I did not understand why last week I was craving for Nasi Kebuli, a Middle Eastern dish popular in Indonesia where rice is steamed with goat broth, boiled with bay leaves, clove, and ginger. Nasi Kebuli is usually served with lamb but you can also choose chicken instead.

In addition to the rice and meat, other ingredients for Nasi Kebuli include cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, cardamom, lemongrass, lime leaves, bay leaves, coriander, turmeric, cumin, fennel, cooking oil, and the usual shallot, garlic, salt and pepper.

So my driving destination last weekend was an eatery in Jalan Tebet Raya No. 90, in South Jakarta called “Mie Atjeh Cupo’ Ubit. Nasi Kebuli Kebon Nanas.” I actually went there with colleagues the week before but the Nasi Kebuli was sold out, probably that was the reason for the intense craving.

Cupo’ Ubit serves Middle Eastern and Aceh Food. The city of Banda Aceh is situated on the tip of the westernmost point of the Indonesian archipelago, making it a center for traders, thus Chinese and Middle Eastern tastes strongly influenced Aceh cuisines.

A counter at Cupo’ Ubit displays a number of mouth watering dishes, but I was set on Nasi Kebuli.

As we were in a group of three we ordered nasi Kebuli ayam, mie Atjeh goreng daging, roti Canai & kuah kare Bireun, and ayam tangkap.

Looking around I saw a restaurant that fulfills its function with no-nonsense décor such as a Monet style painting and Arc de Triomphe, a landmark in Paris. To get an ambiance that matches the food I personally would rather see a décor with Middle Eastern ornaments or Aceh knick-knacks.

Cupo’ Ubit is usually crowded during lunch and dinner, but arriving at 3.00 PM we had the place all to ourselves. The roti Canai and kuah kare Bireun came first in less than 10 minutes since we ordered. It was a thick and crunchy flatbread that we dipped in zesty curry sauce cooked Bireuen style.

Cupo’ Ubit’s nasi Kebuli was as exquisite as I imagined, fluffy and spicy with a plethora of tastes.

Next came the mie Atjeh goreng daging (fried noodles Atjeh style with beef). This type of noodle dish is spicy, adorned with blended turmeric, cardamom and cumin with salt, pepper, garlic and shallot as the standard ingredients. The rich dish is neutralized with cucumbers and fresh pickled shallots.

Ayam tangkap is my favorite dish after nasi Kebuli. Ideally it is prepared from local free ranged chickens and what make the tastes specific are the fried pandan leaves and curry leaves.

With all the spicy and tasty food we needed fresh drinks to pair and decided on Hijau Daun Juice and Mango Juice. Green Tea and Teh Tarik were good beverages that we also had.

My craving for Nasi Kebuli was finally fulfilled; it’s time to make plan what dish to order for my future visits. Perhaps next time I will try roti Maryam kari kambing (thick flatbread with lamb curry), gulai kepala ikan kakap (snapper head curry) and ikan bandeng asem Keu’eng (milk fish with small sour star fruit).

Cupo’ Ubit was the first restaurant owned by PT. Carmelita Utama Caterindo a company that caters to corporate and individual clients. It has three more outlets in Jakarta located in Food Court Wiki Wiki Wook on Jalan D.I. Panjaitan, Food Court Artha Kitchen in Kelapa Gading, and Foodish Food Court Green in Pramuka Square.

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Images: Omar Niode Foundation