Warm up with a meal of rabbit 'state'

Warm up with a meal of rabbit 'state'

The glowing afternoon sun provided light but very little
warmth, and the gentle breeze added to the peaceful atmosphere.
To the east, the Grojogan Sewu waterfall thunderously disgorged
its sparkling stream. Laughter abounded and signs of the
merriment of holidaymakers were everywhere.

Likewise, there was a glow of happiness on Hadi Purwanto's
face. The 25-year-old seller of rabbit sate (small pieces of meat
roasted on a skewer) at Tawangmangu resort had every reason to be
elated. The skewers of rabbit meat that he had carried on his
shoulders from his home in Banjarsari village were almost all
sold, with only a few remaining.

"Today I can go home early," he said.

According to Purwanto, there are about 10 rabbit sate sellers
scattered around the 3.5 kilometers of the waterfalls. On
holidays and Sundays, this number increases to cater to the huge
number of people visiting the mountain resort.

"During those days, usually there is a dangdut performance to
liven things up," said the father of one.

Grojogan Sewu -- a loose translation being "a gush of one
thousand streams" -- is a two-hour drive from Surakarta and is
the main tourist attraction in Karanganyar.

Generally, Purwanto and the other sate vendors arrive at their
usual spots at 7 a.m. and stay until 5 p.m. Sometimes, however,
they remain even after all the visitors have left, having failed
to sell even a single skewer.

"I take whatever is left home. It can be warmed up for the
next day, anyway," said Purwanto, who has been selling rabbit
sate for over seven years. However, holidays always mean brisk
business, and during these days he always carries with him a
larger stock of skewers.

The rabbit sate is a Tawangmangu specialty. Apart from being
delicious, it can help a person warm up in the cool mountainous
area.

Unlike chicken, Purwanto said, rabbit meat does not contain
much oil. Hence, the roasting method is different. The skewered
meat is first dipped into a specially prepared spicy peanut sauce
before being roasted. When the meat is done, the sate is dipped
into the sauce once again. Then it is ready to be served with
ketupat (rice cake boiled in banana leaves).

The prices vary from one seller to the next. Purwanto sells
one portion, which consists of 13 skewers and a serving of
ketupat, for Rp 5,000.

"The price at restaurants is exorbitant. One portion can cost
more than Rp 25,000, though it tastes just like what we sell,"
added Purwanto.

The sate vendors buy their rabbits for between Rp 15,000 and
Rp 50,000, for a large-sized one. It is easy enough to find
rabbit meat in the area, as there are many rabbit breeders to
satisfy the demand of the sate business.

So when you are in Tawangmangu, do not miss out on the
opportunity to enjoy some rabbit sate, which tastes all the more
delicious for the beautiful views that accompany the meal.