Fresh ingredients: From free-range chicken to dinner table, an Indonesian reminder of where our food originates. © Jeffrey Cardenas
I often forget about the process necessary to bring food to my mouth. Tonight that process is in my face.
I have ordered grilled chicken from the blackboard menu at Nusantara, a tiny, thatched roof Indonesian eatery on the water at Gili Gede. Casual restaurants like this are common everywhere in Indonesia but two things make Nusantara stand apart.
It begins with the restaurant’s proprietor. Fitriah Rahmadany is a 25-year old who has just embarked on her first entrepreneurial enterprise. She was born here. She is bright, happy, and optimistic. “Some days we don’t have any customers,” she says with a smile. “But we are always ready for them.”
Fitraih is always ready because the ingredients for items on her menu are walking around in the restaurant. There is no sentimentality about preparing them for supper.
The process begins when a chicken is caught by the feet. A quiet prayer is said and the chicken’s head comes off with a swift cut of a knife. The body is dropped briefly into a pot of hot water which allows the feathers to be easily plucked. The organs are carefully removed and threaded onto a homemade bamboo skewer for later preparation. The whole chicken, feet included, is then lathered with a creamy coconut curry sauce. Ten minutes after the knife, the chicken is becoming food cooked over a fire of sweet-smelling coconut husks.
I am not being flippant about this process. It is a meaningful experience for me to watch an animal killed to feed me. The meal is delicious, but it is more than that. There is a life force that accompanies my grilled chicken supper tonight.
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For upcoming passages when I have no cell or WiFi signal, I have activated a satellite tracking link that shows the daily position, current weather, and includes a few personal thoughts from the daily log of Flying Fish. I will not be able to respond to messages via satellite but I love the idea that you are sailing along with me. If you would like to follow the daily progress of Flying Fish into Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean via satellite you can click this link: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Flyingfish
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Text and Photography © Jeffrey Cardenas 2019
Flying Fish 
feelings of connectedness to the earth and our part in the chain of life and death. I love how the chicken was prayed over and blessed for providing the food that will feed you and help her small business. We are so fortunate to be able to have this experience. We are enjoying following your travels.
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Thank you for reading Charlene. We are sailing in the same wake. You understand as well as anybody the feeling of being connected to the natural world. It is part of us–body and soul.
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Yet another wonderful entry!
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Thank you Patricia. This is an entirely new world of exotica for me. I grew up in the suburbs of South Florida. I’ve lived a life where all of my food was processed and came from the shelf of a grocery store (except fish). I love to experience new things with extraordinary people, and being a chowhound there is nothing I won’t put into my mouth.
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Jeffery you are living the dream of millions of people. God bless you friend. I follow you religiously and look forward to each installment. I hope we meet again in the future to catch up. Life has changed radically for me with the loss of Katy. Spending the summer fall in our home in Montana, but not the same with out my mate. Just Newt and I for now but getting by. Heading back to Vero for the 3000 mile drive home in a few weeks. Will hunt some ducks over Newt before we depart.
Stay safe my friend and keep those posts coming!
Jim O’C.
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Jim, I cannot imagine your loss. Keep her memory close so that you can call on her when you need strength.
And thank God for Newt! Dogs are not people but they come pretty close.
Thank you for following Flying Fish.
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I am not sure I would do well with that entire process..I have hunted, and butcher Ed pheasant so it would be similar. Your travels are so diverse and interesting.. Thank you so much.
Hayden
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Hayden, I think the reason for this entire sailing voyage is to grow out of my comfort zone. The locals thought it was quite humorous that I would want to watch the slaughter and preparation of my supper. I think for them seeing all of the food in Costco would blow their minds.
I appreciate your comments.
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Thank you for keeping things real, what our focus should be and appreciating the simple things. Isn’t life Grand! All the best my friend we are with you.
Captain Barry Kanavy
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Thank you for staying in contact, Barry. And, as always, thank you for your words of confidence.
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The absolute best way to eat chicken – so much better than those ugly farms we favor!
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The free range Indonesian chicken was a little tougher than processed grocery store chicken but, wow, what a flavor!
Thanks for following Flying Fish, Alec.
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Talk about fresh! Being a chef that is so important.. thanks for sharing your experience Jeff…
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Food fuels the soul. Thanks for reading, Leanne.
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