Erwando Abadi has successfully attracted the attention of the younger generation in the field of gastronomic tourism with his innovation, Perjamuan Rahasia (Secret Banquet). Armed with his expertise as a herbal and spice mixologist and his knowledge of archaeology, Wando has been able to produce an innovation that has resulted in a fine dining set at cultural heritage sites such as Prambanan Temple. On the other hand, many content creators have also joined the queue to order Wando’s packages, which has become an advantage for him in raising the profile of his innovations.
The fine dining set he created includes appetizers, main courses, and desserts, with a variety of dishes crafted by adopting the reliefs at Prambanan Temple. Additionally, Wando provides education to guests participating in the Secret Banquet to help them better understand traditional Indonesian cuisine.
“There’s Pondok Sawung, which is made from coconut and chicken, representing the numerous chicken farms around Prambanan. There’s also Daging Kendhil from Serat Centhini, a dish for kings. There is also red rice, which marks the beginning of trade with the Chinese. Then there is urap, which we source from around the Opak River, representing the vegetation in that area. There is also kolak, made with palm sugar and kolang-kaling as fillings, along with bananas. We also explain the changes in the bananas and what we are looking for,” Wando elaborated.
On a daily basis, Wando conducts research in the field of Nusantara cuisine and runs a Nusantara culinary restaurant called Loka Nusa, which features thematic concepts in the menus served. On the other hand, various products created by Wando that can be enjoyed include herbal remedies, syrups, powders, and spice-based candies.
“My message to the younger students in the Archaeology Department is to explore, travel, build relationships, connect with others, try new things, and dare to grow for yourself without fearing what the future may hold. Everything should be done independently, and besides, there are many peers who can stand on their own now,” explained Wando.
Additionally, Wando also added a message for the Archaeology Department to continue enhancing students’ experiences not only academically but also in terms of connectivity.
Author: Febriska Noor Fitriana
Image: Febriska Noor Fitriana
Editor: Sektiadi
