Peace, Love, & Nasi Goreng

So I am planning a trip to Bali for one of my friends and she asked me about the food in Indonesia.  As I was most recently in Indonesia hiking Mt. Rinjani, my freshest food memories are of the very local food that we ate while camping.  So, my immediate reply was, “it’s okay…very healthy.”  Although this is true – it is quite healthy – there are MANY options when it comes to food in Indonesia; and a lot of it is simply amazing.  Honestly, I think it really depends where you are going within Indonesia and what you are doing.  What I can tell you for certain is – I was never hungry!  Going through my food and beverage photos from my full two months there, I was down-right salivating.  With my memory now jogged, I am ready to give you the low-down on Indonesian food and beverages.

Let’s start with beverages.  First, and most importantly, the local beer is called Bintang.  I drank about 100 of these before someone told me what Bintang meant.  It means “star” and this should be quite obvious from looking at the label…Guess I was too busy enjoying my beers. 😅. Now, I like beer…In fact, I like it very much; but sometimes it makes me too full and I need something a little bit lighter…Oh Indonesia!  How you came through for me!  They also serve Bintang Radler just about everywhere!  As most of you probably know, a radler is half beer and half lemonade – super refreshing and delicious and perfect for those hot days at the beach.  Of course, there are tons of cocktails (always on special at happy hour), some wine, and two specialty forms of local alcohol – Arak and rice wine.  Let’s go back to wine for a minute.  There are a few different local wines available, but the two most popular are Hatten and Plaga.  In my opinion, Hatten is far superior.  They have a sparkling rosé that is divine!  Hatten has the distinction of being Bali’s first winery and they have done a nice job with it.  A little on the pricey side compared to America, but I was just so happy to find it.  (More on this – it is extremely difficult to find good, affordable wine in Southeast Asia.  I cannot tell you how much I miss the selection, quality, and prices of Trader Joe’s wines.  When I get home, I am heading directly to their liquor store).

Anyway, back to the booze.  Arak is a local spirit that is quite high in alcohol content and is very strong.  I would venture to say that this is near impossible to drink straight, but I have heard that the locals do indulge from time to time.  More often, arak is found in traditional Indonesian cocktails that are much cheaper from the mojitos, Mai Thais, and margaritas found in the happy hour sections of all menus.  My favorite version is Arak, honey, and ginger with a splash of soda water.  For about 30 rupiah per drink, this will only set you back about 75 cents and will give you a nice, warm little buzz.  Plus, I feel like there are some health benefits to this drink as well…I recommend it for sure.

Rice wine.  Every country, village, town, & family out here in the whole of Southeast Asia has their own rice wine.  Every recipe is different, and it tastes different every time you have it.  Some are sweeter, some are stronger, some are more bitter, but in the end, it is a fun and very cheap way to enjoy local culture.  In fact, I don’t think I ever paid for rice wine.  This is just something that the locals want to share with you.  Go in with an open mind, and keep trying it, because as I mentioned, even if you didn’t like the last one you tried, the next version will likely be completely different. 

Coffee.  To be honest, I was never a huge coffee drinker…I enjoyed a good Starbucks specialty beverage and their Nitro Cold Brew a lot, but I wouldn’t call myself a connoisseur by any means.  However, coffee is a bigger deal out here than I was anticipating and I have definitely upped my coffee game (especially since I spend so much time in coffee shops now).  Let’s begin with typical Balinese coffee.  Some people don’t like this coffee, but I absolutely love it!  For two reasons:  1). It has a nutty and almost chocolatey flavor that is right up my alley.  2). They finely grind this coffee so that you simply dump whatever amount you like into the bottom of a cup and add hot water.  I hate making coffee (I know that sounds crazy, but I really do), so for me, this is a dream come true…Delicious coffee in seconds.  I carry around a packet of Balinese coffee with me on the road and every room has a hot water kettle, so I have delicious coffee every morning now.  Sometimes I add sugar, but I find that because of the natural chocolate flavors, it’s really not necessary.  Do try this if you come upon it.  

Lewak coffee is a specialty coffee also served in Vietnam, but they call it weasel coffee over there.  My friend, Natalie, gave me a heads up about this coffee when I was in Vietnam and told me that I had to try it.  Apparently, it is the most expensive coffee in the world because of the process by which it is harvested.  I will do my best to explain — Apparently, there is an animal, called the Asian palm civet (or lewak) that eats coffee cherries.  These cherries are then fermented as they pass through a civet’s intestines, and after being defecated with other fecal matter, they are collected.  Sounds pretty gross, right?  I thought so too.  But it is a real thing out here so I felt it was my duty to try this.  My friend and I even went to a lewak coffee farm, but I wouldn’t again because it does appear that these animals are being mistreated by being held in cages and being used primarily for this purpose.  Also – I didn’t find the coffee to be all that great.  I thought it was very bitter and a little watered-down.  To each his own, I guess…But I’m going to stick with PETA on this one and boycott it from now on.

Finally – Jamu Juice.  I don’t know why it took me so long to discover this, but don’t make the same mistake I did, and do start drinking this right away upon your arrival in Indonesia.  Not only is it delicious, but it is SO good for you!  It has so many health benefits and it makes your skin glow, I swear!  I am going to learn how to make this and try to get it into my regular skincare regimen.  Someday.  But anyway, what is it?  Jamu Juice is another one of those drinks that is very particular by family.  Each Mother or Auntie has her own secret ingredients, but the general gist of it is a concoction of fresh turmeric and ginger, honey, a squeeze of lemon and coconut water.  Or some variation of that.  I tried a few different versions, and although they all tasted a little different, they were all delicious and I felt healthier immediately after consuming it.☺️

Indonesian Food.  Here we go!  I have so much to say I’m not even sure where to begin!  It’s probably best to begin with the national specialties of Indonesia.  The number #1 most consumed and classic food item in Indonesia is hands down Nasi Goreng.  Fried rice, usually served with a fried egg and your choice of veggie, chicken, tofu, beef, or seafood.  You will find it on every menu.  Along with Mie Goreng, which is exactly the same thing but with fried noodles instead of fried rice.  I was partial to the Mie Goreng, myself, and if I wasn’t having a smoothie bowl for breakfast, it was generally an order of Mie Goreng.

A few more local specialties include Beef Redang (stewed, marinated beef with rice), Gado Gado (stir-fried veggies in a peanut sauce with rice), Pepes Ikan (grilled fish served in a banana leaf with rice), chicken satay, any other grilled fish, and some curry dishes (although do not expect these to taste like the curries you get in Thailand…still delicious, but not near as good as Thailand).  Almost all of these dishes almost certainly come with rice crackers (that look like pork rinds and taste a bit like rice cakes, but sweeter), and cucumbers and tomatoes.  There is virtually no pork to be found as Indonesia is a primarily Muslim country.

In Bali, the Gili Islands, and any tourist area you will easily find “western food,” and I have to say, it is quite delicious.  I had some of the most delicious pastas & pizzas, smoothie bowls, burgers, mexican, and more!  Quite honestly, anything your heart desires can be found – especially in Bali.  The food is out of this world delicious.  You will not go hungry, and quite honestly, you will eat like a king.  I even found a delicious steak in Uluwatu.  My brother-in-law makes the best steaks ever back home and I have not been able to find one that I could afford until Uluwatu.  It was delicious!  But no comparison to my brother-in-law’s (I have already requested this as my welcome home dinner with delicious wine and cheese upon my arrival.  That reminds me – no real cheese out here either.  I mean, they have it — they make pizzas and stuff, but you can’t find a good block of good cheese anywhere.  Oh how my Wisconsin soul misses good old fashioned cheese & crackers!).

So, in closing, the food in Indonesia is better than okay and there are many options for any traveler.  If you choose to eat like a local, it will be lots of vegetarian options and rice.  (Has anyone ever had tempeh before?  This was new to me, but is a big thing out here and I actually found it to be quite delicious.  Kind of like a vegan granola bar…they eat a lot of it out here). So take a chance and try some new things!  I hope this inspired you to mix it up a little bit and embrace the local food culture.  Food is such a big part of everyone’s lives and the preparation, the reasoning behind it all, and the local spices & seasonings…there is a story behind every recipe and it is all a way to embrace and enjoy a new culture.