I guess this post is going to be long ,,,let me serve the hungry and brave tummy first.
Jogja speciality are dominated with sweets. I do not mean by desert, but surprisingly, from appetizer to desert, they all have to be sweet, i guess that is one reason why the Javanese smiles are just too sweet sometimes.
I was born in Sulawesi, where foods are made with strong spices and tasty broth, lots of meats. when it comes to sweet, people in Makassar call desert as " Kanre Jawa" means 'Javanese food". Well they have reason. In hot summer days, i suggest tourist to eat what i call as " Indonesian Salad" that is Gado-gado. In Jogja, they have different versions of this mix vegetable topped with coconut sauce dressing. Sounds thick? Sure, but it might be the lightest food on my list. :D
In Yogya, you may want to try Pecel, or Nasi Pecel if you prefer to have it with Nasi (=rice). Pecel is also mix cooked veggies with peanut sauce. Please, dont think of peanut sauce you normally found in a bottle. The advantage of taking Pecel or Gado-gado instead of Lotek or Karedok (West Java) is that the vegetable are cooked to make sure you want take any bacteria from our beloved tropical ground.
You can see on the top, the mix veggies ready to be made as pecel, Photo from The Huffington Post |
Other than peanut sauce, as one of the most popular dressing to so many menus, marinated food is one of Yogya speciality. For people who like fresh food, the idea of marinated in sugar and lots of palm oil for hours may sound too scary. However, many of my European friends love Gudeg, oh well, they are French. :D
Gudeg Jogja, photo from Ourawsomeplanet.com |
Next on my list of what to eat in Yogyakarta is Soto. Now, if you ask me, which soto, now i get confused. Soto is traditional soup version of people in Indonesia. Means that, people in Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes, Java and other part, making soto, with different recipes. Now it depends on your taste, you like your soup thick, clear, spicy or light?
Soto Kudus, photo from eatingasia.typad.com |
Later on my blog i will share you how traditional cooking method is still used for the best flavor of traditional food. I will continue this topic about What to eat in Yogyakarta very soon, bye-bye for now..
Chinta