Creative Writing: Food Review

I’d Love to Have One ‘Shadow Theater’, Please, on Plate

And it began with the strumming of the traditional gamelan orchestra, solemnly heard from the Kura-kura (Turtle) quarter of Gadjah Wong Restaurant, Jogjakarta. The young waitresses had been so kind as to walk me there.

We made our way through Gadjah (Elephant) area offering a colonial feel and the lush garden in the complex. Another section was Bebek (Duck) part, downstairs, offering a more contemporary and jazzy atmosphere.

The mysticism of Javanese shadow theater was being chanted in those melodious thumps of the brass instruments. The interior—all wooden—and traditional decorations glow intimately Javanese under the dim lighting.

But what even immersed me more was yet to come, soon.

Distracted away from her friendly smile, my eyes traced the gracious movement of a waitress serving the Curry chicken rice I ordered. And the shadow theater could have come to life here, on my plate.

The brownish biryani rice was flanked with slices of tropical fruits, just like all the eccentric puppet figures tacked aside ready for action in a performance. And the sail-shaped cracker backdrop hid three kinds of sambals (chili sauces) and a loaf of naan bread. Spotlighted on the center were the chicken chops, shimmered in curry sauce and parsley.

This exquisite dish was of great pleasure for the palates as the Javanese shadow theater to the eyes.

The rice was a perfect and as soft complement for the chicken, which was juicy in texture and finely mild in flavor. Meanwhile, the pungent, fresh fruits could quench thirst, although they might taste too sharp on the first bite. But, no worries, the crispily bland cracker and naan bread were ready of any help.

As I was enjoying this delicacy, as well as my self, so much, I forgot to take the sambals. And, you could bet on what sambals would do to your meals.

Priced at between Rp. 35,000.00 – Rp. 120,000.00, this restaurant was a full recommendation for both locals and foreign tourists. They serve traditional Indonesian, Italian, Indian, and other dishes such as Australian tenderloin and Norwegian salmon. Vegetarian cuisines were also on the menu; Vegetarian curry and tomato soup were among them. However, it’s quite unfortunate that the beverages did not vary as the meals did, although wines, both local and imported, were available.

The gamelan orchestra was slowing down in tempo, as it tuned on the coda. And so was my ‘shadow theater’, as I crossed the spoon and fork on the empty plate, fading out into a memorable culinary experience.

Gadjah Wong Restaurant

Jl. Gejayan Soropadan 79-D

Yogyakarta

Tel. 0274-542815