The Story Behind
It was christened with its moniker not just for the sake of it. Founder Bapak Ruhman started selling his fried rice back in the 1980s right in front of the entrance to the MPR residence area in Fatmawati – hence the name Nasi Goreng MPR. However, Nasi Goreng MPR had to relocate several times after they were turfed out, leading to confusion for its customers. Now, though, you can find it in front of the Philips shop before SMA Cendrawasih. Pak Ruhman’s son – who has inherited the business from his father – informed me that this was its fourth spot ever since the shop’s inception.

Simple yet Tasty Nasi Goreng
Now, I may have said shop, but don’t you go and imagine Nasi Goreng MPR to be this huge tented warung with a snaking long queue of customers waiting for their fried rice. Nasi Goreng MPR is actually just a pushcart equipped with a table and a no-frills tent, along with a signboard that says “MPR” to indicate its location to potential punters. For a dish as renowned as Nasi Goreng MPR, I was slightly worried as not one other customer was present at the time of my visit. My concerns disappeared right after I was told that most of the toppings that I wanted were finished when I went up to place my order. Even the rice was almost kaput, with just a quarter of the rice receptacle still left for me to consume. This shows that the majority of its customers prefer not to dine in.

Also Read: 
Colourfully Delectable Nasi Goreng Warna-Warni
Padang’s Much Celebrated Nasi Goreng

Finally, I settled on a plate of its Nasi Goreng Bakso Sosis (meatball-and-sausage fried rice) and a glass of Es Jeruk (orange juice). Its fried rice, topped with a fried egg, was utterly appetising. It took me only a glance to know that it was not oily like its equivalents; even the fried egg was dry. Based on its deliciousness, it really deserves its reputation of being one of the most celebrated Nasi Goreng around. The spices did not dominate the overall flavour of the dish, yet it was still adequately savoury. And in a blink of an eye, I had gobbled down my plate of Nasi Goreng Bakso Sosis and gone were the growls that were previously sung by my hungry tummy.

Jl. Fatmawati (in front of toko Philips),
South Jakarta
T: 0858 8890 7745
Open daily from 7pm-11pm
Rp.30,000/US$2.20 per person

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Ayam Bakar Rica
Despite offering a variety of fish and seafood choices, it is its Ayam Bakar (grilled chicken) that has made more waves in the city of Makassar. “Its Ayam Bakar Rica (spicy grilled chicken) is the best in town and is the pick of the masses,” says my local driver. “It is very spicy; I reckon you will have a hard time trying to finish even a piece.”

His description of the dish made me even more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed; I could not wait to have a go at this renowned Ayam Bakar. Thankfully, the place where I was staying at was not too far from the eatery. A five-minute drive was all it took for me to get there. Due to its rather small size, the crowd of customers inside made it look even more packed that it was. Service was fast and efficient, though, helped largely by its great number of waiting staff on its payroll.

Also Read:
Fresh and Succulent Grilled Chicken in Tebet
Hot and Mouth-Watering Nasi Bebek You Should Try

I did not need to think twice on what to order. I opted for its Ayam Bakar Rica, along with a couple of glasses of iced tea just to be on the safe side. Not long after, it arrived on my table in all its glory. Its appearance made my mouth water, with the red-coloured mixture of chilli and tomato harmonising gorgeously with the golden-like hue of the grilled chicken.

A Refreshing Spicy Sensation
My first bite brought about a refreshingly spicy flavour spraying throughout my mouth and on to my taste buds. And then the tender and juicy meat – fantastically cooked and seasoned, if I may add – gave off a sensation unlike any other.

After a few spoonfuls, I could not help but notice the amount of sweat that was covering my face. My local driver was spot-on when he said this was one fiery dish, but not as hot as I thought it would be. Its spiciness was perfect for my liking. Definitely one of those dishes that will linger in the mind once you sampled it.

Jl. Arief Rate, Mangkura,
Makassar
Open daily from 8am-12am
Rp.40,000/US$3 per person

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Oftentimes Misunderstood
However, try visiting a shop that specialises in authentic Palembang food and you will come across a dish that you may have heard of before: Mi Celor (noodles in coconut milk and shrimp broth). A few people who are not in the know when it comes to this treat would be forgiven for assuming that the word “celor” is another way of saying “telor” (“egg”). And especially considering that eggs are part of the ingredients, one has grounds to make such a conclusion. Yet the true meaning of “celor” is not what most people think it is.

The word “celor” – or “celur” – means “seduh”, which roughly translates as “brew” in the English language. Compared to most noodle dishes from other parts of the country, such as Mie Jawa (Javanese noodle soups), the noodles in Mie Celor are not boiled along with its broth – they are washed down instead. The size of the noodles has more resemblance to Japanese udon – thick and large – than your regular small and thin Indonesian noodles. This is why a portion of Mie Celor tends to be smaller in proportions.

Rich in Flavour
Its soup is uniquely made from shrimp stock, which can either be in the form of ebi (dried shrimp) or freshly boiled shrimp with added coconut milk. This process produces a broth that is flavourful, savoury, and white-yellowish in colour. Compared to other topping-heavy noodles, Mie Celor is only served with bean sprouts, a boiled egg, and a sprinkle of fried shallots. The magical combination between the broth and the noodles, though, is enough to provide a remarkable sensation to our palates.

For those who would like to have a go at this treat, drop by Mie Celor 26 Ilir HM Syafei Z if you ever find yourself in Palembang or just head on over to Martabak Kari H. Abdoel Razak on Jalan Biak, Roxy in Jakarta. Enjoy!

The post Mi Celor: A Simple yet Flavoursome Palembang Delicacy appeared first on Good Indonesian Food.

An old eatery that is loved by many
Coto Ranggong has been around for quite a while now. Founded in 1965, it is not too spacious and could only hold to about 20 customers. There are signs of wear and tear on the building that makes it look a bit dilapidated in some way. Perhaps it is due to the location of the kitchen that is placed in the forepart of the eatery.

I arrived at Coto Ranggong at around 9am, and luckily, it was not packed at the time. A friend of mine who is a local informed me beforehand that it tends to be crowded during breakfast time. Phew. I was free to choose where I wanted to sit, despite the limited choices available. I ordered its Coto with a mixture of beef and beef lungs, although there were other choices on offer, such as beef liver and beef tripe.

Traditional cooking methods
As my food was being prepared, I bided my time by taking a look at its kitchen. The shop still uses a traditional wood-fired oven that causes the walls and ceiling of the place to go dark in colour due to the smoke that comes out of it. It is quite interesting to see food being made traditionally in a world where almost every aspect of our lives, including cooking, involves advanced technology.

Not long after, my food was ready. Served in a small bowl, the soup looked rather familiar – bearing a striking resemblance to a type of Coto Makassar that I have seen before. Without a moment of hesitation, I dove straight in. A slurp of its soup revealed a flavour that ignited beautiful memories of my childhood; when I first had a taste of this dish. The beef and beef lungs were tender in texture, adding a different kind of deliciousness to every bite.

Also Read: A tasty bowl of Coto Makassar in Jakarta

Leaving aside the sentimental bond that I experienced from it, this shop’s Coto Makassar delivers a strong and unique flavour. Its well-cooked soup and the flavoursome beef and beef lungs showcase the main reason why this place has managed to carry on and is much loved by many for decades.

This article is available at The Jakarta Post: Coto Ranggong, A delicious eatery that harks back to the past

Jl. Ranggong No. 13,
Makassar
Open daily from 6am-5.30pm
Rp.30,000/US$2.30 per person

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