I love insider tips. Thoughtfully whispered to me either by email, SMS or phone or even through the twitterverse, I find them invaluable. @kewpielovesyou tweeted me a couple of weeks ago asking if I had tried it. It was very new at that stage and I wasn’t able to find much in the way of a review. Then my birthday snuck up on me (I don’t know why, it’s the same day every year) and I asked Mr NQN to research the restaurant while I was out for the day and book it if it sounded good. He read the eatability page which had three reviews, two of which were from reviewers with only one review which I tend to trust less but he still went ahead and booked it.
When I talked to him that afternoon he told me of his “research” and I was worried that we were going to have a less than stellar experience. Still this Saturday night on my birthday we found ourselves dining there with my parents. The name “1945″ refers to the year of Indonesian independence.
Kartini
Looking over us is a large painting of Kartini, a pioneer for women’s rights in Indonesia and a national heroine. The waitresses hands us the cute wooden photo frame menus and explains to us that the meals are inspired by ristaffel (which literally means “rice plate” so serves are small plates designed to be eaten with rice and they recommend about 5 plates ought to do for each person. Considering the plates start at $3 and go all the way up to $6, we figure it was pretty easy to eat inexpensively. They also have their own organic wines specially made for them. We’re tempted by the set meals only because there is so much choice but after dithering we instead opt for the a la carte to share for maximum carnage…ahem I mean tasting opportunities. This would mean splitting some dishes into four but luckily my parents and Mr NQN are used to it so they don’t mind. We see that the set menus are popular with every component being brought out together on the one large plate.
Es Tjintjaoe (cold) Grassjelly drink served with Pandan flavoured milk and palm sugar $5
My mum’s order was for the Grassjelly drink served with Pandan flavoured milk and palm sugar. It’s the kind of drink you don’t want to share. In fact when my dad shows a clear interest in it she orders him another drink so that she can have more of this one (I don’t blame her). The palm sugar syrup with the pandan imparts an almost iced coffee milk flavour to it and it’s addictively moreish. And don’t let the grass jelly idea put you off, you can barely taste the “grass” in the grass jelly.
Soda Gembira (cold) $5
My father ended up getting a Soda Gembira, a blend of rose flavoured syrup, sweetened condensed milk and soda water and it is nicely refreshing although the rose is a little overpowering (which is what we usually find with this drink where ever we order it).
Roedjak Air (cold) grated exotic fruits with pandan sugar and lime juice $5
Mr NQN’s drink was finely grated exotic fruits with pandan sugar and lime juice. He loves it and the little tendrils of finely grated fruit are sucked up through a straw with a sweet, clear juice. It reminds me on eating the cabbage salad that comes with Japanese dishes though which is a touch disconcerting.
Sari Katjang Hijao (cold) fresh mung bean essence infused with young ginger $5
The name of this might not be too enticing for some but I really liked the boiled mung bean syrup with young ginger.
Sate Babi $3 each
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) but clothes are always judged based on the number of wears and versatility -hats of course are not included, they’re my indulgence.
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