The first time I had gado-gado was ages ago, and I didn't really like it at the time. It was a disappointingly boring mix of blanched vegetables with some peanut sauce, which wasn't exactly something to get me excited. Then again, that was in Bali, which isn't exactly the right place to get it.
Today in Jakarta though, my colleagues took me to this place for lunch, which I found out later to be a chain restaurant. They ordered the gado-gado for me, which was much better than I remembered it. The peanut sauce wasn't too sweet while the variety of vegetables underneath kept it decently interesting (not to mention guilt-free) for me.
I still don't know what a proper gado-gado is supposed to taste like though. My colleague says that each shop makes it differently, and I really don't have enough experience with this to know the difference (they also said that it was supposed to be spicy, which I would hardly use to describe this mild and creamy concoction). Well, one of these days I'll have to visit a shop that another co-worker of mine recommended - I just didn't have enough time to head there on this trip.
2 comments:
I've had it in SG, cooked by an Indonesian and it was very spicy. The peanut sauce thankfully cooled down things. I really liked it.
been reading your blog on n off for a bit. It's cool that you got around to try some Indonesian food in Indonesia (outside Bali). Gado-gado boplo is a pretty decent chain. Its peanut sauce is different as it's made from cashew. Your friend is right, that some regions have slightly different versions. Where I come from, the gado-gado sauce has coconut milk added. Makes it a bit richer and tastier (imo). :)
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