Featuring on Stumble Abroad : I'm fabulous ;-)

Never thought that Ana Gaby, one of my Strawberry Patch customer contacted me wit a mission: want to interview me for her blog.  I'm flattered. Then perplexed when I read question she sent me.

Some question prove hard to answer. Not that I do not want to answer, but there was an embarrasing moment reading through question and realized: after all I'm not so Indonesian anymore...feel like a soul trapping in between cultures and I can tell you I'm not proud at all.

So if you read this interview, this is my 7 hard-days working out to filled all blank space and lot of thoughts.

And I'm HAPPY with the result.

Enjoy reading it ;-)



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This is a series of interviews of fabulous people who live, breathe and thrive in Jakarta. We will feature expats and Indonesians who call the Big Durian home in hopes to give all of you a glimpse of what life is all about in Jakarta. I would love to have different perspectives on our Fabulous Jakartan Friday (FJF) so if you would like to be featured, leave me a comment or shoot me an email and I would be so excited to hear all about YOUR Jakarta!

Fabulous Jakartan:  Ayu, the Indonesian Crafty Mompreneur

Today we are meeting Ayu. Ayu is a fabulous Indonesian lady. She is a mother of two and runs the cutest business I have seen in Jakarta. Strawberry Patch makes handmade accessories and toys for children. I have talked about her previously when I was (re)decorating Joshua’s nursery and had some banners and robots custom made. Ayu is a wonderful lady and I hope you enjoy meeting her as much as I have.

So, here’s Ayu’s Fabulous Jakartan Friday Interview.

Tell me more, tell me more

1.  First, tell us a little bit about you. What’s your background? Where did you grow up?

I grew up on small and beautiful city called Solo-or Surakarta. My mother was very fond of fabrics and crafts and this shaped me into what I am now. As many parents wish for their kids to pursue their dream via school -so did my parent-, I ended up studying Economics & Marketing and worked on the biggest car manufacturer in Indonesia afterward. I just couldn’t give up my childhood dream to have my own fabric-related business. Now my marketing background helps me a lot with my business 

Strawberry Patch in Kemang Lippo Mall

2. I love your shop Strawberry Patch! I loved decorating the boy’s rooms with your banners and cute robots and wish I had a girl to buy some rag dolls. How long have you had Strawberry Patch for? What’s the best thing that has come from Strawberry Patch?

I had another fabrics-related venture called Botanica Indonesia -which specialized on Batik- since 1998 but decided to swift into more colorful fabrics on 2007, right after I had my daughter. I was living in Sydney and Batik was not huge back there. Finding beautiful patterned fabrics was not difficult in Sydney and its easy access for fabrics flourished my idea and creativity.  Now that I live in Jakarta, I see the opportunity for Strawberry Patch to grow, means I could help empowering people more. To see the joy on my customers once they received items they ordered, or seeing my staff able to put her kids on school, its in-description moment for me.

Strawberry Patch Workshop

Living in Jakarta

1. What three adjectives would describe Jakarta the best?

BIG, BUSTLING, BUSY

2. What’s your biggest Jakarta Love and Jakarta Hate?

Food, and traffic for sure.

 3. How do you find the sweetness beneath the Prickly Surface of the Big Durian?

Unexpected things happen a lot and it always lead to another door of opportunity and pump up positive energy –meeting new friends, see people helping other in unthinkable way; to name a few.

4. What activities or things keep you happy and thriving in Jakarta?

My business –it helps empowering women- and my family, of course!

Ayu’s Workshop

5. For a first time visitor coming to Jakarta, what would you recommend they try out that is uniquely Jakartan? A specific food, activity, or place?

Museum Nasional – some call it Museum Gajah, since it has an elephant statue given by King of Thailand standing in its front yard- is great place to start. Taman Mini Indonesia Indah showcases beautiful architecture of Indonesian houses -and culture too.

Sate Khas Senayan serves beautiful Indonesia food that quite friendly with foreigner’s  tummies. I always treat my friends -or recommend it to friends- this place. The Owner should give me discount for keep promoting this place 

6. If you were to move somewhere else and not be able to come back to Jakarta, what Indonesian thing would you stock up on?

Dried Crackers a.k.a Kerupuk

Traveling in Indonesia

1. If you could only visit one place in Indonesia while in Jakarta what would it be?

Yogyakarta

2. What is the best advise to anyone traveling with kids in Indonesia?

Plan carefully. Can’t  do very tight schedule with small window as hurdles can pop up anytime along the way. Give yourself enough time to move from one place to another, even it only short distance.

3. Bali or Lombok?

Lombok.

4.    Yogyakarta or Jungle Trekking in Sulawesi or Krakatau?  

Yogyakarta.

Jakarta Mama

1. What’s your favorite activity to do with your kids while in Jakarta?

Go to traditional market , or places where my kids can experience real Indonesia life and local culture.

 2. What are your favorite places and things in Jakarta for Kids

1. Playground: Playground in Kemang Dalam
2. Classes: We love cooking and crafting. At home. So really have no clear answer for this.
3. Clothing Stores: Nothing in particular. I made most of my daughter dresses and frocks, and my son shirts.
4. Toy Stores:  Toys Kingdom
5. Snacks: We hang out quite often at Il Supremo Café at Periplus Kemang. Books and snacks in one place. Perfect.

Ayu and her lovely kids

Crafting in Jakarta

1. What’s your favorite place to buy fabric in Jakarta?

Pasar Mayestik

2. Is there ONE place you recommend where we can find anything and everything for crafting and sewing?

There is ONE shop in Pasar Mayestik in South Jakarta called Toko Maju. Don’t get off with its small appearance from outside, step in and you’ll only be saying ‘wow’ for it massive collection of everything craft. I could spend hours inside this two story shop. (Ana says she didn’t realize it was two stories!!! I will have to go again soon!)

 3. Where do you think is the best place to buy a sewing machine and have it repaired if it needs to?

A shop in Glodok area in  West Jakarta selling all sewing machine related things and they do repairs too. Can’t remember the name as my sewing machine never comes back there for repair since I bought it 14 years ago!

4. Is there an Indonesian material that is so unique you recommend people buy if they are leaving Jakarta?

Batik is popular, and easy to carry home. Just have to know where to get the good one. If have no time to look around traditional batik market, I like to recommend people to get Batik from Batik Keris chain-store. They stock up decent quality batik -and souvenirs too.

Eating in the Big Durian

1. What’s your favorite Indonesian restaurant in Jakarta?

Sate Khas Senayan. Isn’t it obvious? 

2. What about your favorite “Western” restaurant?

KOI Kemang

3. What is the one Indonesian dish that everyone should try?

Sate ayam -it has different style with its Malaysian counterpart- and Soto Ayam -clear chicken soup with vermicelli and been sprout-

Oh and Tempe Goreng !

 4. Could you share a short and sweet recipe for an authentic Indonesian dish so I can pretend I learned to cook Indonesian…

Chicken satay, you could do easy way using store-bought peanut sauce (ECO Brand has authentic Indonesia taste!) and preparing your 1/2kg boneless chicken breast, diced and marinated –overnight is the best- with 2 tbs of kecap manis, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp ground white pepper and 2 cloves of minced garlic.

Soak your bamboo skewers about 30minutes before barbecueing , put your diced chicken on pre-soaked skewer and grill over BBQ about 5-10 minutes. Pan-grilled is also doable. Then enjoy it!

Thank you very much for joining us in Stumble Abroad today, just one more request:

Describe what life in Jakarta is like in one sentence.

Amazing & exciting experience like no other 

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Sunday Snapshot

Sunday, June 3rd 2012

Snapshot between Aksara Bookstore in Kemang , Mc Donald in Kemang and Lunch around Kemang, South Jakarta...

And things from Tintin-themed Birthday Party my son invited

Blame it on the rain

Blame it on the rain

"Sorry mam, the gate closed and the aircraft moving already."
What???

This trip intended to be a short trip for me, 2days and 1 night, to visit my mum that undergo small surgery recently. I completely aware this is holiday season, so I opt for cheapest flight -that not so cheap anyway on holiday season- and choose earliest outbond flight to Semarang. Flight was 5.40, with previous experienced traveling early, I assume 4.30 start from home buy me enough time.

I miscalculated the rain and how it affected the traffic. And roadworks just inside the airport. Needless to say, 15minutes extra I spent inside my taxi cost me an extra $200 from ticket price I already paid on the net - for getting two new tickets for next available flight. That the price I initially refused to pay as I thought it is to pricey for such a short trip.

Never happened in my life before I missed my flight. 5.25 arrived on the airport, getting rejected on check-in desk, frantic phone call to my pilot-cousin, texted my husband -with my shaking hand, you bet, and I believe I just gave him early minute headache before work- then sprints from one tiket counter to another tried to get next available flight, with no result.

As my husband told me last night, I haven't been traveling with my kids only for a while. He kept asking to make sure that I got all prepare and kept saying that I need more practice -he thought I'm getting rusty with all this flying thing.

Oh well.
Here I am now, with my daughter that super cool -she had no complain at all, all they way I dragged her here and there to process the ticket- ; on waiting lounge, and will be here for another 3hours at least.

Bad luck really cost a lot.

Ayu HUSODO
www.strawberrypatch.biz

Traveler tummy

I've been tortured by diarrhea in the past few days with bathroom sprint inclusive. Traveler diarrhea I may call it, as it's not only me who got the bugs but my husband also, and we traveled out of Jakarta last week. We consciously eating local food we rarely ate, assuming after three years live in Indonesia our tummies are adjusting well. Apparently, is not.


I got the luxury to stay at home -completely at home- in the past couple of days so this tummy trouble thing seems not a big deal. When it comes to unavoidable event today -a friend wedding reception- I went out with worry. How if it will kick me during the reception? Or how if we trap on traffic when my tummy calling in?


Fortunately, things I worried most did not happen.
Not without sacrificed, as I had to say no to myself every time I looked into array  of great foods on the reception. Our friend happen to be from Padang, and the traditional food from West Sumatra definitely present.  Dendeng Balado never looked so good. I force  myself to say goodbye to Dendeng Balado. It was disappointing. 


Lesson well learn for me, for never push myself off my limit -in term of eating-   , that the consequences are hard to bear (read: tummy cramps and bloating). Suddenly I remember the day I tease my expat friend when she got spice-shock with Indonesian food. What goes around, comes around -I guessed-. 
For you my bule friend, if you read this, I sincerely apologize for my misbehavior in the past  :-(

Red and White: Dirgahayu my Indonesia

It's Independence day celebration kind of morning for me, hopped from one school -my son first- to another -my daughter afterward- . We were so ready to celebrate, dressed up in red and white and eagerly came for Upacara Bendera.

So there I was, attending Indonesia Independence day ceremony on the Netherlands School, sang Indonesia Raya, recital Pancasila and Declaration of Independence text, and seeing my son became the flag bearer for the very first time, yet I standing next to many Dutch -which once had us as their colony.

Singing Indonesia Raya was my regular chore since my son previous school has assembly once a week that include sang national anthem from both countries. Though I could not recall when it was last time I recite either Pancasila or the Declaration of Independence. And sometimes me and friends had quiz time when we will snapped the 4th of Pancasila -the longest one- and none of us could answered correctly.

Seeing bule -not one but many- dressed in red and white shivering me to the bone. I loves the view along the street lately, a festive on going with many red and white flags and banners, but when I saw people wore it -and they not Indonesian- and little children proudly march and sang Indonesia Pusaka -and again, they not Indonesian- it's remind me that I'm still Indonesia and should do more than dress up and celebrate once a year occasion like this. And less whining about this country.

Ok,lets move on before I become mellow.

It should be the say we cheer up about our independence, right?

So I moved to my daughter school, they held a celebration in fun way, with un-traditional games for the kids.

Before they started the game, once I walk to the school backyard, I greeted with very familiar song and travelled me to my primary-school age in an instant. They had Senam Kesegaran Jasmani song -oooh...I can't fint the perfect world to translate it...lost in translation-  played loud, with the kids exercise slash dance accordingly, one of the teacher stand on the front guided them and show the movement.

As it's hilarious it could be for me to see children bumping each other and tried to do their best action-; this is another thing: when did the last time I hear this song? A song played regularly once a week when I was on a kid, meant to make us do light exercise. I wonder if primary school this age still do the same. Or it might in public school? I have no clue.

Then the games begun. 3 different games, full of laugh, great way to enjoy my morning.

And of course everybody is the winner on those games. The teachers wisely gave every kids their own ribbon so no one felt left behind. 

I saw my children enjoy their celebration day, now it's got me thinking: I will find out if there will be games playing on our local kampung tomorrow, I will take them to watch.

I know Independence Day celebration it's not only about ceremony, games or dress attire, but this time let me just say:

Dirgahayu my Indonesia.

Strawberry Patch on TV..yeeehaaa

Check this out...



It's a shame that I wasn't prepared to record it, so I kind of missed the first 10-15 seconds of the opening, when they showing all our softies by calling their name.

Funny when I so eager to record it, all those buttons on my camera or mobile phone doesn't really work :-(

It's our debut in Indonesia, I really hoping this 3minutes to fame boost our sales, despite some incorrect quotes about my personal information and numbers...

Cheeers for Strawberry Patch!

Day 7 Challenge : Simple Burger

Most of time, I refused to give my kids burger from one or two fast food chains here, no matter they guaranteed their patty made from 100% beef, no fat playing part. Not only the patties concerning me, it has almost no vegetables on it. You can't ask for salad too.

I tried to make my own patty with no satisfying result. Until I found recipe from Jamie' Ministry of Food. It might sound so lame, but I never looked back since. I did this couple of time, become household favourite, and I did again on my last day of challenge. 

Oh well, home-made burger always taste better.

So for the patty, I use:

* 12 piece plain crackers, ground using food processor.

* a hand full of parsley, finely chop

* 2 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

* 500g minced beef

* 1 large egg

* sea salt & ground black pepper as needed

* olive oil

How to: 

• Mix all ingredients except olive oil.
• Divide into 6 -for quite large patty- or 8 (I did 8), mould into roundish shape -you could use cookie cutter- about 1-2cm thick, drizzle with olive oil, cover and place in the fridge until you want to use it. It helps them to firm up.
• If you like to freeze them, wrap individually on cling film/ plastic wrapper and store on airtight container before freeze it. It should last about 2 weeks.

To fry, I like to use large pan with very minimum oil just to even the heat. Fry for about 4 minutes, turning once halfway.

So simple and easy, I prepared my patty with supermarket- bought bun with plenty salads on side.

Now we can call it healthy burger ;-)

Day 6 challenge: Steam Fish - Asian Style

It should be Salmon.

I do not know why I shop for white fish instead of Salmon. I had cloudy mind on the day 6 challenge, my work overtaking me and my mind, so I don't know if I could still on this challenge when I deliberately change the main ingredient. It's still fish, but grouper surely have no family connection with those  salmon.

I wish I had Jamie's on my speed dial so I could ask about this.

Things happened anyway, dinner still have to be server, so I choose to move on and cook.

For 2 serves (I always doubling it, 2 serves is what the book said)

you will need:

* A handful of broccoli (I swap white chinese greens instead, i.e baby  bok choy), slice half lenghtways , rinse well.

* 220g of water chestnut (yee-haa...still had leftover from previous day challenge), slice

* About 400g fish fillet (grouper, not salmon)

* A handfull of sugar-snaps peas

How to do your fish:

* Prepare a steamer, fill with water and bring it to boil.

* Use heat-proof bowl -kinda pyrex thing-; place the water chestnut, then add sugar snaps then bok choy on the top. Place the fish on the very top, cover with foil. Seal the edge tight so the steam stays. (Jamie used colander, I choose    not to move the fish from one to another plate)

* Steam for about 10minutes.

While you wait for your fish to be ready, you could start preparing the dressing.

For the dressing, you need:

* 2cm garlic, peel and grate

* 1 clove of garlic, peel and grate

* 1/2 fresh chili, deseed and finely slice

* 1 spring onion, finely slice

* 2 tbs soy sauce

* 3 tbs extra virgin olive oil

* 1 lemon, squeeze the juice out.

Mix everything together on ceramic bowl using spoon, put aside.

Your fish should be ready by the time you finish your sauce. 

Drizzle the sauce over. 

Ready to serve, I served with rice.

The best steam fish ever!

Day 5 Challenge : Thai Green Curry

Day 5 challenge, I started to wearing out. Its not that I don't like to cook the good food, I just frustated for not be able to get all herbs I need from my local supermarket.Challenge still on,another 3 meals for my next 3 days.

I plan to do curry this time. Thai curry,not the Indian version.

With a dash of hope, I popped back to my local supermarket to check if they stock corriander leaves. I asked my maid earlier to get it from her local vegie vendor, but this corriander leaves quite unpopular, no vendor knew it.

Then I got the biggest shock in my life -ok, I'm overreacted- but yes, how shocked could you be if you find a bunch of corriander weight 100g cost almost 40,000 rupiah, and I used to pay not more than Rp.10,000 So forget about fresh corriander, I decided to use dried corriander instead. Oh well....

So for the green curry paste, you will need:

* 2 stalks of lemongrass, trim and crush the stalks

* 4 spring onions, trim and chop

* 3 fresh green chillies, halve and deseed, chop

* 4 cloves of garlic, peel and chop

* About 2cm ginger, peel and chop 

* 2 tsp dried coriander seeds

* 8 fresh lime leaves

* 3 tbs soy sauce

* 1 tbs fish sauce

Put everything on food processor, whizz them, half way whizzing you could add soy sauce and fish sauce, whizz again until become a smooth pasta.

For 2 serves of curry, you will need:

* 4-5 stalk of asparagus, finely slice lengthways

* half fresh chili, finely chop -deseed if you like to have your curry less hot-

* 1 tbs oil - Jamie prefer nut based oil, I have none, so I use canola instead

* 1 tbs sesame oil

* 400g raw prawns, peeled

* 400ml coconut milk (I use tinned coconut milk)

* a cup of french beans or sugar snap peas -I use sugar-snap peas-

* 1 lime

How to:

* Place a large wok on high heat, once its really hot, add both oil, swirl around and add the prawn, asparagus and green curry paste, stir it for about 30 seconds. Pour in the coconut milk, add the peas.

* Stir well, bring to boil, cook for another few minutes.

* Taste it, add more soy sauce if you like it.

* Turn the heat down, squeeze the juice out from the lime on to the curry.

Ready to serve, best eating while is hot and accompany by jasmine rice.

Day 4 Challenge : Chicken Chow Mein

My daughter pop up a question when I did the dishes last night - after our glorious sweet n sour beef dinner: does Jamie do noodle?

Of course he does.

Me too.

So we had another quick stir-fry dinner, chicken chow mein partnered with noodle. Fresh and filling.

When I check the ingredient needed, there is on item I never use before, water chestnut, and I'm not familiar at all with this ingredient. I even never see it before, let alone taste it. I googled it out of curiosity -and even tried to translate water chestnut into Bahasa Indonesia, which came up with silly word not representing water chestnut at al-.

So I tried my luck to local supermarket, and found canned water chestnut on it's isle. Great.

Before you start turn up the heat, better be sure that all ingredients are ready, sliced and measured. All stir fries I experienced was always a quick cooking process, left you no room to stop, break and catch if anything missing from your prepared ingredients, let alone turn down the heat. Your stir fry won't taste the same.

So, for 4 serves, you will need:

* 350gr noodle (I used 1 pack fresh hokkien noodle)

* 2 large chicken breast fillet, cut into finger-size, season with salt n pepper, put aside.

* 1 bunch of bok choy, cut lenghtway, wash.

* fresh ginger, about 3cm, finely slice.

* 4 cloves of garlic, finely slice.

* 3-4 spring onion, finely slice.

* 4 shiitake mushroom (optional), tear into pieces.

* 1 fresh chilli, de-seed if you don't want it to spicy, slice

* 400g canned water chestnut, slice, put back on it's original water.

* Nut oil (about 30 ml)

* 2 teaspoon corn flour.

* 3-4 tablespoon soy sauce.

* sea salt & freshly ground pepper.

* bunch of fresh coriander, pick the leaves and finely chop the stalks

* 1 small lime, halve.

How to:

* Preheat a wok/large frying pan on high heat, add the oil, swirl it around.

* Stir in the chicken for couple of minutes until bit brown, then add the ginger,garlic,chili, coriander stalks, mushroom ad half the spring  onion, stir for another 30 seconds.

* Boil a pan of water, once it boiling add your noodle and bok-choy for about 2-3 minutes. Don't get overcooked.

* Add the cornflour and water chestnut and it's water to the wok, stir again and make sure nothing stick on the bottom of the wok.

* Remove from the head, add the soy sauce and juice of the lime, mix well.

* Drain the noodle & bok choy, reserving a bit of cooking water.

* Stir in the noodle and bok choy to the wok, add little cooking water if needed to loosen up.

* If you like, add more soy sauce to taste.

* Sprinkle with the rest of the onion and coriander leaves, serve with lime wedge.

Enjoy!