Lexington, KY - In late 2008, our economy had just suffered a major downturn and the future was uncertain.
However it was in this environment that Wiwi Harrison, a native of Indonesia, decided to not only open a restaurant, but to open the very first restaurant in the state of Kentucky based on Indonesian cuisine.
Having lived in the United States since 1990, she had held many foodservice jobs and gained valuable hands-on experience in all facets of the business.
Part of her motivation was the inability to find the type of employment she was seeking, but she also had a passion for Indonesian food and a gut feeling that "it was time." After some searching for a site, she decided on a location at 3090 Old Todds Road, which had previously been a Japanese restaurant concept. The existing dÈcor, kitchen and overall fit up made this second-generation restaurant space a logical choice.
Introducing a new ethnic cuisine to any region is fraught with challenges and frustrations. However, Wiwi has adapted and continues to do so. Her restaurant, Orchid Flower Sushi Bar and Satay House (www.orchidflowerrestaurant.com), is a hidden prize waiting to be discovered.
Before delving into the details of her menu, some background regarding Indonesia and its cuisine can be helpful in understanding the concept. Many are unaware that Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country and is comprised of over 17,000 islands. Many of these islands were important "spice islands" that drove extensive trade centuries ago. Indonesia has been involved in trade throughout its history, which means its cooking techniques and ingredients are influenced by many cultures. Important elements of Indonesian cuisine include coconut milk, rice, spices, fruit and peanut sauce.
When Wiwi Harrison developed her menu, she wanted to present authentic Indonesian cuisine, but she also knew she had to make some practical adjustments to broaden appeal and capitalize on some of the existing infrastructure, such as a beautiful sushi bar. Therefore she incorporated sushi and a sushi bar into the Orchid Flower concept and menu.
The rest of the menu focuses on authentic Indonesian fare. The items are made from scratch, utilize hard-to-obtain Indonesian spices and do not include MSG. The result is a delicious array of offerings that cannot be found elsewhere in Kentucky. One unique item customers rave about is the House Special Salad (lotek), which is steamed vegetables mixed with peanuts and some seasonings grounded tableside in a stone bowl. Appetizers include onion bread, edamame, gyoza (pork dumpling) martabak (ground beef and green onion wrapped with crispy spring roll skin) and krotek (mashed potato and ground beef dish).
The reason the restaurant is described as a Satay House is that satays are a centerpiece of the menu and its Indonesian influence. These are skewers of either chicken, pork, beef or lamb served with lontong, which is rice cooked with coconut milk. The satay entrees are served with a choice of house soup or salad. Two of the more authentic satays use either peanut sauce or the house special rub. Another authentic dish is yamien, which is a noodle dish with Indonesian sweet soy sauce topped with stir fry chicken and vegetables. Desserts include a rujak fruit salad, smoothies and ice cream flavors such as vanilla, green tea and red bean.
The restaurant is organized into a sushi bar area, an area with several comfortable booths, a more private dining room that can be used for group functions and a bar. This bar is unique in that it carries several sake options and is the only bar in town that has sparkling sake. Sake is often referred to as a rice wine, but in reality it is produced through a brewing process similar to that of beer. The bar also has plum wines and domestic products. Very soon the restaurant plans to have a sake and plum wine tasting event conducted by a sake expert. If you are a foodie, that will be an event worth checking out.
On August 17, the restaurant celebrated Indonesian Independence Day with tumpeng, which is a cone-shaped rice dish reserved for special feasts and other occasions. The restaurant has started serving a brunch on weekends. They also now offer something called nasi campur, which is like a bento box or rijsttafel with a variety of food in compartments.
As Lexington becomes more cosmopolitan, more unique ethnic cuisine restaurants will open. I urge you to give them all a try, including this one. You will have a great meal and enhance your cultural understanding of another country on this shrinking planet.