Camelia

Gumati Cafe: An exotic cultural dining experience

 

Jakarta Post, Sunday, December 03, 2006

Camelia Catharina, Contributor, Jakarta

Stepping into Gumati Cafe in Bogor one afternoon recently, I was welcome by a fresh breeze and the fragrance of frangipani on the air.

Situated around 200 meters from the southern end of the Bogor Botanical Garden, the cafe is easily recognized by its brick wall and unique design.

Its entrance leads to the upper level of the restaurant, which is some 60 kilometers south of the capital Jakarta.

Most diners, however, choose to go downstairs which has indoor and outdoor dining areas and a unique gazebo, called a ranggon. There is another dining area similar to the ranggon with a different type of seating, called a bale. This is where I chose to enjoy my meal.

Here, standing above a fishpond, you sit on cushions on the parquet floor with a short, square wooden table. This area showcases the natural beauty of Mount Salak and sparkling Bogor city at night, offering a serene view for sore eyes.

But the astonishing view is not all there is on offer. Gumati is about an exotic cultural experience deriving from its multiethnic architecture, decorations and cuisine. It provides an intimate atmosphere perfect for get-togethers among friends and family.

The indoor decorations are in harmony with the building architecture, featuring earthy and natural materials such as wood, stone, trees and fabrics. It is used to create a warm and cozy ambience. In the middle of the caf‚, water descends from the mouth of some small turtle sculptures into a moderate-sized swimming pool. Of course, you can't swim here, but the sound of the water, combined with the sound of twittering birds and Sundanese music, is comforting to the mind, especially for those who live in a hectic and crowded city like Jakarta.

As this was not the first time for me dining at the caf‚, I knew that the place offered different settings to meet its patrons' need for food, entertainment and ambience. Daylight dining is good for those looking for tranquility and for family dining. Children can have fun in the playground area, watching cartoons or rocking in the swinging chair.

For those looking for a hideaway, visiting Gumati in the day is perfect. Close your eyes and you'll feel as if you're in the middle of a paddy field, accentuated with traditional Sundanese music, water splashing on the surface of the pool, bird's chirping and a gentle wind. When you open your eyes, drink in the panorama and the Balinese decorations such as paintings, orchids and handicrafts covering almost every corner of the restaurant.

The evening offers a totally different ambience. Couples should arrive in time to enjoy the spectacular sunset view. Later in the night, you can have a romantic candlelit dinner under the stars at Geladak, the outdoor area that gives you a bird's eye view of the sparkling city and the two rivers flowing down the valley. What more could you ask for from a romantic dinner. Indoor dining provides a different atmosphere. The warm ambience is perfect for friends.

Guests are entertained by different performances each night. A solo pianist performs Wednesday night and Balinese dancers every Friday and Sunday nights from 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For younger people, there are live band performance every Thursday.

Topping off the great decorations and performances, Gumati provides some distinctive dishes and beverages. For my lunch I had the paket timbel special, which consists of nasi timbel (steamed rice wrapped in banana leaf), fried chicken, tempe (molded soya bean), tahu (bean curd), salty fish, lalab (raw vegetables), empal (spicy fried beef), homemade chili sauce and sayur asem (sour soup with corn, pumpkin fruit and string beans).

The food was a unique blend of particular tastes -- hot, sour, sweet and salty -- and the whole thing only cost Rp 30,500 (US$3.40). Another Sundanese traditional dish worth trying is gurame asam manis (fried scrap fish in sweet and sour sauce). You can also try Chinese dishes or more global dishes such as steaks, burgers and sandwiches.

I had an es cingcau to drink. It is really good company for the meal I had. It's good for cooling your mouth from the chili sauce and costs Rp 13,500. Es cingcau is just one of several traditional beverages on the menu. Bandrek is another traditional beverage that is rarely found in restaurants.

In the evening, there are more traditional selections from stalls in the outdoor area, including steamed peanuts, bajigur, wedang ronde and colenak. Wedang ronde and bandrek taste hot and sweet. Some people believe that these beverages can relieve ailments and improve health.

Gumati Cafe is not a place for a quick bite. This is not because you have to wait for a long time for your food to be served -- as a matter of fact they served my dishes in less than 10 minutes -- but because it is just so great that you won't want to leave.

And dining here is affordable. You can have a complete meal for between Rp 25,000 and Rp 75,000. Beverage prices range from Rp 6,500 to Rp 22,500. But this is nothing compared to the feeling created from the view and atmosphere of the place. Gumati can mesmerize even the most stoic of guest.

As one of the most unique destinations in Bogor, probably only U.S. President George W. Bush could stop people from dining here. Come to Gumati Cafe on the weekend and you will see it is filled with diners, further proving that this is an experience you cannot afford to miss.

Gumati Cafe‚
Jl. Paledang 26 & 28
Bogor 16122
Phone: + 62 251 315 833
Website: www.cafegumati.com