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Jakarta Post

Fungi delights to tease the taste buds

A visitor inspects the different types of mushrooms growing behind the Mushroom Stall in Mlati, Sleman, Central Java

Slamet Susanto (The Jakarta Post)
Yogyakarta
Fri, November 28, 2008

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Fungi delights to tease the taste buds

A visitor inspects the different types of mushrooms growing behind the Mushroom Stall in Mlati, Sleman, Central Java. (JP/Slamet Susanto)

Warung Jejamuran (the Mushroom Stall) offers temptingly delicious dishes -- all made with mushrooms -- and is a great spot for visitors to see firsthand the results of the region's agro-mushroom industry.

Established by Ratidjo Haryo Suwarno in Mlati, Sleman, in Aug. 2005, Warung Jejamuran is divided into two parts. Customers may first only spot the restaurant -- which offers nine different mushroom dishes -- but behind this is a half-hectare plot of land where various species of mushrooms are cultivated.

While waiting for their food, visitors can tour the site free of charge. Any questions can be directed to the workers in the field, who are eager to discuss their craft.

Farmers from around Mlati also visit the farm to learn how to grow mushrooms.

"After ordering my food, I left the restaurant to wander around the mushroom farm. When I returned, my meal was ready," said Fahmi, a visitor from Kasihan, Bantul.

Fahmi came to Warung Jejamuran with his wife. He said he began to eat mushrooms only a few months back -- before that he had never eaten them because he thought they were poisonous.

"I was wrong. Mushrooms are good for your health and they taste delicious. I really like them roasted on skewers. The mushrooms are chewy and their aroma is really fantastic," Fahmi said.

Warung Jejamuran's treats include skewered and roasted ear mushrooms, paddy-straw mushrooms sauteed with other items and fried flour-coated oyster mushrooms.

"We are trying to expand beyond the nine offerings," Ratidjo said.

"From our experiments we decided which species of mushroom was suitable for each particular dish."

Some of the delicious mushroom dishes on offer at the Mushroom Stall. (JP/Slamet Susanto)
Some of the delicious mushroom dishes on offer at the Mushroom Stall. (JP/Slamet Susanto)

Everything is priced quite reasonably. A portion of roast mushrooms on skewers, for example, is Rp 6000 (50 US cents), a dish of mushrooms cooked with young jackfruit costs Rp 5,000, while a portion of saut*ed paddy-straw mushrooms costs Rp 6,000. The most expensive dish on the menu is an omelet made with shiitake mushrooms.

"The shiitake mushrooms are effective at fighting cancer and tumors. They are more expensive because their life span is shorter than other mushrooms," Ratidjo said.

"The prices are quite reasonable. A kilogram of oyster mushrooms costs around Rp 9,000. By comparison, a kilogram of chicken or beef costs three to four times that."

After feasting on a delicious and nutritious plate of mushrooms, a visitor can enjoy a healthy drink of Lingzhie Tea at just Rp 5,000 a glass.

According to Andi Hananto, Ratidjo's son and manager of Warung Jejamuran, Lingzhie mushrooms contain fat, protein, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and phosphorus.

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