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Bumbu Truck: Bringing the taste of Indonesia to Americans
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Having lived in the US for more than two decades, Hilda Hilman still remembers her Indonesian roots. The food truck business she runs with her husband since 2013 sells Indonesian food on the other side of the planet. (Hilda Hilman/-)
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espite having lived in the US for more than two decades, Hilda Hilman has not forgotten her Indonesian roots. In fact, she promotes Indonesian eating culture with her food truck business in Seattle, Washington.
Hilda started the business with her husband in 2013, even though she had no professional experience in cooking.
Only two years later, she clinched the top prize of $10,000 in the TV cooking competition Chopped, aired on the US Food Network. Her victory marks the increasing popularity of her Bumbu Truck.
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Hilda told The Jakarta Post that the food truck fulfils her aspiration of having her own restaurant. “We always dreamed of having an Indonesian restaurant. This is the closest thing to that. If God permits, the ultimate goal is to have a brick and mortar [restaurant]. Right now, we are content with this food truck,” she said.
Most people lining up in front of the ordering window of the Bumbu Truck are Americans, who cherish the filling portions and Indonesian flavors. However, Hilda points out that many Indonesians living in the area have also become her customers.
“Our target [clientele] is Americans, but lately we have been getting more and more Indonesian customers,” said Hilda.
Parked in an office complex and open on weekdays from 11AM to 2PM, Bumbu Truck has become the go-to place for hungry office employees. The food truck offers dishes from two menu types: A fixed menu that features quintessentially Indonesian street food like nasi goreng, mie goreng tek-tek, sate ayam and lumpia, and a rotating menu to introduce American patrons to the plethora of Indonesian food. Weekly specials include nasi padang, nasi Bali, ikan woku and many more.
“Our best seller is a combo that we call ‘The Undecided’. It has a little bit of nasi goreng, mie goreng, sate ayam and lumpia. It’s a great introduction to Indonesian street food,” she said.
Luckily for Hilda, many Indonesian herbs and spices are easy to find at Asian grocery stores in the greater Seattle area. “But some specific ingredients, like Turmeric and Asam Kandis, have to be imported from Indonesia,” Hilda explained.
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Hilda has some advice for Indonesians looking to settle abroad: “Work hard, be confident, persevere and be willing to adapt, but don’t lose your heritage, and lastly, share your culture.”
Although they rarely come home to Indonesia for holidays as the business and their family are keeping them busy, Hilda and her husband have thought about spending their retirement in Indonesia. “We have been thinking of retiring in Indonesia, but it’s all in the hands of God.”
