Ambokue @ Cibadak

Since I have stayed in Bandung for almost 4 years, I think I should give some culiner advices. ha5. Cibadak is a favorite place for Chinese people to have dinner in Bandung. At there, we can find “Nasi Campur”, “Baso Tahu”, porridges, Hainan Chicken Rice, Swieke,  Kwotie, Wedang Ronde, and many other things.

Cibadak view

So, last night I went to Cibadak for hunting food with my friends. I tried dish that I never have before, so it got me excited. The dish name is ” Ambokue”, which is come from Medanese I guess. This is very unique dish for me. It contains sticky rice, casau, ngohiong, and pig’s ear. All of that ingredients is splashed with sweet sauce like we find in eating Lumpia Semarang. One thing that very special for me is the sticky rice. Its texture like ‘lontong’, but it’s softer and taste like a cake. So, if you go to Bandung don’t forget to try this dish. delicioso!

Ambokue

( Where is ) Indonesian Nori ??

Before go to the topic, I’d like to say sorry that it’s quite a while I wasn’t write this blog. This is my first post in this year, so I hope that I can be more diligent to write. ^^

Back to the topic. As we know, Indonesia is an archipelago country which its 2/3 area is covered by ocean. So, it should be have many variants of seafood as well as Korea and Japan. In fact,  our fish consumption just 26 kg per capita per year. This number far behind our neighborhood country like Malaysia with 45 kg per capita and Singapore with 60 kg per capita a year. It is well known too that seafood consumption has associated with human development index, for example Japan which we know is one of the most advanced country has 110 kg per capita seafood consumption for a year. So, I think developing our seafood industry and introduce the benefits of consume seafood can be ways to increase our HDI despite increasing our education system.

thailand nori product

A few days ago, I went to a mall and buy a seaweed product, which is nori with tempura flavor. When I looked the manufacturer of the product, this product is made in Thailand. So, I curious why our country haven’t this kind of product. I did a little bit research and I found that we do have resources for making nori. Nori is made from species Porphyra sp, which has been found a lot in Teluk Bitung (North Sulawesi), Banda Sea (Maluku), and Serui Papua. Therefore, I think it is better for us to create our country-made nori rather than import periodically from others.

Teluk Bitung

I also think that the prospect is good, with many Japanese restaurants or foods that have been favorite now and especially the increasing awareness of people to eat healthy food. So, let’s make our  country-made nori and eat it a lot for better health and human quality.

unagi, my favorit sushi

Dragon Boat – a wonderful history

As Indonesian, maybe you have heard a lot about Dragon Boat nowadays. Recent days ago, Indonesia team got 3 gold medals and 3 silver medals from this sport in Asian Games 2010 Guangzhou.. What a spectacular achievement. . Very proud of them.. This achievement also make a unity in Indonesia, because the team consist of people from Sabang to Merauke..

Back to the topic..what is the basic history of Dragon Boat?? Dragon Boat is a celebration day in China, especially Southern China. It is celebrated to memorize the patriotic Chinese named Qu Yuan. He was well known to fight against corruption in Zhou Dynasty. However, many others official government did not like him because of his principal. With other ministers advices, the King at the time decided to lay off him. But, he never gave up. He still tried to prove the truth till one day he sacrificed his life in Miluo River, Hunan Province. In that day, many fishermen raced to help him with their boats. Actually, they did not make it. So, they threw rices to feed the fish due to prevent Qu Yuan body to be not eat by fish.

Based on this story, The Chinese memorize Qu Yuan dead every year with making Dragon Boat Festival and eating dumpling rices named zhong qi. This day often called Duan Wu (in Southern China ) and Duan Ng (in Hongkong ). Also, with many Chinese spreading in all over the world, this culture also known in many South East Asia country such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore. Moreover, nowadays this Dragon boat Festival have also held in Western Country like USA.

Very wonderful history, isn’t it ? I think many Indonesians must read this story, especially for official governments to fight against corruption in this country more seriously. hope for the best for my country.