SG Food Series: What Can Authentic Indonesian Food Actually Be, Besides Penyet & Padang
The display of “Teh Botol” on the counter captured my eyes immediately the moment I stepped in. Beautiful memories of my travels in Bali came rushing back into my mind. One of the delightful things I discovered in Bali was this “Teh Botol”.
It was sold in small drink stalls along the roadside. This refreshing drink is well-balanced, not too sweet, and absolutely fantastic on a blazing hot day.
Aside from the “Teh Botol”, I realised that Bara is unlike the typical Indonesian restaurants. They do not serve the familiar Indonesia cuisines like Nasi Padang & Ayam Penyet.
“We want to reintroduce to people what Indonesian food can be.” Says Surya, the founder of Bara Food, a humble restaurant situated at Enggor Street.
A meal is never just a meal, where traditions and culture are cooked into every single bite
Bara Food wants to serve Indonesian food the right way. That means reintroducing much more variety of the cuisine to diners. Traditional and soulful flavours amidst the sea of Penyets and Padang options.
That was the dream that started Surya’s journey.
With no formal F&B training and experience, it took Surya 8 years to get to this point. He started from ground up with his aim to achieve the most authentic Indonesian flavours. As he worked hard to perfect his skills, he also took time to exchange ideas with chefs from all over Indonesia. The purpose was to design a menu that will best represent the different regions of Indonesia.
This resulted in what we can see on the menu today. The Balinese style grilled chicken to Javanese style fried chicken and more. Diners get to taste flavours that not only excite the palate but stay true to the roots of Indonesian cuisines as well.
Bara – Ember Or The Fire of Burning Charcoal
The word ‘Bara’ means ember or the fire of burning charcoal. This word encapsulates the spirit of Indonesian cooking, where the grilling of food takes centre stage.
This technique effectively draws out the rich aromas and essences of the ingredients that would otherwise go unnoticed with other cooking methods.
Good Food Takes Time
“Patience is bitter, its fruit is sweet.” – Aristotle
Patience is key to many of the successes we see in this world. And this is truly evident in their signature dish called Ayam Bakar Betutu. It is a Balinese style grilled chicken served with a unique earthy Sambal Matah, a mixture of raw spices in special chilli oil.
The process is long and arduous. Fresh chicken is marinated in sauces for four hours and then slowly cooked for two more hours. It is then left overnight for the flavours to soak in all the richness for maximum retention before it is grilled and served to diners. The level of patience required to go through this process is what makes the dish unique and flavourful.
Another unique character of Bara is the way they handle and cook rice. It is also what makes their food authentically Indonesian. Their signature grilled rice is infused with the perfect blend of herbs and spices, wrapped in a banana leaf. It is then grilled over a fire to perfection before it is served hot.
Keep Going
Like their signature Ayam Bakar Betutu, the road to the creation of an authentic Indonesian restaurant has demanded the utmost patience from Surya. It has been a long, hard-fought journey that reflected his focus and love for food creation. This journey, though challenging, has been rewarding.
“Don’t look back and Embrace Every Moment” – Surya
“Life is about embracing every moment. But once everything started, you just have to keep going and make do with whatever there is: revitalising and sharing a renewed perspective on traditional authentic Indonesian cuisine,” said Surya
Reintroducing Authentic Indonesian Food
We were impressed by the flavours of the dishes served at Bara Food. But, we were equally impressed by the patience, hard-fought sweat and tears that went into ensuring that there is no dilution of the Indonesian culture. Their focus on staying true to the root of the culture is admirable. Authenticity is definitely at the heart of every recipe at Bara Food.
For those longing for that taste of authentic Indonesian food in Singapore, we encourage you to allow Bara Food to take you along that journey of patience and authenticity and share this beautiful dream with them.
Outlet Information:
Address: 16 Enggor Street, #01-10 Icon Village Extension, Singapore 079717
Contact: +65 8182 6876
Email: [email protected]
Official Website: https://www.bara-food.com/
More Details: https://sg.foodinlocal.com/listing/bara-food/
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday : 11.30AM – 08.00PM
Sunday : 11.30AM – 03.00PM
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