the kitchen staff, most of whom are
Get that fresh feeling after munching on this Gohu Ikan Tuna.
Indonesians.
SHARING IS CARING Kaum boasts a hip interior design with a warm vibe. The restaurant is filled with wooden furniture, hanging plants, and a long communal table, perfect for those who want to dine casually with family and friends. The interior will steal one’s attention easily, and the menu is just as interesting. The list is extensive but don’t feel overwhelmed, because the restaurant’s staff will be more than happy to help give you food recommendations. Sitting at the communal table with some friends of mine, I was drooling already when the Batagor was served as our starter. Batagor
the Batagor at Kaum is special – it
is a portion of grilled lamb skewers
is a fried prawn and fish dumpling
tastes just like at my favorite place
served on top of burning charcoal
smeared with a thick peanut sauce.
at Bandung in West Java, and is
that made the meat really tender,
This dish is actually an Indonesian
served with sauce that is a mix of
while the Pepes Ikan Pesisir is a fish
street food that has always been on
cashew nut and sweet soy.
dish that is smeared with fresh and
It was a smooth start already, but
spicy turmeric paste and lemon basil
the appetizers didn’t stop there. A
leaves, then wrapped in banana
a delicious one in Bali. However,
plate of refreshing Gohu Ikan Tuna
leaves.
that is no problem anymore because
(a traditional dish from the Moluccas
has been pretty hard for me to find
Lisa Virgiano, the Brand Director of Kaum.
The aroma of the Pepes Ikan
Islands that is similar to tuna tartar),
Pesisir was really inviting, and I
Gado Gado (a mix of garden
didn’t waste another second to take
vegetables, a free-range egg, tofu
a bite. This fish dish is really unique,
and garlic crackers with peanut
as the blend of turmeric and lemon
sauce) and a bowl of slow cooked
basil gives a sweet and soury punch.
Acehnese spicy curry prawn called
Of course, for an Indonesian like
Gulai Udang Aceh followed.
me, a dish like this will be much
The appetizers had filled up our
more flavorsome with some rice and
stomachs a bit, but the main course
sambal – and it’s not Kaum if they
list still had us anxious for more.
take these two side dishes lightly.
Our empty appetizer plates were
The rice at Kaum has its own story
soon replaced with scrumptious
as it is sourced straight from the rice
Indonesian signature dishes such
fields in Jatiluwih, while the sambal
as Sate Buntel, Pepes Ikan Pesisir
offered in the Sambal Selection
and Mie Gomak. The Sate Buntel
includes five different types; sambal
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BALI&BEYOND JANUARY 2017
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KAUM
the top of my comfort food list, but it