Cikwo Coffee and Resto: Of Seruwit, Robusta and Siger

Seruwit. It was something new to my ears and to my taste. It was the first time I have tasted of this food when it was served to us at Cikwo Coffee and Resto in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia (READ: First-time in Lampung). It’s a mixture of many things and Tempoyak. Okay, another new Indonesian word. But before I expound these food, let me take you through Cikwo Coffee and Resto.

Coming from our escapade in East Lampung, we returned to Bandar Lampung for a sumptuous meal, thanks to Isna Subana, owner of Cikwo Coffee and Resto, who hosted our dinner that night. Although she had to rush to a family celebration that time, she took time to meet us and welcome us to her cozy café.

Beautiful murals fill one wall of the café. The other side is the bar and the counter. While you may think this is a tiny coffee shop, exit at the back and you will find a courtyard and garden where you can dine in a semi-open space. There’s a relaxed ambiance in this area that is suitable for families and friends.

The Siger and Lampungnese traditional wear

Before we proceeded with dinner, we first the Siger, or the crown of a bride. The siger is a symbol of Lampung and you will find this sign on every establishment in the city and in certain parts of the province, as well as on their batik designs. You can spot the siger in many areas of Lampung, whether in its logo or in its monuments.

And true to Lampungnese culture, I donned the siger while Jojo, my fellow Negros Blogger and travel buddy for this adventure, wore the traditional wear of the groom. (Nope, we’re not a couple, just to be clear on that one. Hahaha!) He also had a headdress and a piece of clothing wrapped around his waist to the hips. This was just for posterity’s sake and we had our photo taken at the Cikwo mural.

Seruwit and Tempoyak

I have neither heard nor tasted Tempoyak before. My Indonesian blogger friend Indra Pradya told us it is fermented durian. Not a big fan of the fruit, I was about to pass up the opportunity to try this side dish. But there was no foul scent that could make me veer away from the food so I took a small portion and brought it to my mouth. To my surprise, I found it delectable, especially when I ate it along with grilled eggplant.

Indra proceeded to mix some of the Tempoyak with shredded fish (pindang patin), tomato, eggplant (terang bakar), ground chili pepper with fish paste (sambal terasi), and other ingredients that I cannot identify. The end result? Seruwit (often spelled Seruit). It was a tasty dish. We also had pandap and sate iwak tuhu, a blue marlin dish.

Kopi Robusta

Dinner would not be complete without some fine Robusta Lampung coffee. Our hot beverage came in a cup with a dripper. I inhaled a whiff of the coffee and it filled my senses. It also tasted great, a fine way to cap our night as we headed to Emersia Hotel and Resort where we were staying while in Bandar Lampung.

Cikwo Coffe and Resto
Jl. Kimaja, Ruko Kimaja Icon, Wayhalim,
Bandar Lampung, Indonesia
IG: cikworesto.and.coffee
Tel: +62 812 7327 6777 | +62 721 5614 170

This is part of my 12 Days in Indonesia journey that took me to four cities within this Asian country.