Food: taste of tradition
The new branch of Pala Adas fuses elements of the ancient concept of Nusantara with Peranakan touches, creating a heavenly ambience and menu. Maina Harjani writes
Pala Adas relocates to a new address yet still retains its signature flavours
Having moved to a new, bigger, and better location in North Jakarta, Pala Adas is certainly staying true to its roots and flavours. Low in oil and rich in taste, Pala Adas serves only the heartiest of Indonesian dishes on a menu that has been carefully thought through by the founder herself, May Farida.
“I felt that Indonesian food has a lot of variety and is rich in flavours, but is often unappreciated,” May tells Indonesia
Tatler. “My dream has always been to have a restaurant of my own in which I could introduce the traditional flavours of Nusantara using authentic spices and create the most original tastes—but set in a more chic, bistrostyle ambience.
“I love to travel, and every time I go abroad, I always wonder why it is that Western bistros are more popular in my home country, while our own traditional dishes are, in fact, more flavourful,” she adds. “That’s what inspired me
to open Pala Adas—to present Indonesian food in a modern and elegant way.”
As for the menu, it includes May’s favourite duck dish, Bebek Pala Adas Cabe Ijo, among others, served with just enough of a green chili kick not to burn the buds now perfected by her trusted chef. As for the other dishes on the menu, some remain the same, but the majority have been either tweaked or changed entirely.
Notable dishes include Gulai Ikan Kakap Spesial, rich in seasoning and perfect when combined with fragrant jasmine rice, while another fish dish—one with a soupy texture— is the Sup Pindang, which is also rich and, some may say, spicy. However, you can never go wrong with the restaurant’s Gurame Sambal Matah and Pepes Ikan, which many think of as comfort food, oozing as they do with traditional herbs and raw, local ingredients. And to complement the extensive menu, Pala Adas also serves delicacies such as Iga Goreng Asem, Sate Pala Adas, Sup Buntut, and Tumis Bunga Pepaya.
As for desserts, the Platter Pala Adas is not to be missed—the dish comes complete with
cassava, fried sweet potato, and fried banana topped off with cheese and chocolate and drizzled with caramel sauce.
Meanwhile, the drinks menu at Pala Adas is also noteworthy. Guests’ favourites include the Tropical Dragon Smoothie, the Green Healthy Juice, and Iced-tea Tarik with Grass Jelly. These are the perfect selections for those seeking healthy thirst-quenchers.
But when it comes to pairing drinks with dishes, we were surprised to learn that different varieties of teas can be paired with different foods, rather than just wines. So at Pala Adas, May has created a unique teapairing menu. “I learned how to build this restaurant from culinary experts, and I’m a food lover myself, of course,” she tells us. “So I update the menu and concepts at Pala Adas regularly—currently, we are providing this teapairing menu, which we believe creates divine combinations.”
Clearly, this is an experience that is second to none. For all those who live in North Jakarta or are heading that way, Pala Adas should most definitely be on your must-visit list, and for those who live far away, drop by on a Sunday afternoon to savour the local delicacies—trust us: you won’t regret it. Pala Adas Indonesia
Ruko Crown Golf Mediterania Block D No. 11–12, North Jakarta +62 21 2257 0073 palaadas.com
“What inspired me to open Pala Adas is to present Indonesian food in a modern and elegant way.”