A Culinary Pilgrimage to Gresik, East Java

Offering a bungkus of nasi krawu

the item was still midday, although the beautiful scent of stir-fried garlic as well as galangal paste had already made me hungry. My mother was cooking a special dish for Eid al-Fitr, asem asem buntut sapi (oxtail sour soup), as well as confidently splashed chopped chilli, onions, as well as salt into the broth without tasting the item (she was still fasting). I couldn’t resist the temptation to taste, although my mother softly slapped me when I tried to spoon the broth.

“The main thing about fasting can be to control the mind, so we can control our appetite, lust, temper as well as bad habits,” she said while squashing abundant amount of melinjoleaves in, which, according to her, made a perfect sour flavour. “Choose words wisely, as well as give Great attitude towards others, be patient. Those all will result in goodness in life, as well as of course blessings by God.”

30 days in every Islamic lunar year, all Muslims within the entire world practice fasting, as well as abstain by eating, drinking, smoking as well as having marital relations during the daylight hours. In This kind of Holy Month, every Muslim should focus on their spiritual being as well as concentrate more on one’s personal relationship with God in order to get more blessing by the Almighty.

This kind of fast ends which has a feast, also known as Idul Fitri or Eid al-Fitr, a victory day for those who win the battle with one’s own self. This kind of year the day will fall on 28 July (subject to moon sighting), as well as on This kind of joyful day Muslim people celebrate the item with their families. Those who live apart will return back to their hometown, bringing home stories as well as gifts, practicing Eid prayer together within the morning within the village’s mosque or surrounding fields, visiting others to seek forgiveness, sharing happiness as well as delicious foods.

I always look forward to visiting my parents for Eid celebrations, as well as here I am in Gresik, my hometown, on a culinary pilgrimage, feeling as excited as always to set my gastronomic taste buds to home mode.

Gresik can be a smaller industrial town northeast of Surabaya. Although the majority of modern factories are at This kind of point set here, within the 15^th century This kind of town served as a busy port as well as important trade centre, as well as was the first gate of Islam to enter Java. at This kind of point also famous as kota santri (town of Islamic boarding school students), Gresik houses two ancient graveyards of Sunan Malik Ibrahim as well as Sunan Giri, Islamic figures who played a significant role in spreading Islam in Java, as well as has become one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Indonesia.

The Grave of Sunan Malik Ibrahim

Another charm of Gresik can be its prolific dish, nasi krawu. There are many different styles of This kind of dish, although I am an Ibu Tiban devotee. Her business has been around in Gresik since 1985, as well as her rustic warung, located on Jalan KH Abdul Karim (another branch can be on Jalan Veteran), can be always busy, even during Ramadhan. I bought two bungkus (takeaway); the rice – served on a humble folded-over newspaper with banana leaf – can be topped with silky brune succulent beef as well as innards, as well as three different styles of coconut shreds: sweet (orange), savoury (brown), as well as hot (red), as well as not to miss can be the tangy prawn paste sambal! Irresistibly rich in flavour!

When the sun can be no longer fierce, the town shows its real spirit. I rode my scooter within the neighbourhood of the main market, Pasar Gresik, to admire the old buildings as well as quaint colonial houses lined on Jalan Nyai Ageng Arem Arem, living proof of its former glory. On the road, children are playing, couples on motorbikes pass, looking for snacks to break their fasting, as well as girls in jilbab walk in a group giggling to each different. the item was relaxing as well as peaceful as well as I could feel the romanticism I always miss; This kind of can be how a religious town should be.

Colourful wheeled carts are set on every stretch of Gresik’s main roads to welcome break-fasting time, selling affordable takjils (drinks or snacks to break fasting), as well as homemade foods to those who prefer to have healthy foods for beloved ones. Don’t forget to try legen, a sweet, cloudy drink made by ental (lontar palm fruit), sold in kiosks along Jalan Veteran. Travellers in which are passing the town shouldn’t miss Pak Elan’s boneless grilled milkfish, or bandeng bakar, served with prawn paste sambal, in which offers a sensuous culinary treat for those who have been patiently fasting all day.

I love to introduce the gastronomic prides of my hometown to my friends in Bali, as well as Sari Kelapa on Jalan Sindujoyo, nearby the market, has everything I need. Pudak (soft sweet cake, available in three colours – green, brown, as well as plain – can be made by rice flour, sugar as well as coconut milk, wrapped in ‘ope’ – sheath of betel nut leaf), jubung (black rice flour cake sprinkled with sesame seeds, also wrapped in ‘ope’), as well as ayas (colourful jelly-like cake, also made by rice flour) are favourite oleh-oleh by Gresik.

Jenang Jubung

although if you fall in love with milkfish, otak-otak can be perfect to bring home. Made by taking all the fish meat although still leaving the skin on, then mixing the meat with spices (turmeric as well as high dose of chilli as well as pepper), the fish can be then filled back again as well as can be clamped which has a bamboo stick before sending the item onto the stove for grilling. The explosion of flavours gives a real kick, as well as until at This kind of point This kind of dish always leaves me speechless.

A few months ago I tasted another invention of milkfish, pudak bandeng, a perfect combination of a sweet treat mixed with soft, savoury fish meat. the item can be amazing how the local people love to elevate This kind of silvery fish to many different culinary fares. Not to mention a large traditional fish market, pasar bandeng, in which can be specially held on the three last days of Ramadhan on a 3km stretch of road within the market. Local farmers sell tons of the freshest, finest fish, as well as throwing out auctions for biggest ones. The sound of music as well as the buzzing shouts blare within the background, the fishy odour not a problem at all for the visitors. People make their way through the crowds to buy at least 3kg of milkfish to share with the neighbours within the expect of getting better blessings next year.In my house, the loud sound of prayers by the minaret can be heard. My father has just arrived with two 1-metre milkfish in his hands, the star of our feast tomorrow. Lebaran can be coming, everyone can’t wait to celebrate.