Timbungan Bali Restaurant Opens Branch in Sarinah Jakarta

The Bali Timbungan restaurant has just opened at the Sarinah Building, Thamrin, Jakarta, on Tuesday (14/6/2022).

This is the third branch of the restaurant after the two previous restaurants successfully hooked the market in Bali since 2016.

founder of Bali Timbungan, Billy Hartono Salim, said that the selection of the Sarinah building as the location for the Bali Timbungan branch was carried out because it was in line with Sarinah's theme, which carries a culinary full of culture.

"We have big aspirations to introduce Balinese cuisine to big cities in Indonesia so that it can be widely known by the public," Billy said during a press conference at the Sarinah Building on Tuesday (14/6/2022).

"It is an honor for us to be able to greet Balinese culinary lovers at this historical pride of the capital city," he concluded.

The existence of the Bali Timbungan branch as a Balinese culinary specialty at Sarinah Building, Jakarta, received full support from the Chairperson of the Bali Tourism Board, Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana.

Bagus said that the presence of Bali Timbungan in Jakarta was a realization of introducing Balinese cuisine to the wider community.

"After this pandemic, Bali really wants to develop its culinary sector, so that Bali is not only known for its tourism sector," he said.

PT Sarinah President Director Fetty Kwartati welcomed the presence of Bali Timbungan in Sarinah. This is because there are historical ties between Gedung Sarinah and Balinese cuisine.

It is known that the Sarinah building was first built on the initiative of Soekarno. 

The first President of the Republic of Indonesia was the son of a noblewoman from Singaraja Bali.

"It has a very close relationship with Sarinah, because it is synonymous with culture and cuisine. There is a common thread that is connected between Sarinah and Balinese cuisine," said Fetty.

Billy said that there was no difference in terms of food menu between the Bali Timbungan restaurants in Jakarta and Bali branches. This is done in order to maintain the taste and quality of the food served.

"Similar to those in Bali, the ingredients used are all from Bali. 40 percent of the workers here come from Bali, this is done to maintain the authenticity of the Timbungan Balinese culinary," he said. 

There is Timbungan Duck to Betutu Gilimanuk Chicken

As the name implies, one of the mainstay menus presented at the Bali Timbungan restaurant is the Timbungan duck.

According to the Dharma Caruban ancient text, the timbungan duck is the oldest Balinese dish.

Billy said that the key to the enjoyment of the timbungan duck lies in the cooking technique used, namely the slow cook or slow cooking technique.

The duck will later be put in bamboo and cooked using smoke from a low heat.

"The slow cook has been used in Balinese royal kitchens for centuries, and we maintain this ancient recipe," said Billy. 

"One way is to maintain the use of Balinese spices, base genep, which consists of 15 kinds of ingredients and a long cooking process," he said.

Besides presenting the Timbungan duck, the Bali Timbungan restaurant also serves other Balinese specialties, such as Ayam Betutu Gilimanuk.

This dish is cooked with Balinese spices and served with plecing kale and sambal matah.

In order to maintain Balinese culture, Bali Timbungan Restaurant also presents the megibung tradition, which is the tradition of eating together in one container and sitting in a circular position.

Megibung food is served in a container called dulang Bali which is covered with banana leaves. Inside the Balinese tray, a variety of Balinese specialties will be served.

Some of the menus that can be enjoyed include Timbungan Duck, Klungkung Suwir Chicken, Karangasem Fish Sate Lilit, Guava Tree Satay, Kedonganan Seasoned Clams, Sudang Lepet Singaraja, Fried Squid, Fried Shrimp, Urab Paku, Sari Segara Soup, and Bakwan Corn. 

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