Can you live without a spoon? Can you eat without it?
Although eating by hand is normal in Asia, what about people that live in places where they've always eaten with utensils or some sort of spoon, can they get by without it?
It might sound insignificant but that question came into my mind as I visited a food stall that was serving unripe jackfruit vegetable soup with various fried beef parts. This place is bustling from 5PM to 1 AM as it is one of the signature dishes in my hometown. People from all over cities in East Java would not miss to try this soupy meal served with savory crackers. The place is also pretty humble and the way it was served was still traditional.
While waiting for my order, I looked around the table and spotted a stack of banana leaves which apparently was a spoon.
" Who would eat using that these days?" I thought.
When I look back, in my childhood, sellers were still using that instead of plastic to serve porridge and other soupy meals. I rarely see that anymore other than in that place after years. People call that " Suru" or in my language, it's pronounced as "suruh". In this place, they also serve the meal in a banana leaf plate or the locals call it, "pincuk".
I do think that it's quite a rarity these days to experience one of the authentic ways of enjoying Indonesian dishes. I can only do that when I go to local places like this hidden somewhere among people's houses and deep in the village.
How difficult is it to eat with suruh?
It's pretty challenging for sure, that's why even after trying it, I resorted to spoon. But it gets pretty easy if you know how to grip the leaf and scoop the food without making a mess.
The food itself is pretty good. It's something that I try to eat when I am home as I can't find that exact soup flavor elsewhere. Even in other parts of java, it's always hit and miss. I guess now, that answers the question, if I were to live somewhere else and miss Indonesian food, it would be that food.