Haikou, September 6 (Xinhua) -- Exquisite wood carvings, enthusiastic traditional Indonesian songs, and the enticing aroma of curry... Walking into Isana Indonesian Restaurant located in Xinglong Town, Wanning City, Hainan Province, the rich Indonesian style is overwhelmed.
Isana means "palace" in Indonesian, and the restaurant is owned by a returned Indonesian couple, 84-year-old Du Thiam Giang, and his wife, Leung Huizhen. The couple were born in Malang, East Java Province, Indonesia, and returned to China from Indonesia in the 60s of the 20th century. Despite returning home for half a century, the couple has maintained close ties with Indonesia and still speaks fluent Indonesian.
On August 29, Du Tianjiang (left) and Leung Wai Ching took a group photo in front of their restaurant. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Guo Cheng
Isana Indonesian Restaurant officially opened in 2011. Liang Huizhen said that when the restaurant was opened, on the one hand, it was because there were many Indonesian returnees who were prosperous, but more importantly, it came from the encouragement of her son. "My son has been eating Indonesian food I cook since he was a child, and he liked it so much that he suggested that I open an Indonesian restaurant." Ms. Leung said her sister also runs a restaurant in Indonesia called Isana.
The most particular thing about Indonesian cuisine is the sauce. The restaurant is run by her son, but the sauce is made by Leung Wai Ching. "The raw materials for making sauces, such as yellow ginger, southern ginger, lemongrass, fragrant leaves, etc., can be found in Xinglong, and the resources here are unique." Liang Huizhen combines Indonesian flavor with Chinese taste, which is favored by Chinese customers.
"Indonesian tourists also recognized our dishes, saying that our dishes were better than Indonesian ones, and suggested that I open a restaurant in Indonesia." Liang Huizhen said with a smile.
Due to her advanced age, Leung Wai Ching has long passed on the craft of making sauces to the next generation, even the third generation. But she still makes occasional stops to check the taste and texture of the dishes.
After more than a decade of hard work, Isana Indonesian Restaurant has now become a local Internet celebrity shop. Gado Gado, Sodo soup, chicken curry, Patong beef... A series of Indonesian specialties not only allow domestic and foreign tourists to experience Indonesian food culture, but also allow Indonesians living in China to taste the taste of home. "Indonesian students in Haikou sometimes come over on weekends to eat Indonesian food." Du Tianjiang said.
On August 29, the elderly Liang Huizhen was tasting the dishes of the restaurant to ensure that the taste of the dishes was stable. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Guo Cheng
What impressed Du Thiam Jiang the most was that the Consul General of the Indonesian Consulate General in Guangzhou, Bin Dejia, visited his restaurant twice and praised the cuisine. In February this year, the couple received the certificate of "Inheriting Indonesian Food Flavor Restaurant" issued by Bindejia, which said: I hope that Isana Indonesian Restaurant, which has been established for more than 10 years, can become an ambassador of Indonesian cuisine in the food industry, promote Indonesian culture and cuisine in Hainan Xinglong, and continue to grow and succeed.
Du Tianjiang was very pleased to be recognized by the Consul General, "We will further promote the inheritance of Indonesian cuisine and become a bridge of friendship between China and Indonesia." ”
On August 29, the elderly Du Tianjiang introduced the certificate hanging in the store. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Guo Cheng
For many years, Du Tianjiang has been making efforts for non-governmental exchanges between China and Indonesia, acting as an "ambassador for people-to-people exchanges". As the former president of Xinglong Indonesian Overseas Chinese Friends Association, he led a young art troupe from Xinglong Overseas Chinese Farm to Indonesia for a friendly visit, and also received many Indonesian delegations to Hainan for cultural exchanges.
"It can be said that for more than 60 years, we have done a little real work for the friendship between China and Indonesia." Du Tianjiang said.