The Origin Of The 'Authentic' Claim For Typical Food Restaurants Turns Out To Be Prohibited, This Is The Reason

Illustration of the rendang menu, Minang typical dish (istockphoto)

JAKARTA - To further preserve typical food in Indonesia, one way that can be done is to open Indonesian food restaurants. The restaurant is opened both domestically and abroad.

However, in opening a typical Indonesian restaurant, it is necessary to understand the authentic' claim. This term refers to something that is completely in accordance with the source or reality.

With this understanding, if you use an 'authentic' claim, the food ingredients sold must be directly from the area of origin. This will certainly make it difficult to open restaurants smoothly, especially if they are opened abroad where it is difficult to get authentic materials.

"Don't talk about Indonesian food authentics. Once you go with authenticity, it will be difficult," said President of the Association of Culinary Professionals (ACP), Chef Rafael Triloko Basato, when met in Gambir, Central Jakarta, Monday, November 3, 2025.

"Authentics are all the basic ingredients that must come from their origin, which if you go abroad, you can't choose the authentic Indonesian," he added.

Chef Rafael recommends that it is better to use the term "traditional" in typical Indonesian foods sold. This will make it easier to operate and not deceive consumers.

"This is traditional Indonesian food. Because if the chili is authentic, for example, it must come from Padang, not to mention how to cook," he said.

"So the languages that will be used, must be translated properly. Don't let us deceive consumers, but we want to introduce Indonesian food well," he continued.

Not only that, Chef Rafael also reminded that everyone who wants to be involved in the Indonesian culinary world understands various rules. Then these distinctive culinary delights can be modernized, especially if they are sold abroad, so that they are more easily accepted by consumers.

"Students with good rules, modernized, so that the palette taste can be touched. We can't talk authentically, for example in Germany, yes, the German palette taste," concluded Chef Rafael.