Stargazing compensates for questionable cuisine<\/p>\n
By Bruce Emond<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Few and far between they may be, but the
\ncapital's open spaces are fast becoming a living testament of
\nsorts to Desy Ratnasari's soulful Tenda Biru (Blue Tent).<\/p>\n
Not just blue, mind you, but a rainbow of hues, from fiercely
\npatriotic red and white to the rest of the kaleidoscope, is
\nstaking out territory in upmarket sidewalk cafes.<\/p>\n
Most are run by minor and major lights in the entertainment
\nindustry and assorted public figures jumping on the collective
\nkrismon bandwagon by displaying their culinary finesse or, in
\nsome cases, pitiful lack thereof.<\/p>\n
Of course, the public's adoration of entertainers as the
\nenvoys of popular culture, joined with the need to appear that we
\nare all in this crisis together, was a marriage bound to happen
\neventually.<\/p>\n
The vittles on offer often take second place in the attraction
\nstakes to rampant \"stargazing\" and the covetous desire to see and
\nbe seen in the choice cafe of the moment.<\/p>\n
Belittle them as a fad and fancy soon to outlive their
\nwelcome, but for the time being the cafes are doing big business.
\nProof enough is the barb or two shot from disgruntled traditional
\nvendors who feel they are being pushed to the periphery of their
\nown profession.<\/p>\n
From Jl. Tirtayasa in Kebayoran Baru where the first few set
\nup shop, the eateries have since set up tent in Monas in Central
\nJakarta, Kuningan (reportedly an unwanted shock to the senses
\nfrom the turgid waters of the river alongside) and Plaza Senayan.<\/p>\n
Not for those who lose all semblance of poise in the face of
\ncrowds, the Senayan sidewalk cafes -- open on Saturday and Sunday
\nnights -- are nevertheless a gentle initiation for newcomers into
\nthe arena of al fresco dining Indonesian style.<\/p>\n
Concerns over hygiene and a sudden onset of \"Java Jive\" may
\nnot be as great at this upmarket location, even though it is
\nstill a cramped open area assaulted by dust and more nebulous
\nparticles. Yet those who believe in safety in numbers in
\nconfronting the threat of renewed unrest would have felt in their
\nelement in the throngs descending on the cafes.<\/p>\n
Food, glorious food was offered in abundance, ranging from
\nsteaks, pizza and martabak pancakes (the meat variety) to a
\nmismatch of Indonesian-Western hybrids.<\/p>\n
Some stalls stood out as the people's choice, particularly
\nthose run by top artists. Loyal fans are willing to brave the
\nheat and while their time away on their cell phones in the quest
\nfor a choice table.<\/p>\n
They would reply in turn by doing them the honors of flitting
\nabout between the bustling kitchen and the dining area out front.
\nYet, the throngs are not always a ringing endorsement of the
\nquality of the fare.<\/p>\n
In one case, four anemic slivers of chicken, a bowl of broth
\nand rice were not up to snuff from our past experience with
\nHainan chicken, particularly with the glaring omission of its
\ntrademark horseradish sauce. Better, though, were the iced coffee
\nand iced chocolate, both spiked with liberal amounts of rum. For
\ntwo, the bill came to Rp 36,000.<\/p>\n
Granted, the food may just be an accessory to be toyed with
\nand dawdled over in the higher pursuit of drinking in the
\natmosphere. In addition to the \"stargazing\" -- two spottings were
\nan actress\/singer\/ad executive linked romantically to a former
\npresident's son and an aging singer nipped and tucked in the
\nextreme to achieve that deer-in-the-headlights look -- there is
\nassorted entertainment of cutesy child singers on stage and
\npalmreaders.<\/p>\n
An evening out in a sidewalk cafe may not win any prizes on
\nthe culinary front, but it is an offbeat way to while away a
\nbalmy Jakarta evening.<\/p>",
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