`Warteg': Forget about hygiene

Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Warteg is a phenomenon in Jakarta. The sidewalk foodstalls are readily found along the streets in Jakarta, providing meals for thousands of Jakartans everyday.

For some people, eating at a warteg has its own sort of pleasure. Some of them have very nice food, so the meals taste quite delicious.

In addition, and this might be the most important consideration for some people, the price is also very low. For roughly Rp 2,500 (about 3 U.S. cents) one can have a big lunch.

A piece of tempeh served with two other optional dishes with a load of warm rice and free tea is generally a standard meal. During lunchtime, when the stomach 'asks' for some nourishment, who can refuse such a tempting offer?

But, let's talk about the hygiene.

Wati, a warteg owner, uses discarded vegetables from vendors who no longer could sell them, although she claimed they were still edible. Also, the fish she serves were past their sell-by time a the nearby market.

Even more shocking is that Wati mixes in textile dyes for the oysters and other items, "To make the meals look more appetizing," she said.

A small pack of orange dye is priced at Rp 500, according to Wati, and would make her oysters appear to be fresh.

Also, while cooking chicken, Wati accidentally dropped two pieces. The pieces landed on the dirty, slimy floor. Without saying a thing, Wati picked them up and put them back into the pan.

Well, we might better off just not thinking about such things and only worry about taste of the food served. Do not get into the kitchen. Just enjoy.