This was published 7 years ago
Where to eat in Jakarta, Indonesia: Chef Will Meyrick
Tuna dish.
Chef at Jimmy Lik's in Sydney's Potts Point, Will Meyrick's Bali restaurants now include Sarong, Mama San, Hujan Locale and Tiger Palm, and in Jakarta, Eastern & Oriental, with several others throughout south-east Asia. Meyrick will host a culinary weekend at The Datai Langkawi in Malaysia, July 15-17. See thedatai.com
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE TABLE IN JAKARTA?
Recently I went to a restaurant in a hotel, which is not the norm for me as I always eat on the street, but once in while I like to treat myself. I went to OKU, a modern Japanese inside the Kempinski Hotel. See kempinski.com
Will Meyrick.
THE LOCAL FOOD DISCOVERY OF THE PAST YEAR?
One of my favourite places to eat is in Kota, the old town of the urban sprawl of Jakarta. This is where history meets culture. Betawi, which is the original Jakarta, was a trading city built on canal waterway system. You have Indian, Chinese and Dutch all merging together to create what we have now. One street in particular that should be visited to find authenticity is Gang Gloria.
WHAT IS JAKARTA'S BEST-KEPT FOOD SECRET?
There is one place you should visit if you're in Jakarta for a short time, and it's a street that comes alive at night called Jalan Sabang. It not really secret but you'll have a lot of fun there, tasting many different cuisines from Indonesia.
FAVOURITE INDULGENCE IN JAKARTA?
One thing you may not know about Jakarta is that there are many small islands just outside. These are called the Thousand Islands and they are great for full days of island hopping. This is a wonderful way to indulge and explore Jakarta's surrounds.
PLACE TO GO FOR A BIG NIGHT OUT?
One of the best nightclubs is Dragon Fly. It is one of the oldest, but has just had another makeover and is reaching new heights again. Another area is SCBD, which is the heart of entertainment in Jakarta, with new hipster bars and restaurants. (Dragonfly; Graha BIP building, Jl Jend Gatot.)
BEST TIME TO VISIT, AND WHY, FOODWISE IN JAKARTA?
Jakarta is a city that never sleeps and for going out, there are options 24 hours a day for food or whatever else you fancy. There is one time when it slows down and that is at Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. So to avoid disappointment don't go to Jakarta during this time.
WHAT SHOULD A VISITOR AVOID, FOOD-WISE, IN JAKARTA?
I think you must be careful when eating on the street as it is very much two tales of two cities. Jakarta has a very opulent side, and there is also the poor side, where 40 per cent live under the poverty line. Therefore, to eat on the street can be a risk. Avoid empty warungs. Also go just before lunch starts, when food is hot. Make sure there is some sort of running water, otherwise you have no idea who has washed up what.
WHAT'S HOT IN THE AREA RIGHT NOW?
The hottest area is SCBD, and also Mega Kunnigan.
PLACE TO GO ON A DAY OFF?
I suppose I like to indulge on Sundays, as it's my only day that I get to spend with the kids, and we all enjoy good dim sum. In Jakarta there are many great places.
We also go to Kota Tua for all the national museums, including the Wayang Puppet Museum, and Fatahillah Square, where you can watch the world go by and snack on local food prepared right there in front of you. The architecture is also very interesting.
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