TA K I N G I T TO T H E S T R E E T S
BOPET MINI by RIAN FARISA
I
t’s the charm of traditional markets that you will not get from those opulent, air-conditioned shopping malls. Whether you want to just buy fresh groceries or look for tools or trinkets and something cheap, you’ll get almost anything you need from these markets. In our case, we should not ignore the fact that markets like the one in Bendungan Hilir for example, conceals potential eateries inside that are waiting to be discovered. That’s when I set my goal to reach Bopet Mini, no matter what. Bopet is actually what Padangnese would refer as a restaurant in a smaller scale with less variety of dishes and roughly equal to what we call as warung here in Java. Arriving for late lunch on a fine Sunday, Pasar Benhil appears like a deserted building with only a handful of shops left seen open and much less crowded than usual. Upon heading deeper inside the market, what I found out was actually
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Finding a real diamond may be hard and expensive, but if your kind of diamond is a one-stop, affordable and marvelous Padangnese treat in the middle of the city then Bopet Mini is the diamond you are seeking for. surprising. Bopet Mini is not small at all! It occupies a large portion of area in the heart of the market which defies the real definition of bopet! A self-service buffet table offers what you will assemble for your Padangnese lunch, but you can only have so much coming this late, even on a Sunday! However, I was quite content whenever there’s rendang, Padangnese-style omelette, and vegetables. Although I was running out of the usual young jackfruit and cassava leaves, I chose to go with sliced bamboo shoots with plenty of green chili sambal as the condiment. It’s a mainstream choice but will forever satisfy me. What makes Bopet Mini remind me of another ‘real’ bopet back in Payakumbuh, West Sumatra is the bubur kampiun. Usually another type of bubur is a standalone version of banana with coconut milk like in kolak pisang or with bubur sumsum
for example. But with bubur kampiun, it incorporates so many elements from soybeans, banana, sumsum, biji salak, and glutinous rice – all drenched in a bowl of sweetened coconut milk soup. During hot days, all you have to ask is additional ice cubes to make it highly irresistible. If you don’t feel like having nasi Padang, Bopet Mini offers other fantastic selections from soto Padang, ketupat sayur, to snacks such as serabi and lupis. Despite the old, dilapidated traditional market feel that surrounds it, Bopet Mini is clearly a jewel waiting to be discovered for those who haven’t and an endless gold mine for the regulars. So if you’re looking for the best time to visit the place, come early for brunch during Sundays. It’s easier to navigate the usually crowded street, easier to park, and not letting yourself run out of the fantastic delicacies. Enjoy!