Dora Goes to Cirebon

That was the title of our WA group after Riri, Arry and myself decided we wanted to spend Christmas holiday in Cirebon. The real Dora the Explorer probably would not think of the place, but we were inspired by the girl’s spirit to explore the city!

Empal Gentong & Empal Asem

Sate Kambing Muda

All of us were crazy about the local culinary. As soon as we arrived in Cirebon at noon by train, we went directly to Empal Gentong and Empal Asem Haji Apud in Jalan Raya Ir. H. Djuanda No. 24, Battembat. We ordered Empal Gentong, Empal Asem, Sate Kambing Muda and Tahu Gejrot. Empal Gentong and Empal Asem are the specialties of Cirebon. Empal Gentong looks like Gulai (coconut milk beef soup), cooked with firewood in a large earthenware clay pot. Empal Asem is sour-tasting beef clear soup, without coconut milk. The sour taste comes from slices of tomatoes and belimbing wuluh (bilimbi). Both are best eaten with steamed rice. I myself preferred the clear version soup, although the one with coconut milk was also very good. The satay was excellent as the meat was very tender and juicy. Empal Gentong, Empal Asem and Sate Kambing were highly recommended, however Tahu Gejrot was not as good here as it was less tasty and spicy.

 

Another stop after Batik Trusmi shopping was Es Kopyor 4848, Jalan Sukalila Utara, Kejaksan. Riri and Arry were excited to have their glass of Es Kopyor while I was just watching them silently J When asked how it was, they both agreed that the kopyor was a refreshing drink, but it was not too special.
 

Mi Koclok

Since I like savory food better than the sweet ones, I was the one who was super excited when we went to Mi Koclok Panjunan on Jalan Pekarungan 104. It is chicken noodle soup that goes with a white milky soup made of chicken broth and coconut milk and thickened with corn starch. A portion of complete Mi Koclok consists of noodle shredded chicken, cabbage, bean sprouts, hard-boiled egg, lime juice, fresh spring onion and fried shallot. I was told that Koclok means “shaking”, which pointed out to the method of cooking by shaking the noodle in a small porous tin container in the hot boiling water. I like Mi Koclok, but if I have to choose between Mi Koclok or Central Javanese style Mie Rebus, I will definitely decide on the latter.
 

Grilled Prawn

The closing meal of the day was dinner in Seafood Haji Moel in Jalan Kalibaru Selatan No. 33. I could not tell the whole story here as we ate too much: fried calamari, grilled fish, grilled prawn, cah kangkung and lots of steamed rice. Although they tasted good, the food here was all incredibly spicy; you should tell the waiter if you want it less spicy.

It was just all in ONE DAY, even less than a day because breakfast was in Jakarta!