'Warung Solidaritas' no ordinary foodstall<\/p>\n
Deni Putri, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Warung Solidaritas looks similar to other foodstalls. Its menu
\nalso offers typical warung fare. What makes it different is that
\nit was established by chefs from the nearby Shangri-La hotel.<\/p>\n
The foodstall has been temporarily set up on a two by five
\nmeter site with wooden boards and a tarpaulin roof. It also has a
\ngerobak (food-cart) for cooking, four long wooden tables and
\nbenches, which can accommodate 25 people, and a wooden cashier's
\ntable.<\/p>\n
Faced with these less than ideal conditions, the Solidaritas
\nhas come up with a unique way of attracting customers and
\nsatisfying its patrons.<\/p>\n
It displays the flag of Serikat Pekerja Mandiri Shangri-La
\n(Shangri-La Independent Workers' Union), indicating the owner's
\nmembership of the labor organization. The tent also bears a
\nwritten sign saying Warung Solidaritas Karyawan Shangri-La (the
\nSolidarity foodstall of the Shangri-La's workers).<\/p>\n
Inside, there are pictures featuring employees on strike at
\nthe Hotel Indonesia roundabout on Jl. Thamrin and in the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
The foodstall, which is managed by 30 of the 579 Shangri-La
\nemployees dismissed by the hotel, offers dishes typically found
\nin a roadside eatery but has given them unusual names, such as
\nNasi Goreng Stop PHK (Stop Dismissal Fried Rice), Nasi Goreng
\nSosis Kapitalis (Capitalist Sausage Fried Rice), Nasi Goreng Ikan
\nAsin Resolusi (Resolution Salted Fish Fried Rice), Nasi Goreng
\nKambing Chaos (Chaos Goat Fried Rice), Mie Rebus Reformasi
\n(Reform Boiled Noodles), Kwetiauw Buruh (Workers' Fried Noodles),
\nMie Goreng Solid (Solid Fried Noodles), Bihun Goreng Bersatu
\n(United Fried Rice Noodles) and Cap Cay Kompensasi (Compensation
\nstir-fried vegetables).<\/p>\n
The beverages also have unique names including Komite
\nPerempuan (Women's Committee) Avocado Juice, Revolusi
\n(Revolution) Mango Juice, Nationalist's Soursop Juice, FSPM
\n(Indonesian Hotel Independent Workers Union Federation) Mixed
\nFruit Ice and IUF (International Union of Food, Hotels and
\nRestaurants) Tomato Juice.<\/p>\n
The managers of the foodstall, who have been running it since
\nFeb. 2001, want to publicize their demonstrations against the
\nhotel's management over the issue of compensation for their
\ndismissals.<\/p>\n
Despite the presence of big name chefs formerly employed by
\nthe Shangri-La, not all the items on the Solidaritas menu are
\nparticularly delicious.<\/p>\n
But the Nasi goreng sosis Kapitalis, Cap cay Kompensasi,
\nKwetiauw Buruh, mango juice and lemon ice really tasted good.<\/p>\n
The food prices are far cheaper than what they used to charge
\nat the hotel.<\/p>\n
Nasi goreng Stop PHK is only Rp 5,500. Three other fried rice
\ndishes go for just Rp 7,500 each. Fried noodles are Rp 7,500
\nwhile cap cay is priced at Rp 6,500. Fruit juice prices range
\nfrom Rp 3,500 to Rp 4,500.<\/p>\n
The prices listed on the one page menu include a 10% \"tax\",
\nwhich is apparently used to finance the demonstrations.<\/p>\n
Located on Jl. KH. Mas Mansyur in front of the Batavia tower,
\nCentral Jakarta, most of the foodstall's visitors are office
\nworkers from the buildings along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Casablanca.
\nIn a bid to serve its customers better, it even offers a delivery
\nservice.<\/p>\n
However, the food and beverages offered by the foodstall,
\nwhich is open 24 hours a day, lack variation, even though its
\nchefs are experienced and well-versed in cooking European and
\nChinese food.<\/p>\n
Diponggo, one of the Solidaritas staff, acknowledged that they
\ncouldn't serve European or Chinese food due to the limited
\ncooking utensils available to them.<\/p>\n
\"We want to offer more varied menus but we don't have a
\nfreezer. We hope we can add to our menu in the future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The foodstall's coordinator, Jojo Suharto, said mango and
\ntomato juices were the most popular beverages, while the goat and
\nsausage fried rice were the most-ordered food items.<\/p>\n
Jojo, who had worked at the hotel for almost five years,
\nclaimed that they could earn average daily net profits of Rp
\n250,000, some of which was used to finance the workers'
\nactivities and to help the dismissed workers' families.<\/p>\n
Warung Solidaritas:
\nJl. K.H. Mas Mansyur, Central Jakarta
\ndelivery service: 0817-112852.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/warung-solidaritas-no-ordinary-foodstall-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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