SAPULIDI Cafe

May 29, 2012

Sapulidi, Bandung.Indonesia

After a good 45-minute drive uphill towards Kampung Daun (Daun Village) in an area called Lembang that lies outside of Bandung, we were awed by the secluded and intimate natural surroundings of Sapulidi Resort, Café and Gallery, more popularly known as Sapulidi Makan di Sawah (Sapulidi Dine on Paddy Field)

Lush greenery, shady trees and well-trimmed bushes heavily surround the grounds of this establishment, which itself is already an institution among locals due to its tranquil ambience and fabulously tantalising and innovative Sundanese dishes.The original Sapulidi restaurant first started 25 years ago on Cihampelas Road, one of Bandung’s main thoroughfares lined with cafes and factory outlets that mostly sell denims.

The owner of Sapulidi, Bob Doank who himself is an artist, decided to set up a more ambient restaurant in Kampung Daun so that Sapulidi’s guests would get the chance to not only savour Sundanese cuisine but also be immersed in an environment that evidently bears the Sundanese character, which was conspicuously absent to many tourists who were desperately seeking for such experience (unlike in Bali, where the distinct Balinese culture and beliefs are visible, the Sundanese cultural expressions are neither apparent nor palpable).

Lunch at Sapulidi.

Appetizers at Sapulidi

Bob Doank himself designed and directly involved in the construction of Sapulidi Resort, Café and Gallery, which opened in August 2006. When Gaya Travel team first stepped into Sapulidi Makan di Sawah, we noticed that the path to the restaurant was paved with pebbles and stones, giving the place an exotically bucolic feel. As we further explored its grounds, we were truly taken in by Sapulidi’s tasteful landscaping that echoes the setting of a traditional Sundanese village complete with a man-made lake and paddy field. Apart from the main pavilion that houses the dining tables and chairs, Sapulidi’s grounds are also inundated with gazebos for guests to laze in while dining, constructed close to surrounding paddy plots.

The entire ground of Sapulidi covers up to six square hectares, sufficient to also accommodate 25 standalone pavilions reminiscent of traditional Sundanese houses for guests to rent and soak in the magic of the place. Such spaciousness is also suitable for holding events for up to 1,000 persons. At the restaurant, while browsing through the menu, we noticed that the names of the dishes were all in Sundanese as a way for Sapulidi to reassert its unique identity. According to Mr. Irwan, the Restaurant Manager, the ingredients that make up the food served in Sapulidi Makan di Sawah are organic and inspired from traditional Sundanese cuisine.

Should guests find the menu unfamiliar, it is recommended that they straight away select Sapulidi’s signature dish called Menu Nyiru, a platter of eight different dishes served on a tray covered with banana leaves comprising mixed vegetables, fried baby fish, grilled
chicken, steamed tofu, fried mushroom, salted eggs and chicken satay, all specially created by Bob Doank himself. Those dishes are eaten with nasi sangrai, which is steamed rice cooked with onion, salt and pepper. The various tastes from the platter fuse wonderfully on our palates.

Sapulidi Makan di Sawah is indeed the place that guests should not miss when being in West Java because it offers the chance for visitors to experience a slice of authentic Sundanese lifestyle through its amazingly delicious menu and lushly soothing atmosphere. It is indeed one of Bandung’s attractions that we will surely revisit when we return in the near future.