The facade and interior of Rasa Bakery & Cafe come from a different time but the menu is decidedly contemporary. (JG Photo/Zakky Ramadhany)
After a hectic week in Jakarta it is always good to go to cooler Bandung and unwind for a couple of days with friends.
Whether you are interested in doing the tourist things like sightseeing, getting close to nature in the nearby mountains and springs or prefer more earthier pursuits, like shopping, eating and drinking, Bandung has something for everyone.
And, of course, Trans Studio is an ideal day out for the big kid on all of us.
Don’t just take my word for it. Check out those international flights landing at Bandung’s airport, bringing visitors from Malaysia and Singapore.
Bandung is no longer a weekend getaway from Jakartans, it has evolved into a destination of international repute.
Traveling from Jakarta I humbled for more humble means than a jet plane. The bus dropped me at the Leuwi Panjang terminal, one of the busiest in the city. And it was busy when I arrived at 5 p.m. Ahead of the weekend, many Bandung folks are just as keen to leave their hometown as visitors are to arrive.
I found an angkot heading to Jalan Tamblong, and we were soon moving along at a snail’s pace. The notorious Bandung traffic jams had already started, and I had timed my visit to arrive right in the middle of one!
Still, time was on my side.
I had made an appointment with a friend at Rasa Bakery & Cafe on Jalan Tamblong at 7 p.m. so I sat back and “enjoyed” the Bandung scenery.
We inched along Jalan Braga, which once upon a time was the place for Europeans to hang out after their own busy week.
Many of the old European-style buildings are still there but are falling into disrepair since no one it seems sees the value of an architectural heritage.
Once upon a time Au Bon Marche would attract the well heeled attracted by the latest Parisian fashions no matter how incongruous they may seem in tropical Bandung with its rain, rain and more rain.
We turned right onto Jalan Asia Afrika and the Gedung Merdeka, with the post-war world slipping into opposing Cold War camps.
President Sukarno envisioned a third, neutral bloc that could close the divide between the feuding capitalists and communists.
The non-aligned movement’s big moment came at the Asian-African Conference in Bandung in 1955, bringing together newly independent powers or territories that hoped to be free of their colonial masters sometime soon.
I finally arrived at Rasa Bakery & Cafe. This classic cafe serves a mouth watering mix of European dishes and ice cream.
Formerly known as Hazes Shop & Cafe, it was purchased in 1963 by Mrs. Kamarga, an Indonesian citizen who bought it from a Dutch business person before renaming it Rasa Bakery & Cafe.
Seen from the outside, the classical atmosphere is very pronounced. When entering the room, the interior of the room is dominated by a quiet beige color, classic yet classy. The old white iron chairs and tables for guests are reminiscent of a dining atmosphere from days gone by.
I browsed the eclectic menu with its coconut royale, Hollandse Poffertjes and Belgian waffles alongside capcay , laksa , nasi timbel , sop buntut and fried rice. I opted for nasi Hawaiian Love Song, Belgian Waffles, and a two-scoop ice cream, while my friend went for the Coconut Royale, poffertjes and pizza cheese.
The Belgian Waffles here are quite special because they add two scoops of vanilla ice cream as topping plus strawberry syrup.
The texture of the ice cream is soft yet solid while the flavor is not too sweet which is good. Too much sugar can ruin the flavor. The waffles, however, were a bit too crispy and hardly memorable.
The cheese, however, was quite tasty and crunchy. Thin-crusted pizza with enough melted mozzarella cheese can make anyone sway with delight because of the sensation on the tongue.
By far the most memorable items we ordered were the coconut royale and Hawaiian Love Song, of course, and not just because of the eye-catching names.
The young coconut had been cut in half then fruits like pineapple and cherries added with a three scoop ice cream and wafers.
The Hawaiian love song lived up to its name, reminding me of the beach. This time a pineapple had been sliced in two, with a three-scoop ice cream, wafer and whipped cream. And the taste? It tastes as good as it sounds!
If you want to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with friends or family, Rasa Bakery & Cafe is not to be missed. You can relax with good company, good food and enjoy the conversation while admiring the elegant and classy Art Deco architecture.
Surely the perfect setting for a culinary experience in Paris Van Java.
The post Enjoying the Taste and Feel of Old Bandung at Rasa Bakery & Cafe appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.