cap gomeh, and for noodle lovers, there are bakmi
goreng belacan (shrimp-paste fried noodles) and baso penanten. For drinks, they
offer juice varieties, mango ice cream, raspberry ice, cing cau ice, bandrek,
and ginger tea.
Its specialties include "Ikan Bakar 3 Nyonya" (Barbequed Fish), "Asam Asam
Iga" (beef soup), and "Soka Salad Mangga" (salad with crab topping). "Ikan bakar
3 Nyonya" is grilled mackerel, which
has thick meat and is very tasty. "Not many restaurants serve this fish type,"
says Paul. This barbequed fish is served with sambel petis (a chili paste), and
dabu-dabu (also a type of sambal). "Asam Asam Iga" is a type of beef soup with a freshening flavor,
guaranteed to make your tongue dance. “Soka Salad Mangga" is a salad with small
fried crabs topping. The crunchy crab toppings add exotic taste to the rather
sour, refreshing salad. What a delight to my palate.
Bananas are bountiful for desserts: pisang gencet, pisang bakar,
mixed fruit, and ice creams with different flavors.
I ordered "Asam Asam Iga", “Soka Salad Mangga", "Ikan Bakar 3 Nyonya",
plus "Kangkung Belacan". For drinks, my companions ordered "Es Cingcau" and Hot
Tea, I ordered "Teh Tarik" (warm tea with milk) twice. The "Teh Tarik" price was
shocking to me: IDR 15.000 per glass. For all the food and drinks, total damage
to my wallet was about IDR 300.000
Translated and Edited from Suara Pembaruan Online
