Bayu

Bayu Barnies is the owner of restaurant, takeaway and gallery Bayu, Javanese for paradise wind. He is friendly and ultra sweet, but don’t be fooled by his gentle looks. This man has an adventurous nature. He’s not afraid to add an unusual twist to the usual suspects of the Indonesian cuisine. I bet you have never eaten a fried banana with aged Beemster cheese! You think you know rendang? Bayu has savoury pies with this spicy beef stew on display. His bestseller is lemper, a sticky rice roll with a filling of chicken in an atypical spicy coconut sauce. My favourite snack is not the wildest one, but it sure is a good one: a crêpe filled with a mildly spiced ragout of chicken — even better with the ginger sambal of Toko Ramee. Risolles like this, filled with chicken or beef, are obligatory at gatherings of my Dutch-​Indonesian family, just as rose lemonade mixed with coconut milk a.k.a. stroop soesoe. Bring secretively a crêpe with you when you go to The Movies next to newcomer Bayu. Or have dinner there: spicy chicken, white rice and atjar, vegetables in vinegar.