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Jakarta Post

Getting to know Padang restaurants' rice from Solok regency

Recently, a one-and-a-half minute video about bouncing left-over rice from a Padang restaurant in Central Jakarta went viral. Uploaded on YouTube, the video accused that the rice contains plastic, as it was not sticky.

Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, August 31, 2017

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Getting to know Padang restaurants' rice from Solok regency When it comes to nasi Padang (rice served with various side dishes), rice grain plays a crucial role. (Shutterstock/File)

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ecently, a one-and-a-half minute video about bouncing left-over rice from a Padang restaurant in Central Jakarta went viral. Uploaded on YouTube, the video accused that the rice contains plastic, as it was not sticky. Fortunately, Central Jakarta Police found that there was no trace of plastic rice being produced or served in the eatery 

When it comes to nasi Padang (rice served with various side dishes), rice grain plays a crucial role.

Marco Padang Peranakan restaurant executive chef Marco Lim told The Jakarta Post that he only serves Pandan Wangi rice from Solok regency, West Sumatra.

He explained that there are three types of beras Solok, namely Pandan Wangi, Sokan and Anak Daro.

“Sokan is also available in Batu Sangkar area in West Sumatra,” he said, adding that Bukit Tinggi and coast areas produce different varieties of rice.

The rice is said to have different characteristics as the grain is firm yet soft. “It blends well with coconut milk gravy [that we serve in Padang restaurant],” he said.

Read also: A Norwegian man's ode to Nasi Padang: Audun Kvitland

Marco also said that rice grains from other parts of Indonesia, such as Cianjur regency in West Java, tend to be pulen (soft, chewy and sticky textures). This type of rice does not blend well with the coconut milk gravy. “It's stickier too,” added Marco.

To get beras Solok in Jakarta is not an easy job. For instance, Marco needs to work directly with the farmers in Solok and ships the rice to Jakarta.

“Usually, people [in Jakarta] get beras Solok via word-of-mouth," he said, explaining that most of the rice sellers in the capital only offer small amount of beras Solok.

Though beras Solok is popular among Padang natives, not all Padang restaurants able to sell it. Due to the shipping cost, the price tends to be more expensive too.

Simay Padang restaurant server Jon shared that the shop uses rice from Cilegon, West Java, adding that they would not be able to make a profit out of beras Solok. (kes)

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