I’m Indonesian, originally from North Sumatra and have a degree in English Literature, and years of experience in hospitality management. I love traveling and have been living and working around different parts of Indonesia for the past 20 years. I also love food, and have a passion for traditional Indonesia cuisine. Every place around my country has different food, tastes, and language… and it fascinates me to learn how each adapts its own cuisine.

I moved to Bali to explore its lands and food. I spend my time visiting the traditional markets here and learning about its traditional food. There are many traditional dishes that I can teach you: Beef Rendang (one of Indonesia’s famous dishes), Sweet and Sour Fish and Chicken, Tempe Orek (Sweet and Spicy Crunchy Tempe with Nuts), Nangka Gulai (Young Jackfruit Curry), Ayam Kare (Spicy Chicken w/ Herbs), Ayam Gulai (Chicken Curry), Soto Ayam, Nasi Goreng, Bakwan Jagung (Fried Corn Fritters), Nasi Uduk (Fat Rice w/ Herbs), Yellow Rice w/ Herbs, Nasi Goreng, Kerupuk, and Sambal.

My home of Sumatra is famous for its traditional Pork Curry…  rich in taste… and cooked all day so that the flavors are drawn deeply into the meat. Sumatrans also make Fish Yellow Curry, with a sweet and sour flavor, derived  from the vegetables in which its cooked, called iIkan Mas Arsik (which mean “Gold Fish”). We use many herbs in Sumatra that can’t be easily found here in Bali. But as all Indonesians do, I have adapted my family’s recipes to make my curries with different spices.

I enjoy making traditional Indonesian deserts like Klepon (Gluten Rice, Green Herbs, Palm Sugar, Coconut, Salt, Vanilla), Leppet, Rice Pudding, Pisang Goreng, Bubur Sum Sum, and Kolak. And can also cook Western food (you can show me your recipes, and we can learn together)! I love making foods like pizza, pasta, spaghetti, burgers, baked chicken, baked pork, steak, sauteed fish, vegetable and pumpkin soups, chicken dishes, American breakfast, healthy breakfasts bowls (with granola and fruit), too. So if it takes you some time to fully embrace Balinese food, or are craving something familiar, you can still enjoy options that are comfortable to you.

I managed an Indian restaurant in Yogyakarta for years, and learned to incorporate Indian herbs and spices to create unique dishes involving Indonesian ingredients. You will find that many “traditional” dishes in Indonesia have been adapted through travels and encounters with our neighbors, just as my cooking has. Cuisine is alive, just as we are. And I can’t wait to share it with you.

I hope you’ll love Indonesian food as much as I do by the time we’re done cooking together. Contact me, and let’s start our exploration with me taking you to a traditional market to shop for ingredients, and let’s discover the wonder of Healthy Balinese cuisine together!