If you want your local cakes to have global reach, it’s time to get prepared. Get ready to do taste adjustments, add valuable uniqueness, reinvent packaging and more. Here are some local dishes that can be turned into global favourites.
Pempek
Palembang is known for mouth-watering pempek, a type of savoury fishcake, and now you can make it even better. Try experimenting with different types of pempek filling like using meat, or vegetables.
Cake bingka
This typical sweet snack from Kalimantan is usually green and has pandan flavour. You could try switching it up a bit by changing the colours, to match a variety of new flavours like pink for strawberry or brown for mocha.
Combro
The name represents the filling of oncom (Sundanese fermented “tempeh” made of soybean sediments) inside the cake. Create and combine the filling of combro with other ingredients such as meat, cheese, or fish. You can also mold your combro into new shapes like hearts or cubes.
Klappertart
When visiting Manado, eating klappertart needs to be on your to-do list. Give this cake a unique new look by adding new toppings like blueberries and cherries. You can even use cupcake molds to make them even prettier!
Lumpia
Lumpia (spring rolls) stuffed with bamboo is delicious and favoured by many locals. Why not try different shapes? For instance, you could whip up bite-sized versions that are small but packed with different flavours. Their tiny size is not only a novelty, but might tempt those who are health-conscious as well.
Steamed bakpia
Bakpia is very popular amongst tourists in the Jogja area. However, you also need to be creative by providing different variations of this pastry. For example, since bakpia is usually baked, you could try steaming. Japanese tourists might find steamed bakpia and interesting choice since its shape is similar to dorayaki, a type of Japanese bean-filled pancake.
