Cumi Bali

The first time I tried Indonesian food was like when Sanur first opened. Just like the first A and W restaurant, a drive in type. As a curry and chilli lover, Indonesian food like Tahu Telor or Gurami fish with belacan are natural.

Many of us also love Nasi Padang. Well isn't Padang the capital and largest city of West Sumatra? Therefore, we should thank Indonesia for these foods. Those people who have been to Tanjong Pagar long ago always knew about a Indonesian food stall somewhere at Duxton.

One day, to meet some old friends I was asked to find a place for a lunch meeting. They said you are the Guru right? So you choose. You see sometimes in life a blessing is also a curse. Like when you have oil. My reputation was immediately at stake. Where to go? What type of food? Nice or not? I was under pressure, I had difficulty breathing because these gentlemen have sharp tongues and food critiques.

I took a dangerous path and brought them to an Indonesian Restaurant where I believe it is very good and that they would love it.

It had to be early because early bird catches worms but conscious that early worms get eaten by birds.

Little time was wasted as they have just opened. We are playing an attacking game and must attack from the first whistle. Fast and furious the orders were made and we started with some lime juice.

For 3 persons, it is always harder to order more dishes. First came to "Sotong" (squid). It was large, fresh, tender and juicy almost like it just came out the sea. A friend was just sharing with me the day he decided to go fishing with a few other friends and the night before, he asked another friend to go get some sauce and wasabi so that when they caught squids they could eat it sashimi style with some sauce. Then they came to a spot and they saw lots of "sotong" in the sea and their adrenalin was pumping. Try as they might they just could not land single sotong. The other guy told me they they still have the sauce with them. You see it's not so easy to catch sotong that is why they are expensive.  

The Satay Chicken is excellent. It is not chicken satay, it is satay chicken. Chicken satay is a satay while satay chicken is a chicken. You know what I mean? Just like a man-eating fish is a fish that eats man not a man eating a fish.

 



The Beef Rendang is out of this world. Tender and like they can just melt in the mouth as not much chewing is needed. You can just have it with your rice and do not need anything else in the world.

The proof of a pie is in the tasting. Don't believe what I say just look at the plates and how quickly we polished them. The sambal belacan is awesome! The single last piece you see here was just us pretending to be polite and leaving it for the other when actually in the heart quietly hoping that no one else will take it. I know some of you do it some times, please be honest.

We wash them all down with Chendol.

On another trip, I had the fish. The Ikan Bakar which in Bahasa means grilled fish. Very fresh and covered and doused in otah gravy. Sedap!

Let me know when you are in town. I am ready and willing. Cumi Bali is the place to be. Sedap!!