Shijack?esmasuk?selat Solo?

The day was coming. Wedding day of my best friend in Solo, central Java. She invited me and some friends. We had to go. I liked it. I already imagined and had short plan about what we should do there. Travelling? of course. But, plan was plan. Closed to the day, one of friend could not stay overnight. Thus, plan was changed. By car, we went on very early morning, still accompanied by misty road on the way long there, to catch wedding mass at church then went back home after that. Again, plan was not fulfilled. We were late arriving Solo due traffic jam and a minute stop to have breakfast. Nasi pecel. It was still same product with my hometown dish. No need to tell you. Still contain of vegetables, rice, liquid peanuts sausage and soybean chip.

First arrival, went to Alun-alun (big hall of Surakarta kingdom), then went to Pasar Klewer just in a glance to see batiks. But I was not interested in as they sell also modern clothes too. I prefer to Bringharjo Yogya, more completed. Then, we stopped by at Surakarta kraton (Kingdom palace). I did not like it either. It was not really good. Dirty, dark, sounds no life there. How can we support hospitality aim in Indonesia? Keraton Surakarta as one of the stronghold of Javanese culture place is opened daily, actually, to be adored by visitors. They can visit museum, art gallery where some precious collections were exhibited such as dagger (keris), masks, leather puppets, batiks fabric.

Well, it was enough to feel sorry about our culture and history place. Lets go eating. Then, we went to have lunch at Esmasuk restaurant. Traditional food, javanese, Solo taste of course. We got the information from internet and recomendation from some friends.

Selat Solo was we ordered first, actually it was one of the more famous dishes. Selat Solo was basically an Indonesia-nized version of beef steak.
It actually looked more like stew than a steak. Indonesia was colonized by the Dutch for more than three centuries so this was one of those dishes that is a hybrid of Dutch and Indonesian cuisine. It consisted of beef steak, potatoes, green bean, baby carrot, "sosis solo", sweet soy sauce, and some sour ketchup, mixed. This restaurant offered 2 menus. Selat Solo original and galantine. It looked like beef wrapped by egg omellete.

Second food was timlo solo. This food tasted like soup, not chicken soup flavour but javanese soup. It consists of flour noodle slices, mushrooms, carrots, snow peas, inocarpus blossoms / Javanese sausage and finaly splash with warm sauce which allows to be a very delicious food to be tasted.

We also tried to eat the traditional snack called sosis solo. The shape was like a sausage but it was mixed by egg,vegetables,spices,egg, potato, carrot, oil, salt, young bamboo then wrapped by lumpia skin sheet. To end this noon before taking a rest we drank fruit ice, even the fruits was not complete, not assorted and not much but we thought it was enough to end our lunch.


The Noon run to evening then night. It was time to leave this city after attending the Javanese wedding party at Dana Hotel which placed in main road of this capital of Central Java. Some traditional dancing, traditional ceremony, traditional music and food were represented there. It was completely great. I got new experience on how Solo traditional wedding party was held. We were enjoying. Met and greeted with old friends, also took some pictures to memorize ours.


Before leaving, we stopped by at ShiJack, fresh milk restaurant at sidewalk.


It was recommended by friend.It was very famous. It was not worth it to go Solo if we did not go there. You might be agree with me. Thanks to friend who took us there. As I never know this place from web? Is it? Had some small snack and drank big glass of ginger fresh milk, after choosing the funny menus that stated on their banner. Well, it was enjoyable for Saturday night. stomach was full, energy was fulfilled, it was time to be back home.

Finally, arrived hometown was welcomed by sun rise at the east.Thanks Solo, we will be back again soon, who's next wedding party? Wondering... Even this story was happened a month ago but I am still remember my short experience.