The Appetite Escalation: Things You Think You Would Never Find in a Restaurant

When I was traveling to Dieng Plateau in Central Java, Indonesia, my friends invited me to go to a small restaurant. We sat there and order a noodles called 'Mie Onglok'. This dish is typical from that area. The taste was so-so but it's nice to try what people eat there.

Same thing happened when I went to another place: I wanted to try their typical food. You know, pizza in Italy must be more yummy than pizza in Indonesia. So, it's a great opportunity to try the dish from its origin place.

Besides, different places have different food characteristics and it's worth to try. Like in Yogyakarta, people like something sweet. Most of the foods are sweet. If you ordered ice tea, you will get sugar with tea, not tea with sugar :D In North Sulawesi, people like something spicy with fantastic number of chili. They even have dish called 'rica-rica' ('rica' means chilli, 'rica-rica' means, well, A LOT of chillies).

Go to different place and try their foods~

With this post, I will not write down a list of foods, the characteristic of the dishes, or its recipe. Here, I would like to invite you to the place where you could buy the food: the restaurant *applause*.

Let me give you an advice before you visit a restaurant in Indonesia: lower your expectation. Again, lower your expectation about the restaurant. Don't compared it with fancy restaurant you have visited in this, there, or that country.

Now, I will give you some hints about things that you may find in the restaurant in Indonesia. Maybe it makes you laugh or wonder or lose your appetite. At least it makes you well-prepared. So, be ready! :D 

1. Toilet Paper

 

Toilet paper on the restaurant tables - mistaken as tissue

In Indonesia, toilet paper can easily be found in supermarket. However, not all of the people know its original use since most of our toilets are not the dry one. Even, some people do not wipe their *piiip* after they finish their natural duty. So, many people mistakenly think that toilet paper is usual tissue with beautiful round shape that they can put everywhere including restaurant table. Some people doesn't really care though, and wipe their lips with toilet paper, as long as it is not used in the toilet before...  

2. I'm just over used

A glass with thick tea stain

The original of the cup was light brown. But it has changed now, it's not the same cup anymore... Well, actually it's the same cup. The restaurant already use it over and over again till the cup develops deep relationship with the tea. The light brown cup changes into dark brown since it doesn't let go the tea. They are just too in love with each other. And maybe the restaurant feels bad if they have to clean the tea stain and break this beautiful love story.

3. Extra Meat

Extra Meat floating  in the Orange Drink

I only order orange drink. However, the restaurants are too kind and caring. They serve extra meat for me, as a gift, floating on the surface of my drink. Well, usually it is an ant or other tiny bugs but that's okay. It enough to show me their kindness. Ah look! Two ants in this picture! *omnomnom*

 4. Trash Bin

An artistic decoration beside the table

Do-not-litter movement surely should be applied in Indonesia. This restaurant seems like supporting this movement that they put trash bin near the guest table. Big One. Good job, man!

4. Hair-do in the Kitchen

Hairy Sandwich

It was in quite well-known restaurant in Yogyakarta. They served international and local dishes. I ordered sandwich and got an extra hair. Normal thing. Just simply remove the hair and keep eating~

When you see those things, just be like 'meh', and eat all the food because the food is still edible and yummy ;) Or maybe, you have worst finding?