Culinary Delights an Attraction for Surabaya

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Bulak Fish Center in Surabaya, East Java, Tuesday (21/4/2021). Apart from being a place to relax, the fish center was built by the Surabaya City Government to accommodate seafood products made by local residents.

Entering its 728th anniversary, the City of Surabaya continues to improve not only the green environment through the development of public parks but also the people\'s economy through the establishment of dozens of culinary tourist centers.

As the time for breaking the fast drew near one day during Ramadan, a Lamborghini supercar, which departed from City Hall, was seen driving toward the Wiyung Culinary Tourist Center.

Inside the luxury sports car were Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi and Melvin Tenggara, the metallic gray "land jet" owner, who was at the wheels.

The Lamborghini pulled over and parked at Wiyung to the curiousness of some visitors. Both got out of the car, found a seat and ordered food and drinks.

Health protocols are in place, so I feel safe eating here. The parking lot is also okay.

Melvin, 29, is a young entrepreneur famous for being one of the city’s “crazy rich”. He donated thousands of COVID-19 handling equipment to the local government last year.

At the culinary center, Melvin looked to be savoring Javanese fried rice, grilled ribs and cheese bananas. The price of each item ranged from Rp 15,000 (US$1.05) to Rp 30,000.

He found the culinary center enjoyable, saying that apart from the food delicacies and affordable prices, the place was clean and comfortable.

“Health protocols are in place, so I feel safe eating here. The parking lot is also okay.”

He hoped that more residents would come and enjoy themselves at Wiyung so that the economy of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) could move and develop.

HUMAS PEMKOT SURABAYA

One of the tourist culinary centers (SKW) in the city of Surabaya, before the corona virus pandemic, (3 July 2015)

In the following days, Eri brought other public figures to several other culinary centers with the hope that these celebrities, who are regularly pop up on social media, could help support the existence of culinary centers that provide space for food and beverage sellers from the MSME sector.

A total of 42 culinary centers are scattered in several corners of the city. Several others will be established in subdistricts to accommodate more MSMEs, including hawkers, whose operation in the streets might disturb the public.

Being pooled in a culinary center, the MSMEs engaging in food and beverage businesses are expected to become well managed, developed and supervised.

The culinary centers offer variety of traditional and international foods. Among the local delicacies they offer are rawon, pecel, lontong balap, rujak cingur, and mixed tofu. Korean, Japanese and European cuisine are also available.

Entrepreneurs are trying their best to keep the centers busy, though at this time, we also need to follow health protocols.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the business. Before the pandemic, the average turnover in one month was Rp 50 million to Rp 200 million per vendor. The pandemic has reduced sales by up to 70 percent.

"Entrepreneurs are trying their best to keep the centers busy, though at this time, we also need to follow health protocols," said Sulistyaningsih, 50, a food and beverage vendor at the Jambangan culinary center.

Food quality, price, location cleanliness, friendly atmosphere and convenience are their focus of attention.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Visitors enjoy eating at Pak Jayen\'s tofu stall in the Kertajaya area, Surabaya, before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Development and management

Culinary centers are part of the city\'s program to create a metropolitan that will be known as a shopping and culinary paradise.

The city government has also stepped up efforts to maintain cleanliness and greenery through rejuvenated public parks, sidewalks and trees. Museums are also expected to draw visitors.

Surabaya, which used to be the commercial rural area of Peneleh, has now developed into one of the centers of civilization in the archipelago.

Located on the north coast of Java and overlooking the Madura Strait, Surabaya is inhabited by people who are sociologically open-minded and democratic. The city has transformed into a mini-Indonesia, which is a converging place for people of diverse ethnicity, religions, races and social classes.

Also read: The Breath of Kapasan Chinatown Village in Surabaya

Boasting a long track record in national history, Surabaya is one of the cities most visited by tourists.

The development of culinary centers as part of tourism promotion was first initiated by Tri Rismaharini about a decade ago when he was the mayor.

Aspiring to preserve the legacy left by his predecessor, Eri is looking to make it a leverage for people’s economic empowerment toward prosperity.

Each culinary center is encouraged to be different from one another, such as the Bulak Fish Center, which has been developed as a "paradise" for marine delicacies. That way, culinary centers are pushed ahead in order to survive and thrive with regular visits.

Their development continues to be pursued, one being through culinary consultation program sby competent chefs to ensure that the culinary delights served are of five-star quality but at affordable prices. MSMEs financial management training programs are also in place to reduce the risk of bankruptcy.

The city government is projecting the establishment of culinary center each in all 154 subdistricts, hoping that they become a new icon of Surabaya.

"The culinary tourist center will be one of the gates for us to make Surabaya an orderly and comfortable city that brings happiness to the residents," Eri said.

This article was translated by Musthofid.