Nasi Jagung Cinta Pertamaku

Talking about Indonesian cuisine along Santhi Serad like to have no end. Graduates of the master of science program in the field of Food Technology, Curtin University of Technology, Australia launched a book called Tea and Herbs: A Cultural Heritage, which he dedicated to the celebration of 43 years of marriage her parents, Suwarno M. Serad and Hertuti. In the book, inscribed trip herbal variety of flowers and leaves, to be a cup of hot tea. "This book was born from a family tradition. I grew up with the habit of drinking tea every morning, over breakfast together at the dinner table, also in the afternoon, "he recalls.

Your love of Indonesian cuisine influenced many parents, huh?

My parents native of East Java. Since childhood, when you're back home to Banyuwangi, Dad asked me to try a variety of unique culinary there and visit the traditional market. While the mother, the origin and large Pasuruan in Malang, often invited me to sample the cuisine at depots Malang. Childhood experiences have enriched my Nusantara culinary treasures.

His passion for herbs is realized through BumiHerbal garden located in North Experts Hill, London. There, there are more than 400 kinds of herbal medicinal plants with a variety of benefits. In addition to be a natural remedy, the plant is also developed to be a functional food.

Never make a dish with herbs?

Since a few years ago, I developed a Culinary Herbs, namely herbs as ingredients in cooking. It takes trial and error, because many types of herbs that are not suitable to be cooked, it must be dried or made ​​extracts and put in capsules. Every Saturday and Sunday, I cook food trials of herbal plants. I am currently developing a variety of processed from the leaves of Centella asiatica.

At home, Santhi almost always cooked for breakfast. He often cook traditional dishes of Indonesia, one of the flagship dish of sauteed papaya flowers. "It makes it fun for my kitchen, a refreshing activity. The aroma of spice so turn my olfactory nerves. "

The food is what makes you fall in love with culinary Indonesia?

Corn rice, eaten with salted fish and chili, drink tea brewed. The first time I ate it when it was in the houses in the village Sumowono, Bandungan, Central Java. Until now I still remember the delicious dishes that simple. Not eating at the dinner table, but while sitting cross-legged on the divan (seat of woven bamboo).

Culinary connoisseurs with William Wongso and Bondan Winarno founded the Movement I Love Indonesian cuisine is also very fond of eating hot rice along with fried tempeh and soy sauce spiked with pepper and tomato.

Indonesian culinary story that has never spoken to the media other than Rasamasa?

Story sesate in Bali, sesate or satai is one of the offerings in a Hindu ceremony in Bali. One time, on the day of Galungan Penampahan, I visited a family in Batuyang banjo, Batubulan, Gianyar. When it was no mebat, namely cooking show, which is done by men. They make up about 9 kinds satai Galungan with different shapes. Satai tamarind, satai suduk ro, satai pig flops, flip satai cockscomb, satai kuung, satai srapah, satai tongs scissors, satai letlet, and satai lembat. The meat used is usually pork, liver, and duck.

Satai-satai it symbolizes a tool of war Sang Hyang Nawa Gods, nine gods who are in the nine directions of the compass. Satai was then placed in accordance nine cardinal directions. All so laden symbols. In addition to an offering, also presented to the guests in attendance.

Besides Sesate, worthy of Indonesian cattle known?

Livestock such as buffalo, cows, goats, and sheep become part of religious rituals and culture. Livestock such as buffalo was seen to have a high position compared to other livestock. Buffalo symbol of social status. Livestock is associated also with the character, for example chicken, are dynamic, hard-working buffalo. The people of Bali for example, always offer food that is not eaten to the Gods. The food is already cooked, take a little of each legion, and disajikan for god god as thanksgiving, after that, eaten by the whole family. This offering is called the ngejot (sharing). If that is cooked when it is tum chicken, then the contents persembahanya is a pinch of chicken, spices like salt, then including rice that is placed on a small piece of banana leaf, and laid out in winnowing offerings called Saiban. This Saiban that dihaturkan in the kitchen, gate house, and the temple courtyard.

Balinese Lawar also symbolizes the power of the gods who control winds symbolized by the color. There Lawar White, Red Lawar, Lawar Yellow, and Black Lawar. Symbolizes winds East, South, West, North, and the guard in the middle of the four winds.

So there is a symbol of sharing, respect, and sacrifice in the activity or religious rituals in which food is an important part in it.