You said that many lands ares sold because no one wants to farm. Then what are these lands become after being sold?
Most of them became housing complex, from my observation. While housing is primary need, food are necessary too, right? (laugh)
You are known to be a passionate figure in promoting Indonesian cuisine to the world. We know that Indonesian cuisine has exotic tastes that foreign people might not like it. How do yo handle this?
It's simple.
The first thing I need to know is my guests background, including their age and nationality.
If they're from neighbor country such as Thailand or Singapore, it would be fine to maintain the original flavor.
I keep flavor and smell in moderation if the guests are western people.
You are the mastermind of serving Indonesian cuisine in modern platting. Then many young chefs follow your path. Do you think that serving Indonesian food in moderate taste and modern platting make them unauthentic?
I don't think there is an "authentic Indonesian cuisine" because many foreign cultures influence them.
There must be one foreign influence in one Indonesian food, at least.
It can be from: India, Arab, China, Portugal, Spain.
For my restaurants, I always maintain the original cooking method.
If a food requires grilling using bamboo, then I use bamboo.
That's why I have 3 kitchens in my restaurants: traditional, normal, and modern kicthens.
If someone wants to taste the original flavor, I suggest them to go to the region where the food comes from.
If you are going to present an Indonesian food to people who don't know Indonesia, let's say people from northern Europe, what food will you serve them?
I would serve them satay with peanut sauce.
Its flavor is not complicated: savory and sweet.
Maybe I would present fried rice as well because it is really popular worldwide (laugh).
